Wanting to do multi-track recording
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Posted on Apr 03, 2007 12:00 pm
Jaycatt
Member Since: Apr 03, 2007
I was hoping to get some advice on what kind of hardware I would need to purchase to have the ability to record multiple sound sources into a PC (not Mac). Currently, I have a mixer, that all the inputs feed into, which is connected to the PC via USB. However, we don't have a sound engineer adjusting the volumes and such to make sure there isn't any peaking. So, I figure perhaps there is a software alternative that could monitor the signal and adjust it as necessary. Also, having the ability to record each source and mix them later would be nice.
Any thoughts? Most of the FAQ's I've seen are pretty old, and may not be valid any more.
Thanks in advance!
Jaycatt
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Apr 03, 2007 12:14 pm Welcome to HRC
You just need a sound device for your PC that has multiple inputs such as www.homerecordingconnecti...oduct=MDOD1010E which is a common, and very good one. Your mixer also has to have individual outputs for each to go into the inputs of the sound card.
Monitor level before the software, not in software. limiters and compressors will do that.
Apr 06, 2007 11:45 am Thanks! I'm looking into that as well, but I had another thought too...
Is it possible to buy, say, 4 sound cards, and then use software to accept the inputs of them as different tracks, putting it all together later?
Seems like a nice cheap way to record multitracks, since sound cards are really cheap.
Apr 06, 2007 11:53 am If by "cheap" you mean like a sound blaster or something, I wouldn't advise it. However, you can run multiple sound cards but it can be tricky.
WDM drivers are able to use multiple cards pretty easily, ASIO drivers which are often better performing (though not always) are only able to do one card at a time, but, many manufacturers hack the ASIO standard and create drivers that can use multiple cards, as long as they are all cards that share the same driver install.
If you want to do multiples, get a couple of Delta 44 or some decent card, multiple consumer cards like Sound Disasters or something will just be a headache I'd lay good odds on that.
Apr 06, 2007 12:07 pm Ah, okay... Does sound like a headache potentially to use the soundcards.
Actually, it sounds like our mixer is fine then, as long as I can figure out about limiters and compressors. I don't really have to record each track individually; I just figured that would be a good way to help with the clipping issues.
The thing is, we don't have a person able to sit at the mixer and adjust levels, so we end up having to record a song, find out later that there was a lot of clipping, lower the volumes, and try again. It really gets tedious.
Where could I find out about the limiters and compressors you were talking about? Maybe that's all we need.
