Mix ----> MP3 Help!

[Nilbog]

OKay, I wanna figure out how you guys all get your music onto the computer. I've considered the following options:
1. Buying a sound card and a CDR. Although, will there be bad sound degredation with a consumer grade sound card? What are my options on sound card for cheap, if any? Will A SB32 or a SB Live work good?

2. Buying a stand alone CDR, then ripping the files off the cd to MP3. THis is an option I dont like much because I like the versitility of the Computer based CDR, plus the cheaper cd's.

Any help would be appreciated. What do you guys all do?
-Nilbog

 

[Eddie N]

1) you can get good sound quality with any 30 dollar cheapy soundcard as long as its a pci card.. but the SB live! is a good choice..

2) then dont get a stand alone , get an internal cd-r for your computer.. im not sure what your asking here..

we record into our computers , mixdown to a stereo wav file , convert it to mp3 and then upload to the server of our choice..

ps.. mp3 encoders are free and can be downloaded from the net

- eddie -

 

[BigKahuna]

MusicMatch lets you record an mp3 off of a line-in signal. It's a little trickey because it doesn't have input levels that you can see, so theres a bit of trial-and-error to get the level right.
Check out the demo: www.musicmatch.com

 

[GT]

Hey BigK,
I have been looking at musicmatch. Are you talking about the free download, or other?
You are the first person to answer a question I haven't even asked. Can you record mp3 line in from and analog source, without having to modify the computer? Will the mix stay in stereo?

 

[Nilbog]

So do you mix down onto your computer, or do you mix down onto a DAT or something, then just copy onto your computer? And will a soundcard add any noise or comprimise the quality of the music?
-Nilbog

 

[BigKahuna]

I'm not exactly sure if the demo disables the line-in option or not. Sorry.
I know for a fact that it is in the full version ... which isn't major bucks ... around $30.
But, you can mix directly to mp3 using MusicMatch, and it does record it in stereo (actually you set up your recording preferences before you record).

When I use the line-in option, it's mainly just to get a quick mix into mp3 format (usually for sending to bandmates so they can practice their parts), but when I do use it I mix directly into the computer, no DATs. My current soundcard is not really up to snuff for doing this for critical mixing (it's an el-cheapo $30 SIIG card), but it works for these quick and dirty mp3's, actually not too bad sounding. And I can avoid making a large wav file just to make an mp3 out of it right away.

To get better sound quality, I mix digitally to CD and then rip that in musicmatch. That way the signal is digital all the way through the process.

Anyway, hope that helps.



[This message has been edited by BigKahuna (edited 02-21-2000).]

 

[GT]

Hey BigK,

Thanks so much for the help! I will see if I can find out if the free Musicmatch download, has line in capability. Otherwise, I will pay the thirty bucks, seems worth it. By the way, if you have a lot of wav files that you want to change to mp3, try RightClick-MP3 at cnet.com. It changes wav to mp3, and deletes the wav all at once. Thanks again.