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Recording sounds AWFUL, need help!

#21
So the drivers for this card - does it have the Creative Surround Mixer? And you've gone in and played with the input levels there?

Looks like this, right?

0,1425,sz=1&i=4745,00.gif


I'm assuming that you have. If so, I'm stumped.
 
#22
Cryhavok said:
hunta - I'm pretty sure it's more like E) Badmouthing recording interfaces, in general.
Click to expand...
Then as my sarcasm laden comment earlier ("No pro studios use recording interfaces, that stuff is just a scam baby!") indicated, he's being silly because a lot of pro studios use recording interfaces. They aren't using Presonus Firepods or other such low end interfaces, but if they're using digital, they have to have some way to get the analog in there. Or have you not heard of Pro Tools? It doesn't work by magic.

Unless the studio is all analog, they are using some kind of interface to get the sound into the computer.
 
#25
hunta said:
Then as my sarcasm laden comment earlier ("No pro studios use recording interfaces, that stuff is just a scam baby!") indicated, he's being silly because a lot of pro studios use recording interfaces. They aren't using Presonus Firepods or other such low end interfaces, but if they're using digital, they have to have some way to get the analog in there. Or have you not heard of Pro Tools? It doesn't work by magic.

Unless the studio is all analog, they are using some kind of interface to get the sound into the computer.
Click to expand...

dude, what is the problem with you? I am also saying that higher end recording interfaces are good solutions, but they are not cheap. I am talking about the cheaper ones marketted as better recording solutions. If only you can read and comprehend what you read, we wouldn't have that problem, aye?

Anyway, why are you keep insisting pulling the subject off the topic?
 
#26
musicelectronix said:
dude, what is the problem with you? I am also saying that higher end recording interfaces are good solutions, but they are not cheap. I am talking about the cheaper ones marketted as better recording solutions. If only you can read and comprehend what you read, we wouldn't have that problem, aye?
Click to expand...
Dude, if you write clearly and don't make sensationlist statements just to reinforce your points, we wouldn't have that problem, aye?

"1- Recording interfaces = overrated marketting hype."

If you don't understand why that's a problem, I'm sorry? Maybe take a journalism class? It makes it difficult to consider anything else you say seriously when you open up with something like that.

Why am I pulling the subject off topic? Because I suggested he get a recording interface, as did others, and you're dismissing those suggestions as overrated marketing hype.

I repeat myself. Get a recording interface. You'll thank me later.
 
#27
hunta said:
Dude, if you write clearly and don't make sensationlist statements just to reinforce your points, we wouldn't have that problem, aye?

"1- Recording interfaces = overrated marketting hype."

If you don't understand why that's a problem, I'm sorry? Maybe take a journalism class? It makes it difficult to consider anything else you say seriously when you open up with something like that.
Click to expand...

get a life rather than being readily available here to respond..
 
#30
hunta said:
No pro studios use recording interfaces, that stuff is just a scam baby!

Huh? Overrated marketing hype? Explain?
Click to expand...

Hmmmmmmmmmmm

No Pro studios use recording interfaces? I know of several cutting edge studios that do indeed use recording interfaces. An A/D is an interface. Unless you are working completely inside the box...you need an interface of some sort. Did you mean that the dime a dozen interfaces are crap and that you think that THEY are a scam?

Interfaces...
ProTools - Digidesign interfaces and MAudio Interfaces
MBox1,2,2micro,2mini,2pro
Digi 002,002r, 003factory, 003r factory, 003r
ProTools HD1,HD2,HD3
Mpowered with Delta1010rack

Digital Performer w/MOTU interfaces
2408 mk1,mk2,mk3
HD192, HD96
24I/O
828 mk1, mk2(usb2), mk3
Ultralite
Traveller
8pre


I agree with Hunta...please do explain:)
 
#31
Stumpy, sorry. I was being sarcastic there, that's not something he said. I was trying to get musicelectronix to explain why he thought recording interfaces were overrated marketing hype, as they are clearly not.

But yes this is silly.

BTW, even in the case that you're trying to talk down the cheapie interfaces like presonus and m-audio and whatnot, any of those would still be better than recording with a line-in to the onboard sound card of any computer.
 
#32
two points:

1. In the past I have been able to get a not great but usable and not grotesquely distorted sound out of a Soundblaster 16, so I suspect some problem beyond the quality of the equipment exists.

2. In regards to interfaces in general I agree that beyond absolute bottom budget 1 input type stuff it is best to as much as possible buy discrete devices which do one thing and do it well. I've found that most of these interfaces with bundled mic pres do not sound very good. If you don't mind opening the computer up and swapping out a PCI card I think the M Audio delta series stuff and an external mic pre is a better sounding system dollar for dollar than most of what you can get in those all in one jobs.
 
#33
Alright guys first stop the bickering, please. I don't know anything about recording interfaces, but I think I gathered what musicelectronix is saying. hunta, you're free to refute musicelectronix's claim, but your sarcasm was not even noticeable through text, and I'm normally a pretty sarcastic person myself.

And regardless, I'm not going to go buy a recording interface so lets just drop it.

I'm not looking to buy anything extra than what I have. I'm simply trying to run through a direct box into my Sound Blaster and get a decent sounding recording. This shouldn't be as impossible as it has been thus far. If it comes down to me needing to buy a bunch of stuff, I'm better off just taking a road-trip back to my studio and recording there for a weekend.
 
#34
My buddy does almost all his recordings through his 1/8" mic input on his computer, and he has been able to get good sounding recordings on it with little noise. That said, he was using a mic without a mixer, so there was little gain on the input. When using a D/I or any instrument, I gave in and went interface, cuz it was just too tricky doing it with the 1/8" plug into the PC without having the signal too hot or this or that... just alot of tweaking to make it work. With the prices of interfaces these days, it makes sense to ge one. Its crazy that 100 bucks can drastically improve the quality and amount of time needed to make nice sounding recordings on your home PC.
 
#36
Try a better bass???
Click to expand...

I recorded some nice songs with my GSR200 check out my site...Link Removed the bottom vid I made with my i-mac and used the built in mic

I use Adobe Audition also and it works great. I do most of my recordings on a PC that is not super powerful and get very nice results...M-audio card 2496 and a cheap Behringer 502 mixer. I do all my recordings in mono and use the noise reduction tool to clean up any background noise...



this is a very good article. In the monitor record window set your Decibels to 24 and keep your volumes between 12 and 18 for headroom...I gave up DI when recording because its just too damn noisy....I mic my amp with an old Sony and I get very nice results.

Link Removed
 
#37
martyman5000 said:
I recorded some nice songs with my GSR200 check out my site...Link Removed the bottom vid I made with my i-mac and used the built in mic

I use Adobe Audition also and it works great. I do most of my recordings on a PC that is not super powerful and get very nice results...M-audio card 2496 and a cheap Behringer 502 mixer. I do all my recordings in mono and use the noise reduction tool to clean up any background noise...



this is a very good article. In the monitor record window set your Decibels to 24 and keep your volumes between 12 and 18 for headroom...I gave up DI when recording because its just too damn noisy....I mic my amp with an old Sony and I get very nice results.

Link Removed
Click to expand...

IMO, this setup is the best low price solution for home recording.
 
#38
Malamute, I'm using the external audio deck for inputs. I don't believe I can input on any of the rear PCI jacks, but there may be a line-in I missed.

martyman, thanks for the article. nice video too.

I guess I had better look into getting a mic or a recording interface. I just don't want to spend more money and set it all up to find out it still sounds like crap anyway.
 
#39
IMO, this setup is the best low price solution for home recording.
Click to expand...


I went to my local music store and asked the recording "pro" guy and I'm really happy with what I have. I will purchase a better Mixer in the future that has "Phantom Power" for a better microphone but the 502 was so cheap that really I can't complain. I have the philosophy that what you do on your PC is a sketch book for someday when you can afford to go to a real studio. Don't get so anal about quality, I prefer a raw garage sound over radio over mixed crap anyday of the week as long as I can hear all the instruments.
 
#40
Near as I can tell you should be seeing a few different sets of options, from the manual I am seeing S/PDIF on RCA or optical, RCA aux ins and a 1/4" mic/line in with a knob for adjusting the gain. Let me know if I've got the right documentation, which input you are using, and if you are using the 1/4" in where you have that knob at.

I'm sure we can get something working for you, I was able to get something out of a much less capable card from the same company some time ago.
 

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