Need Advice for Soundcard

  • Thread starter Thread starter RedHeffer
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RedHeffer

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Hi, I'm in need of some advice for recording music onto my computer. I currently have a Boss BR-8, Soundcraft Spirit Folio SX, QSC RMX 850, Event 20/20, three sm57's, two Oktava MC012's, Shure Beta 52, and a Sennheiser MD421. I posted on this board before and have been told that I should go the DAW route. I'm really beginning to agree with that advice because the BR-8 isn't suiting my needs and I can't seem to get a good output level on it. I'm recording acoustic and electric guitar, bass, drums, and vocals. Perhaps various other instruments here and there. My computer isn't very powerful (PII 400MHz, 64 MB RAM, AWE64 soundcard). I've been reading through this site and I've come to the conclusion that the Audiophile 2496 might be a good choice for me. I think that I can do enough with that card and it is at a low price (I'm just high school student). Unless you guys can recommend something else, I might just start saving up for the card now or just sell my BR-8. I'd appreciate any comments. Thanks.

Brian
 
What about a synth? If you are really on a budget and need something that can play MIDI sounds, the SB Audigy is a good choice. If you already have (or plan to get) other synth hardware, or plan to use software synths only, the Audiophile will be an excellent choice.

That said, you should be able to get perfectly good levels into and out of your BR-8. Can you describe your problem a little more?
 
I'm not really into synths. I want to record real instruments.
My problem with the BR-8 is that the output levels are always too low. I'll record something and get the levels somewhere between 12 and 4 and at that level, it sounds fine through the headphones and monitors. The thing is though, when I use the BR-8 File converter to convert the BR-8 files to wav's, the output is too low. I load the tracks onto N-Track, and the main level hits red and basically peaks out at many different parts while the sound I hear is very low. I've also tried to record everything onto the BR-8 and then send the line out into the line in of my computers sound card. But even if I max out the line-in level on my computer, the output is still very low. I've asked this question before, but no one really answered me.

Also, I was looking at the M-Audio Omni, and that looks pretty nice to me. I think that might be a good long term investment for me.
 
Are you sure you are maxing out the input level on the Line In for recording? There are two volume sliders; the one when you first open the Windows mixer is just for the volume of the signal as passed straight back to the output.

See this:

http://www.cakewalk.com/Support/Lessons/WindowsMixer.htm

If the levels are still too low, something must be phsyically wrong with your soundcard.
 
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