Need help setting up

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quagmire77

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Need help starting up

Hi everyone. My band and I need some help setting up a PC based recording system to record some demos. To practice we run all guitars and vocals through a mixer and listen in on a Rolls stereo headphone amp. I would REALLY appreciate any information that you could offer. (Please assume complete ignorance on my part). Here's what we have

-Compaq Presario 5000 running XP with intel celeron processor and intel integrated audio (I'm guessing this is the soundcard built into the board), line in jack (same size as the mic jack), 1.3gb hard drive, 256mb memory

-Peavy Mark 1 Seried 900 Volt Mixer (this thing is vintage, and by vintage I mean really old)
-Yamaha MTX-4-4 track
-Preamp into the mixer
-Casio CTK-518 (MIDI capable)
-Various midi capable effects pedals,
-monitor speakers, and various amplifiers

My questions...

1. Do we have enough to get started or will we need to purchase a soundcard and/or interface? Also is there a cheap or free software you would recommend?

2. The mixer seems to have a nice warm sound everyone likes. Can we plug the mixer directly into the computer using an adapter cable, or do we need some sort of interface/converter?

3. For guitar tracks can we go directly from the effects pedal midi out to the computer input using a midi to usb converter or midi to input jack cable?

4. If we want to record live could we get a decent sound from a centrally located mulitdirectional microphone?

5. Would we be better off going with an external digital system and just recording on the PC?

Thanks
 
Last edited:
Hi, welcome aboard!

Can't answer all your questions, but here are some tips. Hope it helps.

As for your computer specs, you won't do much with this Celeron. This kind of processors are designed for simple algorithms, so they're indicated to run simple office stuff, like word processors, spreadsheets, etc. To work with audio you should get a Pentium 4 (2Ghz at least) or an Athlon XP (the same minimum Hz).

Cakewalk HomeStudio is a good software, and it's not expensive.

Bshark
 
Re: Need help starting up

quagmire77 said:
1. Do we have enough to get started or will we need to purchase a soundcard and/or interface? Also is there a cheap or free software you would recommend?

Depends on the quality you expect to get. I used the line input jack on a laptop of mine for a year recording fairly crappy demos that I wouldn't even use to shop for gigs. When I understood enough about recording using my computer, I felt comfortable making an investment in a better soundcard.

2. The mixer seems to have a nice warm sound everyone likes. Can we plug the mixer directly into the computer using an adapter cable, or do we need some sort of interface/converter?

What output signal does your mixer have? If line out, then sure.

3. For guitar tracks can we go directly from the effects pedal midi out to the computer input using a midi to usb converter or midi to input jack cable?

dunno this one. I don't use midi for guitar but I'm skeptical as to whether this would work...

4. If we want to record live could we get a decent sound from a centrally located mulitdirectional microphone?

decent sound? probably not multiple sound sources w/o a good soundcard. You might have a shot at a not unbelievably bad recording if you tracked things individually and mixed them reallllllly carefully.

5. Would we be better off going with an external digital system and just recording on the PC?

Do you suggest a standalone digital recorder like the Roland VS series or the Yamaha AW16G? My opinion is, depends on if you're a computer person. I, personally was fairly adept at using computers before I got into recording so I saw the huge advantages of computer recording long term. The truth though is, the console units are perfect for those not looking to do much but record demos and a nice songwriting tool.
The ceiling on most of those things is pretty low, though. By that, I mean you could spend a $800 (BR1180CD) and realize you can only do three or four tracks at once. The read outs are tiny, The media is limited. BTW, I'm speaking of the budget digital recorders. There are nice, high end ones but if you were waffling about buying a new soundcard, I'm guessing you won't be splurging on a VS2480.:D
Anyway, computer recording gives you more options down the road but requires a good amount of learning, regardless of your experience with computers. Try to buy the adaptors to go from your mixer to the onboard soundcard and use a trial version of Sonar or Cubase. See how they sound. You'll probably find your next stop is an M-audio Audiophile 24/96, retail $149.99

Hope I helped.
Click to expand...
 
and as for that celeron

you have me kinda worried with a 1.3 gb hard drive so I'm thinking your celeron is somewhere around 400mhz? maybe 300? i think you'll kill that hard drive before the first song is finished...atleast have a 20 gb hard drive when software is recording your files...they are in wave files which may come up to 20-60mbs a piece....thats per instrument depending on how long its recorded coupled with most software usually saving recordings deleted on the fly....1 gb becomes the first course of a 7 course meal
 
I guess he put it wrongly. HD with 1.3Gb... such a thing doesn't exist. Did you meant your Celeron is 1.3Ghz?
 
That is what I meant, thanks

Also thank you for the input, it isvery useful.
 
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