digital recording
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Posted on Apr 27, 2002 03:12 pm
wontdieinPA
Member Since: Apr 27, 2002
could someone please tell me what im talking about...okay..heres the deal, i want to get to be able to record at 6-8 tracks simultaneously onto my computer...and be able to mix them once they are all on the computer, i have a mixer already, the mics, the cables, but what do i need as far as a soundcard/software/hardware etc. to get the job done and whats the absolute cheapest way to go, are they any packages out there?? please help, thanks
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Apr 27, 2002 05:06 pm What you will need is a mixer than can output 6-8 different busses to a sound card that has 6-8 individual inputs. These are not cheap cards, the cheapest I know of that has that many individual inputs the Terratec EWS88, which you can buy right here: service.bfast.com/bfast/c...mp;bfmtype=gear that said, I have heard some less than impressive reports about these cards, you will need to spend more than that to get a very good card. A great choice is the M-Audio Delta 1010 which is a couple hundred dollars more, you can buy that here: service.bfast.com/bfast/c...mp;bfmtype=gear and there is also a cheaper version of the Delta 1010 service.bfast.com/bfast/c...mp;bfmtype=gear which does not have the "Breakout Box", which, when dealing with that many ins and outs, would be VERY inconvinient not to have, but it is cheaper. One of the great PC recording card makers, EchoAudio has the Layla which, though quite costly, really is one of the best for the average consumers like you and I: service.bfast.com/bfast/c...mp;bfmtype=gear
No matter which way you go, a card with that many inputs is going to be in the neighborhood or $400 for the cheapest...that a lot of ins...getting 6-8 outs isn't that hard, but that number of ins is.
stupeMember
Since: Apr 03, 2002
Apr 27, 2002 09:59 pm the aardvark q10. has 8 tracks. and built in preamps so you dont even need a mixer. never tried it, im more of a traditionalist. Good Deal Though!
MSHARCMember
Since: Apr 05, 2002
Apr 27, 2002 11:34 pm I ahve the q10 and I am quite happy with it now. I have winXp and at first it was being tested, but now they have released the supported drivers and it works great. I like it because the breakout box has 8 direct inputs and it eliminated the need for a mixer which I thought might just add line noise. All my recordings come out really clean adn I ahven;t heard any hums or anything. The 8 inputs can take either a 1/4" or XLR so you can use mics or regular guitar cables and the first 4 inputs have phantom power so you can use a condensor mic. There are a bunch of ins and outs on the back as well though I never use them so I can't really say much about them, but I know you can do full MIDI and it has spdif as well. The cost I believe it still about $750. Not the most expensive, but not the cheapest either. I think they just did a review of it in EQ magazine as well, gave it good marks. I just wanted to be able to record enough channels at one time so I could record a live band but still have enough inputs to record each instrument seperately. I think they have them at musicn's friend as well, and if you link to their site through this one I think it helps them out so if you want to get some gear, go through here and help support this site. If you get into recording you are going to love this place, they will help a lot, they did for me. Still do. Hope that helps.
Marc (da Sharc)
Apr 28, 2002 09:55 am now what kind of software would i need to use all this stuff?? particularly the aardvark with then ten ins and outs, it says cakewalk 9 comes with it,...is that all i need?
Apr 28, 2002 10:14 am Cakewalk is a great piece of software for the newbie PC recording artist, it's easy to use (relatively speaking) it has MIDI capabilities, audio recording, wav importing and MUCH more, that is a great app for a good solid introduction to recording in a PC environment, even old-hands at PC recording, like Noize2u, a regular here, still use it after many years in the biz.
The only other type of app that would be nice down the road is a mastering application, but I would bet some sort of mastering app comes with it to, even though they don't mention it. That would be nice for mastering the audio once you get it mixed down to two tracks and are preparing it for replication and distribution. Though, with careful planning you could get a lot of that done in Cakewalk as well.
As a whole package, I think that package looks like a pretty good setup.
Apr 28, 2002 11:21 am i have sound forge 4.5....can that be used as a mastering application?? i have a multitrack program now, but i just record drums in stereo onto my computer on one track...well two..cause its stereo..so i have a pretty good idea of what imd oing...but once i get this aardvark setup, can i integrate with using...say...cubase..logic audio??
Apr 28, 2002 01:17 pm Yes, Sound Forge is a perfect mastering app...that is what many people use, and yes you can use the aardvark with any application such as Cubase, Logic, Vegas or whatever...
MSHARCMember
Since: Apr 05, 2002
Apr 28, 2002 06:29 pm When I bought my Q10 it came with ProAudio9 but not any mastering app. Wish it did now! Just thought I would let you know.
Marc (da Sharc)
Apr 28, 2002 09:59 pm Thanks for the info Msharc, that is odd though, almost every sound card comes with some version of a mastering app and a multitracking app, usually a "lite" version, but at least it would be something...
Thanks again for correcting me...I was running on assumption, not always the best idea :-) Heck, even SoundDisasters come with some of each...Cubasis and WaveLab Lite I think...
Noize2uCzar of MidiAdministrator
Since: Apr 04, 2002
Apr 28, 2002 10:09 pm Yes, and the one I bought for MP3's came with a suround sound app.
Apr 29, 2002 07:26 am It diiiiiiiiiiid?!?!? Which one, dude...for surround I have been working with a few methods, but I just can't find the right combo of software and hardware to do it right...I can do it, but I know it can be done easier...and we have that film to score in a couple months so we gotta be ready.
Most sound cards that either are really awesome, or want to play in the same arena as the really awesome ones come with a pretty nice software bundle, I am surprised that that card only comes with Cakewalk, however, since it comes with ProAudio 9, not Home Studio 9 or other "lite" versions of Cakewalk software, that is pretty cool. I guess I would rather have one full, real application than a whole library of "Lite" versions...
