Newbie with tons of questions

Posted on Dec 26, 2004 12:44 pm
xclicks
Member Since: Dec 26, 2004

Hello,

Gearing up to build my first PC based studio. I have a great PC on the way that will be dedicated to the studio, I just need to buy a sound card and CD burner to complete. Heres a few of my main questions to start:

1) I have a copy of CakeWalk Guitar Tracks that came with my Digitech. Would this be a good start?

2) Can I do without an external mixer for now? Can't you mix digitally on the PC ... I will only be recording (1) instrument at a time.

3) Plug-Ins ... how can you determine which plug-ins work with what software? In other words, are there two main types, what are they? How do I know if it will work with CakeWalk?

4) I will need some way of doing drum tracks, I currently use my keyboards but wondering if there are good free or low cost plug-ins available for this?

5)Wil I be able to mix and burn an audio CD without any other software (besides the regular CD burning software included with the PC)

Thanks in advance, I know there are a lot of dumb questions here but I'm just getting started.

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zekthedeadcow
Eat Spam before it eats YOU!!!
Member
Since: May 11, 2002

Dec 26, 2004 02:12 pm

1. Appears to be a good start though never used program myself.
2. Depends if the soundcard has good preamps and/or phantom power.
3. Cakewalk used DX plugins there are DX, VST, and LADSPA (linux)...and protools uses it's own.
4. Yes there are softsynths (DXi's) that can be drum machines ir you can write it in mmusical notation in midi and have a softsynth play it.
5. Yes, XP can burn CD's with widows media player. Just specify it as an audio CD instead of a data CD (the actual CD's are the same)

None of these are dumb...and yes I do believe in dumb questions :) They would be more like "I know this is homerecordingconnection.com but which TV would you recommend?" :)

olddog
Member
Since: Jul 02, 2003

Dec 26, 2004 02:18 pm

Hi and welcome to HRC!

1. CGT should be fine to get you started, but you'll probably want to get one of the bigger recording apps down the road such as Audition, Sonar, Cubase etc as you find yourselfing needing more tracks & capabilities.

2. You can but a small mixer such as the Yamaha MG 10/2 or Berringer equiv makes things easier and gives you some options EQ & Level wise as well as letting you add a compressor and other effects to the chain for vocals etc. The mixer's also have preamps which help warm up the audio going in.

3. I'm not sure which plugin standard CGT can use but it's either DX or VST. Most plugin's are available in either standard.

4. LeafDrums is a good free software drum track creation program. If you want to use your keyboard you'll need one that also supports midi. leafdigital.com/software/leafdrums/

I don't know of any good free midi capable ones.

5. You can export a stereo mixdown of your tracks to a wav file and then burn them to CD with whatever software you have for that.

Dan

xclicks
Member
Since: Dec 26, 2004

Dec 26, 2004 02:51 pm

Thanks for your replies, I had a feeling that HRC forums will become a big part of getting my feet of the ground. Your answers cleared things up for me a little and are very much appreciated.

I do have a vision of expanding in the future but for now I am trying to get a grip on how everything will come together. Maybe you can help in clarifying this for me. The vision I currently have is as follows:

1) PC with some type of multi-tracking software that may also include some plug-ins for effects and drums. It seems there is no worry about plug-in type since most come in both DX and VST.

2) Some type of USB sound card and maybe one that includes a mixer built in with phantom power for condensor mics.

3) I can use my outboard rack effects for compression and other if needed that would be on the signal line in from the instrument/mic.

Now the last piece of un-clarity for me is the outboard sound... I'm sure I can plug in headphones for mixing, etc... but maybe I should consider some cheap monitors for when I want to blow the dust off things. So I am guessing that the USB sound card I decide on will have some stereo outs for monitors. Could I plug into my guitar practice amp for now? In other words, could you use a good set of PC speakers with a sub woofer? Could you even plug in a regular set of PC speakers?

Thanks again!