total recording beginer needing major advise
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Posted on Mar 15, 2008 09:40 am
bryant291
Member Since: Mar 15, 2008
may aswel get straight to the point.im looking to record guitars bass vocals and drums(electric kit).atm iv just tried recording guitar tracks through a line 6 pod 2.0 into the line in on my pc then recording into adobe audition 3.0.iv tried using the head if my amp(hughes and kettner matrix)aswel but i cant seem to get a decent recording sound from either of them.from reading through the forum iv seen alot about mixers and other hardware,its this wa i could be missing or am i doing something wrong by just plugging straight to the pc input?im not planning on gettin all pro stuff just enough to get some demos recorded.
all and any help will be awsome
cheers
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pjkPrince CZAR-mingMember
Since: Apr 08, 2004
Mar 15, 2008 12:10 pm Hey Bryant, welcome aboard the HRC.
Direct in recording can be a pain. It's a crap-shoot on what will sound good on your system. Major tweaking may be involved.
Many on here, and most in the 'pro' fields record using a microphone, into a preamp, then over to the PC.
This way you can really work on your 'live' sound, getting it very dialed in, then use a mic and good mic placement to get the sound recorded. Most prefer this method, when it's possible.
But, it's not always possible, so there's a big cross-section of the home recording population that records direct.
If you can swing getting a mic and preamp, maybe that's a better route for you.
But, be aware, that any recording endeavor requires a lot of playing with things, to get the sound you're after. This can be achieved relatively easily, but often can take a long time to get just the way you like. (i'd guess the latter is more prevalent).
Anyway, another option in the direct recording area, is to record a clean track, then duplicate or triplicate the track, and apply different, light effects, adding them up to a nice controllable wall of sound. This may be distortion you're after, so different panning, and EQ, and different light distortions can add up to a nice overall sound.
Basically, it all can work, but the end results are a direct result of how much you want to play with it, to get what you want.
hth.
Mar 15, 2008 02:17 pm You absolutely should be able to get a decent sound out of the line 6. However going into the line in of your AC97 card is not going to get you there. You bought a $350 piece of software, now go and buy a $350 interface to match.
Even with emulators like the POD, there is a lot of tweaking involved. There are plenty of studios that employ PODs. I'll bet there are at least a few recordings that you heard which involve the use of a POD. Mind you these were going into some hefty ProTools systems but, it can be done at home. Don't expect to use a preset and be done with it.
Noize2uCzar of MidiAdministrator
Since: Apr 04, 2002
Mar 16, 2008 06:18 pm The key here guys is he is using the onboard sound card. That is not going to allow a good sound either way. A decent sound card would probably help a great deal to start with. And a small mixer for the pre amps for the mics.
Mar 16, 2008 09:06 pm Quote:
However going into the line in of your AC97 card is not going to get you there.
WaltChief Cook and Bottle WasherMember
Since: May 10, 2002
Mar 17, 2008 08:51 am Ditto...
Comsumer grade sound cards/interfaces are engineered to play back sound well. They are not engineered to do a great job of recording a full spectrum sound signal. An audio interface engineered for recording is a must.
Mar 17, 2008 12:38 pm cheers to everyone for the replies and advise,things seem to be a bit more clear to me now.i thuoght i may need a soundcard atleast cos im using the onboard atm.are there any soundcards and mixers/pre-amps i should look out for imparticular?as i said i dont know much atm about these thing and dont wanna be going out and buying a piece of junk.also will getting new speakers and sub make a difference?because im just using a 5.1 system with a sub.
thanx again for the info and warm welcome
JDODBrother Number OneMember
Since: Jan 22, 2008
Mar 17, 2008 01:37 pm I use the Line6 TonePort which I am led to believe has a soundcard on board designed for the purpose. I was advised to get it by people on this forum and have been very pleased with the results. Then you have the choice to either go direct into it or mic up your amp. I think you can even stick a electric drumkit into the line-in on it although I've not tried it, wont be trying it for some time and have no idea what results it would yield.
Mar 17, 2008 05:14 pm Bryant291: first of all, what's your budget. I wouldn't spend money on new monitors at this point. Make use of what you have for now. As far as interfaces(preamp/A to D converter). It really does depend on your budget. You can get a basic interface for $100.00. That should be fine. Look at the Emu 0404 usb. It comes with Cubase LE and a whack of plugins which is more than most people need.
Noize2uCzar of MidiAdministrator
Since: Apr 04, 2002
Mar 17, 2008 10:16 pm Yes, you can stick and electric drum kit into the line inputs.
And ya, the UX-2 is a great piece of gear. Kind of a do all little interface for sure. I love mine.
Mar 17, 2008 11:04 pm UX-2 is kind of overkill though isn't it? Since he already has a POD 2.0. Might as well get a dedicated interface instead of paying for amp emulation that you already have. I had a UX-1. It was kind of a bridge after I sold all my gear then later decided that I wished I hadn't sold all my gear. The Toneports are decent interfaces but having a POD allows you to buy a dedicated interface. If you have the money to spend the money on a UX-2, you might as well get a presonus Inspire or Firepod. Getting the Cubase LE software is worth it. It's a good, legal piece of software.
Noize2uCzar of MidiAdministrator
Since: Apr 04, 2002
Mar 18, 2008 09:57 pm Well for one thing he can sell the POD2.0 and use the sounds in the UX-2 which are much more refined then the 2.0 is.
Mar 18, 2008 10:02 pm Well....I wouldn't agree with that. I don't think the sounds in the UX-2 are "more refined" than the pod. In fact, from what I can tell they are the same.
The UX units are not all that durable. Unlike the POD which is reasonably built. The interface is less malleable than Gearbox (haha gearbox) but the sounds are essentially the same.
At any rate this is only my opinion. Add salt to taste.
Noize2uCzar of MidiAdministrator
Since: Apr 04, 2002
Mar 19, 2008 08:30 pm hueseph, you really need to look at the post and understand his exact equipment before you make a statement like that.
He has a POD 2.0! It is NOT anything like the POD xt or the UX series or any of the newer line 6 gear.
And durable, my UX has hit the floor on more then one occasion without any ill effect.
I've been using Line 6 gear since the first month the original POD was released. I'm pretty sure I know exactly what the tone is in each of the past units.
Mar 19, 2008 08:50 pm Pardon me. I suppose over the years I've gotten a little jaded as to what durable is. I don't think the UX's are meant to last more than 5 years. My last interface was a Digi 001 that was at least 8 maybe closer to 12 years old. Yes. Old and jaded that's me. Mind you I only use the basic amp emulation in the Pods. I add effects after the fact using plugins. I guess it's a control freak thing. What I'm trying to get at is, when you buy dedicated hardware, you know that they put all their R and D into the interface not the software that comes with it. So, in my mind, buying an interface slash amp emulator is a compromise.
Noize2uCzar of MidiAdministrator
Since: Apr 04, 2002
Mar 19, 2008 09:39 pm Well I can state that the software is more then capable. It is in fact equal to or better then the hardware. I would put money out for Line 6 gear long before anything else out there. I own some other high end interfaces as well, but lean on the UX for its quick set up and use. And its not half bad that it has some absolutely killer mic pre emulations in it as well.
I'm a hardcore analog guy and have learned to use digital to its utmost and Line 6 affords me that pleasure. But that comes with years of tweaking it and knowing it inside and out.
AS for the old gear, why replace it if it works.
And I'm willing to bet I;m older and more jaded then you at the moment. :-)
Mar 20, 2008 01:28 am Well. I don't need to argue the point. There are many pieces of hardware that I would buy before a UX. But, these things are a matter of taste. I do like software emulation better than hardware but only because I don't think Line 6 has particularly progressed since the original Pod. NI, IK, and now Digi have developed some incredible sounding emulators. It's unfortunate that they are resource hogs.
As for replacing the Digi, well, if you know Digi, they have a difficult time with progress and compatibility has been and likely always will be an issue with Digi hardware. In other words I upgraded to a more powerful system and the Digi said NO. I've moved on. Until I can afford a hundred G's for a full on HD3/Icon setup I can live without ProTools.
Mar 20, 2008 01:26 pm I cant live with out protools hahaha
Mar 20, 2008 01:38 pm just checked out the PreSonus Inspire 1394 and its well within my budget.just wondering now how it wroks,is it just plugged straight to the firewire port?and do i need anything else like a mixer aswel if i go for this?
BeerHunterwww.TheLondonProject.caMember
Since: Feb 07, 2005
Mar 20, 2008 02:04 pm My two bits regarding the Line6 stuff.
• The out of the box pre-sets suck. Gotta tweak them a lot and/or download some new ones to work with from the Line6 community
• I have the Line6 POD XT Live and it is built like a tank.
• Our lead guitarist uses a POD 2 with a pretty basic setting only slightly tweaked and gets great tone. The tone is in the fingers more so that in the gear IMO. It has been dropped a few times with no apparent damage.
• The patch quality seems to be a bit better in the XTL than in the POD 2. I haven't A/B'd them, just something that maybe I'd like to believe.
• I usually get the best sound when I either run the POD's through a tube pre or tube amp.
Mar 20, 2008 02:08 pm The modeling techniques were rebuilt from the ground up with the XT series...they are WAY better than the v2 models in my opinion...v1 and v2 I didn't think were that much improved.
pjkPrince CZAR-mingMember
Since: Apr 08, 2004
Mar 20, 2008 03:15 pm Bryant, the presonus is a decent bit o kit, i believe. From what I remember reading and such, they're pretty decent, and should be dependable.
It has 2 XLR inputs, and 2 guitar/line inputs, so you won't need a mixer.
Just plug in your source, and start recording =).
After you get multiple tracks in, just mix inside your software.
CptTrippsCzar of Turd PolishMember
Since: Jun 20, 2006
Mar 20, 2008 04:17 pm UX2 is built for the studio, POD is built for live gigs and can be used in the studio. A duarbility comparison between two items designed for different applications is pointless.
Also, the UX "is" a dedicated interface that happens to have software modeling as an "option", you do not have to use gearbox to capture a nice clean direct signal.
I have the UX8 and the software mixer is very similar to my old echo layla. I would see no issues using the UX2 as a straight interface, it has nice quality converters and the pre's are very worthy imo.
If I was 100% against using the modeling software then I would probably look elsewhere, but the UX2 will do the same thing as other dedicated 2 channel interfaces because it is one.
I really don't understand why it is thought of as something different just because it can interface with gearbox. They are recording interfaces with pre's, converters, and drivers just like any other.
Mar 20, 2008 08:39 pm Quote:
UX2 is built for the studio, POD is built for live gigs and can be used in the studio. A duarbility comparison between two items designed for different applications is pointless.
I think that is absolutely the point. A piece of gear that was designed to gig will survive the studio easily and probably last longer.
As I said before, I HAD a UX-1. It's fine. There's nothing wrong with it but Bryant HAS a POD. There's nothing wrong with the Pod either. Why buy an interface/modeller when you can get a dedicated interface? And, regarding the UX being a dedicated interface, I had difficulty and plenty of errors trying to use any software without gearbox running. Gearbox is ok but I would have preferred it as an option. With the "lower end" UX boxes, gearbox is the mixer application much like MOTU's Cue mix or any other proprietary routing software.
Now, I understand that I may be stepping on toes disagreeing with some of you, well particularly Mr. Noize. I'm not trying to dethrone anyone. I just voiced my opinion from my past experience.
Quote:
I cant live with out protools hahaha
I've considered getting a mini just so I can mix in LE but it seems like such a whimsical thing. For some reason though it's like an itch in the back of my mind.
CptTrippsCzar of Turd PolishMember
Since: Jun 20, 2006
Mar 21, 2008 12:35 pm Gearbox is an option for me, the UX1 requires you to use it to capture? Is this the same on the UX2?
My toes on the other hand are fine :)
Mar 21, 2008 01:15 pm will the PreSonus Inspire work with my adobe 3.0 software? cheers for all the advice,much appreciated.be expecting many more questions in the near future lol
Jul 19, 2008 11:05 am bryant291: will the PreSonus Inspire work with my adobe 3.0 software?
Are you talking about Adobe Audition? If so, then yes. PreSonus gear will work great with Audition. Now, here's a bit of a caveat. Prepare for a learning curve. Like any recording interface, the Inspire will come with routing software. In the case of the Inspire, that software is PreSonus ProPak, which is more user friendly than some. The software serves as the bridge between your interface and Audition. Basically, you will use it to route the inputs to recording busses, just as you would with an analog mixing board. Once you have that down, then you can start recording tracks. Just get out that PreSonus manual when you first get it and start reading! Enjoy!
[DOH! Sorry. Didn't notice I was reviving a four month old thread. My bad.]
Noize2uCzar of MidiAdministrator
Since: Apr 04, 2002
Jul 19, 2008 11:59 pm No problem, we see that happen all the time. The record for bringing back an old thread is about 4 years though so this isn't too bad at all.
Welcome to HRC by the way.
You don't happen to be related to our very own WhosYourDaddy do you?
