new to cubase/old to 4 track cassett

  • Thread starter Thread starter jwgeetar
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jwgeetar

jwgeetar

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i want to record on my cpu using Cubase.i haven't "bought" cubase yet but am familiar with the demo.i'm putting together what i will need to start recording.Your input
is truly appreciated from an old 4 track cassett geezer.

these are my questions:

1-is a 700mhz duron with a large hard drive(only for audio)
good enough?(not into MACS)

2-i have a cheap awe64 sound card. what is a good recording
card(reasonably priced)with the right ins/outs that will work?
3-do i absolutely need an external mixer(thinking small 8 channel mackie)to record or just use the mixer in cubase?

4-if i create a drum part/loop on my software, does each drum part go on seperate virtual tracks so i can control the eq/pan/effects later in the mix? you know like 8 drum parts on 8 tracks?

many more questions, but i'm soaking up a little at a time.
thanks again----geetar
(any helpful links also?)
 
1-is a 700mhz duron with a large hard drive(only for audio)
good enough?(not into MACS)

Yes, more that suitable. But, make sure the soundcard you choose has been tested to work with AMD Athlon/Duron systems. Get 7200RPM for your audio drive.

2-i have a cheap awe64 sound card. what is a good recording
card(reasonably priced)with the right ins/outs that will work?

Again, this will relate to question 1. Many cards out there ranging from $200 to $1000's. How many inputs and outputs do you need, what's your budget.

3-do i absolutely need an external mixer(thinking small 8 channel mackie)to record or just use the mixer in cubase?

Unless you get a soundcard with built-in preamps you will need a way of getting your mic level up to line level for output to your soundcard. Again, this depends what you plan to record. If you record drums you will need many soundcard inputs and preamps. A small quiet mixer will do the job. But if you don't need to record more than 1 or 2 sources at a time, maybe a good dedicated stereo preamp will do.

4-if i create a drum part/loop on my software, does each drum part go on seperate virtual tracks so i can control the eq/pan/effects later in the mix? you know like 8 drum parts on 8 tracks?

I think so. Depends on the software used to create the loops. If you can export each part as a wav file, just import it into Cubase on seperate tracks.
 
thanks a lot emeric, that helps! i don't plan(now anyway)
on recording a set of drums. i want to create drum parts
with software. do you think i need an external mixer to do the mixdown later? i am a singer/songwriter that will record one or two instruments at a time, on top of my rhythm parts. i need to know how to approach the drum situation the most. i realize that "just doing it" is the best but i don't want to buy something i don't need or can't use any way.

do you know of any internet link that will explain the track
transferrin/of what i'm looking for? thanks a again,geetar
 
I don't think you need a mixer if you plan to only record 2 tracks at a time. A real mixer does still come in handy though, even if your not using them for mixdown. Mixing can be done via software. You probably don't need 8in/8out soundcard either. 2 in 2 out would do. Which card, many of them out there - do a search on "soundcard" on this BBS. One thing you still will need is a preamp if you intend to record any microphone sources. Stand alone preamp's range from $100 to 1000's. The only sound card I can think of that has built in preamps is the Aardvark Direct Pro. It's received favourable reviews. http://www.aardvark-pro.com Check for compatability with AMD/VIA chipset based motherboards though.

I don't do the software drumming thing, but I have heard some very impressive stuff with fruity loops. There are a few others, maybe someone else knows? I use fruity loops to create a simple click track, save it as a wave file and then import it to 1 track in Cubase. I don't see why you couldn't do the same across multiple tracks/parts.

Good luck
 
ok emeric,(and others)now we're talkin. thanks for the link.below i took a quote off the ardvark site about the DP24/96 breakout box/sound card.

1-where it says."You still need an audio recording application to do all the editing and add even more effects and especially for the mixdown where you really make your mix perfect".
2-is this where i would need to buy cubase 5--or--an outboard mixer still to record and mixdown?

QUOTE:
The DIRECT PRO 24/96 consists of hardware and software that acts just like an outboard mixer, effects and a professional audio card and sounds like no other. You still need an audio recording application to do all the editing and add even more effects and especially for the mixdown where you really make your mix perfect. Of course the DIRECT PRO 24/96 comes with a powerful multitrack recording software so it’s perfectly usable right out of the box, but it’s also been extensively tested with almost any audio recording software you choose to work with.
 
No, you don't need an outboard mixer since the DP has preamps. But an application for recording, adding directx FX, and mixing/mixdown via a software interface is still essential.


Like: Cubase, Logic, Vegas Pro. Check out N-Track as well, cheap and many people on the board have had good luck with it. http://www.fasoft.com

You may also consider a 2 track editor for editing your final 2 track wav's that you export from your multitracker software. Soundforge is popular, but 16bit. Steinberg Wavelab is the best, but $$$. Another decent one in a good price range is Goldwave, don't know if it supports higher bit's than 16 but it is cheaper than Soundforge and probably just as good. http://www.goldwave.com

And for each of these programs you can buy directx plugin's such as reverbs, EQ's etc. These are seperate bits of software that work with your multitracker and 2 track editor.

I would consider the cheap route first, n-track and goldwave. Both are available as free trials. If needed upgrade to the more expensive ones later.
 
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