Need some help

[jester900turbo]

I am trying to replace my BOSS 532 4 track recorder with my current PC
I have a "e-machine" with a celeron 340 processor and an audigy 2 zs sound card that i have recently purchased "used" from a friend. I have installed ACID7.0 and SONAR 1.0. Just wondering if i am wasting my time, the PC has a huge lag between the time i strum my guitar and the time i hear something on the track.
Can't seem to sink any loops with real time audio.........
The BOSS is great but thought the PC would be better, I seem to think it would cost alot of $$ to get my PC to the point where it would be better than the stand alone recorder. My wife works for CAD micrphones so i have fantastic USB and regular microphones, though am having issues with both when it comes to phantom power mics.
Spent 2 weekends adjusting input levels, installing drivers, and figuring out different options with the software.

1. Which software is better (ACID... CAKEWALK)?
2. why the huge delay between actual sound and output from speaker on PC?
3. Can this PC handle the sound card and software?
4. Am i a flamming retard who should stick to my BOSS that has never failed me??


I willl thank anyone who could help me
Jester900!!!

 

[KineticSound]

Jester,
Most likely, the latency issues you are dealing with are being caused by the Audigy card (Sound Blaster cards are notorious for this). My advice would be to research some basic external interfaces to use in place of the Audigy.

Even a modest computer can usually handle some basic multi-tracking and editing without too much strain, and as you state, can be a much more effective tool at a little cost.

Your question of ACID vs. Cakewalk is really one of personal preference. Use the software that you are most comfortable with, but both are relatively easy to learn and use.

 

[Dani Pace]

Two things come to mind; first, replace the soundcard with a firewire interface, second, add more RAM. Neither one is hard to install and the combination of these two mods should eliminate your latency issues. When I mentioned more RAM I ment at least 1 gig (about $40 at Wally World, and takes about 5 minutes to install) this will help greatly with latency and should make all your other PC functions much faster also.

 

[jester900turbo]

Installing the RAM sounds to me like the next option, what about the fire wire, how would i use my guitar through that?
I found the drivers to export wave files to the BOSS so that i could play loops or whatever i want than add tracks on the recorder itself, then back into ACID to final mix and out to CD. Lots of work! Before I get to heavily invested in this "e-machine" I may look at the $ of a different stand alone multitrack recorder.

 

[KineticSound]

Upgrading the RAM will help, but as long as that Audigy card is your primary means of moving audio in & out, you're likely to battle the latency issues no matter how much RAM you pack onto the computer.

If your computer has a FireWire port, you can add a simple interface from M-Audio, Focusrite, Tascam, or others. If you don't have FireWire on your PC, you could opt for a USB version instead. Again, Tasam, M-Audio, and Presonus all have options.

 

[Dani Pace]

It sounds like you are trying to get "things" going as cheaply as possible, and still be able to get some decent recordings (correct me if I read wrongly.) An inexpensive route might be (if you plan to record only 1 or 2 tracks at a time) a M-Audio USB interface. These can be bought new for less than $100 and come with recording software (a Cuebase version I think.) You'll still want to add the extra RAM and bypass the Sound Blaster.

When I first started recording on computer I had an old Compaq, Soundblaster card, and Cakewalk Music Creator, and a couple of decent mics. Needless to say, I quickly became frustrated and dissatisfied with the results. I could have saved myself a lot of cash, time, and confusion by getting the right gear to start with, but like so many others I didn't have a clue as to what I really needed. Enough about me, I'm just trying to help you avoid a few of the (sometimes costly) mistakes I made.

 

[mjbphotos]

eMachines are crap - make sure you back up any work you do before it dies on you!

 

[jester900turbo]

Thats kind of the entire point to this subject, do I put $ into an E-machine or do i just live with my BOSS system. I hate to "polish a terd" buut i am hopeing with a few bucks i could better my current studio, if you want to call it that.

 

[jester900turbo]

I appreciate all of your help, I will mention that i have a baby on the way and this is the reason I am trying not to spend a lot of $, i think after playing around a bit tonight i will upgrade my RAM and use my BOSS to record and transfer tracks to ACID, this way i can make as many tracks as i want with little hassle as well as pretty good quality. It is a little bit of work but if i lay loops down in ACID and transfer to the BOSS and play with it, then inport it back, everything seems to be in perfect time. I guess now i gotta figure out what to do with these USB MICS that i have no good use for!!!!!
Thanks to all of you!!!

"death to all E_MACHINES"