Simple Equipment for "Recording"

[comatosedragon]

In an effort to improve my practice routine, I thought it would be beneficial to record what I was practicing for playback later. I thought this would be a "simple" task, but boy was I wrong.

All I want to do I plug my bass guitar into <some device> which will then in turn "record" what I am playing strumming/picking, perhaps in a format that a PC could use, such as .wav or .mp3 or .obb, or anything really. Just "recording" it is what I am worried about.

So I did some research, (I thought); and ended up buying a device called "Focusrtite Scarlett 2i2 Audio Interface" which I thought would do the task which I wanted, but I was misinformed. This device appears to be for people who do not have an internal soundcard on their machine, and wish a way to add external speakers. Not at all what I bought it for, but it was relatively cheap (under $200); so it's not like I'm out a ton of money.

So what I am looking for (I probably have not been clear about what I want, communication is sometimes a problem for me) is this: I want to plug a cable into my bass, and then into a "device" of some type, that is in turn connected to my PC (probably by USB, but an internal solution would work as well), which will then "record" what I am playing on my bass, so that I may play it back later via speakers or headphones, so that I may evaluate what I have played, and also so that I may not forget something I have created.

I hope I am explaining this well, I can provide more information if needed. All I am looking for is the name of a device that will allow me to connect my bass to my PC so that my PC may "record" what I am playing on bass. I don't think something like this should be too difficult, but there is a very good possibility that I am thinking about this the wrong way.


And before people start assuming I am a PC novice or something, let me assure you that I build my own PCs (have for years), and I am very capable with computers and technology, my most recent PC build has the following specs: i9-9900k, RTX 2080ti, 64GB RAM, all software installed on M.2 NVMe SSD's. This PC also has an internal SoundBlaster Z SE.

And to further clarify, I am not looking for something that adds "drum tracks" or anything like that, I want a device that allows to me to record, pure and simple.

This is the device I purchased, btw:

 

[bholder]

The Focusrite should do what you need, you don't have to use the output side of it if you don't want. Just set your OS sound settings to use it for input (mic) and leave the output / speaker side alone.

 

[bholder]

What you will need is a DAW (Digital Audio Workstation) program on the PC side to actually do the recording part - the interface (FocusRite) only does half the job. I used to recommend starting with Audacity because it's easy, but it's been crapping out on me lately, I'm now learning to use Reaper instead.

 

[comatosedragon]

Yes, I forgot to mention that I purchased ProTools DAW software as well, what I need is a device that will interface between the DAW and my actual bass guitar, because the Focusrite Scarlett 2i2 is not the correct device.

 

[bholder]

Yes, I forgot to mention that I purchased ProTools DAW software as well, what I need is a device that will interface between the DAW and my actual bass guitar, because the Focusrite Scarlett 2i2 is not the correct device.

I don't understand, you should be able to run a normal 1/4" guitar cable from your bass to the Focusrite's input. I do it all the time. Just recorded a cover of "Wild Horses" this morning that way. It's as simple as bass -> 1/4" cable -> FocusRite -> USB -> PC / DAW.

That's not working for you? What are the symptoms?

 

[JRA]

i agree with @bholder: your focusrite should be usable. there is a learning curve for all of this and setting it up with the correct drivers and clicking on the right choices/options in the setup screens/dropdowns is part of the curve!

i'd tell you exactly what to do except: i'm not using that interface and i'm fairly certain that we're not using the same version of pro tools.

good luck...you're oh so close!

 

[bholder]

 

[skycruiser]

I don't understand, you should be able to run a normal 1/4" guitar cable from your bass to the Focusrite's input. I do it all the time. Just recorded a cover of "Wild Horses" this morning that way. It's as simple as bass -> 1/4" cable -> FocusRite -> USB -> PC / DAW.

That's not working for you? What are the symptoms?

I agree with the above statement - your setup should do what you want. Are you also using an amp? If you just want to evaluate your playing, your cell should have an easy to use recording feature that goes straight to Mp3. I use this a lot in addition to my pc interface. Good luck!

 

[bholder]

Just plug in, set the Line / Inst selector to Inst, and adjust the volume appropriately. On the PC, ensure your input device is set to the FocusRite. Should be good to go.

 

[BrotherMister]

Seems like a silly question but make sure you are turning the mono/stereo button on. If it’s not on at all you don’t hear anything but you will once it’s on.

The 2i2 and protools/logic are what I use so it works for sure!

 

[comatosedragon]

It's as simple as bass -> 1/4" cable -> FocusRite -> USB -> PC / DAW.

I was hoping that to be the case, I didn't think a simple task like this should be complicated.

That's not working for you? What are the symptoms?

No, not at all. Plugging my bass into the Focusrite yields no results. I have tried using it directly from my bass to the Focusrite, and also from my bass into a fender aby box, with one into the Focusrite and one into my amp, presumably so I can hear what I play as I try to record, this would be my preferred method; but if I have to use it directly into the Focusrite (or whatever device I end up getting), that will be better than nothing.

So I plug in the bass, plug the cable into the Focusrite and start ProTools. ProTools requires to set an audio output, the choices being my present setup (internal SoundBlaster) or use the Focusrite audio output, which is why I made the comment about about this device being for people who do not have an internal sound card. If I leave the output as native (soundblaster); ProTools returns a message : "AAE was unable to communicate with the Audio Hardware. Please save your session and restart the software". This causes the software to softlock, the process must then be killed in task manager. If I set the output as the FocusRite device, the software moves to (what I assume) is the "recording software". But nothing is ever recorded when playing, there is no visual movement of lines or anything while I am playing to indicate that the focusrite is converting the signal properly from the device to the software. The length may change to 3 minutes ort however long I play, but nothing at all gets recorded.

Many, many hours of troubleshooting have led me to the conclusion that this device simply is not what I thought it was, but your comment about recording a track is exactly what I wanted to use this device for, so I am a little bummed out.

 

[bholder]

I was hoping that to be the case, I didn't think a simple task like this should be complicated.


No, not at all. Plugging my bass into the Focusrite yields no results. I have tried using it directly from my bass to the Focusrite, and also from my bass into a fender aby box, with one into the Focusrite and one into my amp, presumably so I can hear what I play as I try to record, this would be my preferred method; but if I have to use it directly into the Focusrite (or whatever device I end up getting), that will be better than nothing.

So I plug in the bass, plug the cable into the Focusrite and start ProTools. ProTools requires to set an audio output, the choices being my present setup (internal SoundBlaster) or use the Focusrite audio output, which is why I made the comment about about this device being for people who do not have an internal sound card. If I leave the output as native (soundblaster); ProTools returns a message : "AAE was unable to communicate with the Audio Hardware. Please save your session and restart the software". This causes the software to softlock, the process must then be killed in task manager. If I set the output as the FocusRite device, the software moves to (what I assume) is the "recording software". But nothing is ever recorded when playing, there is no visual movement of lines or anything while I am playing to indicate that the focusrite is converting the signal properly from the device to the software. The length may change to 3 minutes ort however long I play, but nothing at all gets recorded.

Many, many hours of troubleshooting have led me to the conclusion that this device simply is not what I thought it was, but your comment about recording a track is exactly what I wanted to use this device for, so I am a little bummed out.

Sounds like your device is broken. If you got it new, it should still be under warranty? Sounds like the DAW is glitching, too, don't know what to say about that.

 

[skycruiser]

I was hoping that to be the case, I didn't think a simple task like this should be complicated.


No, not at all. Plugging my bass into the Focusrite yields no results. I have tried using it directly from my bass to the Focusrite, and also from my bass into a fender aby box, with one into the Focusrite and one into my amp, presumably so I can hear what I play as I try to record, this would be my preferred method; but if I have to use it directly into the Focusrite (or whatever device I end up getting), that will be better than nothing.

So I plug in the bass, plug the cable into the Focusrite and start ProTools. ProTools requires to set an audio output, the choices being my present setup (internal SoundBlaster) or use the Focusrite audio output, which is why I made the comment about about this device being for people who do not have an internal sound card. If I leave the output as native (soundblaster); ProTools returns a message : "AAE was unable to communicate with the Audio Hardware. Please save your session and restart the software". This causes the software to softlock, the process must then be killed in task manager. If I set the output as the FocusRite device, the software moves to (what I assume) is the "recording software". But nothing is ever recorded when playing, there is no visual movement of lines or anything while I am playing to indicate that the focusrite is converting the signal properly from the device to the software. The length may change to 3 minutes ort however long I play, but nothing at all gets recorded.

Many, many hours of troubleshooting have led me to the conclusion that this device simply is not what I thought it was, but your comment about recording a track is exactly what I wanted to use this device for, so I am a little bummed out.

Before giving up try it with another DAW such as Audacity (free). I find Audacity very easy to setup and use. Maybe it is a driver issue on your PC. Check the latest driver is installed.

 

[fdeck]

I jam with a number of friends on a Jamulus server twice a week. Many of the members are using the Focusrite Scarlett because it was the first thing the drummer got working, and he offered to help anybody else who got the same gear. It is working fine as an audio input for everybody who is using it. None of them are plugging in a bass per se (that's my job and I have a different audio interface), or using ProTools, but are using microphones, an electric keyboard, etc., on systems that include Windows, Linux, and Mac.

It is my strong hunch that your system "should work" but doesn't because "something's going wrong." I put those phrases in quotes because you know that with modern computer systems, those are famous last words that can describe problems that can't be diagnosed. It's like when the IT person says: "You must be doing something wrong." It sounds offensive, but in fact, their broad experience tells them that it's the most probable root cause.

On the off chance that the hardware is OK and something's wrong with the software, trying different software might be a start. See if the Windows sound settings recognizes the existence of the Scarlett, and if it shows up in the device manager. The Scarlett must have come with some rudimentary software of its own, does it work? And lastly, I second the suggestion to try Audacity, which is what I use with my setup (PreSonus AudioBox USB 96 on a generic Windows 10 box).

Could you plug your speakers into the Scarlett and ditch the Soundblaster? There should be no need to have two audio interfaces on the PC. Let the Scarlett do everything. Lastly, get an adapter cable and plug your bass directly into the mic input of the PC. The audio quality will be surprisingly good, and if you record with Audacity, then you've got a totally free setup.

 

[ahbradot]

I found for me, the most simple way for me to record myself practicing bass is to record straight into an old DSLR camera.
I drop the video footage with the audio into video editing software and that's it.
I can export the audio separately to any audio file I want.
Yes, it is not perfect sounding, but I hate recording with computers.
Hey, the good thing is you get to your silly faces that you make on the video too as an added bonus.

 

[fdeck]

Of possible interest...

 

[Matty Koff]

Yes, I forgot to mention that I purchased ProTools DAW software as well, what I need is a device that will interface between the DAW and my actual bass guitar, because the Focusrite Scarlett 2i2 is not the correct device.

I was hoping that to be the case, I didn't think a simple task like this should be complicated.


No, not at all. Plugging my bass into the Focusrite yields no results. I have tried using it directly from my bass to the Focusrite, and also from my bass into a fender aby box, with one into the Focusrite and one into my amp, presumably so I can hear what I play as I try to record, this would be my preferred method; but if I have to use it directly into the Focusrite (or whatever device I end up getting), that will be better than nothing.

So I plug in the bass, plug the cable into the Focusrite and start ProTools. ProTools requires to set an audio output, the choices being my present setup (internal SoundBlaster) or use the Focusrite audio output, which is why I made the comment about about this device being for people who do not have an internal sound card. If I leave the output as native (soundblaster); ProTools returns a message : "AAE was unable to communicate with the Audio Hardware. Please save your session and restart the software". This causes the software to softlock, the process must then be killed in task manager. If I set the output as the FocusRite device, the software moves to (what I assume) is the "recording software". But nothing is ever recorded when playing, there is no visual movement of lines or anything while I am playing to indicate that the focusrite is converting the signal properly from the device to the software. The length may change to 3 minutes ort however long I play, but nothing at all gets recorded.

Many, many hours of troubleshooting have led me to the conclusion that this device simply is not what I thought it was, but your comment about recording a track is exactly what I wanted to use this device for, so I am a little bummed out.

That device is exactly what you thought it was.. you're missing a step somewhere or it's defective.

Your internal soundcard is useless for recording musical instruments. You need to make sure you install the drivers and software for the focusrite, and then when you start protools you need to set it up to work via ASIO.

Then.. you have to ADD a track to protools that uses the input from your Focusrite.. the input gain has to turned up enough for your signal to be audible.. and then you have to toggle the track monitoring on to hear it in protools .. or use the direct monitoring function of the focusrite, which should still let you record.

You also will likely need a set of headphones or monitors plugged into the focusrite for tracking.

An audio interface taking over as the sound card when plugged into a computer is normal as well. They all do it.

 

[MasterG]

You have a device that will do what youre asking. 100% sure you are just not setting it up right.

 

[Crater]

I recommend that you don't try to use your computer's internal soundcard for output. Nobody does it that way, and I'm not surprised you're having problems. If you can't connect your external speakers to the Focusrite's output, just plug a set of headphones into the interface for now. The important thing is, use the Focusrite for input and output.

Your hardware devices are set in your D.A.W. software - not in Windows' control panel. If you have a choice of drivers, use ASIO drivers. Normal quality settings are 24 bit, 44.1 KHz sample rate; 48 KHz if you're going to be dubbing for/to video.

 

[bholder]

It's sounding more and more like misconfiguration / miscommunication with the DAW.

If you go into Windows Sound settings, and use the Test your microphone tool at the bottom, and play your bass into the Focusrite, does it register anything? If it does, it's not the hardware.