Interface? Sound card?

[Dwuid]

I've been reading that I need at least 256MB RAM (which is all my puny computer will hold), I need an external hard drive, I need an audio interface and I need a PCI sound card. I will likely need a preamp to get between the mics and the interface.

Yes, Oh Great Geeks! I'll get a bigger computer really soon. Honest!

But I gotta put something together soon. The latest thing I don't understand is that sometimes people talk about the sound card as if it were the interface. Is it?

Is the chain: instrument-mic-preamp-interface-soundcard,
or just:
instrument-mic-preamp-soundcard?

Many thanks,

Dwuid

 

[Carter]

Dwuid, Your soundcard is your interface, some of the better sound cards have break out boxes that have pre amps in them, most people use a stand alone pre or the pre's on their mixing consoles

instrument or mic - preamp( or mixer ) - soundcard (interface)

 

[tedluk]

Dwuid-

There is not a simple answer to your question. Many soundcards are audio interfaces as well and many also have preamps.

A better approach might be to give us the specs on your computer (which sounds like it might be a weak link from what you said) and tell us what you are trying to accomplish. Our suggestions will be different if you're a guitarist recording instrumentals in his bedroom one track at a time or in a band with 5 members wanting to record live demos or a keyboard player working primarily with MIDI.

The good news is that there are a number of choices with different feature sets, that sound pretty good and don't cost a fortune.

Ted

 

[Dwuid]

Be happy to.

I've got an HP 4535 fromma dawna time with 256 bright shiny new MB's of SDRAM (I know 'cause I just installed them without a manual and I'm still a little high from the fact that the computer STILL WORKS!).

I'm running Windows ME. I haven't purchased the external HD yet, I'll probably go with about 120 GB.

I haven't bought the burner yet, either.

I've got Cakewalk Music Creator.

I want to make CD's, one song at a time, with input from three mic's: two from the instrument, the vocal one from me.

Should be doable, right?

Thanks.

 

[tedluk]

Be happy to.

I've got an HP 4535 fromma dawna time with 256 bright shiny new MB's of SDRAM (I know 'cause I just installed them without a manual and I'm still a little high from the fact that the computer STILL WORKS!).

I'm running Windows ME. I haven't purchased the external HD yet, I'll probably go with about 120 GB.

I haven't bought the burner yet, either.

I've got Cakewalk Music Creator.

I want to make CD's, one song at a time, with input from three mic's: two from the instrument, the vocal one from me.

Should be doable, right?

Thanks.

Well, your computer, OS and software could all use an upgrade, but with a little money you can at least start with what you have.

I don't know anything about your computer. First of all, do you have any available PCI slots in it? What speed is the processor? Does it support USB? I can tell you that trying to use an off-the-shelf HP computer creates a lot of opportunities for problems. Especially if it's a low-end computer. These tend to use a lot of proprietary hardware and often don't lent themselves to upgrades. For instance, some might not accomodate a PCI card without special hardware.

To record three inputs at once your best option (meaning the lowest cost, not the best quality) would be an inexpensive mixer that has at least 4 mic pre's in it. Yamaha, Behringer and Phonic all offer these for very reasonable prices, this coupled with a low cost soundcard like the M-audio Audiophile 2496 or the E-Mu 0404 will at least get you started. The drawback to this approach is that you'll have to either mix all three inputs to stereo since these cards only have two inputs or you will have to record things separately (i.e. play your guitar in one pass and then go back and record your vocal). For a little more money, you can get yourself a 4 input (or more!) soundcard. The other option, but it will cost more, is to get a soundcard with more preamps and inputs built in, but this might not make sense given the rest of your equipment.

HTH!

Ted

 

[Dwuid]

Processor is a Celeron 400 Mhz, board has 4 bays and 3 slots. That's about all that I think might be relevant.

It will support USB.

Thanks.