Newbie to PC recording - HELP!!

[Allan Broad]

I want to use my lop top for recording; acoustic guitars and vocals mostly. I have installed the Tascam US122 but i am getting sound drop outs with the Cubasis program. I will increase my RAM memory but what is the best way to go regarding software?

Any advice in using LAP Tops? I'm even willing to scrap the US122 if there is a better way to go...

Thanks for any assistance offered

Allan - Amsterdam, The Netherlands

 

[adam_in_audio]

I always try to steer people clear of any usb 1.0 devices for pro sound, it just doesn't cut it. I've never played with the us-122 but I know that people have had 'issues' with it.

For my laptop I've got something called the Echo Indigo I/O. I got it mostly for playing live but it does have an input jack and pristine sound. I've never had a problem with audio flaking out or anything.

Another option is firewire or USB 2.0, I guess since the transfer is faster it works better. What kind of laptop do you have?? (the specs)

 

[Allan Broad]

I always try to steer people clear of any usb 1.0 devices for pro sound, it just doesn't cut it. I've never played with the us-122 but I know that people have had 'issues' with it.

For my laptop I've got something called the Echo Indigo I/O. I got it mostly for playing live but it does have an input jack and pristine sound. I've never had a problem with audio flaking out or anything.

Another option is firewire or USB 2.0, I guess since the transfer is faster it works better. What kind of laptop do you have?? (the specs)

Hi Adam... Thanks for your response...

I've not heard of Echo Indigo.. What is it? Is it a seperate unit that i need to configure with my PC? Is it easy to set up and use?

My Lap top is a presario with a Athlon 4 processor... 996 MHz
128 MB RAM
18 gig hard disk.

What i want to do is record 3 or 4 guitar tracks and then several vocals... You got me interested in how you would use it live though!

Cheers

Allan

 

[adam_in_audio]

hi,

the Echo Indigo I/O is a little card you stick into the cardbus slot of your laptop. Here's a review:

http://www.extremetech.com/article2/0,1558,1325716,00.asp?kc=ETNKT0209KTX1K0100361

the Indigo card is based on a much bigger product called the Echo Layla laptop system (which offers like 8 ins/outs). It's EXTREMELY easy and simple to set up. It's espescially good if you have a mixer. There are different versions: the playback only one, the I/O (the one I have, and the DJ one (it's for live DJ use I think)

Your Athlon is fine, but you need more RAM. You should go at least 512 MB for pro audio apps if you can.

 

[Allan Broad]

Hi Adam

Is the software easy to use? I guess it comes with it's own? Can you use it with Cubase?

I'm going to get more RAM thanks... I was going to double the existing but i think you're absolutely right and i'll go for the 512MB. This might even solve my "cut out" problem!?!

With the indigo you plug the card into the cardbus slot... how do i set up a mixer with it?

Thanks very much again... most appreciated..

Allan

 

[adam_in_audio]

hi again,

yes, more RAM should solve your cut out problems (or at least some of them) and the more RAM you get, the easier it all will be

the Indigo comes with it's own "internal mixer" and it's sets it up in the control panel.

All you would have to do to set up a mixer is attach the cable (it comes with the indigo) from your monitor/main out and the Indigo on the laptop. Keep in mind that you'll only be able to record either one instrument (bass, guitar etc...) or one stereo track (full p.a. mix) at a time. It'll record in two track stereo if that's what you want.

The Indigo will work with everything except for Pro Tools (like anything of course). This includes: Cubase, Sonar, Logic, and even Gigastudio! ....that's pretty nice Echo is known for making very good products and drivers that are compatible with current computer software.

I got a chance to play around with the UA-20 which is the Edirol version of the US-122. I was getting a lot of skips and pops as well.... I really think it has something to do with USB 1.0, I'm not sure. But if you notice, there are no USB devices (that I know of) that record at 24/96khz....and this is the reason I went with the indigo. That, and the fact that I can just attach it to the laptop.

so yeah, upgrade your RAM and see if that fixes the problem. That's your cheapest solution. If it doesn't work, check out some other options (like the Indigo or Firewire devices)

Adam

 

[Imaduck]

To eliminate dropouts, like everybody else suggested, more RAM is definately what you need. 512 minimum, though I'd suggest a gig if you can afford it. Also, you may want to try getting an external hard disk (USB 2 or firewire) and recording on that one. Defragging whichever hard drive you're recording on will also help, along with increasing your virtual memory size. You may also want to watch for programs running in the background (Norton and McCaffee or however you spell it suck resources like crazy). Anyway, just a few suggestions.

 

[Allan Broad]

hi again,

yes, more RAM should solve your cut out problems (or at least some of them) and the more RAM you get, the easier it all will be

the Indigo comes with it's own "internal mixer" and it's sets it up in the control panel.

All you would have to do to set up a mixer is attach the cable (it comes with the indigo) from your monitor/main out and the Indigo on the laptop. Keep in mind that you'll only be able to record either one instrument (bass, guitar etc...) or one stereo track (full p.a. mix) at a time. It'll record in two track stereo if that's what you want.

The Indigo will work with everything except for Pro Tools (like anything of course). This includes: Cubase, Sonar, Logic, and even Gigastudio! ....that's pretty nice Echo is known for making very good products and drivers that are compatible with current computer software.

I got a chance to play around with the UA-20 which is the Edirol version of the US-122. I was getting a lot of skips and pops as well.... I really think it has something to do with USB 1.0, I'm not sure. But if you notice, there are no USB devices (that I know of) that record at 24/96khz....and this is the reason I went with the indigo. That, and the fact that I can just attach it to the laptop.

so yeah, upgrade your RAM and see if that fixes the problem. That's your cheapest solution. If it doesn't work, check out some other options (like the Indigo or Firewire devices)

Adam

Thanks for the advice...

I'll hunt around for some RAM for now.

What about effects, such as reverb? What do you use with the Indigo set up? Is this also easy? I was hoping to mix down and burn some CD's... anything else i need?

Cheers mate!

Allan

 

[Allan Broad]

To eliminate dropouts, like everybody else suggested, more RAM is definately what you need. 512 minimum, though I'd suggest a gig if you can afford it. Also, you may want to try getting an external hard disk (USB 2 or firewire) and recording on that one. Defragging whichever hard drive you're recording on will also help, along with increasing your virtual memory size. You may also want to watch for programs running in the background (Norton and McCaffee or however you spell it suck resources like crazy). Anyway, just a few suggestions.

Cheers... I got it! MORE RAM IT IS! I'm not running anything else on the lap top and it's not even hooked up to the net. I thought i would keep it specifically for recordning purposes. I'll check the defrag though... thx

Allan