Recording Audio on Cubase 4 Studio with a M-Audio 1010LT
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Posted on Mar 12, 2009 03:37 pm
smallz
Member Since: Mar 12, 2009
First off, just wanted to say I just located this site and wow am I impressed. I should've found this a long time ago, a vast library of musical knowledge.
Anyways, back to my dillema:
I am running Cubase Studio 4 on a home built PC with a M-Audio Delta 1010LT soundcard (i didn't fudge with any of the standard hardware settings on the actual soundcard). The PC I am using has an Intel Core 2 Duo CPU E8400 @ 3.00 GHz with 3.49 GB of RAM running on Windows XP with 465 GB of hard drive space. I am also using an Alesis Multimix 8 USB (1.0) as an external mixer/input device (for acoustic guitars and such). I am able to record MIDI just fine through an E-MU keyboard via usb slot on the computer (haven't yet used the 1010LT MIDI interface, but probably should). Also, I have the sound playback setup through the 1010LT card to play back over my speaker system.
Yet, when I try to record an acoustic guitar through the external Multimix 8 into Cubase 4 Studio (via USB CODEC), it comes back garbled (in almost a choppy reverb kinda way that doesn't retain the entire sound created), delayed, and there are loud audible clicks during playback.
I understand that I cannot get rid of latency completely, but this is just out of hand.
I have set the Alesis as being a VST stereo input device (i believe it's listed under USB AUDIO CODEC), along with the Delta 1010LT as both a stereo input and stereo output device (which works fine for the MIDI playback). I'm wondering what I'm doing wrong.
Am I able to just record an acoustic guitar directly through the Alesis into Cubase through usage of the 1010LT sound card/extensions? If so, where is the input and what kind of wiring would I need to make the connection? I'm beginning to believe that I should just set it all through the sound card rather then using USB for any of the instruments (both MIDI and audio).
I was previously using an older Mac with a standard soundcard (a plethora of wiring arrangements), an older version of Cubase, and an "antique" Nady mixer...and it sounded just fine for the novelty of it all. I have been left wondering, did I upgrade or downgrade myself with this barrage of new found technology?
I greatly appreciate anyone's time and expertise if they could help me solve this live audio recording conundrum. Thanks for listening/reading me rant...
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TadpuiI am not a crook's headMember
Since: Mar 14, 2003
Mar 12, 2009 08:14 pm Here's how I would set it up:
Unplug the Alesis MultiMix from the USB port on your computer. Since you have a perfectly capable audio interface in your 1010LT, there's not much use in using the Alesis if you're just going to be recording a single input.
Plug your microphone into one of the 2 XLR inputs on the 1010LT. Those are the only inputs on the 1010LT that have preamps built-in.
In your M-Audio Delta control panel, unlink the sliders for whichever channel your microphone is now plugged into. This changes them into 2 mono inputs instead of 1 stereo input.
Strum a few chords on your guitar and make sure that you're getting a signal in the M-Audio control panel from your microphone.
In Cubase, go to Device Setup and choose the M-Audio ASIO drivers for your 1010LT.
Create a new track and select the appropriate input from your 1010LT as the track's input.
Arm the track and start recording.
Hopefully getting rid of the Alesis and using M-Audio's ASIO drivers should give you plenty of performance from your computer to get error-free recordings. If it's still garbled, make sure you have the latest drivers from M-Audio for Windows XP. If its still no good, you'll have to adjust your input buffer settings in the M-Audio Control Panel. Bigger settings increase latency but reduce pops and clicks. Find a setting that gives you the best balance between the two evils.
Good luck.
