Spliting a Signal

  • Thread starter Thread starter boris struhlov
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boris struhlov

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In my home studio I have sound card with one audio input.
When I record vocals, guitars, bas guitar etc.. I am taking signal from my mixing board directly to sound card and than do recording in my computer.
When I record live drums ( 2 or more mics) is there a way somehow to split audio signal and to make
it possible to be recorded separately by channels, so later on I could be able to edit every drum element separately ?

Thank you in advance.
 
There is, but you may not like the answer.

Your computer's soundcard is designed primarily for audio playback (e.g. gaming). Though you can record through the soundcard's inputs (as you've been doing), it is limited in scope and quality.

When you want to get into more sophisticated recording, such as recording a drum kit with multiple mikes, and then being able to edit each drum element separately, you need more sophisticated tools.

The most important tool is a purpose-built audio interface. This takes over the role of your onboard soundcard. This interface needs to have as many inputs as tracks you want to keep separate. For example, if you want to use eight mikes to record a drum kit, then you need an eight input interface. The interface connects to your computer via firewire or USB (which is how the tracks are be kept separate).

This, of course, means money. It also means that your existing mixer is probably redundant, because it (unless it has direct-outs on each channel, or a variety of sends, such as aux sends or group sends), usually only delivers two channels.
 
Thank you for your reply. My mixer has direct-outs on each channel. So it means that I need a purpose-built audio interface with inputs.
What is a better option : sound card with more inputs or something else ? Better option - less money.
 
There is no other option. Your sound card / interface needs as many inputs as the number of sources you need to record all at once.

--Ethan
 
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