Simple keyboard/guitar PC interface
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Posted on Jun 06, 2005 08:44 am
michaelmorris
Member Since: Jun 06, 2005
My 14 year old daughter is reasonably musically talented (grade 6 keyboard, garde 4 piano). She has been teaching herself electric guitar for the last 3 months and has started writing her own songs. She would like to be able to record her songs on the computer. She wants to be able to record keyboard, vocals and guitar. A friend has already given her a copy of Cubase. I understand that she will need an interface between the keyboard/guitar/vocals and the computer(PC). Is this correct? Can anyone give me any recommendations? Is the Edirol UA20 the sort of thing I should be looking at?
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pjkPrince CZAR-mingMember
Since: Apr 08, 2004
Jun 06, 2005 10:24 am Hey there Michael, Welcome to HRC.
There's a few tutorials on this site, that may help you out on some of the basics, though I'll give you a little start in the right direction.
I've got a tascam us-122 that I've been playing with with my laptop, basically it does the same thing the edirol does but it also incorporates 2 mic preamps, with phantom power. The edirol doesn't. I've posted a few opinions on the us-122 over the last week, review the forum posts and you'll see them. Or you can use the search tool for tascam and us122.
preamp is the device that brings mic level signal (really small) up to line level signal (the kind the computer can use)
So if you're looking to record with just one interface, you'll need a preamp of some sort besides the UA-20.
The keyboard should put out line level signal, as well as a guitar processor or stomp box. Guitar signal by itself will be mic level signal, though active guitars put out a signal closer to line level.
hope that helps
Jun 06, 2005 11:25 am www.homerecordingconnecti...tory&id=578
definately sounds right for her....unless she wants to mic an acoustic.
sheesh!! i gotta start reading the whole post before i reply....lol
sorry
Jun 06, 2005 11:34 am Ah, parent empowering child, OK, ya got my interest.
Vocals and guitar would need some sort of preamplification before it hits the device for which you are now talking about. For a simple audio interface, yes, that Edirol will work just fine. For the preamplification I mentioned (which brings mic levels up to line level) you would need either a small mixer with preamps or a device like Edirols UA-5, which has preamps in the device itself.
Also, I must mention, if the copy Cubase is already installed and registered on another computer it is pirated and illegal...and I am suprised it'd work cuz I thought Cubase protects itself by requiring a hard device (dongle) to run properly.
TadpuiI am not a crook's headMember
Since: Mar 14, 2003
Jun 06, 2005 11:47 am There is a cracked version of Cubase SX2 floating around out there where H2O removed the dongle security feature. If the splash screen says anything about H2O or "Try before buy" then it is an illegal copy.
Cubase now has a $100 entry-level edition (SE, I believe), and there are lots of other multitracking software out there too, just do some shopping.
Jun 07, 2005 07:28 am PJK said that my daughter will need a pre-amp to bring up the guitar signal strength. Will the line out from a Marshall MG 15dfx amp fulfil this function?
Jun 07, 2005 07:41 am In theory, yes, but depending on the type of sound you record it could sound poor...nice clean guitar could work, but nasty, distorted rockin guitar may sound thin...also, unless it's on the amp, you will need to add some reverb or other spacial effects to it in the mix to make the sound sit back a little bit...direct out of the amp will have none, and the sound will be WAY up front.
TadpuiI am not a crook's headMember
Since: Mar 14, 2003
Jun 07, 2005 11:12 am You'll probably be better off shelling out the $50-$100 for an entry-level preamp, from a brand like ART, PreSonous, or Behringer. Or even a small mixer from brands like Behringer, Mackie, or Yamaha.
I tried the "guitar amp as a preamp" and it just never worked very well. The results were always disappointing.
Heck, while you're at it, it'd be worth investing in a Shure SM57 ($50 on eBay if you look long and hard, $80 new from Musician's Friend). Paired with a preamp, you'll be ready to record vocals or just about any instrument reasonably well. I think that the '57 is the perfect "first mic" because its high quality, versatile, and extremely dependable.
