Newbie advice

  • Thread starter Thread starter vrmarlar
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vrmarlar

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Newbie advice needed

Hi,

I posted on here a while back for advice and finally got about everything I was told I needed to set up a computer-based studio. I posted something like this to the Computer forum a few days ago and thought it may be more appropriate to post here. Anyway, here's what I have.

1)Desktop, Dell, Pent. 4 2.40 Ghz, 256 MB RAM---the computer came with a nice Altec Lansing Surround Sound System which sounds nice and plan to use for now before investing in monitors

2)Getting ready to install M-Audio 2496 Sound Card----the saleman sold me the Audiophile USB interface telling me they were out of the 2496 and this would be even better----I've been told by some on the computer forum to return this USB to him and get the sound card which I plan to do this weekend.

3)M-Audio Audiobuddy mic preamp----I originally wanted the Studio Projects VTB-1 preamp but again, the store was out of this item and the saleman told me the Audiobuddy was just as good. Any opinions on that??

4)Cakewalk Home Studio 2002 --was told this would be all I should need that software had to offer. I've used it enough to know how to lay down tracks and do some mixing but have not invested enough time to commit to it. Is this OK for a newbie? I'm a quck learner and pretty good with computers.

5)Shure SM57 with a boom stand. Was told its about a verstile a mic as you can get. I want to get a feel for things a little before I invest futher in mics.

This studio is for personal use. Plan on laying tracks for banjo, acoustic/electic guitar, bass, mild percussion, etc. Can someone tell me how many tracks I can simultaneously record with what I have? I understand there are two channels on the preamp, but what does the sound card allow me to do? Also, what are the deninite no-no's about plugging instruments directly into a sound card?

Any feedback is much appreciated.

Thanks,

Rich
 
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a lot to cover, but here goes...

... you've asked quite a few questions here. i'll try to answer a few of them that i think i can weigh in on.
yes, i think you are better off with the audiophile 2496 card (over the usb), and i feel it's a great sounding card for the money.
i think the audiobuddy is pretty good for the money as well. i think the vtb-1 is a step up from there in sound quality, and offers more versatility, but it also costs almost twice as much, and is only one channel. if you are short on cash and think you will be needing two inputs, then the audiobuddy is a good place to start. by the way, the 2496 card is a stereo card, so it will take the outputs from your preamp, with an unbalanced 1/4 ich to rca cable(keep'em as short as you can).
i'll leave the software question to someone with more experience there... i've used protools, and cubase, but am not as familiar with cakewalk.
in closing i'll say that i noticed that you didn't mention headphones, which you will need for monitoring your performances while tracking... although with a 57, you could probably get away with monitoring through your speakers. it's a little tricky getting levels you can hear without excessive bleed into the mic, but it's been done before. for starting out, an sm57 is not a bad way to go at all, and you'll always keep it around for some sources in the future.
peace - jv
 
1. Save up your money then get a GOOD pair of monitors (they are ESSENTIAL).

2.Definitely get the PCI version.

3. I am not familiar with the SP VTB-1's

4. Yes, that should do the trick. Once you have the money, you can step up to Sonar 3.0 Producer Edition

5. Yes, the SM-57 is a good choice to start out using.
 
read some of my newbie articles in this section.
i wrote them for folks like you. also on page 2 back.
if you dont want bloated software try packages like n track and multitrackstudio.com. if you dont believe me talk to users like satchanza
 
also

i would take a vtb1 over an audiobuddy - which is still decent anyday.
 
Thanks. I do plan to get some monitors soon. For now, I've got a nice pair of Sony headphones. I think I paid $100 or so for a while back.

I still have the question about the sound card. What are the no-no's? What can/can't you plug directly into it? How many tracks will I be able to record simultaneously with what I have?

Rich
 
You'll be able to record 2 tracks simultaneously with the PCI Audiophile.

If you want to record say 4 tracks simultaneously, you'd need to spend another $50 and get the Delta 44
 
You can record another 2 tracks at a time with the Delta 44 as listed above for $50. For another $150 (I know that is a significant amount of money), you can get a TC Electronics M300 for an outboard effects unit, PLUS it will do S/PDIF conversion, so you can run two inputs through it, bypass the effects, and have all 4 inputs active on the 2496... this is what I do.
 
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