Total Newbie - Steinberg AI4 - Advice

[NotACube]

I hope my posting is not too unreasonable to ask.

Last year I purchase a Yamaha Pockettrack recorder and AI4 was supplied with it.

I am new to AI4 and find it very complex.
I have never experimented with recording software before.

At the time I had a brief look at the supplied guides but due to unforeseeable circumstances did not get far.

I thought I'd have another go....wow...it is complicated.

Although each topic in the unabridged user manual has an introduction.
I still find it difficult to grasp the overall concept of the recording process (other than - inputs - modify - mix - output)..... other than unfamiliarity...I don't understand why the software is so complex.

I do know that Steinberg has a long history in professional recording and am sure there is a justifyable reason for the way things are done.

Could anyone advise me on my questions below.

Question 1
Could anyone provide a simple explantion of what AI4 does and how.
Then I would be able to look into the program a little enlightened.

Question 2
If I open a new project.
Select 4 Stereo 8 Mono Track Recorder.
Import a stereo wma track from windows media player into one track 6.
Can that track 6 be modified by the equaliser settings and the changes recorded on one of the other 7 tracks.

Question 3
If so...how would I set track 6 as the source for the other 7 tracks?

Any advice would be much appreciated.

Thanks in advance.

 

[Chili]

Not to be rude, but it sounds like you need to bring yourself up to speed. Best way is to start reading. I'm guessing the AI4 manual makes a lot of assumptions about the reader's knowledge level. It certainly isn't a tutorial for a beginning recording enthusiast. Maybe you bought your pockettrack without really having the need for using Cubase or any DAW.

The software is complex because it has a lot of functions.

Three places to start reading:

1) Right here at Homerecording.com. Find a topic you have questions about and do some searches. Just about everything you can imagine has been discussed in detail. (And some things you can't imagine!!!)

2) Tweakheadz has a great guide for new people. Highly recommended.
http://www.tweakheadz.com/guide.htm

3) Home Recording for Musicians for Dummies by Jeff Strong. Great book that covers most aspects. You can find it at Amazon.com

Have fun and good luck.

 

[NotACube]

AI4 Advice

Chili

Thanks for the reply, link and book title.

You are correct to suggest that when I purchased the Pockettrack ..........Maybe a bit of overkill purchase. .........I was looking to record guitar to listen to myself.
When I installed the Steinberg software it intrigued me, but I couldn't / can't figure it's logic without some relevant beginner fundamentals.

You wouldn't have an answer to qestions 2 and 3 above to satisfy current train of thought....

In the mean time I'll have a browse of this site and Tweakheadz.

 

[Waffleness]

Question 1
Could anyone provide a simple explantion of what AI4 does and how.
Then I would be able to look into the program a little enlightened.

I hope my answers to Q2 and Q3 will help

Question 2
If I open a new project.
Select 4 Stereo 8 Mono Track Recorder.
Import a stereo wma track from windows media player into one track 6.
Can that track 6 be modified by the equaliser settings and the changes recorded on one of the other 7 tracks.

It could... but you wouldn't want to. You need to change the way you think about a track. If you import an audio file onto a track, you can make changes to the track in the settings without having to re-record it. For example, you have your audio on track 6. Click on the 'E' button and this will bring up the control window for the track. Here you can edit the EQ, Inserts, Send, etc. You will not need to re-record the changes. It happens in real time.

Question 3
If so...how would I set track 6 as the source for the other 7 tracks?

Each track's output is sent by default to the main output. To re-route it, select the track, go to the panel on the left, and change the "output" parameter.

 

[NotACube]

AI4 Advice

Waffleness

Thanks for your explanations.
You confirm my thoughts.
It may not be the correct way to use the software. My thinking was to try and highlight the guitar on the track 6 audio by experimenting with the equilisation....the results were not great....I suppose because it's a full song ...not really the correct way.

Thanks again for your help too.

 

[Chili]

Waffleness

Thanks for your explanations.
You confirm my thoughts.
It may not be the correct way to use the software. My thinking was to try and highlight the guitar on the track 6 audio by experimenting with the equilisation....the results were not great....I suppose because it's a full song ...not really the correct way.

Thanks again for your help too.

Yeah, I didn't want to answer Q2 and Q3 because I wasn't quite sure what you were asking and felt that once you got a little better understanding of what a DAW does and what multitracking is, you would have found your own answer.

Waffleness gave you some good advice. Basically, once a song is mixed down to stereo tracks, you can't remix it. You would need the individual tracks.

Good luck, Have Fun and welcome to the site.