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home recording - usb interface? recording software?

D

dsquixote

n00b
Joined
Mar 17, 2005
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I have a rock band who is recording their own demos. I also do some personal music on the side. I have found that recording directly into my soundcard with Cool Edit Pro has quite a bit of noise. Though I think that buying new cables could improve the sound quality (and lower the noise), I think an interface would cut down on some of the problems. I had heard that it will clear the hum from having two electrical sources (dunno too much about electrical theory, but I think it is 60 cycle hum). Plus I won't need to convert from 1/4" to 1/8" or XLR to 1/4" to 1/8" (using a PA head) in order to record. I have less than $200 at my disposal. I would like at least one XLR and 1/4", but if I could get more with the ability to record simultaneously, I wouldn't complain. :-D Recommendations?

Could anyone tell me about the advantages of different kinds of recording software? I have a lot of experience with Cool Edit, but I have ruined a number of songs with its noise reduction (my fault, but I think better software might provide better alternatives). I have Audacity too(though not much experience), which seems like a decent piece of software for its legality, but I have heard that it is crash prone, plus I have only a 56k, so downloading lots of Direct X effects is a hassle.

If anyone wants to provide any computer recording tricks/tips/links, fantastic too!
 
If you're comfortable with CEP get Adobe Audition, it's the latest version of CEP and you can definately get good sounding recordings with it.

If you find yourself HAVING to use noise reduction too much then something is definately wrong with your input chain. Why not tell us what other gear you guys are using (Mics, console) and the the kind of recording you'd like to pull of (2 channel live mix, multitracked), I'm sure we'd be able to help alot more with that info.

-wil
 
pigwalk said:
If you're comfortable with CEP get Adobe Audition, it's the latest version of CEP and you can definately get good sounding recordings with it.

If you find yourself HAVING to use noise reduction too much then something is definately wrong with your input chain. Why not tell us what other gear you guys are using (Mics, console) and the the kind of recording you'd like to pull of (2 channel live mix, multitracked), I'm sure we'd be able to help alot more with that info.

-wil
Click to expand...

We primarily use a Shure 58, because we are low on funds. We have some other cheap mics (don't have much info on them, but one is a Shure 58 knock off). They are plugged into a PA head, and then from the cabinet out to the PC (with a 1/4" to 1/8" adapter). I think some of the noise is caused by the set up. If I get an interface, there would probably be a powered XLR, which would make the PA head unnecessary. I was thinking along the lines of a 2 channel simulatenous capability minimum, but I think anything above two is going to cost some mad cheddar.

Are there any good DirectX plugins for eliminating hiss/hum?

If you are interested in hearing the quality of demos I have been doing, you can listen to my rock group at myspace.com/counterpointe/. For those recordings, we recorded the drums on a four-track with two mics. On our latest stuff (not finished yet), we went directly into the computer with three mics. The sound of the kit is phenomenal compared to the ones in the link aforementioned. One of my fears about going directly to the interface is that I would lose the ability to EQ the signal. I also considered getting an inexpensive Behringer mixer (there is one on MF with 4 XLRs for $80) to compliment the interface. But then of course, there's the money thing. ;)

Thanks for your time!
 
I've done a lot of demo recordings with my Audigy 2, a Behringer Eurorack MX602 4-ch mixer w/ 2 XLR inputs and phantom 48V, and various recording software (Logic, Nuendo, Cakewalk). If you don't need to record more than 2 audio tracks simultaneously, the sound quality is more than good enough for demo use (in fact a few lead guitar tracks made their way to CDs). So if you got a decent 2-input sound card get a small mixer.

And forget about the USB interface, get a firewire card (M-audio 410 or similar) if you want an external sound card.

Terratec got some 8-in/8-out card+pheripheral solution for about 400$ if you need more inputs, but it is anyway recommendable to have an upstream mixer for these, which will be an extra cost.

Guess you're familiar with these brands, if not I can provide links.
 
Either way you're going to need more mics, goingwith a mixer or a interface with more inputs. There's a 8in 8out interface that came out last year i think that has ALL 8 ins with preamps, all XLR's, that can save you a bunch on having to buy a mixer, especially since 8bus ones will definately go out of your budget. 600bucks or so I think, unfortunately I cant remember the name of the damn thing... It's a little out of your budget I know, but with one of those and 6 more mics (you should definately get 2 condensers, some AKG C1000's or Marshall mics) you'll have enough gear to record a pretty nice sounding demo (provided you have someone who knows a little bit of recording/mixing).

I'll help out a little more later, at work....

-wil
 
uzor said:
Perhaps one of these will help you shorten your chain.

Click to expand...
Interesting list, except it doesn't include the most popular cards for amateur/home recording, i.e Creative and Terratec.
 
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