Home Studio set up!!! I need help

[-|ScottFree|-]

Ive edited this post to try to make more sense..I hope I have done that!!


I have a Motif XS6 on its way as we speak, and being completely new to this I will be on a very steep learning curve for a while so please forgive my ignorance.

My Equipment:

I have a decent high spec PC ( although havent chosen a sound card yet based on whats written below~)
Yamaha Motif XS6
Les Paul Guitar
M Audio Monitors/speakers
Shure SM58 Mic

My goal is to use Cubase as the sequencer. I would like be able to record sounds from the Motif, to record vocals and to record guitar parts. I want to be able to hear all of this through my monitors... I also want to be able to have the monitors play files that are on the PC... if I want to listen to some music etc..

Do I need an Audio Interface or a just a sound card or both. What the simplest way to achieve what I want so that the hardware and software play nicely together. Is it possible that someone could explain in simplistic terms how I would go about connecting this up...

Any help would be greatly appreciated

Kind Regards

Scott

 

[pierreantoine]

Hi,

You can go a lot ways:

- Using your original soundcard on your PC might not give great results as it may not have the right type (and number) of inputs (normally there is just one and it's a mini-jack (1/8") plug). However, it could work using adaptators. But! your card might not run with ASIO 2.0 driver, which as become a standard for recording and playing back audio on a more professional approach.

- Using an internal PCI sound card will give you very very fast data transfer but limited inputs and ouputs, if you go wth an affordable card (let's say under 500$). Very good external cards like the Delta 1010 from M-Audio have a lots of inputs as they feature an external i/o module connected to the PCI card.

- External soundcards are a very popular solution for low-budget restriction. However, they can do a fantastic job for a while. The consist very often a small box with two XLR inputs or more, TRS inputs on the back, TRS outputs RCA i/o too. They connect to the computer via USB or Firewire and they often feature phantom power for condenser mics. Look for M-Audio FastTrak Pro or Presonus FireBox.

- Firewire Mixers will do great job but will be very expensive. They will let you record separate tracks and give you they advantage of having a normal mixer and the analog to digital capacity at the same time. This isn't the most logical solution for your needs.

I would go for a simple external soundcard. My choice would be the FireBox from Presonus as Firewire is faster than USB for protocol and driver reasons. Plus, for what I've used, Presonus have done very good quality products. All of the possibilities above will have great drivers (ASIO 2.0) except for original PC company soundcards. Mixers won't do MIDI, but any other soundcard that is relatively good will.

Hope this helps.

 

[zinc1024]

Scott:

I just went through the exact same process, wanting to record some classical guitar.

I went with an external soundcard, in my case an EMU 0404, with two phantom powered XLR inputs, midi in/out (not using that at this point), and a USB 2.0 connection back to my PC. Working fine (with ASIO). I'm using Calkwalk Sonar rather than Cubase.

I also had an old Shure SM58, but knew that for recording my guitar that wasn't going to cut it, and bought a matched pair of Rode NT5's, for just over $300 on Ebay. You may need to also get a capable mic or set of mics, others here can advise you on that, I'm no expert.

One thing I learned along the way: various software components don't seen to deal with the concept of two soundcards attached to the computer. I tried to get things working where my sound output was through my existing onboard soundcard, and my sound input was through the EMU/USB interface. Didn't work. I had to move my speaker system over to the EMU box, and disable my onboard sound. So now to fully power up the PC including sound for general work (vs. recording), I have to also power up the external EMU box.

The other thing to think through is background noise. For classical guitar recording, a non-trivial issue given the nature of the instrument, and it'll be similar for vocals. Computer, a TV that is always powered in the same room, the refrigerator, etc., all can and will get picked up! That's also something I didn't fully grok until pointed out to me here, and then pointed out to me by my little VU meter when the room was "quiet", hah!

Good luck,

-Kevin

 

[Ethan Winer]

I would like be able to record sounds from the Motif, to record vocals and to record guitar parts. I want to be able to hear all of this through my monitors... I also want to be able to have the monitors play files that are on the PC... if I want to listen to some music etc..

This article was written just for you:

Using a Mixer with a DAW

--Ethan