Stupid question regarding recording

eupharies · #1 11-08-2011, 05:11 AM

Hi guys, im looking to get like a usb audio interface for my laptop.

For instance the Tascam us122 MKII...

My question is do i have to plug this in to my bass amp, and then in to my laptop...

Or

does this have like an in built amp so i can record direct in to my laptop and it has the bass sound...

I know this sounds stupid, but i do not get audio recording at all...

thanks

Emibass · #2 11-08-2011, 05:15 AM

if the tascam has a D.I. input or an instrument input, you can plug your bass directly into the tascam. Unless you want to record the cab, in this case a mic in front of the amp plugged into the mic input of the tascam.

Hope this helped,

ejmy · #3 11-08-2011, 05:19 AM

No amp needed.

eupharies · #4 11-08-2011, 05:19 AM

thanks for your reply! yeh basically i dont want to use my amp, i just want direct from the audio interface to my laptop with amplified sound

I dont think it has DI.... but it has guitar input etc

Emibass · #5 11-08-2011, 05:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by eupharies

I dont think it has DI.... but it has guitar input etc

DI or guitar input is the same thing

eupharies · #6 11-08-2011, 05:23 AM

ah ok cool! sorry if i sound stupid, im a b it of a novice when it comes to recording!

Are the Tascams quite good, im looking to spend less than $200 ( im in the uk) or would you suggest a different model!

Ill be using it with a program such as audacity or something, cubase confuses me!

WhiteNinja · #7 11-08-2011, 05:39 AM

The M-Audio Fast Track series is quite popular if you start out with recording at home, and not too expensive, either. I use mine with a separate passive DI. My signal path would be: Bass > Fuzz Pedal > OD Pedal > Tech 21 VT Bass or Oxford > DI > MAudio Fast Track via XLR. I also record with audacity, but Cubase and Samplitude are probably much better.

Alternatively, you can change the sound on your PC with programs like Amplitude. Usually, when recording, you record with as clean a sound as possible, and do the effects later. But I'm too lazy to do that, and find it much easier to do it all before with my pedals. Besides, the Tech 21 pedals are pretty darn good for recording directly.

eupharies · #8 11-08-2011, 05:49 AM

ok cool ill have a look! Say if i were to buy that... what else do i need to buy, or would just my bass and my jack be enough with the M-fast track audiot...

Ive been reading and people say you need a DI box and stuff and like whats the DI cable called, as its different to just the normal headphone jack style one isnt it...

sorry for being a pain! i jsut dont get it lol

BassManic · #9 11-08-2011, 05:53 AM

I use a product of lexicon, american brand as far as I know. The iOnix series, good pricing and very good sounding. No driver issues on pc, mac, and no matter what software you use...

No need of a DI if you have an instrument-input, cable is just your average to high end instrument cable, whichever you like. A good pre can have pretty much impact on the sount though.

Seela Bassmanic

mwbassace · #10 11-08-2011, 05:55 AM

If all you want do is plug your bass into your computer there are many interfaces/instument-to-USB cables from ART, Alesis, Berhinger and more that can do it for $30-$50. The Tascam will let you plug in 2 mics, 2 intruments and a MP3 player or drum machine all at once. Just be aware of if any included software has amp/effect models. If not you may want to use a pre-amp before the interface.

eupharies · #11 11-08-2011, 05:56 AM

i quite like the look of the fast track mpro or focusrite saffire! ive seen the lexicons bit out of my price range

I jsut need something simple, that doesnt confuse me lol

eupharies · #12 11-08-2011, 05:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mwbassace

If all you want do is plug your bass into your computer there are many interfaces/instument-to-USB cables from ART, Alesis, Berhinger and more that can do it for $30-$50. The Tascam will let you plug in 2 mics, 2 intruments and a MP3 player or drum machine all at once. Just be aware of if any included software has amp/effect models. If not you may want to use a pre-amp before the interface.

ahh i see! yeh i just have like my bass and then a a zoom b2 unit for drums...

Defo dont need to plug mics in etc....

Emibass · #13 11-08-2011, 05:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by eupharies

ok cool ill have a look! Say if i were to buy that... what else do i need to buy, or would just my bass and my jack be enough with the M-fast track audiot...

Ive been reading and people say you need a DI box and stuff and like whats the DI cable called, as its different to just the normal headphone jack style one isnt it...

sorry for being a pain! i jsut dont get it lol

there´s no such thing as a DI cable. The conection between a DI and the soundcard is a normal mic cable (xlr to xlr) and you plug it into the mic input of the micpre of the soundcard if it has any.

eupharies · #14 11-08-2011, 05:58 AM

but with the usb cable,.... how is the sound amplified as theres no amp...? :S

BassManic · #15 11-08-2011, 05:59 AM

...right and btw, there are no stupid questions.

eupharies · #16 11-08-2011, 06:05 AM

its just dont get how the usb cable works... as without an amplifier its jsut dead sound no....

Emibass · #17 11-08-2011, 06:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by eupharies

but with the usb cable,.... how is the sound amplified as theres no amp...? :S

many soundcards have direct monitoring with wich you can hear the bass through the monitor speakers, bypassing the computer in order to avoid latency. The direct monitoring acts like a splitter: one signal goes direct to the output of the soundcard (for monitoring) while the other one goes into the computer for recording.

if your bass amp has a DI output than you just plug the bass into your amp and than conect a mic cable from the DI output of your amp to the mic input of the soundcard. This way you use the amp to hear yourself as a monitor.

the usb cable is the link between the soundcard and the computer

mwbassace · #18 11-08-2011, 06:10 AM

The sound is amplified by the computer thru headphones or your computer speakers/studio monitors.

Crater · #19 11-08-2011, 06:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by eupharies

but with the usb cable,.... how is the sound amplified as theres no amp...? :S

USB is a digital interface. The audio signal is converted to digital in the recording interface and sent to the computer to be recorded to the hard disk. The audio interface will have a headphone jack and/or a stereo output for connecting monitor speakers. So you will need a pair of headphones or a stereo system or some kind of monitor speakers.

eupharies · #20 11-08-2011, 06:20 AM

ohhh i seeeee! Makes sense now, my amps at practise studio therefore ill be doing it ampless!

Therefore just to understand, if im using just the usb cable thing, it goes from my bass to laptop via usb, and the sound is amplified by whichever computer program i use digitally....

Alternativeely using my amp, i plug bass to amp, then say mic cable the amp to the say Tascam, and then usb from tascam to my laptop... and this would use my amp more so!

Or alternatively. not using my amp....... i plus my bass in to tascam, tascam in to laptop... and the sound is digitally amplified and then when i record it it sounds like its actually being played through an amp??

sorry its long winded!