what to buy with my pittance

  • Thread starter Thread starter mjoa
  • Start date Start date
M

mjoa

New member
I know very little about computers and very little about sound recording but since I've had a computer at my disposal (just over a year) I've been trying to figure out how I could record my original songs with it. I haven't wanted to put any money out until I was more informed but the more info I get the more confused I seem to become. (Seems to be a common plight on these pages) Anyway, I've learned enough to know that I need a digital sound card and have decided to try and get a cheap one (complying with budget) just to get the ball rolling. I've read enough on this site to know I need an amp and mixer but I can only afford to get one thing at a time. I'm not really picky (yet) about the sound quality as long as I don't get lots of background noise. (Like I've gotten by recording with a mic plugged directly into the mic input of my onboard, not digital sound card!) OK, OK, the point. I'm considering buying a Soundblaster Live or Soundblaster Live Platinum card and am extremely interested in any feedback I can get from those with more experience as to wether this would be a good choice or not considering the above factors. Also, any other cards anyone can suggest for the same purpose and budget would be appreciated so I could research them as well.

A couple more questions; Is there such a thing as a sound card with an xlr input built right into it and if so would these cards have their own preamp? If such a thing exists could a person use this instead of having to buy a preamp and mixer? Also, if I had a good multitracking program would I need a mixer or could I just get by with a preamp considering I am a solo artist?

Thanks for taking the time to read my questions and thanks in advance to anyone who might answer them!
 
There are companies releasing soundcard packages with xlr inputs/preamps/mixing software included for 699$. Get some recording mags (eq,mix,electrminc musician) or maybe check thier web-sites and you will see lots of ads for stuff.
The toughest thing about home studios is buying it piece at a time and then realizing you wasted a lot of money along the way o things you dont need. I recommend waiting till you have the money to spend on one of these packages. If you get just a soundcard now, you have no preamps. If you get a soundcard with preamps you have no software. You'll be mickey mousing the whole way. Who wants to buy a soundcard and have it sit in the box until you can afford a preamp.
One of these bundles I speak of should come with effect plug-ins as well.
good luck
 
I'm not too familiar with the SB Live, this is more with your 'couple other questions'

Aardvark's Direct Pro has 4 XLR mic inputs with preamps and phantom power. Yes, you could get by without a mixer and preamps with the box, with a good multitrack program. It's 550 - 600$US, I don't know if that's still in your price range. Check out the specs if you want at htt://www.aardvark.com/
There's been a few posts about it here in the past couple weeks as well. Might be worth looking at...

William Underwood
 
mjoa:

Start out simple. Right now all you really need is a good microphone and a preamp. If you're just starting out you can get away with something like a Shure SM57 mic and an ART Tube Mic Preamp. Together this pair will run you around $170 to $200. If you already have a microphone and a preamp then you're set. Check out http://www.8thstreet.com for good prices (& free shipping).

Next, download n-Track studio from http://www.fasoft.com and get started. Plug the preamp into your soundcard's LINE IN port and start messing with n-Track. It will become quite apparent whether your soundcard is ready for the job.

If it's not, don't bother with the SB Live. You're not getting really high quality AD converters or anything and would be better off saving up for a nice 24/96 "semi-pro" audio card. In the meantime, the Soundblaster PCI 128 (with ensoniq chipset) is highly recommended, as is the Ensoniq (creative) AudioPCI card. Neither is GREAT quality, but they run in the $20 range so they won't set you back. Good purchases. I've read comparisons where the PCI 128 performed as well as the Live! for recording analog signals....and it's a lot cheaper.

BTW, you'll know if your soundcard sucks because a) The noise floor will be around -45db or higher and/or b) the response will be horrible...your levels will jump from nothing to clipping without much leeway in between.

Once you get that far, it'll become quite obvious what is you want next. Until then, don't blow a fortune based on what others say is good.

Slackmaster 2000
 
Thanks for the feedback. I'm a little less confused now but as usual, the more info I get the more questions I have.

Unfortuanteley $500 US or more is out of my price range but I'll look at the info you suggested for futre reference.

I'll probably try what Slackmaster 2000 suggests but here are my new questions. Are you saying I don't necesarilly need a digital sound card? The card that came with our computer is a SB Audio PCI64V if that means anything to you. It sounds similar to the card you mentioned Slackmaster but what do the "128" and "64V" mean? Also what does "24/96" refer to?

Anyway, for now I'm thinking I should spend the money I had set aside for a card on a mic preamp seeing as I already have a mic that was lent to me indefinitely. (Does anyone have any opinions on Audio Technica mics?) I checked out 8th street.com but they don't want to tell me what shipping to Canada will cost me! Does anyone know of an online music store based in Canada or that at least has Canadian offices?

Thanks for all the info and suggestions so far, I appreciate it.

[This message has been edited by mjoa (edited 01-18-2000).]
 
The 128 and 64V refer to the number of 'voices' the card can play at one time, for the most part, it's just a number to make it look impressive...

24/96 refers to the resolution...most consumer sound cards are 16/48, meaning that they can take up to 48 thousand 16-bit samples in a one second, whereas a 24/96 card could do 96k 24-bit samples per second. Generally, it's the higher bit rate ('24 bit') that makes for improved sound, the sampling rate ('96khz') makes for a subtle improvement, not nearly as much as the high bit rate.

Hopefully, this is useful

William Underwood
 
I guess I'm not really sure what you mean by "digital" soundcard...unless you're talking about a soundcard with some kind of digital inputs (SPDIFF?). (Almost all soundcards will have a MIDI input if that's what you mean...it's the joystick port usually)

Anyway, all soundcards with analog inputs will have AD converters that turn the analog singal coming in, into a digital signal that can be processed by the computer. So all soundcards are "digital" depending on what you mean.

The SoundBlaster PCI64 might be a good card...I'm not sure. The Awe64 is horrible but I think the PCI64 is a predecessor to the PC128, which is a great entry-level card. Most likely you'll be able to get started with it.

As far as the 32, 64, 128, 512, 1024 crap goes...it's sort of misleading. If you're not planning on doing any synthesizer/midi work on your computer, it doesn't matter.

You can record music as soon as you get some sort of preamp...just plug it into the LINE IN port on your soundcard. If you get the right software ( http://www.fasoft.com ), then you're set!

Slackmaster 2000
 
Thanks for the info. It's totally helpful to me to have those mysterious numbers explained. Now I have a much better idea about what I'm looking for and at. Slackmaster, I'm buying that Art preamp you suggested next payday and I've already downloaded the N Track Studio software. Just waiting for the preamp before I install it.

Thanks to all who have replied. I now have a much better idea about what to spend my pittance on as well as what to save up for.

Cheers
mjoa
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top