Sound card and Pre-amp for recording ... Adobe Audition????

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The Skeletal Circus Derails
Member Since: Oct 06, 2004

First off, let me introduce myself and praise this site for being a one stop shop for all recording questions I have had in the past month. This is my first post and hopefully you guys can lead me in the right question.

I purchased Adobe Audition 1.5 last month and I have been recording songs with not much more than a mic, a few guitars, bass, vocals, and adobe audition 1.5. I have been recording one track at a time (with metronome) using a 1/4>1/8 adapter straight into my sound card. I am pleasantly surpised with the quality and the ease of use with the AA 1.5. I have recorded an album in a studio a few years back and to be honest, the quality I am getting out of my very basic setup is extremely close. With all of that said, here is my question.

I want to be able to record simultanious tracks such as mic'ing drums. I have finished two songs and my old drummer is coming in from out of town and I want him to lay down some tracks.

I am trying to decide what I need to purchase next. I was looking at getting a mic pre-amp and also a good sound card. I was looking at the Delta 44 and Delta 66. The Delta 1010 looks nice but I am not sure if I am ready to make that plunge yet (money). Am I on the right track guys and gals?

Thanks in advance,
TowerofSong

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Jack of all trades master of ___
Member
Since: May 28, 2004


Oct 06, 2004 03:34 pm

I can't help you with the simultaneous tracking question because I have never mic'd drums (yet). I also use Adobe Audition 1.5. I really like it. It's versatile and simplistic for me.

We all here would suggest getting a soundcard specifically for recording. I run Echo MIA. But most people here run components from M-Audio, and few have questioned about the E-MU 2496. You can get good units for around $99 brand new, but if you have more budget for something like this do not shy from getting a stronger component.

I would say you are on the right track, I got good quality out of my 1/8" jack but once I got my recording card 1/8" is something I'll never consider again...

The Skeletal Circus Derails
Member
Since: Oct 06, 2004


Oct 06, 2004 03:43 pm

Thanks for the reply Jason. So would you suggest my next puchase be a sound card such as the M-Audio Delta 44 ($149.00) and then get a mic preamp to control my input volume and such?

Here is another question that someone or you might could answer. Specifically with the Delta 44 or a similar sound card. I see that it has 4 inputs. Does this mean I can plug 4 instruments into these 1/4 inch ports and record those simultaneously? If so, is there an adapter cord that goes from the back of the box to the input port on the sound card? If this is all true I could record 4 instruments at once but it would still be on one track.. correct?

Am I asking enough questions yet?

Jack of all trades master of ___
Member
Since: May 28, 2004


Oct 06, 2004 04:05 pm

Without going into detail, you have the right idea, it would be on one track in Adobe...

Well theres so many ways you can configure it...
If you have 4 ins, yes you can record anything that will send a signal thru a 1/4" cable/plug.

If your looking to do simultaneous instruments, you might want a mixer with phantom power. With simultaneous instruments a mixer can be a great tool. It helps to have phantom power built in the mixer to power up your mics.

This way you have your instruments and mics going into one console/component in which you can control volumes and frequencies...then from the mixer you will have (1)L & (1)R main out(s) going into 2 of your 'ins' on your delta...

If you buy a mixer with enough channels it saves from you having to plug and unplug instruments from your soundcard. I hope this helps...

Frisco's Most Underrated
Member
Since: Jan 28, 2003


Oct 06, 2004 04:17 pm

Basically, a Delta 44 has 4 inputs, so this means you can theoretically record to 4 seperate tracks at once. In order to do this, you will need 4 seperate preamps connected to 4 seperate mics, or a mixer with 4 seperate outputs on it. I don't however know which mixers can do this, but someone else here will.

I am not a crook's head
Member
Since: Mar 14, 2003


Oct 06, 2004 04:24 pm

With the Delta 44, you can record the 4 inputs on seperate tracks. You just need to go assign each track to a different input from the Delta.

In the Delta's software, the 4 ins can either be considered 2 sets of L/R stereo ins, or 4 discrete mono ins.

In the track properties in Adobe, you should be able to say to record only from M-Audio Delta 44 1/2 (meaning inputs 1 and 2), or 3/4.

..wait a second...

Come to think of it, since you can only select 1/2 or 3/4, how DO you record 4 discrete mono inputs and not 2 sets of stereo inputs?

The Skeletal Circus Derails
Member
Since: Oct 06, 2004


Oct 06, 2004 04:24 pm

Excuse my ignorance, but I dont understand how you can record 4 seperate tracks when you only will have one input on your sound card. Yes you can record 4 instruments/vocals at the same time using the delta 44, but its still going to go onto a single track on my recording software. Does this make sense?

The Skeletal Circus Derails
Member
Since: Oct 06, 2004


Oct 06, 2004 04:28 pm

Tadpui,

I'm sorry I didn't see your reply. I believe you answered my question. So with the Delta 44 I can asign each input to a seperate track? Very cool. Thanks

I am not a crook's head
Member
Since: Mar 14, 2003


Oct 06, 2004 04:29 pm

The Delta 44 will be your sound card. For recording purposes, it will replace your existing sound card.

Member
Since: Oct 03, 2004


Oct 06, 2004 05:47 pm

dude the set up im gettin is a bit pricey but is gunna really do the job. if ya can get a digi 001 with pro tools thats what im gettin and a pair of yamaho NS-10 studio moniters but thats not relevent.
yeah digi 001 8 ins 8 out and pro tools dude that kick aa1.5's *** but very comp to use so ???

Hello!
Member
Since: Jan 12, 2004


Oct 07, 2004 04:23 pm

Coolo hit the nail I think.

Delta44 has 4 ins. You can connect up 4 mics straight in here but you'll loose sound as there are no preamps in the card.

What you can do is either:

have MIC1 >> PREAMP >> DELTA
MIC2 >> PREAMP >> DELTA
MIC3 >> PREAMP >> DELTA
MIC4 >> PREAMP >> DELTA

However, this could be quite expensive. I use the M-Audio Audio Buddy preamp which has 2 ins (so you would need 2 of these pluggin 2 mics into each). This goes like this:

MIC 1 & 2 >> AUDIO BUDDY IN 1 & 2 >> DELTA IN 1&2
MIC 3 & 4 >> AUDIO BUDDY IN 1 & 2 >> DELTA IN 3&4

Or, get a small mixer. Route all mics into mixer and back oot the mixer to the Delta in the same way as above.

Its up to yerself.

The audio buddy is £89 here in the UK.

Cheers

Coco.

The Skeletal Circus Derails
Member
Since: Oct 06, 2004


Oct 07, 2004 04:25 pm

Thanks man... really appreciate all of your help.

Member
Since: Dec 03, 2004


Dec 27, 2004 01:30 pm

OK,
I have a Delta 44 and yes, you can record each input into a different track, but each track is mono, so everything you record will go to only one channel! I found out that out of the 4 inputs of the Delta you can record only two instruments in stereo mode at the same time, right?
Or is there I way to automatically convert the mono sign from the Delta into stereo and I'm just being ignorant of that?

Administrator
Since: Apr 03, 2002


Dec 27, 2004 01:33 pm

what are you recording that needs to be a stereo recording anyway? the vast majority of instruments should be recorded in mono unless you are using some stereo effect on the sound you are recording...

Member
Since: Dec 03, 2004


Dec 27, 2004 03:18 pm

yes DB, you're right, instruments don't need to be capted stereo.
But what I experienced was that whatever I would record in mono would stay in mono. In Cubase SX, I haven't been succesful with trying to make my guitar play in both left and right chanels, unless I would double the track and set the pan for the opposite side.
I'm new to home recording, I know I can be commiting some primitive mistakes, so please give me you word of wisdom!
Thanks!

Administrator
Since: Apr 03, 2002


Dec 27, 2004 03:24 pm

The main mistake you are likely making is assigning the track to accept stereo input (input from a left and right channel) in the track I/O (input/output) setup in Cubase, but then only feeding it from one of the two. You need to, in the track I/O setup you need to tell the track to record from only on input, not a stereo pair. Then, after recorded pan it to wherever you want in the stero field.

There seems to be a lot of this going on in the forums lately, lots of questions recently have been about this same subject...so you are not alone.

Member
Since: Dec 03, 2004


Dec 27, 2004 03:35 pm

Right, I've been a bit confused over the same thing. I just purchased a delta 66 to improve simple voice over recordings and what not. I use sound forge and when I record I have a couple of options, I can either record from the 1/2 where it just records in the left channel (the mic is plugged into input 1) or I can record "mono mixer" where it's mono and goes in both speakers obviously.

Is it best to just record with the mono mixer selected? or should I record with the 1/2 then copy and paste the left channel to the right.

Administrator
Since: Apr 03, 2002


Dec 27, 2004 03:39 pm

I am unsure of what "mono mixer" is...but, for example, I have an ESI Juli@ card, similar to the Audiophile 2496. It has stero ins and stereo outs. Sonar, the app I use gives me several input options for each track, I can assign it to record from left and right as a stereo track, or just left side or just right side. I usually assign it to just left or just right and the track is then mono, I pan the channel in the software to center and it comes out both when monitoring...it's a very simple concept, that for some reason, takes some time to wrap your head around.

eeeeeeemo.
Member
Since: Oct 30, 2003


May 07, 2005 05:42 am

sorry to jump back in the thread a bit but

"Basically, a Delta 44 has 4 inputs, so this means you can theoretically record to 4 seperate tracks at once. In order to do this, you will need 4 seperate preamps connected to 4 seperate mics, or a mixer with 4 seperate outputs on it. I don't however know which mixers can do this, but someone else here will."

i have been considering this exact thing for recording (ie 4 preamps) - does anyone know any mixers that can do this (that have 4 seperate outputs)?

I am not a crook's head
Member
Since: Mar 14, 2003


May 07, 2005 12:15 pm

I'm using the Yamaha MG 10/2, and although I haven't tried this yet, I'm going to give it a try next weekend to get 4 individual tracks out of the mixer:

- channels 1 and 2 have channel inserts on them. Using a trick I learned here, I'll use them both as direct outs by only inserting the cable to the first "click". So there's 2 outs.

- I'll turn channel 1 & 2 "level" all the way down so they dont get mixed into the main bus.

- I'll pan channels 3 & 4 hard left and right and send them as 2 discrete signals out the main L & R outputs of the mixer.

- Voila! 4 channels, all with their own independant signals. I'm not sure if this'll work as I envision it though. I"ll let you know in a week!

There are easier ways to do this. Behringer makes some mixers that have direct outs on each channel, and other mixers have channel inserts on more than 2 channels that you can use as direct outs.

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