Another start up! posted by bigal

Another start up!

Posted on Aug 07, 2002 03:26 pm
bigal
Member Since: Aug 07, 2002

You don't have to answer all the questions. Any help would be gravy.

I will be purchasing a dell computer that has enough speed and memory to accommodate any future recording endevours I might have. I'm going to start small, so I don't intend on buying a tonne of expensive recording equipment. However at the same time, I'm not constrained to a specific budget, I just want to spend my money wisely.

Backgound - I'm a guitarist with some vocal and keyboard background. The sound card that is coming with the computer will be Sound Blaster Live. I also intend on buying Sonar 2.0

Question 1 - There has been alot of discussion regarding the SBL soundcard and its inadequacies. For someone that is recording a one man band will it be such a poor product that I'll have to buy a different one after I use it once?

Question 2 - If I have to buy a new soundcard, which one? The Delta 1010 sounds sweet and highly pushed on this web site, but I don't think I need it given the fact that I'll be the only one recording.

Question 3 - If I keep the SoundBlaster Live sound card, what do I do with the jacks. It is a 1/8" jack on the card and all the other equipment I have is either 1/4" or XLR. I suppose there is a jack converter, but will I lose some quality if I use it?

Question 4 - My guitar practice amp is only knee high to a grasshopper, but I think its useable. It only has a line out, but I recall someone in another post said to use your signal out and not the speaker out. I'm assuming the line out is = to the signal out, but I wanted to confirm this.

Question 5 - I was thinking about purchasing the Behringer MX802A, but do I need it for what I'm doing? Will it improve the guitar? I think it would be better for the mic, rather than the practice amp, but maybe a preamp would be better than the mixer? AHHHH!!! too many choices.

Hopefully someone can help me out, and maybe someday I'll be able to help someone else out.

bigal
Regina, Canada

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Sonico
Member
Since: Apr 19, 2002

Aug 07, 2002 05:26 pm

Hello bigal,

I'am also a guitarist recording my stuff. And the fisrt advice I'am going to give you is to keep visiting this site. There are a lot of kind people waiting to help you and some of them really know what they're talking about.
And for your questions:
#1 It depends on the quality you are looking for, if you want a first quality recording, get another soundcard and you'll be getting away from the painfull driver-issues coming bundled with the Sound Blaster too. I used one for some time and now I'am using an Audiophile 24/96 from M-Audio and is heaven and earth.

#2 I think I already answered question #2, if you are going to record everything and plan to use virtual drums, get an Audiophile 24/96 (and fruityloops).

#3 In case you decide to keep the SB live, get a Behringer MX802A and a cable to connect from the RCA's of the mixer outs to the 1/8 ins in the soundblaster or from the RCA's of the mixer outs to the RCA's of the Audiophile ins (in case you decide to buy one).

#4 I think you're right about the line out signal.

#5 The behringer will help you recording vocals, bass and even guitar but I don't think it´ll improve the guitar sound unless you mike an amp or get a guitar amp simulator and record guitars direct from the mixer. If you are in a budget, get the mixer instead the preamp because it has preamps and will give you more flexibility.

I would add a decent condenser mic for vocals (Audio Technica 3035 works beautyfully for me) and a dynamic SM57 for miking amps.

I hope this help!!

dbmasters
Administrator
Since: Apr 03, 2002

Aug 07, 2002 09:10 pm

#1- wait and see, trying the SBL won't break anything. Personally, I find it to be inadequate for any pro/semi-pro recording use. It's only redeming quality is it's support of MIDI and sound fonts which some peeps dig using, myself, I don't use either.

#2- M-Audio makes several great cards. I, as well record as a one-man band generally dubbing myself over myself, I have an EchoAudio Gina, with only two ins and it works fine, M-Audio (the peeps that make the Delta series) also have many other models for folks like us that don't need that much card. The previously mentioned Audiophile being one of those.

#3- Yes, you have to convert and yes you will loose sound quality

#4- signal out, line out...eh, all the same :-) And regardless of your amp size, if you can get a good sound from it, you can double up or triple up tracks and EQ and spread them once on the PC and make it sound MUCH bigger.

#5- The 802 jams, the pre's are nice for any mic use before running the signal into the sound card. Plus you can compress or add other effects via the mixer before it gets to the card to get as good, clean and consitant of a signal BEFORE getting it into the PC. This will help stop clips and such (especially with vocals) from really dynamic sound sources.

bigal
Member
Since: Aug 07, 2002

Aug 08, 2002 09:14 am

Thanks Sonico and dB Masters. I was thinking nobody would reply to my lengthy message.

I've been reading the forum consistently for a couple of weeks now. It sure has helped me out getting a grasp of home recording. However, I definitely underestimated the amount of time it would take to get up to speed. Keep up the fantastic work.

bigal

dbmasters
Administrator
Since: Apr 03, 2002

Aug 08, 2002 09:29 am

I have been recording on my PC for over 4 years and still learn something new every week...you are in for quite a ride :-)

But a very rewarding one. I am glad we have helped you, that's why we are all here, to learn from each other.

Noize2u
Czar of Midi
Administrator
Since: Apr 04, 2002

Aug 11, 2002 08:48 pm

The ride may be long, but in the end it will be a good move. You can do on a PC in hour's, what it used to take day's to do on analog tape. So don't panic, just come here and ask as many question's as you like. There is never a dumb question here.