help with computer recording/components

[SeaBass]

ok... I have a relatively good mixer a power amp, 2 cheap mics, a guitar and a keyboard. It is all hooked up and working. What exactly do I need to buy for the computer to do high quality multitrack stereo recording? I already have cakewalk but I would assume that my factory sound card is not going to cut it. Do I really need a unit with a ton of inputs ?(which would attach to the new soundcard that I would buy) I already have the mixer, would I just need one or 2 ins on the new unit? I have looked at the maxi studio isis. its probably outdated. any suggestions? I'm lookin like 1-300 dollars for the soundcard / unit that comes with it. if anyone has a setup similar to this and it sounds real good let me know what it is no matter what the price.

ps. what is a stereo compressor and what does it do?


hmm.. newbies answering newbie's questions... could get interesting

 

[docwilson50]

sound card for pc

musiciansfriend.com has a good pci soundcard$299.99. "Echo Darla-24 or the echo Gina. I've used the gina and it works fine. Just purchased a roland vs880ex and waiting for it to come in. Hope this helps

 

[DavidK]

seabass, the number of inputs you need = the number
of parts you will record at one time. If you record a
vocal, bass and keyboard at the same time, you
will need 4 inputs ( stereo keyboard.) If not, your
bass and vocal will be on one track, and you cant mix that way. If you work one instrument at a time, like me,
two inputs will do fine, but you might want to get
more inputs just in case.

You asked " what do I need for high quality recording?
Well, since you said you have cheap mics, I guess
you know the answer to that one; bad mics make
bad recordings.

Yup, your factory sound card aint gonna cut it.
An Echo or Delta Card is probably the way to go,
prices are low.

A compressor, stereo or not, makes the audio more
even, in laymans terms. Think of TV; you are watching
a show, and when a commercial comes on it will
knock a hole in your wall because it is so loud. A compressor will make the dynamics more even.

 

[SeaBass]

darla 24 vs. delta 44

thank you very much for the help its greatly appreciated. One more question - Delta 44 vs. Darla 24. the price is around the same. Darla has 2 inputs and 8 outputs. Delta has 4 and 4. It seems that the 2 extra inputs would be much more useful to me. What is an example of what I would do with 8 outputs ( even 4)?
headphones/speakers?

 

[Gidge]

If you were doing mixing on an external mixer, you would go from those 8 outputs to 8 inputs on the mixer....if you will mix in software, all those arent necessary....if more inputs sound better to you and youll be mixing in software, the Delta is for you...quality of these two cards are pretty much the same.....Now if I can offer up some advice, and repeat David's words, "Bad mics make bad recordings"...I would spring for better mics before a new card....Ive heard REAL good recordings done with a 30 dollar sound card or even onboard sound, but the signal path was a good mic and good pre....worth thinking about....

 

[DavidK]

Seabass, if you think you might use 4 inputs, dont
get the Darla24!! Only get it if you KNOW you will
just use the 2 inputs only. Better safe than sorry.
I dont know the Delta card, but from what I have
read around here, it should be great.

As gidge said, the eight outputs on the Darla24
are only good if you have an external mixer. I use
mine all the time, because I can work more quickly
that way. However, since I use cakewalk, the
final mixdown only requires two outs, so the eight
outs might be overkill. It is a very odd combo for
the Darla, 2 in, 8 out, but the sound quality is
great and that is the bottom line.

Again, Gidge and I are right, Get at least 1 good
mic. I had a soundblaster card, and made some nice
recordings on it. The Rode Nt-1 is about 140bucks
I think, that might be an idea for vocals.

 

[Onyria]

I´m agree with that. It deppends if you´re going to record ALL your instruments at a time (and maybe you play alone at home), so four inputs won´t be necessary. I have a Gina Card, and its eight outputs are the salvation for EQ. And it´s always possible that your gear grows up in the future, so maybe then you´ll need those eight outs.

 

[Slackmaster2K]

Really consider having more inputs. It's not just how many instruments you'll be recording at once....it's about how creative you're going to be routing your signal around....taking an incoming signal, sending it off to somewhere to be processed, and bringing it back in. With an external mixer all you need are a whole bunch of outputs, so the 2/8 thing is pretty good...but if you don't have an external mixer, then soundcard inputs are your friend!

I just found a "new" way to record my guitar and I use 3 inputs and 3 outputs at the same time. I could actually use 4 ins but I'm fresh out of preamp. I've been running my guitar into a POD, then both outputs of the POD into the soundcard. Then I take a line out and send it to my guitar amp, which i then mic...taking the mic through a preamp back into the soundcard. If you include the two outputs to my power amp for monitoring, that's 3 inputs and 3 outputs right there....and is a nice big sound. Another thing I want to try when I get another preamp is to put my guitar through a pre into the soundcard, and then route that clean signal to both my amp and POD, which would allow me great control over both sources. That will take 4 inputs and 4 outputs...and I'll have used up all the room on my Delta44....with one lowly guitar.

Slackmaster 2000

 

[Onyria]

Sure, but that looks a bit complicate for newbies... I have my mixer since 3 years and I think I still don´t understand it...