I'm going to kill myself.

[RoobaDoo]

OK, maybe not that drastic yet. Here's my deal. I am posting this in the newbie section so as to not piss anyone off, because I need my question answered. This will NOT be brief, so please be patient and stay with me. I am BEGGING for help. Here goes:

I have been trying to get this home studio thing together for about 3 years now. I've been through 4 different computers, some interchangeable hardware, and I still don't have a single track laid down. I am a solo artist who plays all the instruments and does all the vocals, and will need basic effects. There will never be a band in the studio, so I don't mind having limited tracks to record. I have read at least 10 different books from the library, browsed what seems to be an endless number of message boards, and still can't get anything going. Either I am completely stupid, incompetent and naive, or I just need a little guidance. It could very well be all of the above. Computer #1 was a piece of junk given to me, not worth even mentioning really. Computer #2 is a Dell Dimension given to me, but the dog peed on it and now it's hosed. Computer #3 is an HP Pavilion 6640C, and only has a 500Mhz processor and 256 RAM. When I hooked everything up and tried to record, the audio engine kept quitting because the computer couldn't keep up. I can't blame it, because I quit too shortly after that. I now have evrything hooked to a Compaq with a 2.00Ghz Pentium 4 with 512 RAM. But the Cakewalk Home Studio 2002 I'm running on it won't playback anything I've recorded. Besides, this is my work computer, so I can only bring it home on the weekends, and it still has a bunch of work crap on it. Not exactly a dedicated home studio computer, just a short-term fix. So I am now resigned to the fact that I just need to suck it up and buy a PC or Mac. I have a monitor, keyboard, etc. and just need the tower itself. I have an M-Audio Delta Audiophile 2496 card, a Yamaha MG10/2 Mixer, CDRW drive, 40GB 7200 RPM hard drive, and a 80GB 7200 RPM hard drive that can all be used on another computer if needed. I just need one thing from you guys. PLEASE TELL ME WHAT TO BUY! I have read and heard countless times different suggestions of setups. Please just tell me what setup works for you without complications. I can switch to a Mac. I don't need to use Cakewalk if that isn't the best way to go. I'll do anything to make this work. I just need something dependable that won't make me want to swallow the end of a gun everytime I try to use it. All I want is to make a good sounding, clean recording that I can be proud of. Please, if anyone is listening, I NEED HELP!!! If I need to give anymore information on my setup, how I'll be using it, etc. please just let me know. Thanks to anyone who at least acknowledges me here.

-Mike

 

[famous beagle]

Ok I use a DAW (Yamaha AW16G), so I don't know what computer to tell you to buy, but there are plenty of people here who can answer your question.



Just to paraphrase (in case someone glazes over the long first post), this guy just needs:

the computer itself (he's got a monitor, extra hard drives, interface, etc.)

and some easy-to-use recording software.

I have a monitor, keyboard, etc. and just need the tower itself. I have an M-Audio Delta Audiophile 2496 card, a Yamaha MG10/2 Mixer, CDRW drive, 40GB 7200 RPM hard drive, and a 80GB 7200 RPM hard drive that can all be used on another computer if needed.

He's only needed to record a few tracks at a time, since he'll be playing everything himself.


I imagine people may want a bit more info, such as your budget.


But you should get some help soon.


good luck

 

[gecko zzed]

You have all the ingredients you need to get something happening (apart from, as you said, a dedicated PC). Even your old Dell should have been able to cope. (I was running Logic Audio in Windows98 on a 300mhz CPU, with 250mb RAM not that many years ago; it worked ok, though I had to be very economical in my use of plug-ins and so on.)

I still use Windows ME, and, if you are not using XP there are a number of things you can do to make your recording process more stable. XP seems to be better at managing some of these things.

Some of the things you can try are:
1 disable or remove all polling software (e.g. screensavers, auto-run loaders etc.)
2 ensure hard drives have DMA access enabled
3 disable the onboard soundcard
4 ensure the system is as clean as a whistle (no viruses, spyware or assorted registry corruptions; these really make life difficult)
5 work through the audio driver options and settings carefully. Sometimes you can have all the drivers set ok, but still get nothing, because the PC's 'volume control' has its outputs or inputs set to zero.

As to being 'completely stupid, incompetent and naive', well maybe, but most likely not. When I first installed Logic Audio, it took me the best part of a month before I successfully recorded a track, during which time I was coming apart at the seams with frustration. In the end, perseverence and experimentation paid off.

If you describe more fully the problems you have had, it may narrow down the places to look for solutions

 

[A Reel Person]

Take two PORTASTUDIOS, and call me in the morning!

............

 

[RoobaDoo]

Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. I am very happy to hear from people. OK, I am running WinXP Professional, but if that isn't the best OS for home studio recording then I can run something else. Like I said, the Dell is hosed, and the newest computer is my work computer, so all I'm looking for is specs to go buy another computer, e.g. what processor, how much RAM, what OS, and anything else that would contribute to my happiness. My budget is limited, but I'm willing to sacrifice the car payment and the take-out meals to get the performance I need. I am also more than willing to work through a few bugs, but I don't want to dedicate my life to working through bugs. Thanks for the help thus far, it's much easier to talk with people who have been there. Thank you!

-Mike

 

[Dogman]

Well, my setup is pretty simple. The computer I record on is an old Gateway, Athlon 1200, 512Mb RAM, and I use an M-Audio Delta 44 to get the sound into it. I record using Adobe Audition. For an amp pre, I have a DMP3. I have no real glitches, so long as I restart it at least every couple of weeks. I too record solo. usually only one track at a time, unless it's acoustic guitar...then I do 2 mics on it sometimes.

That being said, I guess was just so you know, a decent computer will work. You don't need the latest, fastest, just something reliable. I have also heard many awesome tunes come from a DAW, even inexpensive ones. For a homerecorder, just get what you can live with. Don't skimp so much you will HAVE to upgrade right away, but have fun with whatever you get.
Ed

 

[2lim]

I had the same problem with cakewalk when I first started, I coudl record but for osme reason, it wouldn't playback. I never figured it out, i just switched to Ntrack, and then to Cool Edit.

Download a demo of a diff. program, or ask the same question specifically to cakewalk users.

You have all of the parts you need, there is just a small snag somewhere.


Simon

 

[famous beagle]

Yes if I remember correctly, there is a stupid little checkbox in a Cakewalk menu you have to check (or maybe uncheck) to allow playback. I remember having this same issue with my brief run-in with that program a while ago.

I'm sure the people on the cakewalk forum would be able to answer that for you.

 

[RoobaDoo]

I have another program that I could try that came with the M-Audio 2496, it's called LiveLite4. Anyone ever heard of it?

 

[Richard Monroe]

I went through similar stuff, bit the bullet, and bought a MusicXPC S2. It's a custom built PC designed to run ProTools LE. Yes, I could have gotten the components and built a computer for less money, but what the hell? I'm just not a geek, and I need to know that the problem is me, not the machine. It's about the size of a breadbox, has one silent fan, and is almost dead quiet. 3.0 gig Pentium IV, a gig of ram, 2 hard drives, 80 gigs for the OS, 120 gigs for the music files, all the USB and firewire ports you can stand, and it didn't come cheap. It runs XP home, which lacks a bunch of networking stuff in XP Pro that has no use in a studio and which the manufacturers say can actually interfere with music production. Get a cheap computer for surfing the internet, and build or buy a dedicated studio computer. -Richie

 

[Nick98338]

What I have works, just fine. Check sig.

 

[noisewreck]

OK, I am running WinXP Professional, but if that isn't the best OS for home studio recording then I can run something else.

WinXP Professional is perfectly fine, as long as you run it on a hardware that can handle it.

I am running on a 2.1GHz AMD processor with 768MB of RAM.

You can go slightly below that spec, but try not to.

Ideally, if you can afford, go for around 3.0GHz processor (AMD or Pentium) and 1GB of RAM. This is taking into account that you'd want to run modern recording software. People that have said that they were running Logic and such on crusty old CPU, they weren't running today's software. Today's software is much more capable, it is also more demanding.

 

[blazingstrings]

............

HA! Dave I gonna have start being my ana-ma-log gear broker and send me a new machine every week!

-Blaze

 

[jeff5xo]

I'm a Daw person myself. Roland VS-2000. If you're actually planning on having a "studio", I would take Ritchie's advice seriously.....he knows what he's talking about. If you're just planning on recording yourself, you might want to take a look into a Porta-studio, or some other cheap Daw. I'm not a computer guy. I took a course to try to learn Pro tools, man I just didn't get it. I'm not computer savvy at all. You sound like you are, so if you're planning on having an actual studio, spend the money to do it right. If you read some of these other great posts these guys left, you may be able to use what you have for the time being.

 

[JeffLancaster]

Since you already have a fine sound card, a good pair of hard drives, and a CDRW drive, your best value is going to be to buy a "barebones system" to house these in. Here's an example: http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=1894273&CatId=0
With everything else you said you've already got, all you'll need to add is a video card, and Windows XP and you'll have a good solid system for recording.

I've found that with audio drivers, recording software and such, you need to invest a little time and patience getting things to work smoothly. Learn about the features and settings of your software inside and out and get your system tuned for optimal performance and workability. You're not going to be able to do this with a system you only bring home on the weekends - you need to dedicate a PC to this task. You don't need to spend a fortune on the system however. The example showed is fine, and you even get by with less if you're on a tight budget. I'm currently running an AMD Athlon XP 2200, 512MB RAM and a pair of 7200 RPM hard drives. It's working fine for me with Sonar Studio 4, and while I plan to upgrade to 1GB RAM soon, I don't feel a real pressing need for any other upgrades at the moment.

Get your system together, and dedicate some time to getting things working smoothly. If you have questions about building the thing, let me know, I'm a computer guy and have been building my own systems for years. Finally, don't let your dog pee on this one!

 

[Dani Pace]

If it's any conselation, I started my venture into digital recording on Cakewalk Music Creator 2002. It was so frustrating it almost turned me totally against recording on computer. It just has too many things to remember to check/uncheck-arm/dissarm, I was always forgetting to turn something on or off in order to get it to work propperly. Im not saying it is bad, just too complicated for a total beginner, unless you are a puter geek. I downloaded Audacity (probably the most user friendly, easy to use and learn software) and played with it for a while to get the hang of how digi works. Once I got a grasp on what I was doing I moved on to N-Tracks. I guess what I am trying to say is, use some simple software to learn the basics of pc recording then upgrade to a better program, this approach worked for me anyway.
One more thing, the more ram you have the better off you will be. Good luck.

 

[e unum pluribus]

i began in digital world and now are trying to put together and analog 4 track studio ... but for what its worth...

WARNING OPINION FOLLOWS

if your just recording yourself...

i have used with great results (impressed me and my friends that didnt know shit about recording anyway)...

3 AMD XP 1600+ (about 1.3hgz) based computers with as little as 256 RAM and have had absolutely no problems in the area of performance... one track at a time and not going overboard with the plugins mind you (which btw is better anyway)

but! you do have to turn off your antivirus software while recording if your gonna scamp by with 256 RAM

also...

i have used GTPRO(guitar tracks professional) 3 from cakewalk and if you dont use midi IMO you can not bet it for down and dirty simple multitracking , it supports 24/96 no problem, supereasy to use, makes .wav files into "loops", and has an awsome way of keeping your DAW's workfile (where all the cut and pastes and bad takes are) cleaned out...

i am currently using ntrack and its a pain in the ass compared to gt3pro... half the price but that extra 70 bucks is easily worth it...

also if you have the money... there is a great multiuse plugin that is called ozone3... again IMO i think that that is the only plug in you will need in a home recording studio... and its only 400$ and comes with 6 differnt ... anyway... just check it out later first get you a machine my man...

oh and some monitors ... lol after the preamp and mic thats of uber importance, monitors are not an area you can get by with crap.... i ... trust me on this one...

 

[zekthedeadcow]

If it's just not playing back then it's a routing problem... you can see a little waveform in the track you just recording right?

I'm not familiar personally with M-Audio products but it looks like the outputs have to be plugged back into the mixer for monitoring... so the mixer may be muted.