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Computer Recording

mytakamineg240	Date: June 8, 2004 @ 12:17 AM I currently record on my computer using the basic sound card that came with the computer and a cheap computer mic. I would like to get some nicer equipment without spending a lot of money. What do you guys use? What do I really need to get some good sounds?
jeddak	Date: June 8, 2004 @ 11:56 AM I would look at small FireWire or USB 2.0 audio interfaces, such as those made by M-Audio or Edirol. These have one or two mic/line inputs, and don't require that you install anything inside your computer in order to begin using them. Decent mics can be had for under $100.00 (demo-quality, let's say). A Shure SM57 or SM58 is a great multi-purpose dynamic mic. If you're recording very quiet or 'delicate' sounds (lots of high end, not super-high volume), a condenser mic is a good idea. You didn't say anything about non-acoustic sound sources - MIDI keyboards, synths, samplers, etc. If you plan on using a lot of this sort of equipment, you may want an audio interface with more than two inputs. There are also a lot of choices when it comes to software instruments (synths and samplers that run on your computer). I use fairly $$$ software, so I'll let others recommend something affordable.
moam	Date: July 15, 2004 @ 7:58 PM I have a $20.00 microphone and Goldwave. I think the vocals come out fine that way because Goldwave is a great program to use. You can edit out noise you get in the background of vocals and add all sorts of weird distortions to your vocals. I think it works great.
badvibez	Date: July 18, 2004 @ 7:43 AM I'm using a mixer (Behringer) 2 record my stuff /guitars/vocalz/ect... plugged it in2 my soundcard (line in). in combination with harddisk recording it's doin' just fine 4 me.. and with the help of programs like cool edit pro,wavlab ect. and the right plug-ins (WAVES Goldbundle). Mixer ($100) + Mic ($100) the software iz free 2 download [if ya got the right programs ]
britneyrox	Date: July 18, 2004 @ 3:54 PM hi i am also recording on my comp when i sing something loud...it sounds like i am yelling on the computer but i am really not...i was wondering if maybe its the mic i am using...anyone have any ideas?
pog	Date: July 18, 2004 @ 6:23 PM mic technique is a good thing to learn.... when singing loud, back off an inch or 2 from the mic. The other thing you could try is to turn the recording level down a touch on the mic (look back a few weeks through my journals if you don't know how to do this)
woodhead	Date: July 18, 2004 @ 7:27 PM when i sing something loud...it sounds like i am yelling on the computer but i am really not...i was wondering if maybe its the mic i am using...anyone have any ideas? One trick you could try is to use seperate tracks for your vocals, one set for your quiter vocal parts and on for your louder parts then mix the two together, this way you have control over your vocal mix
sqrlcub	Date: July 19, 2004 @ 8:43 AM I was having a very similar problem to you when I had the gain all the way up on my soundcard. I fixed it by syphoning the sound through a mic preamp feeding into the sound card. Coincidently, it also raised the volume of the pieces without getting into the distortion. Also, as woodhead suggests, putting the tracks up individually helps. If you double or triple the tracks (doing it digitally just makes it a click away) it can add more volume as well.
InsaneWayne	Date: July 20, 2004 @ 7:02 PM When recording I allways (now ) use a pre-amp of some sort plugged into my soundcard's line-in. Weather its the line-out on the amp, the built in pre-amp on the accoustic, my new line6 amp modeler, or juat a distortion pedal, soundcards dont seem to have a real pre-amp at all in them just an Analog to Digital converter. For a professional set-up a nice mixer would allow almost anything to get plugged in, altho Im still using a Marshell ShedMaster with the gain turned down for my bass
hypnoticmind	Date: August 15, 2004 @ 12:51 PM When recording it is always a good idea to have some sort of pre amp.there are many affordable options and you will notice a HUGE difference in your final mix.at this point in the game,a little investment now will go a long way.good luck!
trapezoidalman	Date: September 9, 2004 @ 11:18 PM hey i have a question for all you experts out there. i want to get an ART mic preamp, its one of those bigger rack ones with all sort of inputs and a digital out. can i use the digital out to plug into my soundcard for recording? i'd be recording guitars and vocals. will it be good quality or is it worth getting a usb interface?
trapezoidalman	Date: September 9, 2004 @ 11:24 PM also, what kind of cables would i need for that?
kingo	Date: September 10, 2004 @ 12:37 PM It depends on your soundcard. Not all of 'em have a digital input.
fuhkengruven	Date: September 14, 2004 @ 1:11 PM hey i run a small project recording studio , i have about 4 or 5k invested total, i use 2 m-audio delta 44's that give me 8 ins on my pc to record with.. for software im using adobe audition with the waves platinum bundle , get your self some good mics and cables, and maybe one delta 44 and a small mixer , would be great for demos .. check out some of my handy work at www.burnstudios.com
dandellion	Date: September 17, 2004 @ 7:52 PM main problem with recording is,usualy, not the mic or the computer or sound card or the software... problem is room. once you set up a room with decent acustic, you can use mic that costs less then 100eur with PentiumIII and any software you have...... it will sound significantly better than 1000$$$$ Neuman with 3GHz Bardon and all the software that is made.....
C-Side	Date: September 18, 2004 @ 3:10 AM I use the mic that came with my computer, and to be brutally honest, it does it's job. It's a bit quiet but with Audacity you can amplify the mic quite easily. My latest song Knocking On Heavns Door was nearly impossible to hear over the guitar but I just made it louder, it's easy. Gd luck
novuselysium	Date: September 28, 2004 @ 9:26 PM I agree with the above, the room you choose to record in is crucial. Closets (dead rooms) or a shower/small bathroom seem to work best for me. SM57's are a great alternative if you can't afford a condenser mic but want a more pure sound (from anything not just vocals). Be careful though as SM57's can sound dull and can easily distort when the gain is up too high, if you're singing loud. Rely on compression a little more to get the nuances and turn down the gain to counter act this. Then EQ some of the low mids (200-500Hz) out of the mix to account for the dullness of the SM57. This mic is only 100 dollars and you can buy cables/converters that will make the mic go right into your sound card, but I'd recommend some sort of mixer or preamp device (AudioBuddy is a good cheap one at $80 and even has 2 channels so you can record two tracks at once right into your computer, which saved my life before I bought a full recording gig)
AnatomizingA...	Date: October 17, 2004 @ 7:12 PM What is the best sound card/software to get if you are going to record demos? I need something that helps record guitar and bass... and does editing and stuff, but I don't know which one is best.. My brother said Sony Acid is good, but I don't know what kind of sound card to buy.
EmpireDay3	Date: October 20, 2004 @ 2:51 PM for the dollars, I really liked the echo layla / gina / darla - good sound, easy to install. Get a mixer with a couple of busses or alternative output options (like direct outs) and you can record a few tracks at a time. I am currently using MOTU 2408mkII and a 24i with the 24i handling the direct outputs of my alesis x2 and dbx 286a mic pre's while the 2408 takes lightpipe from my adats so I can do either 32 tracks simultaneous direct to disk or 24 tracks of adats and then transfer them digitally into the computer thru lightpipe. I can then also sync the computer and adats (with my cooper datasync) for 24 tracks of adat and 64 tracks off the computer submixed through my board's 16 group returns coming from Logic Platinum.