Laptop recording!

jacobrownoly · #1 08-25-2010, 10:18 AM

Hi, I am looking into doing some home recording (mainly bass videos/youtube)

I am looking to try and use most of my gear to record into my laptop to get my sound ( Spector bass GK 1001-II head, DBX compressor and a programmable Sansamp)

The problem is I need some help in how I can go about recording this setup into my computer, the recording software that I am using is "Audacity"

I was planning on buying a cheap 4 track Behringer mixer (XENYX 802) and then I could just D.I my whole bass set up (or just use the sansamp as a D.I box) into the mixer and into the Audacity recording software into my Dell laptop.

2 questions

How do I connect the mixer to the laptop?

and

Is this setup a good way to go about recording bass?

Any advice will be much appreciated!

Thanks again!

Din Of Win · #2 08-25-2010, 10:23 AM

Subbed.

I'm interested in this as well and have no clue how to go about doing it.

mid_life_crisis · #3 08-25-2010, 10:27 AM

Most laptops only have a microphone in.
You may have to purchase a USB soundcard.
No I cannot recommend one.

jpTron · #4 08-25-2010, 10:28 AM

Buy a USB or Firewire interface

Floridabwoy · #5 08-25-2010, 10:31 AM

Get the Alesis Multimix 8, its cheap and it has a USB to 8 buss's

jacobrownoly · #6 08-25-2010, 10:35 AM

I have a Behringer UCA202 U-Control USB Audio Interface

Will this work?

waleross · #7 08-25-2010, 10:36 AM

It might work out with your Dell Laptop, however I use stand alone systems. I use a jamhub that records (top model) .wav files up to 7 inputs. Less $$$ is the Zoom H4N, I get good results with it. I also have a Korg D3200 that records and burns CD's. This is also stand alone and you dont have to buy additional stuf to get results.....

fivestringgecko · #8 08-25-2010, 10:36 AM

At a quick glance, it doesn't look like that mixer has a way to interface with a computer... I didn't see any outs other than what you'd send to a speaker.

+1 to jpTron... I run Cubase on my laptop and use a Cakewalk UA-25ex. It's a nice little 2-channel USB input box (XLR or 1/4") with some pretty good flexibility in a small package. I didn't have to buy a USB soundcard either. Just plugged it in, installed/updated the drivers and got setup in Cubase.

5sg.

Floridabwoy · #9 08-25-2010, 10:38 AM

it should... you will just need to install the driver. what kind of processing speed is your laptop. because external soundcards have their own processor, you do need a decent processor, or you may have latency issues.

but that is the cheapest way to do it, so give it a try and see what you come up with. Also make sure your OUT is turned all the way down so that the signal doesn't loop and you will get a nasty reverb.

chicago_mike · #10 08-25-2010, 10:38 AM

Options:

If the mixer has 2 aux outs...those can go to the soundcard.
Then the stereo outs still go to monitors /speakers
Then the Outputs of the soundcard go to regular channel inputs of the mixer

Theres many more ways.

Akshat · #11 08-25-2010, 10:43 AM

get a maudio fast track..its pretty cheap,good quality recordings,plug the line out from your amp

Bijoux · #12 08-25-2010, 10:47 AM

I use a Zoom B2.1u and it works great. I normally use it just as an interface, so I don't use any of the sounds and/or effects.
I record into Cubase, and I use EQ from the software, or an Ampeg plug in, that is totally rad!

jacobrownoly · #13 08-25-2010, 10:47 AM

If I connected my bass setup (see above) via D.I to the mixer then connect the mixer to the USB U control-202 into the laptop would this not work and if it does work will it get my go results?

The mixer would be used more for a gain/clipping control...is this right?

Thanks again!

Floridabwoy · #14 08-25-2010, 10:53 AM

Should work.

jacobrownoly · #15 08-25-2010, 11:04 AM

ok thanks, with my setup should there be a problem with clipping or will the controls on the mixer sort that out?

jacobrownoly · #16 08-25-2010, 12:05 PM

Hellbastard · #17 08-25-2010, 12:17 PM

Have you tried connecting the sansamp directly to the Behringer UCA? Maybe you don't even need a mixer for this. You already have a preamp, and an interface so just buy an adapter from 1/4" to rca and give it a try. You might get god results with these.

jacobrownoly · #18 08-25-2010, 03:19 PM

Anyone had any experience with the Alesis MultiMix Multi Mix 4 Chan Mixer Audio Interface?

It looks ok and its dirt cheap.

Would this work with my set up?

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Alesis-MultiMi...s#ht_518wt_911

jpTron · #19 08-25-2010, 04:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jacobrownoly

Anyone had any experience with the Alesis MultiMix Multi Mix 4 Chan Mixer Audio Interface?

It looks ok and its dirt cheap.

Would this work with my set up?

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Alesis-MultiMi...s#ht_518wt_911

I don't know if you addressed the issue of connecting to your laptop, but I don't think that will connect to your laptop either

tekhedd · #20 08-25-2010, 04:12 PM

Impedance matching is the key. Check whether your laptop has a proper line-level line-in jack. A mic-in jack will probably be the wrong gain and impedance, so you want to be sure it's a line in. My laptop has one of each, for some reason.

If for some reason you need to add an external interface, there are many. I have had good luck with M Audio interfaces, but--this applies to whatever you're using--be sure you have the latest drivers from the web site.

Firewire can be hit and miss. I use the built-in firewire and it's just fine. My friend had to buy a firewire PCMCIA card to stop his computer from glitching.

My current setup is an M Audio firewire 8x8 interface with ableton live, and it works great (but I had some other software that ran in the background and caused glitches which took several months to track down and eliminate). Your mileage will definitely vary depending on what software is installed and what hardware dell chose to put in your computer.

Final word of advice: don't install *anything* on an audio laptop that you do not require for audio. (I find that in general, computer games do not cause problems. Which is sort of counter-intuitive, no?)