New to computer recording, interested in Cakewalk

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statecap

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I am about to begin recording music on my PC versus using an analog 4-track.
I am interested in recording in probably 8-10 tracks.
Is Cakewalk for me?
Can I record all the tracks separate with this software?

I am using the following:
Dell Pentium 4
2.4 G processor
60 G HD
256 Mb RAM
Soundcard TBD

I like the way the analog works but I have found myself just WAY too limited with only 4 tracks. And I would like to get away from that surface noise.
I want more area to expand.

Help me

Thank you

Denver
 
Your computer system is pretty good. You could think about a second hard drive, and bumping the memory to 512 - but there is nothing preventing you from working with your current configuration.

I assume you are looking at Sonar? Cakewalk is the company that makes Sonar.

A key question is how many tracks will you be recording simultaneously? Sonar has unlimited track capability. In theory you could have a million tracks. In reality you will probably be limited by your CPU to 30 tracks or so - depending on the amount of plug-ins used, and certain other parameters.

However, the number of tracks you can record simultaneously will be dictated by your sound card. Most stock sound cards allow for just 2 tracks at a time. The better cards, designed specifically for audio work, can do up to 8 tracks. And, of course, there is always the possibility of using more than one card to go beyond that.

If you only need to record one or two tracks at a time, Home Studio might be an option as well. Its main difference from Sonar is that it will only allow recording two tracks simultaneously.

Lastly, you are also going to need some outboard equipment - mics, preamps/mixers, etc.

And the very best part about using Cakewalk products is this BBS. You will find the people here very friendly and very helpful. Welcome to the Cakewalk forum. :D
 
Thank you for your replies !

I didn't quite realize the part about needing pre-amps.
As I mentioned earlier, I am using a Tascam 424 MK III right now.
I have the mics.

I'm going to want to record drums with 3-4 mics so I'll need at least that many inputs for the soundcard? I still don't know which to buy. I only have ~150.00 for one.

Can I get around buying a pre-amp and use the Tascam in it's place?

I think I am sold on the Sonar software though.
 
Yeah, you can probably use the Tascam for your pre-amps. Don't know how good they are - but since that's what you've been using, it won't be any worse. I assume you have 4 separate outputs from the Tascam to keep the tracks separate. If you only have stereo outs, you are going to have problems getting 4 separate tracks into the software (simultaneously).

Getting a decent sound card with 4 inputs for $150.00 may be a bit of a challange. You might want to look at the Delta 44, which is listed for $229 at 8th Street. 4 Ins and 4 Outs, with a breakout box.

Sonar is an excellent choice, IMHO. Easy to use and learn, and does most of everything.


Good luck, and I expect we'll be seeing more of you around here. :)
 
You probably want to look here... for available well known home studio soundcards, though none seems to be under $150 :o

Yup, SONAR is the best option you get. You'll get bussy makin' music instead of worrying about a thing for long time :)

Be back here if you have any difficulties running/configuring it :) Like The Almighty Dachay2tnr mentioned above, this BBS has better support team than Cakewalk site itself :D

;)
Jaymz



...please consider Pre-ordering Homerecording.Comp CD's Vol 2 :)
 
Thank you to all of you.

You are right...it seems extremely friendly here at this site.

Hope to be able to "pay it forward" some day.

Denver
 
The MAYA44 (see above link) is a good card. A friend of mine has it, and I've recorded with it many times (and it's the baby brother for the Inca88 :D)...
 
Yeah, I'm considering buying one myself.

I just got an ADA MicroCAB II and thought it would be cool to record my guitar using it along with a couple mics on my speaker cab.

Moskus, do you know of any other retail sites that sell Maya and Inca cards?

Also, is the mic preamp a useful feature?

Would it help for recording vocals by plugging a mic (SM57) direct to it?
 
LOL, was gonna change something...got this instead...

The administrator has specified that you can only edit messages for 727 minutes after you have posted. This limit has expired, so you must contact the administrator to make alterations on your message.

Why 727 minutes? lol

Anyway, about the mic preamp that's built in on Maya44, would it be noticably better than plugging a mic to a soundcard without a built in mic preamp?
 
Jammer said:
Why 727 minutes? lol

Anyway, about the mic preamp that's built in on Maya44, would it be noticably better than plugging a mic to a soundcard without a built in mic preamp?
Click to expand...
Why 727 minutes? Because that's exactly 12.12 hours... :D

The mic.pre-amp would work much better than not using a mic.preamp because that would not work... ;) But it's way better than a Creative mic.input. The Maya44s mic.input can actually be used for recording. :) It's better than Creative but not as good as the ones on my Soundcraft F1 mixer...

I live in Norway... the retailer I use would not help. Well it would if you decide to get broke. :D I would just search on the net. Apparently there's a lot selling Audiotrak cards.
 
I don't understand what you mean by this:

"The mic.pre-amp would work much better than not using a mic.preamp because that would not work... "

Are you saying my Creative soundcard has a mic preamp in it?
Because I can plug a mic into it and record fine...so it works. Just as it would work plugging a mic into my mixer with no preamp.

Hmm, just found some info about Maya44 here:
http://www.hardwareseeker.com/resourcelink.html?rlid=51690
 
Jammer said:
Are you saying my Creative soundcard has a mic preamp in it?
Because I can plug a mic into it and record fine...so it works. Just as it would work plugging a mic into my mixer with no preamp.
Click to expand...
Yes. Most creative soundcards has a mic.input built into it. And it SUCKS! It is very baaaaad!

Basically there's to types of inputs: Line In and Mic In.

Line In is for CD-players, guitar amp.simulators, DATs, whatever, anything that gives you a Line level (around -10dBu, if I remember correctly)

Mic In is for microphones (really?!?). A microphone delivers a much quieter signal than a f.ex. CD-player, and therefore needs to be amplified. Hence: Microphone preamplifier.

Believe me: Plug the mic into the Line In and you won't hear a thing. ;)
 
Why not get the OEM?

I usually get OEM whitebox products...same product, no frills.

Anyway, I found this tidbit in the Maya44 review:

"The microphone preamp integrated into the card is actually awful. When it's switched on the noise level is considerable - around -60 dB. When connecting the microphone the noise level added by the preamp is really high. The mic preamp integrated into the SB Live! is really perfect as compared with the Maya44. I wish it were a flaw of just the given sample. Unfortunately, we couldn't test the preamp on another sample. "

Interesting.
 
Here's why you won't go for the OEM-version:
moskus said:
You see that about a year ago the "E.BAND ANDA.008 (INCA 88 OEM)" was sold as "Audiotrak Inca88 OEM" and it's made in Spain. Obviously, Audiotrak (from Japan) got pissed off and sued the company producing the OEM-version.

Basically it was exactly the same card. Audiotrak was speculating about stolen card-plans, etc... BUT you can't use Audiotraks drivers for the OEM-version, meaning the card itself is useless! I've heard a few users of the OEM-version complain. The card doesen't work at all (well, you can record and playback, but latency is 100ms+++ and stability is out the window)...

What I'm trying to say:

Get the original!
Click to expand...


Better mic.inputs on the SB Live then on the Maya44? :confused:

LOL!!!! :D :D :D :D
Best joke today... ;)



I don't get it. Either he's got a super-Live or he's doing something wrong. Nothing sound as bad as the mic.input on Creative-cards. I've used the mic.inputs on the Maya44 (not on the Inca88, because I have the mixer), and they were good. Not great. SB Live!'s mic input is bad. Not even close. ;)
 
I dunno, he did say he wished he had a second card to try, in case it was a dud.

Anyway, for anyone interested (read: me), here's the breakdown of the good and bad...

Highs:

-excellent clear sound in the 16bit/44.1kHz mode
-special headphone jack
-professional software interfaces supported - ASIO 2.0, GSIF
-frequently updated and stably working E-WDM drivers
-possibility of software routing of sound streams (DirectWIRE)
-low latency in the Sonar and ASIO applications
-confident operation in DirectSound applications (games)
-inexpensive.

Lows:

-lack of the 24/96 mode support
-lack of a digital input and a MIDI interface
-extremely low quality of the microphone preamplifier
-not widely available.
 
I do not agree with two things:
- frequently updated E-WDM drivers
- extremely low quality of the microphone preamplifier (as discussed before)

The last update of the E-WDM-drivers was 7 months ago. But they've been very good updating the drivers when problems occured. I had problems installing the 3.20-version of the drivers. Two days later they had made me a special installation routine, and it worked like a charm.

But now with version 3.60, I don't have any problems. :)
 
So, at least the current drivers are good.

As for the mic preamp, it really doesn't matter to me anyway. I can always use my mixer if i have any problems.

Thanks for the "input by experience". Hard to argue with that.
 
Decided on the Audiophile 2496.
It is compatible with all aspects of my PC (including XP I'm told)

Found one on www.digitraxx.com for 145.00/free shipping. (hurry if interested sale ends soon)

I should have it in a few days.

TKU


Denver
 
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