Please help.....Recording woes!!

[RobV]

Hey guys,

This is my first post here so...hello. Unfortunately it's also pretty long so please bear with me

I've finally got a chance to start working with my new DAW, monitors
and new mixer. I've read about stuff here so thanks for the suggestions in the past. It really helped. Now I need more help I have a few things that I'm having problems with. Again.... please bear with me.

What I'm doing right now is just trying to record some drums and
guitar tracks to learn about all this new gear and get a feel for
things.

First, just to give a background on how I have things set up, it's
like this (I hope it doesn't confuse you):

2.4GHZ Intel P4-512RAM-120Gig HD-Windows XP Pro PC
M-Audio Audiophile 2496 sound card
Recording Software: Guitar Tracks Pro
Wharfdale Monitors

Wharfdale R-200 8CH Mixer
(Here's a link to what it looks like:
http://www.proaudiosystems.co.uk/acatalog/Compact.html)

Shure SM-57 (to mic guitar cab)
Boss DR-3 Drum Machine

I have it hooked up like this:
Drum Machine --> Mixer Ch1
SM-57 --> Mixer Ch2

Mixer Main Outputs --> M-Audio Inputs
M-Audio Outputs --> Mixer 2track Inputs
Mixer Ctrl Rm Output --> Monitors
Headphone Out --> Fostech headphones

I did it like this because I want to be able to adjust the monitor
volume with the mixer controls. Now to my problems (finally).

1) Let's say I record a drum track. Now I want to record a guitar
track. As I'm recording my guitar track, the drums are being recorded
again along with the guitar. There is a button on the mixer that reads
"2tk to mix" and it sounds like that's what may be causing the mix to
be recorded during playback, but if I leave it off, I can't hear the
previous drum track I've laid down. I don't know what to do here????

2) If I record a separate track, while just playing back a previous
track recorded earlier (I'm not playing anything at this time, just
listening and looking), the previous recording is recorded on that
track and any other track I arm and record on. Is this a setting on
the M-Audio card I have to change?????

3) I can't seem to get a good level from my SM-57 when I record.
Granted, I'm playing at a pretty low volume right now, but I have to
crank the "Gain" and "Level" of the channel on the mixer to get the
soundcard to get a high enough signal. Consequently when I do this, I
get quite a bit of noise and hiss on the recording. If I were to play
louder, would this problem go away? I tried talking into the mic and
almost blew my head off it was so loud, so I'm pretty sure the mic is
OK. The mixer does have mic preamps in it.

4) Is it possible with this set up to record the drums on one track,
and the guitar on a separate track all by themselves, while recording
them simultaneously? Remember right now I've got the Main Mixer
Outputs (L & R Output) going to the inputs (L & R inputs) of the
M-Audio soundcard. When I started out, this is another thing I thought
I could do that I can't now.

Well, I think that's it for now. I think some of this may be from the
way I have it hooked up or configured, but I did follow some diagrams
I've seen in magazines and from what people have suggested, so it is
something that I've either overlooked or just don't know.

I've recorded a lot with this same software on my other "crap"
computer (with your basic Soundblaster sound card), but it was mostly
all direct with my GT-6. Those recordings came out fine. Now that I've
introduced this outboard mixer, monitors, and new sound card, I feel
like I'm lost on a desert island.

Please help.

Thanks

Rob


Checkout my music at:
http://www.soundclick.com/bands/7/robvmusic.htm

Hos 8:7

 

[Bulls Hit]

1) Let's say I record a drum track. Now I want to record a guitar
track. As I'm recording my guitar track, the drums are being recorded
again along with the guitar. There is a button on the mixer that reads
"2tk to mix" and it sounds like that's what may be causing the mix to
be recorded during playback, but if I leave it off, I can't hear the
previous drum track I've laid down. I don't know what to do here????

You need to leave that off and also select the other button '2tk to phones/control room' to hear the 2 track input in your monitors, but not have it go back to your main mix.

2) If I record a separate track, while just playing back a previous
track recorded earlier (I'm not playing anything at this time, just
listening and looking), the previous recording is recorded on that
track and any other track I arm and record on. Is this a setting on
the M-Audio card I have to change?????

This is the same as your first problem, same solution.
Also make sure on the Delta Control Panel, Patchbay Router, that the 'Monitor Mixer' button is selected.

3) I can't seem to get a good level from my SM-57 when I record.
Granted, I'm playing at a pretty low volume right now, but I have to
crank the "Gain" and "Level" of the channel on the mixer to get the
soundcard to get a high enough signal. Consequently when I do this, I
get quite a bit of noise and hiss on the recording. If I were to play
louder, would this problem go away? I tried talking into the mic and
almost blew my head off it was so loud, so I'm pretty sure the mic is
OK. The mixer does have mic preamps in it.

Have a look at the last tab on the Delta Control Panel. Not sure, but there could be switches on the there that let you select -10, +4 or consumer input levels. Adjust those to see which works best

4) Is it possible with this set up to record the drums on one track,
and the guitar on a separate track all by themselves, while recording
them simultaneously? Remember right now I've got the Main Mixer
Outputs (L & R Output) going to the inputs (L & R inputs) of the
M-Audio soundcard. When I started out, this is another thing I thought
I could do that I can't now.

Pan the mixer channel1 hard left, and channel 2 hard right. This will send the drums to the left input of the sound card, and the guitar to the right input. You can now assign each input to a seperate track in your s/w

 

[RobV]

Great! Thank you very much. I will try those suggestions!



Rob

 

[RobV]

Bulls Hit,

I tried what you said and it worked GREAT!!! I'm a happy guy

One thing that is a little wierd, another person suggested that I use the AUX SEND to the M-Audio sound card, and then use the AUX SEND pot on that channel to adjust the level going to the sound card.

That worked fine also. What's strange is that my signal goin out to the sound card was much STRONGER when I used the "AUX method". I kind of liked that because I'm recording at such a low volume right now, that it just seemed to turn out better.

Oh well, I guess I have a couple different methods/techniques to use

The fog is slowly clearing and getting to figure out this stuff. I just want to play my guitar

Thanks again!

Rob

 

[Bulls Hit]

Good stuff.

That's the beauty of mixers - they give you the flexibility to route signals several different ways. The best way is the one that works best for you