advice for a beginner

[trek]

I'm just starting to dive into the world of computer recording. I would like to start doing some home-based recording on my PC (amd 64 3000, 1 gig ram, usb 2.0 and firewire, XP Pro). For starters, I would just like to be able to record guitar, bass, and vocals. So, I've been looking through the different I/O hardware, but I am unsure about what to get. Does anyone have a suggestion? Do I need to upgrade the soundcard first, or go straight for an I/O interface? Is it better to have firewire or usb? I'm looking in the $200-400, with absolute higest being $500.


**Edit: I also have a onboard RealTek 5.1 sound card.

[AndyH]

Onboard soundcards are never the best but as a complete beginner you need to concentrate on basic external gear and, most importantly, on learning how to use it effectively. One or more decent microphones and a microphone preamp will be more important at this stage. You don't need to consider firewire or USB while you use the built-in soundcard.

However, the soundcard must be full duplex in order to allow you to monitor tracks already recorded as you record additional tracks. Without that you can never get the tracks to work together, so first determine if you soundcard supports full duplex operation.

If the internal soundcard won't work you need either a PCI card or an external card. A PCI ard, such as an the M-Audio Audiophile 2496 will give you the best quality for the least money. If however you want something external, such as one with built-in microphone preamps, firewire is much more capable than USB for audio.

[trek]

My soundcard does not have duplexing capabilities it seems. So, should I opt to go for a new soundcard such as the Audiophile and then also a firewire I/O interface?

[AndyH]

You do not need both. A soundcard like the Audiophile has line level inputs. A microphone preamp, or a mixer (many include microphone preamps) plugs directly into those line inputs.

A firewire device will have to include A to D convertors in the external device. It processes your audio input into digital form, which is the same thing the Audiophile would do. Only digital data gets sent along the firewire cable into the computer whereas with a PCI soundcard you supply analogue signals to the soundcard inputs.

[trek]

A microphone preamp, or a mixer (many include microphone preamps) plugs directly into those line inputs.

Will I need to get a mixer or preamp if I get the soundcard then?

[trek]

Upon closer inspection, my onboard sound does support full duplex. So, should I still go for a new soundcard, or should I just pick up an I/O interface?

[jmail]

You'll have to decide how many tracks you want to be able to record at one time, in order to decide on an interface ("sound card", "interface", basically the same thing)...

To get a little further along, do you have a keyboard with midi ports? Do you want the future capability of doing that? Will you want to do a full drum kit? Do you have any microphones yet? Do you have a mixer?

If you've got mics & a mixer (or some way to get the mic(s) in to the onboard sound card), go to:

http://www.kreatives.org/kristal/

and download Kristal Audio Engine, which will give you a look-see at multi-track digital recording. It's not the stablest program, and has some quirks, but it will get you started. Go to a public library and borrow some books on home studios, digital audio, recording, etc.

[trek]

Ideally, I would like to record two tracks at a time (two mics, one mic / 1 inst). I do not have any mics or mixers as of right now. I do have a midi keyboard. As far as drums go, it would be a plus to be able to record a full set, but I highly doubt I will progress to that level anytime soon. I just need to something to get me started basically.

[AndyH]

The soundcard you already have will do two tracks at once. If it is full duplex, as you said, it will allow you to playback already recorded tracks so you can record addition parts in synch with them. You do not need a new soundcard right now unless you have a lot of money to spend. Eventually you will almost certainly want a better card but untill you make some significant advances in your skills, or your built-in soundcard is significantly worse than most, a better soundcard willl gain you nothing at the beginning.

You will definitely need one or more microphones. Different microphones exist for different purposes, but you should probably start out with one decent general purpose mic (unless you are famaliar with, and want, something in particular). All quality microphones require microphone preamps. If your onboard soundcard has a microphone input, it is only suitable for those crappy computer mics, not suitable for music recording. You need a microphone preamp, or a mixer that includes a microphone preamp,to go between the microphone and the soundcard line level inputs.