Recording Software

[Kevzmusic]

Which is the BEST computer software program for recording 24/96 quality guitar tracks?

I have the new Terratec DMX 6 Fire 24/96 audio card, and at the moment I'm using ACID Pro 3.0e for laying down tracks & mixing it with drums, loops, synths, etc (coz ACID is real easy to use however, the RECORDING playback quality in ACID isn't that great.....so, I think I should use another program like Cubase or Edit 2000 Pro, or something?

I know there are a load of progs out there that do pretty much the same things. I just wanna learn a really good one and stick with it.

Which prog is the best for this???

10-4, over...

KEV

 

[TexRoadkill]

Acid is completely Pro quality recording software. If your recordings sound bad in Acid then switching software wont help your problem. What is bad about your recordings?

 

[TimOBrien]

Tex is right; quality of sound comes from your setup and soundcard, not from the software.

You didn't specify the nature of the "poor playback quality". Are you running more tracks than your computer can handle, are you running a bunch of effects, weird plug-ins, etc.? Are you sure the sound going into the computer isn't the problem??

I started with ACID Music 2.0 and experimented with Cubasis, Cubase, Logic, etc. I settled on N-Track (www.fasoft.com) but they all process sound with better quality than you can hear; sequencer choice is more a matter of workflow and personal preference.

 

[Kevzmusic]

Well, I like using ACID Pro 3.0, coz it'a so easy to use, etc

However, when I record a guitar track in ACID, it doesn't seem to play back at the same sound-quality, as the original sound going in.

I have a pretty good PC set up (2Gig, 1024 RAM, etc) plus I have the DMX 6 fire 24/96 audio card....and I'm using a line6 POD for all my guitar effects, amp models, etc...

The guitar sound thru the PC is actually very clean, clear & sweet, but when I RECORD via ACID (using the 24/96 option) the playback is NOT as good as the original sound going in.

it's not as clear or sharp - so to speak :-(

I've beeen checking out COOL EDIT Pro the past day or so, and the record playback does appear to be quite accurate, better than ACID.

Kev

 

[j]

If you're recording guitars mainly, check out the Line6 GuitarPort...It can serve as your soundcard, if necessary.

 

[gordone]

Sounds like you're monitoring the guitar before it hits the AD converters on your PC and that the AD converters (aka soundcard) is mangling up the sound.
1)How do you connect the POD to your PC/soundcard? S/PDIF or analog?
2)How are you monitoring the guitar while you're recording?

Like other people said, this isn't the software, it's the hardware.
As a Software Engineer, I love to blame problems on Hardware!

 

[Kevzmusic]

To Gordone,

Dunno "if" you are familiar with the Terratec DMX 6 Fire audio card, but it has a PC front bay drive connection unit. I use 'gold' plated high quality 14" jack to RCA connections from the POD into the front line in on the DMX.

The POD doesn't offer S/PDIF, just midi I/O and two channel mono (left & right) 1/4" jack outputs. Using a Y adapter lead, I put the two 14" mono's into the RCA stereo on the DMX.

The DMX audio card has both toslink optical and Coxial I/O's, but I can't link the POD up to it via this route.

Like I said previous, the original sound thru the POD and into the DMX, etc sounds great, it's just the record playback that doesn't seem to be so good, in ACID.

I just got the new COOL EDIT 2000 Pro 2.0 version, which looks very good. I tried a couple of multi-track recordings last night, whci are very close to original input sound.

I think I will use this prog to record my guitars, and then do the cutting, mix, and positioning, etc in ACID - which is so easy to use

Kev

 

[Kevzmusic]

oh, BTW......

I use the DMX central control panel software to monitor the guitar recording input levels, sounds, etc.

Kev

 

[gordone]

OK, so maybe it was the software I'm not too familiar with Acid or your soundcard, but it does seem better than your typical stock soundcard. We usually have folks coming in hear wondering why when they play through their amp it sounds "kickin'!", but when they record into their soundblaster or whatever, it is kickin' no more!
Glad you got it sounding good with CoolEdit though! I use a Delta 44 and N-Track.

 

[Kevzmusic]

Hi Gordone,

BTW, how is the *sound quality* with the Delta 44?
and what's the included software control like?

I was thinking of getting a Delta 44 or 66, before I learnt about the new DMX card....I've heard good things about the Delta cards....what's your opinion of them?

Kev

 

[speedamp]

hello everyone.

I also have the DMX 6 Fire and was wondering what adapters people recommend for recording guitar direct through the front?


I have been using Cool Edit Pro and Acid for tracking, and Wavelab and Sound Forge for editing......but not sure which i prefer.

thanks!~

-michael

 

[Kevzmusic]

Hi,

I 'used' to use the DMX 6 Fire for my guitar recording....but switched over to the M-Audio OMNI Studio /Delta 66 set up....simply because the DMX audio quality when recording was not up to scratch...., the OMNI is noticeably a much better product.

I simply connected my Line6 guitar POD into the DMX front bay LINE IN connection using the two RCA (L&R) both channels from the POD tow mono outputs, using gold plated "Y" connectors.
(Ie: a 2 x 1/4" Jack to a 2 x RCA lead)...

The sound playback on the DMX was very good when using my guitars, keyboards, etc....BUT, when I recorded guitar tracks in Edit Pro, Cubase, or ACID whatever, I noticed that the DMX 'changed' the sound somewhat from the original input....

So, hence got the OMNI - which is very true.....

I would say that the DMX is a reasonable 'consumer grade' audio card.....the Mp3/CD playback quality was good......BUT, it's not a recommended product for serious recording IMHO...

Just MY 2 cents worth

KEV