Is cep2 a complete studio?

  • Thread starter Thread starter asrai
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A

asrai

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Is cep2 all I would need to record basic, demo quality recordings? They would be voice, guitar with some background vocals and some effects. Other than obviously needing a mic would I need a preamp or is that part of the program?

Also, I only have whatever soundcard my pc came with. Any suggestions for a decent one to upgrade to? Can I install it in a compaq?


Thanks!
 
Yeah.. CEP2 does it all, and is better that just "basic, demo quality". It's a multitracker, and a wave editor, it has good effects, and there's a free CD-Burning plug-in you can download at www.syntrillium.com where you'll also find a more active CEP forum than this one.

I have no idea about your soundcard.. It probably aint all that if it came with your compaq.
 
asrai said:
Other than obviously needing a mic would I need a preamp or is that part of the program?
Click to expand...
You probably do need a preamp, b/c the microphone signal alone won't be very strong.
 
depending on the mic you use, you won't need a preamp. If you get a cheap dynamic mic, it may not rely on phantom power. There are some good vocal mics in the $50 range.
 
Provided you have a decent sound card, cool edit is the shit. You will need something to plug your mic or your guitar into (mixer, etc.) prior to reaching your sound card. I used an old Tascam 4 track portastudio as a mixer for quite awhile then picked up a basic behringer mixer because it allowed xlr inputs and provided phantom power. You can get a basic 4 channel mixer for about $60US. Other than that, cool edit will do all of your multi tracking, wav editing, etc. It come with a great supply of useful tools for effects processing, compression, eq, noise reductions, etc. The only thing it won't help you with is any type of midi work you might look to be doing.
 
I have a fostex multitracker xr-7 which I've yet to use. You're saying I can use this as my mixer? I thought some sound cards provided a source for guitars and mics to plug into. Is this not so?

Thanks for all the replies. This is all so helpful.
 
OK,

Apart from all the replies you got, let us begin first with your sound card that came with your computer.

1. Most computers these days come with an onboard sound card.

2. Get yourself a good sound card (eg: SoundBlaster Live 5.0) or better. I use the SoundBlaster Live 5.1 platnium and only paid $130.00 AUSTRALIAN. So, if you're in U.S. you can cut that in half. Not bad huh?

3. When you have your new sound card, do the following:
1. When Computer starts press DEL key to access BIOS.
2. Disable onboard sound card.
3. Save and Exit.
4. PLEASE NOTE: Do not touch anything else OK?

4. When your computer has rebooted with the new settings, let it run it's course and follow the instructions that come with your new sound card to install the Hardware and Software correctly.

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Now, if you decided to purchase a SoundBlaster Live 5.1 or better, be sure that you go to their website to download any updated drivers that may have been released since the making of the sound card. If you purchase the SB Live then go to their website to download the latest drivers for your operating system.

WHY?
Cause, when I purchased mine I kept getting this popping sound in CEP whenever recording midi files and a lot of jumping around was happening, nothing to do with RAM or Clock speed, I just needed to update the latest drivers for the operating system that I use. So, you see that it makes good sence to do so.
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Microphone problem?
Try to do as I have and get yourself a good headset that you can use. I have done most of my recording using a headset and some studios had even asked me how did I get such good quality with the tools that I use. They had spent thousands and couldn't get the quality that I had produced. I also sell my CD's but am always learning new ways to improve myself. Be sure that you have the boost on the microphone turned off, otherwise you will get distorted mic levels and sound shocking.
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Whenever you can, use CEP as it's the "One Stop Studio Shop". It's the only one I use apart from Digital Orchestrator Plus that I also use for laying down tracks and creating my songs and edit existing ones. Together, you will not need an external mixer as everything is being done directly on the PC.

HOPE THIS HELPS.

Yours Truly,
Andrew(Big Andy).
http://www.geocities.com/bigandygau
 
asrai said:
I have a fostex multitracker xr-7 which I've yet to use. You're saying I can use this as my mixer? I thought some sound cards provided a source for guitars and mics to plug into. Is this not so?

Thanks for all the replies. This is all so helpful.
Click to expand...

Some lower line sound cards will come with 1/4" inputs (Echo Mia for example) but most will offer RCA inputs. Even the 1/8" and 1/4" inputs will not provide adequate results if you plug your guitar or microhone directly into it, you'll want some type of pre-amp, which your Fostex would work OK for. I'm not sure about the higher priced soundcards that come with the external hardware, but it would seem like you would still need some type of pre-amp with those.
 
Re: Re: Is cep2 a complete studio?

chrisharris said:
You probably do need a preamp, b/c the microphone signal alone won't be very strong.
Click to expand...
I agree with what I said; also, I agree with what Rats said.

Mostly, you'll want some type of a preamp so that you can adjust the input levels without having to jack around with the Windows sliders. Even a cheap guitar pedal that added 100db of noise would be better than just going straight into the soundcard...but to each his own.
 
I'd have to agree with 'chrisharris', using an effects pedal will surely give you what you want as far as volume.

But I also have to agree with 'rats', your Fostex should work fine.

You said: "I have a fostex multitracker xr-7 which I've yet to use."
Is this an external mixer? If so, then use it.

I have an external 12 channel ROSS mixer. But unless I'm doing some special recordings, I don't really use it much for recording, I use it mostly for playback that goes into a power-amp.

Just a suggestion ok?
If you use any external device that goes into your sound card, the more devices you attach, the more unwanted noise you will need to clean up in CEP. But there's also another thing what happens after that, and that is, after you have cleaned the unwanted noise from your track you also will hear some digital cyber-robotic sounds......Anyway, that was just a suggestion!

Good Luck!
 
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