Startup gear

  • Thread starter Thread starter Klato
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Klato

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Hello all. I've just recently become interested in music recording. I know that this question has been asked many times but I'm still a little confused.

I've got the following audio gear:

-Fender Stratocaster (Japanese)
-BOSS Metal Zone MT-2 (distortion pedal)
-CRATE GX-20M amplifier (small, but it does the basic job)

My laptop is a Dell Inspiron 4150 and has the following specs:

-OS: WinXP Pro SP2
-CPU: Mobile Intel Pentium 4-M 2GHz
-RAM: 512MB
-HD: 40GB
-SOUNDCARD: Intel 82801CA/CAM AC '97 Audio Controller (mic in, headphone out..)
-1 USB 1.1 port (!!) (no FireWire)


My setup is basically: Guitar->Pedal->Mic input

I play all types of rock music. Sometimes clean, sometimes distorted. I'd like to be able to record my guitar, but having the option of recording some vocals at the same time would be nice.

My sound is ok, but it's not great or anything. I've been reading that I can get an external sound card to improve the situation.

So, I finally have a few questions:

1) Am I right in thinking that, with the external soundcard, my setup would be: Guitar->Pedal->soundcard->USB/FireWire port and I would be good to go?

2) Since I basically have no USB port, should I get a USB2.0 PC card, or just go for the FireWire?

3) Could I use the amp for anything in this setup?

Thanks guys! And sorry for the length!
 
Last edited:
USB 1.1 is still a current standard that many soundcards use...

If you were to buy this for $100, you'd be well on your way to making top-quality recordings.
 
I thought that USB1.1 might be too slow to handle a soundcard?

Also I've been looking at a lot of reviews for that M Audio Fast Track and most of them have been positive. Thanks for the tip!
 
Klato said:
My setup is basically: Guitar->Pedal->Mic input

1) Am I right in thinking that, with the external soundcard, my setup would be: Guitar->Pedal->soundcard->USB/FireWire port and I would be good to go?

2) Since I basically have no USB port, should I get a USB2.0 PC card, or just go for the FireWire?

3) Could I use the amp for anything in this setup?
Click to expand...

Does your soundcard have a "line in" in addition to a "mic in." If so, use the line-in, as it will usually sound better.

You can record guitar a couple of ways. What you are doing is o.k., but probably doesn't sound that great. Those pedals were designed to be used with an amplifier driving a speaker. Recording them direct to the computer will usually lead to subpar outcomes.

If you had an external USB or FireWire soundcard you could go Guitar-->pedal-->preamp on external soundcard-->computer. Another option that might sound better (depending on your amp) would be to pick up a microphone (like a Shure SM57 or similar) and mic the amp. Then, it would be Guitar-->pedal-->amp-->mic-->preamp on external soundcard-->computer.

If you don't have a USB port (but you do have a FireWire port, right?), then go with FireWire. It is a little more expensive, but generally more stable.
 
hmmm...

If you need to get a USB 2.0 card I would say to go with a USB 2.0 interface such as the new Edirol unit the UA-101 ( http://edirol.com/products/info/ua101.html )....
Also recording to your internal Hard drive would result in diminished performance, so since you need to get a card for USB 2.0 you could hook up a 2.0 harddrive and a UA-101 and be all set.

ANother Idea if you do have a Firewire port is to look at a Echo Indigo I/o.
Its a PCMCIA audio card for laptops with two in two out ports.
Then you could get a Fire wire hard drive and be set.

I am looking at getting a UA-101 myself for my laptop.

Just some ideas.

-Blaze
 
If I were you, I would get a small mixer or stereo preamp/di box, a decent mic, and some decent monitor speakers or headphones. That should get you going and keep you happy for awhile.

Personally for starting out, I don't think the soundcard is the place to start. Start with a decent preamp and mic. I learned this lesson myself. The number one thing that will make the biggest difference in sound quality is the mic preamp/direct input box. Just plug it into the line in jack of your sound card using an adapter cable.

For a low cost setup I'd suggest an Audiobuddy pre or a Yamaha MG 10/2 mixer, a dynamic mic like an SM57/SM58 or a condensor mic like a Studio Projects B1 or a MXL V67G, and a decent set of headphones. That would run under $300 and you could do alot with it with your laptop and current sound card.......electric guitar, acoustic guitar, vocals, bass, etc.

For drums, you could get a midi controller keyboard and use it to control a drum program, soft sampler, or soft synth. There are alot out there now under $200.

If you start to get serious, you will need first, decent monitor speakers for mixing, then a good soundcard for greater dynamic range.

Remember, it's really easy to start throwing tons of money into this whole recording thing. Evaluate your current needs and near future needs.
 
Realy the audio interface is a good place to begin.
I used a "Built in card" for a year and then bout a Echo card.
My eyes bugged out when I heard the diference in quality and noise.
Take my advice, Buy a good interface and a decent(yamaha MG, stay away from behringer) Mixer and head phones.
Hook up the mixer as it shows in the manual(so you can monitor through it and send send stuff back and forth, More on this later).

And enjoy!
-Blaze
 
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