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[Amducious]

i want to set up my computer so i can start recording my own gear as well as my band. only problem is that i don't know shit about this kind of thing yet, so i need some help. i am looking a spending a couple grand but don't want to go overboard. i have a 1.8Ghz AMD, 1024 ddr, 200 gig hdd, CuBase SX, peavey 5150 full stack! ibanez 7 string. boss metal zone, +other random peds. i guess i will be needing a new soundcard as i am running with a cretive 5.1, general opinion seems to be m-audio. can anyone fill me in on what else i might need? i would like to be able to record my band live as well as track by track. m-audio's ozone seems to be pretty good, anyone had any experiance with those? would i benefit from buying any other hardware, compressor/limiter, seperate pre amp etc? i also only have normal 2.1 altec lansing speakers, how much better would investing in some decent monitors be? can someone also inform me on how to record a "beefy" guitar sound in CuBase, i have tried running my guitar directly into the soundcard and also from the line out of my amp, but still can't get a good sound. as i don't have any good mics i haven't been able to try recording with those yet. and what would be some good mics to look at buying, for both vox and guitar/drums? what is the deal with midi interfaces, i see lots of people talking about them but i still don't know what the deal is... please help out this ignoramus!

 

[jeffrydada]

Your basic system seems solid, until recently my AMD system was a 1900+ I just moved into a 64 bit AMD 2800+with a gig ram. I use Cubase and it is ok, I prefer Ableton Live though and version 4 is coming out soon with full midi and vst support. You may also consider DAW software, cubase and live are sequencers and though good for recording they don't provide all the tools for true multitrack recording. My DAW actually is on an Apple 1.25 ghz Powerbook, I like Digital Performer 4, but for pc you can use Steinberg's Nuendo, Cakewlk's Sonar and of course Pro Tools. For equipment I use a Tascam US-224 as my I/O device it has Midi I/O as well as 1/4" and lo-z mic ins,(no phantom power though, important if you use condenser mics) I also use a Yamaha mixer, I have the little 10/2 unit and it gives me plenty of I/O for live recording. Unfortunately with my system you can only record 2 track in a live setting. In order to do more you almost need a full Pro tools setup like the Digi 002 @ $2000.00 +. As to midi (musical instrument digital interface) it can be one of the most usefull tools you will ever learn to use! I use software synths in my setup I have Absynth, MiniMoog V a free soundfont player called simple synth and iPiano Running from an Apple G3 and they are controlled from a M-Audio Radium 61. The signal is inputed into my US-224 and records directly to my DAW software on my Powerbook. I've got about 600 bucks invested in softsynths, easily 1/3-1/2 what a single good quality hardware synth would run. I will leave it at that for now. You have many options before you and I could write all night about them. Your best bet is to research everything, understand what you are buying and why you are buying it. This is a good site to see what others are doing and get input. I make it a habit of checking to see if the Item I want has downloadable manuals that I can read before I buy. Hopefully I've been some help, and not too windy.
Just playin' along
J

 

[vestast]

You may also consider DAW software, cubase and live are sequencers and though good for recording they don't provide all the tools for true multitrack recording.
J

Huh ?

I have no idea why you would say that. Cubase is a very powerful app for multitracking....

Anyway, If you already have cubase and a solid PC your halfway there. Since you would like to record your whole band your going to have to go with probably at minimum a card like the Maudio Delta 1010:

http://www.zzounds.com/a--2676837/item--MDOD1010E - $599.95

A half decent mixer to connect to the 1010:

http://www.zzounds.com/a--2676837/item--YAMMG164 - $279.95

And some monitors:

http://www.zzounds.com/a--2676837/item--MDOBX8 - $479.95

Total $1359.85. This gives you a bit of cash left to buy some mics that you'll need to mic up the drums and amps.

These are just suggestions on brand names so don't think your limited to just those. You may decide to spend more on mics and less on a mixer or monitors, however make sure you do buy monitors, cause the altec lansing speakers are not going to cut it for you.

 

[Cyrokk]

would i benefit from buying any other hardware, compressor/limiter, seperate pre amp etc? i also only have normal 2.1 altec lansing speakers, how much better would investing in some decent monitors be? can someone also inform me on how to record a "beefy" guitar sound in CuBase, i have tried running my guitar directly into the soundcard and also from the line out of my amp, but still can't get a good sound. as i don't have any good mics i haven't been able to try recording with those yet. and what would be some good mics to look at buying, for both vox and guitar/drums?

I also recommend getting monitors as vestast suggested. You will not get a good guitar sound going from the line out of your amp. You will be much better off miking the amp. I suggest for a microphone the Shure SM-58. If you unscrew the ballcap windscreen it has the exact same sonic properties as the SM-57, which is considered the standard mike for guitar distortion and works well on some drum parts, such as snare. The 58 can also work as a vocal mike, although a condensor is probably a better option. I would recommend a Marshall 603s if you want to go the condensor route.

A preamp is necessary for microphones, and works well for adding warmth to instruments recorded direct (such as bass). An ART Tube MP is a good way to go.

I wouldn't worry about compressors or other effects yet as many of these are offered in Cubase.