Project PC Recording!

[seanx820]

Hey my name is Sean Cavanaugh and I am looking to build myself a new PC souly for the art of music and video making. I prob have like 2000 to spend (give or take a little) so I want the best that I can get. I am fairly new to recording stuff to my pc and recording programs but not new to making music or using a computer (i actually work for cisco systems programming routers and pcs). I currently have an AMD 64 bit processor and some cheezy audigy recording program / sound card where I just plug in a AMP cord right into my computer (or mike for regular piano) and it records. It does a good job of recording as you can see on my website->
http://myspace.com/seancav

this is not my computer so I need to make a desktop for myself->
I need to know the following->

-what programs are good (i wanted advanced programs not n00b ones)-
-what sound cards are good (i like have full audio in (not a big fan of MIDI b/c it dosnt have that many options)
-should i purchase myself a DJ type mixer? like turn tables at some point?
(i like to do a lot of my stuff LIVE, meaning i can play it LIVE meaning i can mix and play at the same time) (ALL OF MY MUSIC has been done this way so far using simple drum beats recorded and me playing ontop of it with two keyboards at the same time. (i have like this joystick on my KORG that controllers when the beat comes and goes ect if you go to my site to listen)

i am going to sam ash to look at a lot of this stuff to, but maybe you guys can help me with some ideas

i am thinking about going to best buy and some toher stores and finding some sound cards where I can have like 2-4 AMP audio ins for different mikes and devices. Probaly a AMD chip around 2.0 ghz, basic cd drive ect ect

no idea what to do for recording yet...
i have mikes, a KORG keyboard stuff like that allready for a computer

 

[guitarfreak12]

First off don't go with the best buy sound cards. You don't see serious recording stuff at best buy like mics, and mixers so don't expect the sound cards to be serious either. Try any of the M-Audio cards-delta 44, 2496. Just look at what you need inut wise. Cubase is a good program. So is the cakewalk sonar stuff. Don't get a DJ mixer, if you really want to get serious, get a two channel pre amp, or get a yamaha or mackie mixer, basically it all comes down to the quality of the pre amp. Depending on how many channels you want. You didn't say what mics you have, but I would consider putting good money into that, check the mic section. This is all going to go over 2 g's once you get it all by the way. Then you have to figure out where your recording is going to be, what space, the room acoustics, and what treatment you have to do. You also are going to need good monitors, trust me, you might pass them off in your mind, but you are going to need them more than just about anything else. This is all the first stage stuff by the way. It gets more crazy. And more expensive. But it's fun, and aggrivating at the same time. Good luck

 

[ssscientist]

not a big fan of MIDI b/c it dosnt have that many options

If you buy a soundcard without midi you will cut yourself off from all automation and controller options that can bring a dead sequence to life. Get one that has a midi port, even if you're not quite sure what it's good for right now.

Stay out of Best Buy if you're looking for ProAudio stuff. Sam Ash is a much better choice, and if you find the salesperson he or she may be able to steer you in the right direction. Don't start by saying 'I have $2000 to spend...' because they're still comissioned sales people - even the smart ones.

You may need a small mixer depending on the soundcard you decide on, but I don't know of any DJ mixers that I'd recommend for computer use - and you'd probably find turntables much more of a pain in the ass than they're worth - just MHO...

Just as a price guide, here are some links - soundcard one, soundcard/keyboard two and soundcard/computer interface three.

Now, software. Since you say you're not interested in the noob stuff I'll spare you links to Fruity Loops, N-track and PGmusic and stick with the pro-level stuff. Here's the audio/midi sequencer I use - Tracktion. Here's a link to another good one - Sonar Producer and one more for good measure - Cubase SX.

I'll leave the computer building in your capable hands - as long as you have a fast machine and are running XP (ick), all the stuff linked will work just fine.

And please refrain from linking your posts next time. It could be considered a sneaky way of crossposting and there are some very picky people around here.

 

[seanx820]

thanks a lot guys for the valuable information,

just b/c im the comp tech heres what i prob will be running

2.5 gig RAM
2-3.0 ghz 64 bit processor AMD
160 gig hard drive
ect ect

 

[Monkey Allen]

What a beast!

 

[noisedude]

All good posts. I second the advice to embrace MIDI - I suspect you just haven't really understood what you can do with it. Get some good free VST instruments for your software and use your Korg to control it through the MIDI interface which you will make sure to buy (!) and you will find out that a massive world of samplers, ROMplers and synths is at your fingertips for very little green.

Tracktion would probably be really good to get you going, Cubase SE would give you a large number of advanced features, and N-Track certainly seems to be popular. Any M-Audio or E-Mu interface will do you well - you have to work out what you need it to do though.

 

[NYMorningstar]

Save yourself a lot of trouble and get a second hard drive just for the audio too.

 

[guitarfreak12]

Save yourself a lot of trouble and get a second hard drive just for the audio too.

Good call! It'll process better too that way, less crashing and dropping. That's my experience with it

 

[astoebe]

Concerning MIDI, I record alot of audio tracks, but I would love to use MIDI if I had some money to get some good modules and such....so I wanted to second (or third?) the remark to embrace MIDI. Many people trash MIDI because all they've ever heard is the MS Synth stuff made for computer beeps. You can get some amazing sounds with good MIDI modules.....actually, you can even sample something you record and use it later. For instance, when my former band made their new album, the producer sampled each drum individually in case that after they had finished tracking the drums, if he found something he didn't like, he could fix it with MIDI....does that make sense.........sooooo the whole point of this story is that MIDI can do some incredible stuff.....oh yeah, and when you build the computer, definitely get a sound card made for audio recording. NOT a soundblaster sound card from best buy. For the best guitar/vocal/etc sounds you will need a good selection of mics....you'll probably want some preamps....maybe some good headphones....DEFINITELY some studio monitors for mixing....etc etc....as stated earlier, the whole process costs way of 2,000....but that is a great amount to start with and get some decent stuff. Just start building my friend, and you will never stop! I'd start out w/ soundcard and software....

ps- DUDE, i just saw that you go to Clemson! So do I.....crazy small world....I thought your name sounded familiar, so maybe you've been in some class of mine or something weird like that

pss- someone once told me that if you can't get a good sound with a noob software, upgrading won't help you.....good advice

 

[guitarfreak12]

pss- someone once told me that if you can't get a good sound with a noob software, upgrading won't help you.....good advice

True..true. Like that Traction software add says, "if your music sucks, it'll still suck, you'll just make it faster" The add is in Recording mag. I thought that was so funny.

 

[guitarfreak12]

Basically sean, you so far might have seen that it's quite in depth, and you might have recieved more advice than you asked for, but don't get discouraged. We are just letting you know the basics to make good stuff. There's always more to it than people think. One last thing I'll say, just listen to the advice in here, not too many would tell you to get something just out of being a purist, it's going to be needed. Some people are hardcore and think you can't get good stuff from anything but 100 g's worth of stuff. But just check out as many threads on what ever your next purchase might be and decide. The search engine has given me lots of good love'n in the past. First thing I'd invest in is a good mic, (check out the mic section on this site) good sound card, and a good mixer then software if you're not looking at midi yet, adobe audition is pretty cheap and is good to learn off of. That's the basis, then once you figure out that stuff sounds great on your own speakers but like poo in your car or on another stereo, you'll appreciate the advice of monitors. I would suggest checking out the threads on monitors and find out the specifics of WHY they are needed. I think the main page of www.homerecording.com has some info. Good luck man, welcome to the money suck hole. It's fun but we live off of pixy sticks and cheese in a can.

 

[astoebe]

It's fun but we live off of pixy sticks and cheese in a can.

that made me chuckle 'cause I'm a college student and pretty much live off of eggs, hot dogs, and cheese (sometimes combined)

 

[seanx820]

Thanks a lot guys, I wish a couple of you came with me on my journey to sam-ash, my last question is a couple of you mentioned:
studio monitors

what do you mean by that
i have an idea but i dont want to sound like to much of a n00b.

also i am definatley going to use MIDI now based on yours guys ideas, and probaly make a new thread dedicated to teaching me how to use MIDI b/c my last experience left me cold and asking for more depth, My MIDI controller only came me like 200 sounds, only like 2-3 that I actually liked, (prob a cheap MIDI without me knowing much) so I just used digital sound allready in my KORG and use the mixer on it to fuck with sounds. ALSO listen to my music, n00b software would just slow me down from recording, im not asking for quality, just more control for mixing ect.

(this computer i want to be able to output full audo to an amp too so I can play live gigs (duet..))

thanks a lot guys
-seanc

ps: tell me the value of a pre=amp

 

[noisedude]

Studio monitors are what you use to listen on. Basically, you can't make good mixes on PC speakers or a hi-fi. Not easily, anyway.

MIDI is used more as a controller, as a tool. Automating you mixes, triggering and running FX on samples, soft-synths, and so on. The 'Plugsound' (can't remember where I found it) free ROMpler is a great starter, with a couple of very cool guitar sounds, tonnes of percussion and some very usable dobro and rhodes patches.

You're confusing MIDI use with General MIDI soundbanks ... we're not talking about buying a home keyboard ... if you want to dip your toes into the world of controllers and stuff you could get the M-Audio Oxygen8 - super cheap and acts as your MIDI controller, all powered through the USB port. Doesn't have an extra input to run a larger keyboard into, thoguh.

 

[guitarfreak12]

here's a good link for monitor low down.
http://www.tweakheadz.com/studio_monitors.htm
As far as pre amps. The pre amp is what brings your mic up to level to record off of. It's the first thing that your mic sees in your signal chain, and it has to be the most quiet.. There are mostly two things (there are more, but I'll just list the two) that are in a good pre. Low noise and warmth. It's hard to describe warmth, it's just that it sounds like it's real, and live. If the preamp is good it won't color the sound, just reproduce it as accurate as possible. Some one else might be able to eleborate. Cause really all you need for recording into a comp is a preamp and a mic, cause the preamp will have volume control on it, and that's all you need. The mixer is only needed for the pre amp really when you get down to it unless you are recording a bunch of inputs at one time.

 

[seanx820]

so i am going to sam ash to ask about pre amps and maybe get a nicer mike, i just got some high quality radioshack ones and a few from sam ash that are just for singing.

so i am guessing i plug my nice keyboard into a pre-amp, maybe get a studio monitor and then plug in the computer with some fancy software that you have mentioned and it should start me off on a life time adventure of fun?

 

[ssscientist]

Here are links to two good articles on midi basics - part one and part two. They may be a little too basic for you, but we can all use a refresher course now and then...

 

[guitarfreak12]

there's such a thing as high quality radio shack mics,
but there isn't sucha thing as a high quality, radio shack mic. Notice the comma the second time after high quality. Radio shack doesn't make anything worthy of recording good stuff unless your looking for that grainy noisy feel. But when your talking about Radio shacks BEST, then it's the Radio Shack "High Quality". I would suggest looking 'at any of the MXL condensors. You'll want to get a condensor for sure. They are going to give you the best recordings al around. And MXL make good cheap ones. The difference between dynamics and condensor on a recording is mind boggeling.

 

[seanx820]

UPDATE: what do people feel about the FIREBOX pre-amp that doubles up as a sound card b/c it uses FIREWIRE to plug into your computer. IT can record up to 6 channels of music simatanloy and sames me the hassle of paying for both a preamp and a sound card.

 

[Grizzly]

Hey my name is Sean Cavanaugh and I am looking to build myself a new PC souly for the art of music and video making. I prob have like 2000 to spend (give or take a little) so I want the best that I can get. I am fairly new to recording stuff to my pc and recording programs but not new to making music or using a computer (i actually work for cisco systems programming routers and pcs). I currently have an AMD 64 bit processor and some cheezy audigy recording program / sound card where I just plug in a AMP cord right into my computer (or mike for regular piano) and it records. It does a good job of recording as you can see on my website->
http://myspace.com/seancav

this is not my computer so I need to make a desktop for myself->
I need to know the following->

-what programs are good (i wanted advanced programs not n00b ones)-
-what sound cards are good (i like have full audio in (not a big fan of MIDI b/c it dosnt have that many options)
-should i purchase myself a DJ type mixer? like turn tables at some point?
(i like to do a lot of my stuff LIVE, meaning i can play it LIVE meaning i can mix and play at the same time) (ALL OF MY MUSIC has been done this way so far using simple drum beats recorded and me playing ontop of it with two keyboards at the same time. (i have like this joystick on my KORG that controllers when the beat comes and goes ect if you go to my site to listen)

i am going to sam ash to look at a lot of this stuff to, but maybe you guys can help me with some ideas

i am thinking about going to best buy and some toher stores and finding some sound cards where I can have like 2-4 AMP audio ins for different mikes and devices. Probaly a AMD chip around 2.0 ghz, basic cd drive ect ect

no idea what to do for recording yet...
i have mikes, a KORG keyboard stuff like that allready for a computer

Howdy
If I were to spend $2k on a new computer for recording and video I'd get a new G5 Mac. The Software Thats included is great and it's easy to use. In fact PIXAR uses G5's for making their movies. The Tiger operating sytem they use won't crash, It's linex. Almost anything that you would want to connect to the machine comes with drivers for the MAC. I'd never build another specialty windows computer. Oh by the way you can use it on the web easier than a XP pro machine.

Griz