Recommendations CD encoding Audio Cards and Editing Software?

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Kenith

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Have a very basic educational CD project involving mainly speech with some simple music sections.

Am thinking I would like to work from start to finish in CD format. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Red_Book_%28audio_CD_standard%29]Compact Disc Digital Audio - Wikipedia

Would appreciate any suggestions concerning CD format encoding Audio Cards or hardware and editing software.

Thanks

Kenith
 
Your sound card (assuming that's what you're talking about) doesn't have anything to do with it. Software that writes to spec (so many - Wavelab, Samplitude, CD Architect, Reaper, etc.), almost any reasonably modern drive [soapbox] and the understanding that although a disc must be 'within spec' that isn't all there is to writing a disc... [/soapbox] (for example - specs allow for the first purposeful oscillation to be anywhere - including the first frame after the track marker - It's a terrible idea, but it isn't out of spec).
 
Listen to Massive Master for he is good and wise.

Seriously, you sound card will have nothing to do with this.

As a starting point, work in 16 bit, 44.1kHz sampling and mix down to stereo. Frankly, this isn't super critical because you can always convert bit depth and sample rate but you may as well start as you mean to continue.

After that, choose the right CD burning software and understand the settings. Perhaps controversially, I'd say that, if you don't have that understanding, with any GOOD burning software leave things in default.

Or send it to Massive Master for your master copy.
 
Bobbsy said:
Listen to Massive Master for he is good and wise.
Click to expand...
Stuff like that warms my heart more than the coffee I have next to me. :o
Or send it to Massive Master for your master copy.
Click to expand...
On a serious note -- That happens relatively regularly... "I'm putting our band's CD together (assembling, authoring, creating the master copy from files) and I don't want to mess it up" and I'll get a .wav/.cue of their project and zap them an hour to tweak it. Checking a "proper" space between the track markers and the first purposeful oscillations, making sure fades are "ideal" (complete, curving down faster than the background noise or what not) and just sending them a new .wav/.cue back.

Not a lot different than the concept of paying a studio just to come in and learn about (pick a subject - Mic placement is probably the most popular). S'a good thing.
 
Massive Master and Bobbsy,

Thanks for the tips!

Will mention that none of the mics that will be using have XLR outputs.

"Your sound card (assuming that's what you're talking about) doesn't have anything to do with it."

Since the sound card doesn't have anything to do with it, what are your recommendations for inexpensive recording sound cards?

Did some searching concerning recommended recording audio sound cards and found
"What is the best audio recording sound card on the market today" tomshardware.com/forum/55921-6-what-audio-recording-sound-card-market-today "This is a loaded question. We have reached a break-point where sound cards and integrated sound on mobo are equal in performance. Given no driver updates have come from Creative and the other big players in sound, I am going to wait until newer hardware is released. Otherwise, you are dependent on software to keep you sound hardware performing. Not the answer." by buzzyone.

Also "M-Audio makes a variety of audio interface devices. PCI, USB, or Firewire. I've got the lowest end one-- the Transit USB. Very portable, and the sound *output* is extremely clean." by shinryuken.

Did some checking for Transit USB and found m-audio.com/images/global/manuals/Transit-USB_Manual2.PDF

Did not find any USB devices at M-Audio maudio.com/index.php?do=products.family&ID=recording

Since am a Newbie am open to all suggestions.

Are there any new technologies that I should consider?

Thanks again for the help.

Ken
 
Hi Ken,
I had a suspicion that you were a noob but Massive and Bobs thought otherwise so who am I to think differently!

We need a bit more information than "mainly speech and bit of music"! How many speakers/musicians for instance? What do you have in the computer line? Mostly we need to know if it is W7 or older mainly because if it is XP there is a wealth of second hand AI stock that will work fine on it but is touchy for W7.

I say second hand because if you are looking at the Transit I suspect cash is a problem? Then the mics sound poor to useless! Sorry but for speech especially you need really low background noise (trust me you do. You might not notice it at first but you WILL be editing, a LOT! and noises will hiss you off mightily).

So, upfront wonga. A decent capacitor (aka condenser tho the term went out with Rutherford!) mic £100, a s/h AI £75, headphones (if needed) £20. Add another £25-30 for a mic stand and cable.

You really cannot make anything of any quality for less but the good news is that such gear is capable of CD quality from a sheer technical perspective. Naturally it will be some time before such skill is learned!

Dave.
 
Suggestion - read all the newbie sticky threads and hunt down Tweakz guide to home recording. I don't think you know what it is you're asking at this point.
 
Kenith said:
Massive Master and Bobbsy,

Thanks for the tips!

Will mention that none of the mics that will be using have XLR outputs.

"Your sound card (assuming that's what you're talking about) doesn't have anything to do with it."

Since the sound card doesn't have anything to do with it, what are your recommendations for inexpensive recording sound cards?
Click to expand...

Yes, we've gone a bit off the rails here. Mention of Red Book standard CDs usually implies a fair degree of technical knowledge.

Your sound card has nothing to do with making your master CD a red book standard one. The burning to CD comes only after you've recorded and mixed your recordings. In terms of getting a good sounding recording to convert to CD, the microphones, sound interface (and acoustics of your room) make a HUGE difference and are not a place to skimp.

It worries me a fair bit that your mics don't have XLR connections. You'll have real problems finding audio interfaces that accept microphone level sources through some sort of jack. Second, mics with jacks tend to be fairly shoddy quality, more aimed at Skype phone calls than any serious recording.

I'd join in the recommendation that you do some reading of the FAQs.
 
ecc83

"We need a bit more information than "mainly speech and bit of music"! How many speakers/musicians for instance?" Since we all are newbies will be starting with 1 speaker and 1 instrument.

"What do you have in the computer line? Mostly we need to know if it is W7 or older mainly because if it is XP there is a wealth of second hand AI stock that will work fine on it but is touchy for W7." The only PCs are older Desktop P4s with WinXP.

"I say second hand because if you are looking at the Transit I suspect cash is a problem? Then the mics sound poor to useless! Sorry but for speech especially you need really low background noise (trust me you do. You might not notice it at first but you WILL be editing, a LOT! and noises will hiss you off mightily). So, upfront wonga. A decent capacitor (aka condenser tho the term went out with Rutherford!) mic £100, a s/h AI £75, headphones (if needed) £20. Add another £25-30 for a mic stand and cable." Thanks for the tips.

Would also like to do on location audio recording so we are interested in portable audio recorders like Samson Zoom H2n. Has some good reviews. videomaker.com/article/15481]Zoom H2n Audio Recorder Review soundonsound.com/sos/mar12/articles/zoom-h2n
uniquesquared.com/blog/3424/pro-audio/zoom-h2n-the-future-of-portable-recorders/]Zoom H2N

Appreciate any comments concerning the Zoom H2n.

Thanks again for your suggestions.

Ken
 
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