Please help! Problems recording audio into my new PC

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Parkesy50

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Hi all,

I've just joined this website and am desparately hoping that someone can help me so I don't have to throw my PC out of the window... I'm a 'newbie' in a sense (new computer, new soundcards, new to Windows 7 and new to Ableton 8) but have been recording audio (guitars and vocals) into my old PC for years using my trusty old Cubase (SX, v1.0 I think...it's ancient anyway).

It's a very long story so will attempt to keep it as brief as I can.....I bought a new PC with 8gb RAM as my old one only had 4gb so Abelton wouldn't run properly. I bought it without an Operating system so bought and installed Windows 7 (home edition) myself. The PC came with Realtek HD Audio driver. I installed Cubase SX and Ableton 8, both installed fine. To cut a very long story short, I have been unable to record audio properly ever since - I have tried two other soundcards (both older Soundblaster devices - the last one I tried was SB0220), with varying problems - at one point I could only hear and record through the left speaker, and now, with the SB0220 I can hear the guitar (without even opening Cubase or Ableton) through the speakers, but when I open Cubase/Ableton they don't 'hear' it, ie the sound bars don't move when I play and when I attempt to record it records silence. Apart from the Realtek, I know that the other two soundcards I have tried aren't officially compatible with Windows 7, but I have downloaded drivers from kxproject.lugosoft.com which apparently should work fine.

I'm a complete dunce with regards to computers, soundcards, 'line in/line out', etc etc so I don't know if the problems are related to my computer itself, the soundcard, Windows 7 compatibility, Cubase/Ableton, or my lack of knowledge on how to set up audio recording settings through the soundcard/driver (on my old PC I literally plugged my guitar in and it worked!)

All I can think of so far is:
- Cubase SXv1 isn't compatible with Windows 7 - likely, but as I'm getting the same problem in Ableton not likely to be the issue.
- Soundcards - of the two soundcards I installed, I know they weren't Windows 7 compatible. But, a) I downloaded the drivers and b) Realtek is compatible, so I'm not sure this is the issue. Maybe I need a better soundcard??

Apologies for the length of this post, (and if you're still reading, thanks!) but as you can tell I have no idea how to fix the issue, or even what the issue is. If anyone has any tips, things I can try, 'how to set up your computer to record audio' type-guides, tips on Ableton/Cubase, how to configure/setup etc the soundcard settings etc it would be very much appreciated!

Cheers
Parkesy50
 
There is a simple solution, but it may not be what you want.
Take a look at dedicated audio interfaces. Even the cheapest and simplest ones from tascam, maudio, presonus etc are capable of much higher quality than built in sound cards.
This is especially important if you are plugging your guitar in directly, because are guitar doesn't have a line level output.
Dedicated interfaces usually have a built in direct capable for guitars and basses.


If that doesn't interest you at all, maybe someone with a bit more knowledge of windows and built in sound can help you out.
Best of luck.
 
Ditch those Soundblasters and get a decent interface.

The part about only "hearing" and recording the left speaker is about mono recording. If you are only recording a guitar through a line input you should be getting a mono recording. Move the pan on that channel to center to hear it from both speakers.

But seriously, get rid of those soundcards, they are crap.

Go to Sweetwater and check out USB or Firewire (if you have that capability) interfaces. You'll see interfaces that also have built-in mic and instrument preamps that will give you way better sounding recordings than those SB cards.

You should be able to find something in the $150-200US range that will be a vast improvement over your current setup.
 
Thanks both. I have heard that an audio interface should help with this, so will look into it. Don't have much money to spend at the moment, that's the problem, so was hoping for a short-term solution - once I get some money I'll definitely be looking at audio interfaces though, so thanks for the tips!
 
Parkesy50 said:
Thanks both. I have heard that an audio interface should help with this, so will look into it. Don't have much money to spend at the moment, that's the problem, so was hoping for a short-term solution - once I get some money I'll definitely be looking at audio interfaces though, so thanks for the tips!
Click to expand...

don't forget your interface CAN still be pci but what I did was returned my sound boaster and grabbed an m-audio audiophile because I don't need a ton of channels... in fact I only do 1 channel at a time so its perfect. and if u don't get an audiophile but still go pci don't forget your asio4all


Ps your problem may have even been from not having the asio drivers in the first place
 
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