Inexpensive PC Recording set-up

[haydeeho]

Hello everyone,

First I would like to start by saying that I am a complete newb to the whole world of sound & recording so I apologize in advance for my ignorance.

Now, here is my issue: I have been given the task of setting up a system that records fire scanners and it has to be done on an extremely tight budget.

I have located links to the scanners I need on the Internet, so I thought the most economical way to do this would be to set-up one PC that records all of them. Then I discovered that I would need more than one soundcard. Then, I got the bright idea that I could use inexpensive USB soundcards......well, my PC (i'm running windows xp pro) recognizes the "usb audio" however, i'm having a hell of time actually getting sound to actually play out of them.

Any suggestions on getting my "bright idea" to work OR am i kidding myself? Any suggestions on what i should try?

Thanks in advance for your support!!!!

[robertruetz]

What kind of USB Soundcards are you using?

I would approach it by recording with multi-track. Have a multi-input sound interface routed to separate channels and record away. How many scanners are we talking about here?

We need some more detail in order to answer specifically.

Welcome to the forum
Rob.

[haydeeho]

the soundcards are real cheapies i bought on e-bay to test out if i could even do this.

i have actually gotten sound to play out of one of them and another scanner to play from my laptop. however, the program i thought would work "abyssmedia multichannel recorder" will not record the usb soundcard. so, i think the usb soundcard route is a lost cause.

what mixer would you recommend for someone as budget challenged as i?

[haydeeho]

i would like to record at least 8 channels

[GZsound]

You have to get an eight channel interface. Couple that with a multi channel recording program and you are good to go.

You simply connect each scanner output to a channel of the interface and arm your eight tracks, hit record and you are done.

Inexpensive eight channel interfaces are like the Delta 1010 PCI interface. You might also look for a used MOTU 2408, etc.

Lot's of choices including PCI and Firewire.

You don't want to use multiple USB interfaces unless your system will handle the configuration.

[af-TimOBrien]

My obligatory standard reply-for-newbies that I keep in Wordpad:

First off, immediately get a good beginner recording book (spend $20 before spending hundred$/thousand$) that shows you what you need to get started and how to hook everything up in your studio:
Home Recording for Musicians by Jeff Strong - $15
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/076...books&v=glance
(Wish I'd had that when I started; would have saved me lots of money and time and grief)

Good Newbie guides that also explains all the basics:
http://www.tweakheadz.com/guide.htm
http://www.computermusic.co.uk/page/..._beginner_pdfs

21 Ways To Assemble a Recording Rig:
http://www.tweakheadz.com/rigs.htm


Still using a built-in soundcard?? Unfortunately, those are made with less than $1 worth of chips for beeps, boops and light gaming (not to mention cheapness for the manufacturer) not quality music production.
#1 Rule of Recording: You MUST replace the built-in soundcard.
Here's a good guide and suggestions for multi-track recording:
http://www.tweakheadz.com/soundcards...ome_studio.htm


Plenty of software around to record for FREE to start out on:

Audacity: http://audacity.sourceforge.net (multi-track with VST support)
Wavosaur: http://www.wavosaur.com/ (a stereo audio file editor with VST support)\
Kristal: http://www.kreatives.org/kristal/
Other freebies and shareware: www.hitsquad.com
Another great option is REAPER at http://www.cockos.com/reaper/ (It's $40 but runs for free until you get guilty enough to pay for it...)

And you can go out to any Barnes&Noble or Borders and pick up "Computer Music" magazine - they have a full FREE studio suite in every issue's DVD, including sequencers, plugins and tons of audio samples. (November 2006 they gave away a full copy of SamplitudeV8SE worth $150, November 2007-on the racks Dec in the US- they gave away SamplitudeV9SE. It pays to watch 'em for giveaways...)

[MrHope]

DDclip FREE is another nice freebie.
I'm not sure if it runs fully on Windows XP. It runs on Vista, but with a few troubles making it's plugins useless. But for simple mixing of a few tracks of 44.1kHz 16bit audio it's handy.

[robertruetz]

GZ is right on the multi-channel interface. You need to find something that has 8 available inputs. You haven't mentioned a budget, but finding an 8-channel interface probably won't be terribly cheap. The Delta1010 would probably be the most budget-friendly option, although I'm sure someone else might have a better suggestion.

As far as software, doesn't Reaper do multi-track recording, I can't recall off the top of my head.

Otherwise, I'd try Krystal Audio, maybe?

Rob.

[ecc83]

If by "cheap usb interfaces" you mean something like the Behringer UCA202 then there is a "trick" to getting a decent level playback!

Go to Control Panel> Sounds and Audio Devices. The first volume tab is normally greyed out for any "decent" sound device ( which is why I did not check this for months!) but for the 202 it is active. I bet you will find the slider low or at zero. Push it to max then go to Audio and make sure everything is at max or unmuted.

If you have enough usb ports*, you could run four 202's in Samplitude 8/9/10, try the demo. I am not sure if other software will do that. Note, the tracks won't be sync'ed but as they must start and stop at the same time they won't be far out.
*Must be pc ports or a pci expansion card, usb hub won't cut it.

Dave.

[Togglehead]

If by "cheap usb interfaces" you mean something like the Behringer UCA202 then there is a "trick" to getting a decent level playback!

Hm...my UCA cheapy that came with my behringer gives me a weird digital sound when recording through Logic Express...but this is a whole different thread. =]

Haydeeho...i have a hunch here...i bet you want to hit record and leave it on all day, too....no? That might pose another set of issues....

[GZsound]

GZ is right on the multi-channel interface. You need to find something that has 8 available inputs. You haven't mentioned a budget, but finding an 8-channel interface probably won't be terribly cheap. The Delta1010 would probably be the most budget-friendly option, although I'm sure someone else might have a better suggestion.

As far as software, doesn't Reaper do multi-track recording, I can't recall off the top of my head.

Otherwise, I'd try Krystal Audio, maybe?

Rob.

I picked up a MOTU 2408 MK II for $250 with a PCI card that works perfectly. And I just noticed there is one on my local Craigslist right now for $200.

That's a pretty good deal for a fairly decent interface..