Previous Thread
Index
Next Thread
Print Thread
Go To
Off-Topic
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 33
J
Jally Offline OP
Enthusiast
OP Offline
Enthusiast
J
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 33
Hello;

I am interested in learning more about recording vocals and instruments on my PC.

I’d like to record from 2 mics simultaneously and a guitar (possibly simultaneously but not a requirement) and record as I play/sing along with a Midi track being played in Power Tracks.

I’d like to be able to edit each recorded track individually.

I have experimented with connecting a small mixer to my Audigy 2's line in. Sometimes the sound quality that I capture isn’t that good. I’m thinking about purchasing a USB interface in hopes that I would capture better sound quality when recording.

I have looked at Tascam’s US-122MKII (approx $150 Cdn) and Digidesign’s Mbox 2 (approx $450 Cdn).

My computer and mic is as follows:

P4 - 2.8GHz
2 GB ram (max allowed on MB)
Audigy 2
XP
250 GB HD
Alto mixing board
Shure 57, Shure 58

Any suggestions on what I should research?
Thanks.

Off-Topic
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 3,921
Veteran
Offline
Veteran
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 3,921
I'm an experienced analog recordist, sound engineer, and musician, but PC recording was about to get the best of me. So I broke down and bought PC Recording Studios for Dummies. A few nights of study and things became clearer. I paid around $22; it's currently available for $15.

Don't spend any money until you feel certain you understand exactly what you are trying to do and how you want to accomplish it. You are in one of the best possible communities for learning. Keep asking questions and do some reading and things will begin to make sense.

R.

P.S.: The book title is a link to amazon.com.


"My primary musical instrument is the personal computer."
Off-Topic
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 812
E
Expert
Offline
Expert
E
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 812
Hi,

You didn't mention your budget, as there are so many interfaces available, from under $100 to over $5000.

I suggest you check out the New M-audio Fastrack USB. It is a portable little unit that uses USB. You have both Mic and line inputs, phantom power, direct line use, ASIO 2, and Pro Tools essentials software all for $120.

http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/FastTrkUSB2/

Cheap, easy to set up and use, and sounds great. After you really understand your software and recording techniques, you can always upgrade to something more "High End".

I also advise you to check and understand the system requirnments of of your PC prior to installing the unit and software.

Good luck!
Ed

Off-Topic
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 21,609
Veteran
Offline
Veteran
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 21,609
Also visit http://audiominds.com for more free reading material.

They have quite a bit of the basic information available there.

I agree with Ryszard above - don't buy equipment as a guess. (unless you have excess money you just want to throw at it)

With those two mics you should be able to get a decent recording.

Line out of mixer into line in of Soundcard, and proper drivers selected in the software should get you a decent sound.
You may just need to understand gain (and gain staging) to get better sound.


Make your sound your own!
.. I do not work here, but the benefits are still awesome
Off-Topic
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 484
R
Journeyman
Offline
Journeyman
R
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 484
Hi Jally,

I would look for a USB/Firewire Audio Interface. It not only makes cable hookup easier, but the audio in/out is better than one that comes with the PC. Audigy is a good gamer sound card. But, for recording, there are different dynamics in my opinion.

Being you are looking primarily for two inputs I would go with the simple interfaces that normally run about $150 US. http://pro-audio.musiciansfriend.com/product/MAudio-Fast-Track-MKII-USB-Interface?sku=703669 take a look at this one as an option. I use something called Saffire by a company called, Focusrite.

For recording I use Cakewalk Home Studio. That software contains everything one would need to create a home recording: the ability to import MIDI files, record live tracks... almost infinite amount of them, post mix your processing effects and EQ, mastering, etc.

I look forward to hearing some of your tunes once you have decided what to record with.

RickeG

Off-Topic
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 10,153
Veteran
Offline
Veteran
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 10,153
Jally,
Before you go out spending a whole lot of money, unless there is something substantially wrong with your Audigy 2 card, then I would say that you have everything you need already.

Let's go back and look at a couple of things.

First, if you want to use two mics and record them at the same time, you can pan one channel hard left, and the other channel hard right, then record that track as two separate mono tracks, instead of a stereo track. That will give you one mic in a mono track which will allow you to edit individually. The Alto mixer, which I've not seen before, but looks very much like a Behringer (at least the one I looked at) should give you good sounds. However, a lot depends on how you hook it up to your Audigy 2 card.

Secondly, is your Audigy 2 a real card, or a chipset on the motherboard? A real card is preferable. Make sure that you send the Tape Out from the Alto to the Line In on the card, and unless you overdrive the input of the card, you should get relatively good sound. The card really isn't that bad.

Your PowerTracks or Real Band can send midi to the Audigy 2 card, which can be loaded with SoundFonts, some quite good, which will allow you to have a better sounding MIDI sound than using Windows built in synth. Of course, having a high quality synth module like the Ketron SD2 would be better yet, and that could also be plugged into the mixer.

You can use that set up to record multiple tracks, one right after the other.

What you can not do with this set up, or even most USB/Firewire set ups, is to have multiple Audio interfaces. Whereas a PCI card like the M-Audio 1010lt would allow you five stereo ins and five stereo outs, each one is assignable to a different track, giving you up to five stereo tracks to record from at the same time the Audigy won't. Record a stereo or two mono tracks is the best you're going to get from the Audigy or most USB interfaces.

Finally, you need to find out why the recording IS good sometimes with your Audigy, and sometimes it isn't. If you've changed something, then you need to find the 'sweet spot' and leave everything there. That's why Rys suggested the recording books, they WILL help a lot in laying down the basic understanding.

HTH,

Gary

Last edited by Gary Curran; 01/20/10 01:49 PM.

I'm blessed watching God do what He does best. I've had a few rough years, and I'm still not back to where I want to be, but I'm on the way and things are looking far better now than what they were!
Off-Topic
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 676
D
Journeyman
Offline
Journeyman
D
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 676
Tweak's Guide is a great place to start, IMO:

http://www.tweakheadz.com/rigs.htm

Off-Topic
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 33
J
Jally Offline OP
Enthusiast
OP Offline
Enthusiast
J
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 33

Thanks for the ideas everyone. I’ve archived your postings. I will do some reading and some more tinkering with my Audigy 2 and Alto S-8.

Off-Topic
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 238
Apprentice
Offline
Apprentice
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 238
+1 For Tweak...


2008 Gibson ES-339 Custom & 2010 Les Paul Traditional. Fender SCXD Amp
BIAB/RB 2015 UltraPAK + Ketron SD2
Windows 7/64 Intel i5 3550 PC, Tascam USB144MKII
Behringer X1204 Mixer
Bose Companion 3 and/or L1 II w/T1 + SM58 MIC
Off-Topic
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 1,342
Expert
Offline
Expert
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 1,342
I agree with the others regarding the collection of info (Audiominds.com is a very good starting point!)

As for the interface: You are currently using your SB-card to record. While you CAN record with it, the device was not actually made to record music in a descent quality.

You mentioned you want to be able to record 2 mics simultaneously. You also already had a look at a Tascam UL122 at $150. This is a very good device. You can however get the UL122 for about $120, the Tascam UL144 will cost you about $150.

Most interfaces nowadays come with a lite-version of top class DAW's an sometimes even with additional software. Tascam ships Cubase 4 LE with the UL-series.

Off-Topic
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 1,992
M
Expert
Offline
Expert
M
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 1,992
Jally
re interface.
zzounds.com has a slew of interfaces which you can sort from low price to high price.
one particular brand that i keep on hearing is good due to convertor quality
in the ADA stages is echo for the price. but caveat emptor as always.
run your own tests n make sure you can return any device if it dont play nice with
your puter.


retired puter engr....powertracks on amd......NICE !
"what is the black art of audio engineering ?"
my silly songs...motagator.com/bmanning
see my tips in the tips section.
Previous Thread
Next Thread
Go To

Link Copied to Clipboard
ChatPG

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.

PG Music News
Convenient Ways to Listen to Band-in-a-Box® Songs Created by Program Users!

The User Showcase Forum is an excellent place to share your Band-in-a-Box® songs and listen to songs other program users are creating!

There are other places you can listen to these songs too! Visit our User Showcase page to sort by genre, artist (forum name), song title, and date - each listing will direct you to the forum post for that song.

If you'd rather listen to these songs in one place, head to our Band-in-a-Box® Radio, where you'll have the option to select the genre playlist for your listening pleasure. This page has SoundCloud built in, so it won't redirect you. We've also added the link to the Artists SoundCloud page here, and a link to their forum post.

We hope you find some inspiration from this amazing collection of User Showcase Songs!

Congratulations to the 2023 User Showcase Award Winners!

We've just announced the 2023 User Showcase Award Winners!

There are 45 winners, each receiving a Band-in-a-Box 2024 UltraPAK! Read the official announcement to see if you've won.

Our User Showcase Forum receives more than 50 posts per day, with people sharing their Band-in-a-Box songs and providing feedback for other songs posted.

Thank you to everyone who has contributed!

Video: Volume Automation in Band-in-a-Box® 2024 for Windows®

We've created a video to help you learn more about the Volume Automation options in Band-in-a-Box® 2024 for Windows.

Band-in-a-Box® 2024: Volume Automation

www.pgmusic.com/manuals/bbw2024full/chapter11.htm#volume-automation

Video: Audio Input Monitoring with Band-in-a-Box® 2024 for Windows®

We've created this short video to explain Audio Input Monitoring within Band-in-a-Box® 2024, and included some tips & troubleshooting details too!

Band-in-a-Box® 2024: Audio Input Monitoring

3:17: Tips
5:10: Troubleshooting

www.pgmusic.com/manuals/bbw2024full/chapter11.htm#audio-input-monitoring

Video: Enhanced Melodists in Band-in-a-Box® 2024 for Windows®!

We've enhanced the Melodists feature included in Band-in-a-Box® 2024 for Windows!

Access the Melodist feature by pressing F7 in the program to open the new MultiPicker Library and locate the [Melodist] tab.

You can now generate a melody on any track in the program - very handy! Plus, you select how much of the melody you want generated - specify a range, or apply it to the whole track.

See the Melodist in action with our video, Band-in-a-Box® 2024: The Melodist Window.

Learn even more about the enhancements to the Melodist feature in Band-in-a-Box® 2024 for Windows at www.pgmusic.com/manuals/bbw2024upgrade/chapter3.htm#enhanced-melodist

Band-in-a-Box® 2024 DAW Plugin Version 6: New Features Specifically for Reaper®

New with the DAW Plugin Version 6.0, released with Band-in-a-Box® 2024 for Windows: the Reaper® Panel!

This new panel offers built-in specific support for the Reaper® DAW API allowing direct transfer of Band-in-a-Box® files to/from Reaper® tracks!

When you run the Plugin from Reaper®, there is a panel to set the following options:
-BB Track(s) to send: This allows you to select the Plugin tracks that will be sent Reaper.
-Destination Reaper Track: This lets you select the destination Reaper track to receive media content from the Plugin.
-At Bar: You can select a bar in Reaper where the Plugin tracks should be placed.
-Start Below Selected Track: This allows you to place the Plugin tracks below the destination Reaper track.
-Overwrite Reaper Track: You can overwrite previous content on the destination Reaper track.
-Move to Project Folder: With this option, you can move the Plugin tracks to the Reaper project folder.
-Send Reaper Instructions Enable this option to send the Reaper Instructions instead of rendering audio tracks, which is faster.
-Render Audio & Instructions: Enable this option to generate audio files and the Reaper instructions.
-Send Tracks After Generating: This allows the Plugin to automatically send tracks to Reaper after generating.
-Send Audio for MIDI Track: Enable this option to send rendered audio for MIDI tracks.
-Send RealCharts with Audio: If this option is enabled, Enable this option to send RealCharts with audio.

Check out this video highlighting the new Reaper®-specific features: Band-in-a-Box® DAW Plugin Version 6: New Features Specifically for Reaper®

Band-in-a-Box® 2024 DAW Plugin Version 6: New Features Video

The new Band-in-a-Box VST DAW Plugin Verion 6 adds over 20 new features!

Watch the new features video to learn more: Video: Band-in-a-Box® 2024 - DAW Plugin Version 6 New Features

We also list these new features at www.pgmusic.com/bbwin.plugin.htm.

Forum Statistics
Forums66
Topics81,393
Posts732,477
Members38,441
Most Online2,537
Jan 19th, 2020
Newest Members
zagrajbarke, Ernest J, Izzy, BenChaz, Csofi
38,440 Registered Users
Top Posters(30 Days)
MarioD 195
Al-David 124
DC Ron 113
dcuny 87
rsdean 83
Today's Birthdays
CeeDee, SethMould
Powered by UBB.threads™ PHP Forum Software 7.7.5