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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 92
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OP
Enthusiast
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 92 |
For starters, I just got biab and i have never dabbled in home recording. Well, I had a 4 channel cassette recorder 15 years ago that I mixed some stuff up, but thats about it.
I play guitar, Im just getting back into it as I have not played it for around 15 years ago. (marrige,kids, career,etc)
I have a few guitars but my main is a fender strat that I run thru a digitech pedal processor for tones.
Thats about it.
1.What equipment do you guys recommend I need to develope good music? What equipment do you guys use?
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I noticed in biab that when I do a chord progression sometimes the chord changes are not clean.
2.I have setup biab to vsc dxi with asio4all audio.Is this good? Or does it make the chord changes dirty?
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This next question probably relates to the first but, I dont have a dedicated soundcard. Im thinking, now that Im dealing with sounds and want great quality, I should get one.
3. Do I really need a dedicated soundcard?
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I noticed in some of the files that there is tutorials with instruction audio clips.
4. How do I view the tutorials with audio clips in biab?
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Relates to question 1 but my guitar runs through my processor and gets alot of feedback from nearby electronics, computer monitors,etc.
5.Now that I got biab and practising with it, Im finding the area feedback unbearable at my desk infront of the computer. How do you guys deal with it? what can I do to get a clean sound?
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I have a few more questions but I dont want to make you guys read a book. lol
Cheers!
6 strings. 24 frets. An infinite amount of possibilities.
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 8,333
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Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 8,333 |
A small mixer (I have a Behringer) and some earphones would solve that pronto. You can record into band in a box, but I suggest you start with the videos. You can find them on the site. Long and McQuade man..... http://www.long-mcquade.com/departments/33/21/0/0/check the 5 channel mixer 58 bucks, must know the store, Bloor get off at Ossington..not open on Sundays though. List your gear after your signature, computer, guitars, operating system, best way to get help. I'm a keyboard midi guy with too much gear, last trip to Toronto I got the Bose L1 Model 2, it was only 4 grand. Only.
John Conley
Musica est vita
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 8,333
Veteran
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Veteran
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 8,333 |
by the way look at this thread from a few weeks back and read what Carlos wrote....his english is not great but then listen to his songs. http://www.pgmusic.com/ubbthreads/showfl...ge=7#Post240572
John Conley
Musica est vita
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 39
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Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 39 |
Hi,
I'm a guitarist too, here's what I would suggest:
use headphones to record your guitar sounds and turn off your external speakers and any other equipment you don't use to reduce interference & hum when you're recording
As you have a strat - standard single coil pickups are inherently noisier than humbuckers (premium modern single coils are sold as noiseless however). Make sure your guitar has shielding inside to reduce noise. Also roll the volume and tone pots back on the strat, that might reduce noise too
use quality leads between your guitar and digitech, and digitech to PC
experiment with gain and volume settings on the digitech and pc soundcard input mixer. You might find that a little less gain on the digitech reduces signal noise alot. If you don't get this right, your recordings will still sound distorted regardless of how much you spend on soundcards
To answer your specific question on 'great' sound quality...
Get a decent soundcard, inboard or outboard. You will find the separation of instruments and depth of sounds is amazing compared to a standard card. I have an EMU 0404 outboard - lots of inputs & outputs, mixing of signals etc and the clarity of sound is impressive
Get the best monitor speakers you can, they will bring out the best in your music. Monitor speakers are designed to faithfully reproduce the recorded sounds i.e. there is no coloration that you can get with hifi speakers. I have Tapco monitors by Mackie and again, they sound fantastic
Once you have a decent soundcard, don't forget your headphones may need upgrading. And always use quality cables to hook everything up!
hope this helps
regards,
Martin
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 92
Enthusiast
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OP
Enthusiast
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 92 |
Thanks for the link John...
it indeed answer a few questions.
Im off to long and mcquade...
Cheers!
6 strings. 24 frets. An infinite amount of possibilities.
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 92
Enthusiast
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|
OP
Enthusiast
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 92 |
Thanks Martin,
Im going to pick up an out soundcard/mixer things. Or at least see whats out there. I havent been to a music store in a decade. I might break the bank!
Cheers!
6 strings. 24 frets. An infinite amount of possibilities.
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: May 2000
Posts: 38,502
Veteran
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Veteran
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 38,502 |
With the Digitech and the Strat, good cables and a fair to good soundcard with Line Inputs on it, you should be able to make a pro quality recording with just that stuff. Not kidding.
As for noise of single coil pups, we Strat lovers wouldn't have it any other way.
Biggest noise prob in home recording with the PC may be noise emanating from your video monitor. You can tell real fast if the monitor is the noise source by switching it off midstream and continuing to record a bit more, then switch it back on and hit Stop, give a listen. Sometimes simply moving away from the monitor a bit or turning a 90 degree angle away from it while recording reduces the interference enough.
It is practice, both at the instrument and with the recording system, that makes good recordings. Equipment is a factor, but not as big a factor as many want to make it to be. You've got two pieces of very good equipment in that Digi and your Strat. It is a poor carpenter who blames his tools.
--Mac
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 92
Enthusiast
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OP
Enthusiast
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 92 |
True Mac.
You can have the best equipment in the world, it doesnt make u a better player.
But having the right equipment does motivate one to practise more. And practise is what I need and now is effortless with biab.
6 strings. 24 frets. An infinite amount of possibilities.
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: May 2000
Posts: 38,502
Veteran
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Veteran
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 38,502 |
If you are playing guitar and wish to record it, you don't really need a mixer.
Matter of fact, it would just be sitting there adding one more level of thermal noise to your signal chain, needlessly.
The Line Outputs, Stereo, of the Digi, into the two Line Inputs L and R of the soundcard and record to a Stereo track.
Why Stereo? Because many of the digital simulations take advantage of the Stereo field. You can still PAN a stereo track L or R in the mix later if need be. This goes doubly so for effects like rotating speakers, speaker simulators, etc. Or a slapback echo that slaps from side to side. Or Stereo Tremolo moving back and forth. etc.
The Digi can handle any EQ or tone situation needed here.
Be sure to use the Speaker Cabinet simulation. Nothing sounds as sparse as a Direct Injected electric guitar. The speakers of your amp are part of the sound. Digital Speaker Simulation is a good thing, allowing us the freedom to use Direct Injection and heaphones so as not to disturb, yet have the sound of as many speaker cabinets as your virtual guitar amp pedal can provide. Totally silent recording technique that plays back like six Marshall stacks in an arena, if that's what you want.
--Mac
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Ask sales and support questions about Band-in-a-Box using natural language.
ChatPG's knowledge base includes the full Band-in-a-Box User Manual and sales information from the website.
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Wishing everyone a happy, healthy holiday season—thanks for being part of our community!
The office will be closed for Christmas Day, but we will be back on Boxing Day (Dec 26th) at 6:00am PST.
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