Newbie looking to make the leap!
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Posted on Dec 27, 2004 02:10 pm
Brudr
Member Since: Dec 27, 2004
Ok wise and noble home recording buffs! I have come to the conclusion that my flash-card based multi-track recorder is not cutting the mustard for my recording. I would like to make the leap into computer-based recording to be able to layer more tracks etc........ Here is what I need recording for........
1. To make demos of songs to burn onto CD for sharing with the rest of my band (blues).
2. I will be recording mainly 1 track at a time, though occasionally two simultaneous tracks (ie., bass and drum machine).
3. I will be adding tracks of guitar (electric), bass, vocal, harmonica and drum machine. I would rarely use more than 8 tracks.
4. I will not be using any MIDI devices.
5. I need to be able to play along with previously recorded tracks in real time.
My current computer set-up is...............
HP Desktop with 2.5 ghz Pentium IV processor (512K Ram?.
80 gig HD (currently about 40 gigs free).
Firewire and USB 2.0 inputs
Windows XP Home.
Don't know the installed sound card off hand.
Lastly,
I don't want to spend a fortune as this is a hobby and won't be used extensively. I've looked into the following devices so far
MBox
M-Audio Firewire Solo
Tascam US-122.
Any info, advice would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!
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Dec 27, 2004 02:16 pm Welcome to HRC
Considering you have an HP, you likely have an intergrated "SoundMax" audio ship, if you splurged and got their upgrade, you may have some sort of soundblaster, either way, you could do better for recording.
I guess my first suggestion would be something like an M-Audio Delta 44. It has no MIDI (if you ever grow into needing it, your HP card likely has a MIDI port with the joystick port). But the 44 does have 4 independent analog inputs allowing you to record 4 mono sounds at one, or, your drum machine, which you probably want in stereo, and a couple mono things with it, like a guitar or bass or something.
service.bfast.com/bfast/c...mp;bfmtype=gear
Read what others at HRC say that have it www.homerecordingconnecti...eviews&id=7
BrudrMember
Since: Dec 27, 2004
Dec 27, 2004 03:53 pm Thanks dB Masters. Can a high/low impedence mic be hooked up to the Delta-44? I will be running vocal mics into the tracks as well as mic'd guitar amps. The M-Audio Firewire device appears to have mic, phono and RCA inputs (The drum machine will really just be playing loops and mono would be fine). What concerns me about the Firewire Solo is the "near-zero" latency. The Tascam US-122 boasts "zero latency".
Dec 27, 2004 03:56 pm no, plug the mic into a preamp, or a mixer before sending it to the Delta...or, get a sound device with preamps like the Firewire...I just personally hate external devices so I stay away from that stuff myself...but if you don't mind, go for it.
And most any modern card is very close to zero latency if set up properly.
The mBox will suck you in to ProTools, dunno if I would recommend going that route unless you are confident ProTools is the way you want to go for software.
BrudrMember
Since: Dec 27, 2004
Dec 27, 2004 04:46 pm I don't like the idea of Pro-Tools. I currently have Cool Edit Pro (2.0). I have used it for some wav/mp3 editing, but have not used it with my own recording. Would Cool Edit work with the M-Audio devices?
Dec 27, 2004 06:30 pm yep, they would work just fine.
