Sound Card?

[deauthorized]

I am trying to start recording on my computer. The only experience I have so far in doing this is plugging my guitar into the line-in of my computer and recording it with Audacity. The major problem I notice with this is the significant latency that I get when I try recording seperate tracks. I assume this is a sound card issue (I am using the one that came with my PC, which seems to be SigmaTel), so I'm coming here for advice on that. What sound cards are recommended? (and relatively cheap? I am a poor college student)

Searching the forums, I've come across mentions of other options, firewire and PCI devices. My computer is a PC, so I don't have firewire. What kind of PCI devices exist and how do they compare in quality and price to replacing my sound card?

Thanks for your help!

 

[NeveSSL]

Yeah, the latency is due to your sound card.

First off, what are you wanting to do and what software do you want to use? You can't possibly know what you want to buy without knowing what you want to do.

And your PC can have Firewire. Most PC laptops have it built in and some desktops do too. Technically its IEEE1394 because "Firewire" is a registered Apple trademark, but its the same thing and the terms are used interchangeably.

Brandon

 

[TimOBrien]

The guide:

http://www.tweakheadz.com/soundcards_for_the_home_studio.htm

You cant make a bad choice from any of the ones listed there.
And he has a section on PCI vs USB vs Firewire.


While you're there, start reading all of Tweak's Guide....


Now my obligatory standard reply-for-newbies that I keep in Wordpad:

First off, immediately get a good beginner recording book (spend $20 before spending hundred$/thousand$) that shows you what you need to get started and how to hook everything up in your studio:
Home Recording for Musicians by Jeff Strong - $15
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/07...ce&n=283155&n=507846&s=books&v=glance
(Wish I'd had that when I started; would have saved me lots of money and time and grief)

Good Newbie guides that also explains all the basics:
http://www.tweakheadz.com/guide.htm
http://www.computermusic.co.uk/page/computermusic?entry=free_beginner_pdfs

21 Ways To Assemble a Recording Rig:
http://www.tweakheadz.com/rigs.htm

Also Good Info:
http://www.theprojectstudiohandbook.com/directory.htm

Other recording books:
http://musicbooksplus.com/home-recording-c-31.html

Still using a built-in soundcard?? Unfortunately, those are made with less than $1 worth of chips for beeps, boops and light gaming (not to mention cheapness for the manufacturer) not quality music production.
#1 Rule of Recording: You MUST replace the built-in soundcard.
Here's a good guide and suggestions:
http://www.tweakheadz.com/soundcards_for_the_home_studio.htm


Plenty of software around to record for FREE to start out on:

Audacity: http://audacity.sourceforge.net (multi-track with VST support)
Wavosaur: http://www.wavosaur.com/ (a stereo audio file editor with VST support)\
Kristal: http://www.kreatives.org/kristal/
Other freebies and shareware: www.hitsquad.com
Another great option is REAPER at http://www.cockos.com/reaper/ (It's $40 but runs for free until you get guilty enough to pay for it...)

Music Notation and MIDI recording: Melody Assistant ($20) and Harmony Assistant ($80) have the power of $600 notation packages - http://myriad-online.com
Demo you can try on the website.

And you can go out to any Barnes&Noble or Borders and pick up "Computer Music" magazine - they have a full studio suite in every issue's DVD, including sequencers, plugins and tons of audio samples. (November 2006 they gave away a full copy of SamplitudeV8SE worth $150, November 2007-on the racks Dec in the US- they're giving away SamplitudeV9SE. It pays to watch 'em for giveaways...)