newbie help with REAPER

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kingdabeaki

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Hello. My purpose is to record rough demos on my home computer to be able to burn to a cd and take to band practice. All I want to do is use my MIDI keyboard for drums and record 2 guitar tracks and 1 vocal track.

Today I purchased an M-AUDIO Fast Track USB Interface. I am using the program Reaper because I need simplicity and cheapness.

I have a fairly crappy Sterling Audio FET condeser mic and a Gibson Les Paul Studio guitar.

I can hear the guitar through headphones when connected to the interface.
I can hear myself "checking" in the headphones. The vocal is barely audible though no matter how much the volume is turned up.

I changed all of the preferences in Reaper audio device options and followed all of the set up instructions in the manual. I can even record a track.

The problem is that I hear a persistent deathly hum in the headphones and the vocals cannot record audibly unless you scream into the microphone. The inputs on the track are turned up and without saying anything into the microphone, the levels constantly go up and down from the hum. The microphone and cable are brand new.

I searched and called friends but couldn't seem to find an answer aside from latency settings which I believe are where they should be. Can anyone help me or point me to an existing article that I couldn't find? I have a feeling I am missing something simple in my recording ignorance.

Thanks a lot,
Brad:)
 
sorry quick question to start the ball rolling
might seem like a dumb question but are u running ur condenser with phantom power?
 
snellular5 said:
sorry quick question to start the ball rolling
might seem like a dumb question but are u running ur condenser with phantom power?
Click to expand...


You probably already know this, but if that's the case, the FTP does have a phantom power switch in the back.
 
new problem

Ok, I don't have a phantom power switch and I was actually able to eliminate that terrible hum by changing a few settings. Still can't get the mic to record but I think it is because the FastTrack doesn't have enough power to run the condenser mic? Forgive me if that is ignorant thinking. I can now at least record a guitar track but there is a constant clicking and the guitar sounds like a bass or like the notes are an octave lower. ?? I recorded some stuff on Windows recorder and it plays back normal. I also downloaded an N-track demo and the guitar records fine. The problem is that I really like Reaper! I will try to maybe post on a REaper forum if there are no suggestions. Thanks a lot for any help. This has been so frustrating!
 
PHantom

hey frog, this version doesn't have that switch. it only cost $100. maybe that is my problem? there are a few versions of this one. this is the m-audio fast track usb
 
kingdabeaki said:
hey frog, this version doesn't have that switch. it only cost $100. maybe that is my problem? there are a few versions of this one. this is the m-audio fast track usb
Click to expand...

I just re-read your original post...I just bought one on Monday for $199, but mine's the fast track pro usb...maybe the extra $99 was for the phantom power switch.

If phantom power is what you need, maybe buy a DI box of some sort w/ phantom power. I think my LR Baggs DI that I have for my acoustic guitar has it, but you could probably get something cheaper.

Good luck!
 
as a quick check, try to get your hands on a mic that doesn't require power & see if that works.
 
ya just adding to what frog said thats all u need to get that sucker runnin is some phantom but if u just wanna give up look for some cheap dynamic mics those will always be great
 
ok

i tried a cheap mic and it records fine but the playback is the same as the guitar... sounds like an octave lower and slow :(
 
hmm

hmm i dont no wat do to bout that
im just gonna take a shot in the dark maybe sample rate or something?
 
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