multiple tracks

  • Thread starter Thread starter MBBoone
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MBBoone

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Could I run a cable from the back of my Crate Amp to the sound card?

I know that I would have to be very careful as to not blow it out, but there still is the jack issue. I would need a smaller male adapter that would allow me to plug into the sound card.

I am going to Guitar Center in Houston, TX today after work to check it out. They had mentioned something by the name of "Audio Buddy" that goes for $100 - don't know if that is good or not..

thanks,

mb
 
I am a total novice at this point in terms of home recording. I have been in a studio before and have recorded, so I am familiar with the process - but I was pretty hands off while I did it, just followed instructions and did my own thing.

I have a Dell w/400mhz and 128mb RAM - has a nice sound card.

For the past 2 months I have dabled w/mp3s. Just today I realized that I can record with my MusicMatch Jukebox. My built-in mic works surprisingly well, but I do have a nice Peavy mic that I use with my Crate amp when playing parties etc.

My question is 2 fold:

1. What do I need to lay multiple tracks? All I really want is to be able to lay about 4 - 8 tracks and I don't know the best interface to use with my laptop or the approx. cost?

2. Secondly - re: my Peavy mic. I referenced earlier, is there an interface that I can use to plug that into my laptop? The jack is to big for the laptop - so I was wondering if there was an adapter that I should use, or - do plug that into some type of 8 track, which then plugs into my laptop...

If anyone could give me an outline based on the equip that I have I would really appreciate it.

thanks -

mb

ps - Billy Pilgrim rocks.
 
1) You can lay multiple tracks the easy way or the hard way :) The easy way will cost you about $35 but is well worth it. Go to www.fasoft.com and check out n-Track Studio. There's even a forum here for it! The shareware version is workable so you can see whether it'll work for you. The HARD way to record multiple tracks is to use the "single track" software you already have. This sucks big time and I wouldn't bother with it when n-Track is cheap and is supposedly as good as the big dogs (I've never tried the expensive software and have no desire to now)

2) You don't want to plug your mic directly into your soundcard. First of all your soundcard probably won't like it too much. In fact I've never had a soundcard that worked with dynamic microphones. Besides, the Mic-in channel on most soundcards is MUCH noisier than the Line-in channel.

What you'll need to do is use a preamp on your mic and then run the preamp into the Line-In port on your soundcard. Deselect all the other input channels via your soundcard's level properties (click the speaker in the taskbar). I'd say that most anything would work as a preamp. I use my old Fostex 4-track which works real nice. Be sure to be careful that you don't blow your card though...you don't want to amplify your mic THAT much :)

Sounds to me like your computer has the processing power and memory to handle recording (assuming you have an Intel processor..PII or Celeron). The thing that *might* slow you down is the hard drive...not you can do with a laptop ($$). You also might find out that your soundcard is really noisy too, and there's not much you can do about that either.

If you really want to get into recording and want a versitile setup then trade your laptop in for a desktop machine. You can probably get an even trade on a faster desktop! (yes I know that in some cases laptops are necessary, it was just a suggestion)

Slackmaster 2000
 
Thanks alot for your feedback!

I have one question re:

<i>What you'll need to do is use a preamp on your mic and then run the preamp into the Line-In port on your soundcard. Deselect all the other input channels via your soundcard's level properties (click the speaker in the taskbar). I'd say that most anything would work as a preamp. I use my old Fostex 4-track which works real nice. Be sure to be careful that you don't blow your card though...you don't want to amplify your mic THAT much
</i>

Right now I don't have any kind of pre-amp device, but I would be happy to go out and purchase one today. Seeing as how I don't have one, is there one I should start out with? Would some form of 4-track work, and would that plug directly into my laptop?

What should I expect to spend?

thanks again for your help -

mb
 
Lots of pre-amps available without all the other stuff you don't need on that 4-track. Slack (like myself) use this because it's there. Lots of good reviews of the Art Pre-amps ($100 and up). Event makes a similar pre-amp specifically designed for bringing mics into the Echo line of sound cards. If you want to buy more than just a pre-amp, but want some of those included, a nice mixer would be the way to go.
 
Heh, I don't think that's a recommended procedure! I'd say that it's not worth the risk. A preamp will only need to be a few watts to get a good enough signal into your soundcard...it's hard to say how much drive the line on the amp will have. I'd feel safer using the headphone jack instead, though that might cripple your sound.

Due to the fact that you have a laptop, I would be even more cautious. Your "soundcard" is going to be on the mobo. If you blow that it's blown for good and it might take something else out with it! Since laptops generally run around $800 more than desktops...BE CAREFULL or trade the damn thing in!

Like drstawl said, I just use the 4-track because it's there. It's one of those "portable studio" recorders so it acts like a mixer to some extent (not great but good). I have no idea what's good as far as others are concerned.

Since you're a beginner (and so am I), you might just run down to the pawn shop and see if there are any cheapo powered mixers. It would be nice to get one with multiple inputs so you can use more than one mic at a time. As long as they're not noisy you should be happy for a while. My 4-track isn't a professional quality mixer by any means, but I don't think it's degrading my sound much or introducing that much noise. Maybe someday when I know what to listen for..... :)

You might look into a DI box if you don't want to mic...but a microphone and mixer are a much better investment down the road. IMHO

Slackmaster 2000
 
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