New to computer recording...PLEASE HELP!

  • Thread starter Thread starter arthurnoah
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arthurnoah

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OK, so i have just purchased a Sony VAIO FW270J and the H-4. When i was doing research a month back, before my purchases, I saw a review that said the Cubase software that comes with the H-4 wasn't entirely compatible with Vista. the guy had to use the software he already had to get his computer to recognize the H-4. i guess i should say this is my first venture into my own recording equipment, and i'm certain i don't know what i'm doing so any information will be helpful. I downloaded Cubase LE to my computer, but the Acrobat reader section of the download wouldn't comply so I assume this is what the guy meant by Cubase being incompatible with the H-4 on Vista, please correct me if i'm wrong. Hence, the computer does not seem to recognize the H-4 as any type of audio interface.

The first sign i was experiencing problems occured when i opened Cubase to attempt to export my recording from the H-4. when i clicked the files list the project i was attempting to import wasn't there. I followed the given instructions for connecting the H-4 to a USB port and going through the menu selections and everything on it. But, i was unsuccesful at extracting my file.

then i selected for the device to connect to my computer again and thought that maybe i could get a response by recording directly through the H-4 to Cubase. I think it was when I hit record that the screen went out, a blue screen came up saying the computer was improperly shutting down and listed a few reasons why. before i could read them all the computer restarted. I unhooked the H-4 and began going through the instructions again. To the best of my knowledge (very limited) all of the processing rates were appropriate. Does this sound like what would happen if the H-4 was processing at a higher rate than 44.1 like the computer/software was set up to do? it happened so fast i'm really not sure what i did.

So, then I checked the computer control panel to make sure the H-4 was assigned to the correct programs as my start-up manual instructed, but the H-4 was not a listed device under my sounds panel. The manual was actually insturcting for set-up on Windows XP, and this made me think of the incompatibility reference in the review i read. And now there is a bit of fear stricken into me that I may damage something if i keep pressing without some help. So here is what i'm wandering:

1. Did i make a descent/compatible purchase between the VAIO and the H-4?
2. If it is the software, what is some recommended software for my set-up?
3. Should I just return the H-4, and invest in a good interface and a few mics?

in the end I only hope to record vocals, guitar rhythm/lead tracks, and bass.
any help will be greatly appreciated. it is probably quite apparent i don't know what i'm doing.
 
-> 3. Should I just return the H-4, and invest in a good interface and a few mics?

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My obligatory standard reply-for-newbies that I keep in Wordpad:

First off, immediately get a good beginner recording book (spend $20 before spending hundred$/thousand$) that shows you what you need to get started and how to hook everything up in your studio:
Home Recording for Musicians by Jeff Strong - $15
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/07...ce&n=283155&n=507846&s=books&v=glance
(Wish I'd had that when I started; would have saved me lots of money and time and grief)
You can also pick up this book in most any Borders or Barnes&Noble in the Music Books section!

Another good one is: Recording Guitar and Bass by Huw Price
http://www.amazon.com/Recording-Gui...=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1215734124&sr=1-1
(I got my copy at a place called Half-Price Books for $6!!)

And you can get a FREE subscription to TapeOp magazine at www.tapeop.com

Barnes&Noble or Borders are great places to start --- they have recording books and you can go get a snack or coffee and read them for FREE! Don't pass by a good recording book --- this is a VERY technical hobby and you REALLY want to start a reference library!!!

Good Newbie guides that also explains all the basics and have good tips:
http://www.tweakheadz.com/guide.htm
http://www.computermusic.co.uk/page/computermusic?entry=free_beginner_pdfs
http://www.harmony-central.com/articles/

21 Ways To Assemble a Recording Rig: http://www.tweakheadz.com/rigs.htm

Also Good Info: http://www.theprojectstudiohandbook.com/directory.htm

Other recording books: http://musicbooksplus.com/home-recording-c-31.html

Still using a built-in soundcard?? Unfortunately, those are made with less than $1 worth of chips for beeps, boops and light gaming (not to mention cheapness for the manufacturer) and NOT quality music production.
#1 Rule of Recording: You MUST replace the built-in soundcard.
Here's a good guide and suggestions: http://www.tweakheadz.com/soundcards_for_the_home_studio.htm


Plenty of software around to record for FREE to start out on:

Audacity: http://audacity.sourceforge.net (multi-track with VST support)
Wavosaur: http://www.wavosaur.com/ (a stereo audio file editor with VST support)\
Kristal: http://www.kreatives.org/kristal/
Other freebies and shareware: www.hitsquad.com/smm

Another great option is REAPER at http://www.cockos.com/reaper/ (It's $50 but runs for free until you get guilty enough to pay for it...)
I use Reaper and highly reccomend it...

Music Notation and MIDI recording: Melody Assistant ($25) and Harmony Assistant ($80) have the power of $600 notation packages - http://myriad-online.com
Demo you can try on the website.

And you can go out to any Barnes&Noble or Borders and pick up "Computer Music" magazine - they have a full FREE studio suite in every issue's DVD, including sequencers, plugins and tons of audio samples. (November 2006 they gave away a full copy of SamplitudeV8SE worth $150, November 2007-on the racks Dec in the US- they gave away SamplitudeV9SE. It pays to watch 'em for giveaways...)
 
ok, thats all definitely helpful and thanks. what should i do about the computer not recognizing the H-4 as a device? would that be cured by downloading some type of recording software? i thought i should maybe contact zoom or sony, but I came here to see what help i could get before i spend hours and hours on the phone with tech support. I'm pretty comfortable using the hardware I have. I've done some basic recording on other people's machines and took a course some time ago, but my computer knowledge is sub-par and I've never been very good at getting software applied to them. thanks again for the suggestions though
 
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