Some Recording/ Inputting / Computer related advice please

Magic_x_uk

Magic_x_uk

Magic_x_uk

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Hi all.

Need some advice in a field I am not knowledgeable about yet.

Okay my main computer is this one that is in my sig.

Right, just started playing the Electric Guitar and would like a way to input the guitar into my computer. I have a Creative Sound Blaster live 5.1 PCI Sound card, (some years old though) and an Audigy2 front drive bay box (Which I added to the computer later on though).

Although I am led to believe from reading on the t'internet that this is not a worthwhile way of getting music from the guitar into the PC. from guitar via the audigy due to Latency which i have tried and noticed.

I also have a Yamaha Clarinova Electric Piano, with midi connections on the back. I would also like some way of getting this into my computer as well.

Basically what I would like to do is for my own enjoyment to be able to record myself playing the guitar / Piano / bit of singing perhaps into my computer and play around with it and make a track or two. Mixing perhaps, whatever that is.....

I have some guitar software with Amps / Effects / Stomp box's etc to use on the computer but can’t use them till I can get my actual equipment (Guitar) into the computer.


I realise there are items such as Line 6's Pods, Toneport (they look useful), guitar port. M Audio Fast Track etcetc to get your guitar into the computer, BUT is that the BEST way???, or would getting a better sound card be worth while with inputs ?. I would prefer to buy what I would need now rather than something now and then something a bit later. I hate wasting money.

Thank you, and look forward to reading your advice.
 
For your guitar recording, have a look at this:
http://www.m-audio.com/products/en_us/JamLab-main.html

I bought one, but it might not be ideal for you, but for £40 it's certainly worth a play around with. It seems to act as a completely separate sound card, so I have to plug headphones into it to hear what it's recording, but that's not necessarily a bad thing.

I'm using it with cubase LE that I got free with some other bit of guitar stuff A2.1u or whatever it's called - zoom acousting whatsit.

THAT was meant to do recording via USB, but I couldn't get any decent volume out of the damn thing so I thought I'd give this a go. I'm very pleased with it really.

Haven't tried recording vocals yet, because I don't want to shatter the windows :o

I don't seem to get any really perceivable latency with the thing, and some of the sounds are fantastic (i'm using what's probably the cheapest/worst guitar possible) with it and it makes it sound great. Plus you can always create your own.

I also did the optional software upgrade for about another £40 on top of what it cost in the first place, but I think it's worth it. I think I could've got a line 6 pod 2.0 for the same price, which is no doubt "better", but my friend has one and I don't really like it.

I just got it for recording with - the upgrade was an afterthought after I started playing with it.

I'd have a listen to the samples on the website, I can't play well enough to put up some demos ;).
 
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I've got the standard M-Audio Fast-Track USB and it does everything i want it too, apart from having a MIDI connection.

It has XLR for quality mic recording, Instrument In / Line in toggle switch and two stereo outputs, as well as a headphone output which you can use you get a few extra channels for outputs. ;)

You also get a free copy of GT-Player Express which is a great piece of virtual amp software. Again, can be used for real-time playing or for recording over clean tones. Cant argue with M-Audio at all. :)

Remember to get some good studio / monitor speakers so that you get the best possible sound. :D
 
speakers, well not given them much thought to be honest yet. Have a Cambridge Soundworks 5.1 set up on the computer at present.
Will that not be any good ? and have they got to be "these so called" monitor speakers then or do any speakers do, is there something special about monitors ?


Also, just been informed all the sounds on my Yamaha Clarinova when (If I go this route) if i was to plug the midi cables from Yamaha Piano into Fast Track Pro Box then computer, all my sounds from the piano wont be passed through, as its midi I thought that was what it did, my knowledge is non exsistent as I am sure you all know (I didnt) all my sounds from the Piano will have to be fed via a line out, as all the Yamaha Piano would do with the Midi cables would be a midi thing,,,,I am LOST with MIDI, perhaps someone can clarify....

I just thought Plug My Piano into the midi ports and ALL my sounds form the piano will go to the computer and i can record. Seems not though.
 
Aye, all things considered you're probably best with the fast track pro I'd think.

GT-Player is a mighty piece of software too :)
 
MIDI is just information about what note you pressed, how hard you pressed it and when you let it go. (And some extra stuff, depending on the equipment, but that's basically it - in simple terms.)

No audio data is transferred via midi.

Make sense?
 
it does yes. So am i right in thinking that

Midi.....

I set up some program on the Computer, give it a sound. Then when I press a key on the Piano it plays that sound that I gave it on the computer via Midi, & presumebly each key above and below is a semitone higher or lower ? as per normal music notes.

As for all the normal sounds on my Piano though, I can in theory transmit then through the Line Out (Aux out) into something like the Line in (input) on the fast Track Pro unit.
 
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Yeah, what I do (and this is probably the wrong way to do it)
is record what i'm playing via midi, then play it back via midi (so I get the sounds I want) but feed the output of my synth into audio in of sequencer.

That might not make sense.

Synth >> Midi >> Sequencer software on PC
Mess around with stuff if I played it slightly wrong (you can edit midi data - things like the pitch of the note, or velocity (how hard key was pressed), or quantize it etc... - get it just how you like - everything's recorded as an event so you can edit/delete/add events how you like - at least in cubase, and any decent software would let you too.

Play back via midi >> Synth >> audio track on sequncer >> profit.
As yet I've not suffered any latency problems with this.
 
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Monitor speakers are designed for balanced outputs, and give a very natural tone as opposed to other speakers which have been modified for a purpose. They have a completly flat EQ and have many features that make them decent for recording.

However, the FT-Pro has 4 unbalanced outputs so you may be able to use some of the channels from your 5.1, but i dont think you will get 5.1 as you know it through correct channeling and routing when dealing with playback and recording.

Look for a decent set of monitor speakers and you're away. It will be fantastic for getting really pure sounds and will also serve you well for any other sounds that may be processed (i.e your music will sound great). Because the FT-Pro takes over the main sound device, you cant get a direct output from one to the other (i.e Sounds from guitar then going into your Soundblaster Audigy which then goes to the 5.1 speakers) All of the outputs will come directly from the soundcard itself, so it doesnt matter if you have the best speakers in the world unless they will connect to the master output at the back of the device.

For MIDI, you'll need to get some virtual synth's that process the signals into sounds. Cubase has a few in-built into the program, but there are many available to download free of charge. On the other hand, you can do what i do and run it through Line in and that way you only get the sounds from the Keyboard running through and is generally much easier to get started. :)
 
Jono,,,,everything you just said lost me lol. Give me time though and I will understand. Just trying to understand exactly what MIDI does and all that.

It's all new to me this. Just want to buy the correct item(s) to start with.
Does all sound like fun though....
 
OzZie said:
Monitor speakers are designed for balanced outputs, and give a very natural tone as opposed to other speakers which have been modified for a purpose. They have a completly flat EQ and have many features that make them decent for recording.

However, the FT-Pro has 4 unbalanced outputs so you may be able to use some of the channels from your 5.1, but i dont think you will get 5.1 as you know it through correct channeling and routing when dealing with playback and recording.

Look for a decent set of monitor speakers and you're away. It will be fantastic for getting really pure sounds and will also serve you well for any other sounds that may be processed (i.e your music will sound great). Because the FT-Pro takes over the main sound device, you cant get a direct output from one to the other (i.e Sounds from guitar then going into your Soundblaster Audigy which then goes to the 5.1 speakers) All of the outputs will come directly from the soundcard itself, so it doesnt matter if you have the best speakers in the world unless they will connect to the master output at the back of the device.

For MIDI, you'll need to get some virtual synth's that process the signals into sounds. Cubase has a few in-built into the program, but there are many available to download free of charge. On the other hand, you can do what i do and run it through Line in and that way you only get the sounds from the Keyboard running through and is generally much easier to get started. :)
Click to expand...


Ozzie, I understand and thank you for your information about monitor speakers, would i therefore need a new soundcard though. As at present my sound set up is a PCI SoundBlaster 5.1 card which feeds a Mains powered Sub, with 3 wires coming from the computer (Front L&R, Rear L&R, Centre & Sub) to the SUB box then the 5 other speakers are wired from the sub.

Would I then need a new sound card as to enable the monitor speakers to be fed. As I dont see a way of connecting the speakers otherwise.

I have no problem getting rid of my 5.1 set up, has served me well for 5 years. Sounds fine to me for Mp3's and the odd game, but I realise this is a different ball game.

thank you all for your advice...
 
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