Question about recording softwares?? Help..

[PrettyChica]

Ok, I've been using the MR-8 digital recorder for like almost 2 years but the recorder got damaged. So now I'm thinking about recording my stuff using the computer, with a recording computer software. Any of ya'll know any VERY user-friendly recording softwares out there? I prefer an 8-tracker. Also, I have the MXL 990 mic, will I be able to connect that to the computer? if so, how?

 

[jgourd]

I am assuming that you will want cheap as well as user friendly. You could try N-track which the last time I looked was $35 shareware and works wonderfully.

Most of the musicians I know who are not engineers really like Sonar, a lot. Most of the engineers I know who are also musicians, like Cubase SX.

As fars as getting your mic to go into the computer, there are a ton of sound cards out there that can do the job and even have built-in phantom powered mic preamps. It depends largely on your budget which one you want to get. There is a ton of used stuff on the for sale forum if you need to get in on the cheap.

A lot of people like the inexpensive M-Audio USB-2 interfaces. I like Presonus.

Good luck!

 

[Jeyan]

First of all you need a mixer to connect all your mics and instruments into, then you take the output of the mixer and connect it into a soundcard (audio interface) which transfers your audio into the computer and then you can record and edit the sound in the computer using a software. so for now these are the three things you need
mixer, audio interface and a software.
My recommendations are
any m-audio soundcard and some cakewalk software in your budget.

 

[reshp1]

First of all you need a mixer to connect all your mics and instruments into,

Not if the audio interface has a phantom powered preamp you don't. Whatever you get MAKE SURE it has phantom power, the MXL990 is a condenser mic and like all condensers require phantom power.

 

[PrettyChica]

connect the mic to a sound card? I wouldn't wanna open the pc and touch any of the parts in there.

 

[reshp1]

When people say "soundcard" they are usually refering to a audio interface. There are some (PCI) that need to be installed directly into your PC, but most connect via USB or firewire. If you get one of the firewire/usb ones, you won't have to open up your PC at all. The interface pretty much replaces your stock PC soundcard with something specifically designed to record music (better preamps, A/D converters, etc).

 

[fraserhutch]

Also, people don't take kindly to cross-posting in BBSs. Find yer forum, and post it there ONCE.

Justa little friendly advice

 

[PrettyChica]

When people say "soundcard" they are usually refering to a audio interface. There are some (PCI) that need to be installed directly into your PC, but most connect via USB or firewire. If you get one of the firewire/usb ones, you won't have to open up your PC at all. The interface pretty much replaces your stock PC soundcard with something specifically designed to record music (better preamps, A/D converters, etc).

Ok then I will get the soundcard that I can connect via USB. If I connect this soundcard to my pc, it wouldn't damage the soundcard that is inside my pc would it?

 

[PrettyChica]

I am assuming that you will want cheap as well as user friendly. You could try N-track which the last time I looked was $35 shareware and works wonderfully

With the MR-8 recorder, I was able to copy/paste tracks which meant I didn't have to redo the same hook over again. Will I be able to do the same with N-track?

 

[jgourd]

With the MR-8 recorder, I was able to copy/paste tracks which meant I didn't have to redo the same hook over again. Will I be able to do the same with N-track?

It has been a while since I used it but I think so. There is a dedicated N-Track forum here on this site.

https://homerecording.com/bbs/forumdisplay.php?f=18

 

[reshp1]

Ok then I will get the soundcard that I can connect via USB. If I connect this soundcard to my pc, it wouldn't damage the soundcard that is inside my pc would it?

No, it'll be completely separate. You can have windows still use your old soundcard for all your non-recording stuff still, and only use the audio interface for recording.

 

[PrettyChica]

thanks for your help ya'll!!
I'll try this