beginner hardware/software question

[skarim]

I would like to make recordings of voice, keyboard, guitar, percussion. but I am not sure what hardware I need to get. What would be an appropriate soundcard/breakout box set-up for a beginner for under $400 or so?

As for software, it seems as if the entry level programs from cakewalk, steinberg, or emagic for under $100 might be a good place to start instead of spending $300-400. Or would a better program be worth the initial investment?

I run win XP with a AMD XP chip and ECS mb. Do I need to worry about XP drivers and compatibility for the above audio products?

Thanks.

[AcousticPro]

Yes. Software is much like legacy gear. I parallel this type of purchase to picking the audio desk you are going to use in an analog room. It will determine how you work and what level will be the top before you have to completely re-do the room or studio. I would say look carefully at what you want to accomplish and then go with one of the top programs that closest resembles a match to your working needs. If you need help in that area send me a private message and I'll be more than happy to do so.

[xxFT13xx]

i suggest the Terratec EWX 24/96 sound card...its like $150

also, check out www.n-track.com

a great 64 track program that supports VST/VSTi's and its REAL cheap!

-Sin
http://zwap.to/ft13

[AcousticPro]

Yes that is cheap for a card and probably for good reason. You should decide whether you want what we often refer to as "pro-sumer" quality or if you want to get something serious. If you want to make a major jump in quality there are several other manufacturers like Aardvark, MIDIman and so forth (I'm sure I'll forget someone) that will have excellent convertors and maintain good audio quality. I rarely recommend a system that has A/D on the card inside the computer. You have by default just cut the performance of the convertor just by sticking it inside the CPU chassis. I doubt the Terratec card is shielded to prevent this type of degradation. You get what you pay for. You need to decide what you whether quality or price is more important.

[xxFT13xx]

Hey Acustic...do you use this card? I doubt it since you knock it so bad...

Why post your opinion when you know nothing about the card...and you guys dont even carry the card...thats why youre trying to pull one over on that poor guy.

I dont doubt your intellegence in gear...but dont put down a killer sound card if you never used it.

-Sin
http://zwap.to/ft13

[AcousticPro]

I didn't intend to do that. You are correct I haven't used that particular card and had left that open obviously. I have used other cards from this manufacturer and there are some variables that cannot be easily dismissed... there are basically three companies that make convertor chips, those costs to all manufacturers are fixed. There are ways to cut costs in manufacturing to reduce the sell price of an item, but to think that because a card costs 1/2 of the money and there is no added improvement for the additional dollars is not realistic. I didn't knock the card. I just made an objective statement to help someone align where they want to be in terms of quality. The card you mentioned may be just what he needs and he may not need more quality. If he does then my recommendation is to spend more and get more. That is pretty straight forward. Whether Sweetwater carries the product has no bearing on my recommendation. My job is to help people be successful. My job here is to be objective. I don't get product specific on the forums. I could easily offset the balance of who buys what. Hope that makes more sense and clarifies any confusion. I'm not hear to deal with products. I'm here to help offer solutions. I don't think either of us knows enough about the particular situation this guy is in to deal a recommendation on that specific of a solution. Agreed?

[xxFT13xx]

true that...

i am just offended by your thoughts on this particular card. for the money, it is THE top of the line card...next to the MAudio Audiophile card.

and thats exactly what hes looking for. a top of the line card and a NOT SO top of the line price.

simple as that.

sure, he could spend $300 and get the Yamaha SW1000XG sound card which is much better...but whats the point when the only difference are crappy VSTi's that come with it.

id much rather spend around $150 for a SUPERB sound card compared to one that does the same exact thing, but only includes crappy addons.

-Sin
http://zwap.to/ft13

[AcousticPro]

Agreed again, but there comes the responsibility of recommendation. This may be the right product for one individual but not someone else. I fully agree, that if you have $150 to spend this may be the best card you can get, but what if someone has $1,500 to spend? Is that still the best use of their money? Or the quality they would expect? Maybe and maybe not. I do this for a living and I would not be so bold as to say I know exactly what is needed in this instance. I don't know enough about how he works, what type of inputs are needed? It's not so cut and dried.

[xxFT13xx]

point taken..

but according to his post, he was looking for something under $400...that is the only reason i suggested the Terratec card.

ta ta

-Sin
http://zwap.to/ft13

[AcousticPro]

Understood and thanks for your input. I look forward to hearing more from you in the future. Would love to see you introduce yourself on our introduction post and give some background on yourself and your set-up.

[skarim]

I need an inputs for a vocal mic, an mic for acoustic, keyboard input, and then maybe percussion through a sound module or just through software.

i'm thinking of getting the audiophile 24/96 plus a mixer such as one of the behringer or samson ones for under $150. what are the pros and cons of something like this vs. purchasing the omni bundle plus mic-preamps? or the aardvark lower end set-up (besides price)

has the m-audio stuff, aardvark been proven to be stable with XP?

also, i need monitors. i'm thinking of either the m-audio studiophiles or the yamaha msp5. any thoughts?

thanks again

[xxFT13xx]

id love to...

where is this "introduction post" at?

http://zwap.to/ft13

[AcousticPro]

You can introduce yourself at the Windows/Introduce yourself post.

[MuZiKUnHeRd]

Hello all, i must say that i use the aardvark direct pro lx-6 and i'm very happy with it. Latency is very very low... And the higher quality recording you want, the better the aardvark performs. Just didn't have mic pres but that wasn't in my budget at the moment. Anyway, that's my experience...

So far you're looking for something that has audio/midi interface capabilities... It's always nice and convenient to have the inputs and outputs on a seperate "rack-able" box (man, i'm creating my own words) so that you can insert and take out whatever you want without having to reach around the computer. At least that's what i look for in a sound card when i by one. I'm not at all familiar with the sound card you guys are talking about so all i can do is give you pointers on what, maybe, to look for. Most sound cards are gonna get latency to the same level. A pro-grade should have latency under 20ms at 44.1/16 bit, which is cd quality and, basically, that's all you would need for home recording...

As far as a mixer, you're not recording anything but yourself right??? Alot of times engineers use a mixer along with a computer because you can set up headphone mixes better with a mixer or you might like a specific mic pre on a mixer. Other than that i wouldn't recommend one.

Look if you want the best of both worlds at a low cost... Why not go for the "lil blue guy"? Tascam's US 428... It can control almost any multi-track software and has audio, midi and cuts down latency all in one. If i were to build a budget setup for audio, that would be in my list of must haves. But that's just me...

[arsene2000]

Do you mean that the Tascam US 428 would replace a sound card, in addition to add midi control to software such as Cubase VST ?
I'm trying to build a cheap home recording studio, and i've been out of that business for 10 years, so many changes have happened since then...

I was thinking of:
- a new Pentium4 PC with Windows XP Pro
- software: Cubase (because i was pretty familiar with it)
- a sound card with midi in-out + good connectivity (what about Audigy Platinum eX ? looks like you prefer MidiMan, audiophile or aardvark )
- a midi keyboard for control purposes (any recommandation?)
+ in the short term a groovebox like the Roland MC505 or the Yamaha RM1X

Would the Tascam US 428 relace in that configuration the sound card ? What about the synth ?

Your expertise would be much appreciated!

[MuZiKUnHeRd]

Originally posted by arsene2000
Do you mean that the Tascam US 428 would replace a sound card, in addition to add midi control to software such as Cubase VST ?
I'm trying to build a cheap home recording studio, and i've been out of that business for 10 years, so many changes have happened since then...

I was thinking of:
- a new Pentium4 PC with Windows XP Pro
- software: Cubase (because i was pretty familiar with it)
- a sound card with midi in-out + good connectivity (what about Audigy Platinum eX ? looks like you prefer MidiMan, audiophile or aardvark )
- a midi keyboard for control purposes (any recommandation?)
+ in the short term a groovebox like the Roland MC505 or the Yamaha RM1X

Would the Tascam US 428 relace in that configuration the sound card ? What about the synth ?

Your expertise would be much appreciated!

That's exactly what i'm saying...

Everything you're saying you want is a pretty goodstart to a computer based homestudio. I mean, that's the future. Might as well start now.

The pentium 4 you want is a good choice. Fairly stable and good speed. To stick with the times, i'd suggest a gig of processing and up. 750mhz would be the minimum if you want to be able to do everything fairly speedily. Up to 2 gigs is great! Remember it's the computer speed that handles all your VSTi's! You need a good amount for extensive projects!

Secondly, i'm not too familiar with XP but i'd have to go against it for the time being. It's too new and frankly, a lot of products don't have drivers for XP. I'd say Windows 98 SE is the most stable. That's coming from my own exeprience. In the Audio Engineering course i took all we used was 98. I personally have ME and it works fine for me...

As far as midi-controllers, look on ebay, you'll find controllers for $100 that will do the job.

Now comes the part of "Soft-Synths"... I haven't really ventured there except for the B4 organ soft synth i purchased. It's actually pretty accurate and worth the buy! I'm looking into the new Emu Mk6...

I've researched the RM1X looks like a nice piece of gear... I like the mpc4000 that came out. But that's more of a sampler. The mpc2000 is an all time favorite. But i'm into r&b so that's just me.

And finally, the 428 won't replace the synth. You need actual black and whites for that...

Let us know what you end up doing...