Audio Recording Hardware/Software

DanW_3

I'm thinking about recording some music from guitar (probably acoustic) and voice in the summer. Does anyone know what the best option is for the job? I've been looking at the creative Fatal1ty card that's got the right inputs ( 2x 1/4" jacks), but wondered if there was a better alternative available for the same/less money, but with the same quality?

Thanks,
Dan

albertross_2

Any modern soundcard will be able to record CD quality and better (the ear can't distinguish anything over this sampling rate (twice the human range)).

You could use a £25 soundblaster live and an acoustic effects unit (zoom/boss etc..) (as a preamp) in between the guitar and the soundcard, and plug the mike in directly.

What software are you going to use?

DanW_3

Not totally sure what software I'm going to use. Had one in mind that was used at my college, but I can't remember it. Thinking back it might be a bit overkill for what we want. I think the sound card I was looking at had some software included with it. The main reason I chose that over something like I've got now, onboard sound that does the job quite well, is the interference. I'm going to be using it with my hi-fi at home so the better quality the sound card the better really. Therefore I was looking at something a bit higher end and a creative Live!

Do you have any experience with electric guitars and computers? I'm guessing from time to time we're going to be using our electrics as well.


Thanks for the response,
Dan

Sir_Bargains-A-Lot

I do a bit of this from time to time. I really would recommend plugging your guitar into an amp, then pointing a mic at the amp, and attaching the mic to the PC. In my experience, noise seems to be an issue if you plug directly into a PC, and it's hard to get rid of. What you hear is what you get if you do it through a mic. You get a better tone too IMO.

I tried using Audacity (freeware) to record tracks, but I actually found once I had about 4 tracks, they started falling out of sync. But then, again, mine is an old PC by today's standards...

£$&*"($£&(

Not heard of that Creative card unless it's another name for the new X-fi card. Creative cards are not looked at well for recording, though they have been widely used. It's just that you can get better quaility for less money.

You'll need a card that will take a guitar input and a mic input. You should use a bog standard PC card - the mic input is just not up to proper recording and will be very noisy, and the line input won't be great.

You could get an M-audio Fastrack which connects via the USB port. Or a Line6 Toneport, though this is mainly aimed at electric guitars. These will have software for recording. Recording an acoustic guitar will require a good room, a well positioned mic, a decent mic and something decent to plug the mic into. Electro acoustics can be recorded directly but it's harder to get a decent sound.

DanW_3

grahawk wrote:

Not heard of that Creative card unless it's another name for the new X-fi card. Creative cards are not looked at well for recording, though they have been widely used. It's just that you can get better quaility for less money.

...Yeah it's another slightly deerer version of the X-Fi card. Seemed like a good choice at the time.

grahawk wrote:

You'll need a card that will take a guitar input and a mic input. You should use a bog standard PC card - the mic input is just not up to proper recording and will be very noisy, and the line input won't be great.

You could get an M-audio Fastrack which connects via the USB port. Or a Line6 Toneport, though this is mainly aimed at electric guitars. These will have software for recording. Recording an acoustic guitar will require a good room, a well positioned mic, a decent mic and something decent to plug the mic into. Electro acoustics can be recorded directly but it's harder to get a decent sound.

The Line 6 Toneport UX2 looks to be the one for the job (and it looks nice too! :rolleyes:

Cheers,
Dan :beer: :beer:

albertross_2

I believe that Pro's use the method suggested by Sir Bargains (amp and microphone)..

I use the cheap and cheerful method (guitar -> effects unit->soundblaster line-in). It sounds ok to me, but you sometimes get a bit of buzz on quiet passages. The neighbours prefer it!

DanW_3

what did you write it in?

albertross_2

visual basic

DanW_3

ah rite, wasn't too hard was it?

albertross_2

It wasn't easy!