Simple Equipment for "Recording"

[GreyBeard]

Let me start by saying that I have setup and used 24 tracks of interface and edited them all in pro-tools. With that said, these days I use a Zoom H6 field recorder which is a stand alone recorder that doubles as a 6 channel audio interface. It will record and playback without being hooked up to a computer. You can transfer what you have recorded by taking out the SD card from the recorder and inserting it into your computer and downloading the files to be edited by the DAW of your choice. You don't even need their top of the line field recorder, they make several cheaper models that will do the same thing. You want a "field recorder". zoom h | Sweetwater

 

[Hasty]

Based on your responses it looks like you have two issues.
1. Sound blaster is not the sound card you want to use. The FocusRite is the one you want.
2. If you don’t have a waveform when recording then you either haven’t armed the track or you have the inputs set incorrectly. Or possibly something else I wouldn’t assume to know cause I’m not there.

YouTube has tons of fantastic videos with step by step instructions on how to do this exact thing with a minimum of fuss. This sounds like a simple case of knowledge deficit as opposed to an equipment issue, which is pretty normal when starting out. DAWs really aren’t that intuitive when you first start using them. I use Reaper and Kenny Gioia is my go to when I get stumped(which is often).

 

[Richard Martin]

A Behringer UCA222 and a 1/4" TS to RCA adapter are all that you need. It's the simplest interface between a guitar and a computer that you can get. It plugs into any USB port and is automatically recognized by Windows as an audio input device. Is it studio level hardware? No. But it gets the job done.

 

[smo]

I want a device that allows to me to record, pure and simple.

I wanted something that allowed me to record by plugging in, or not.
So I originally got a Zoom H4n, over 10 years ago. Still using it. So easy to record a rehearsal via the onboard mics (or plug some more in or take vocals from the desk) and later send the MP3's to all people involved via messenger/whatsapp/telegram etc.

 

[Jjacks651]

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.

The Focusrite Scarlet will interface with your DAW and record what you play, that's what it does. That's exactly what I use with my Mac and Garage Band.

John

 

[MultiScaleMale]

I suspect you need to look into configuration of your DAW.

 

[filmtex]

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

Yep. RTFM.

 

[MasterMonkeyMan]

The ultimate in simplicity. Record, Overdub, MP3 Player, loop, portable......
If you wanna put your recording on the computer, it records to SD card and also has USB.
Plug in, headphones on, hit record, done.
Invalid Link Removed

 

[Basslice]

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.

I was laughing as I read the OP. Not laughing at the OP, but laughing because this is how I started down digital recording rabbit hole!

There are some differences between @comatosedragon woes and my early attempts, but too similar in most ways.

• I too was already PC / OS savy. I have been building my own PC's since the late 80's
• I was sold a Scarlett 2i4 by a music store guy that said it was exactly what I needed when I said I wanted to get back into recording after having my 4-track idle for too long
• I got it home, plugged stuff in and loaded drivers and ....NOTHING.

Long (very long story short), the Scarlett sat unused for the most part until I dug my heels in and figured it all out.

Without being able to say for sure, your problem is probably fairly simple. It is all in the set up, which is not really all that simple - even for an otherwise savvy computer guy).

I also use Pro Tools. If you want to PM me I can help you debug it. First things to check:

1. Hello sir, is the device being plugged in? (said with bad foreign accent - sorry, my overseas technical serviceman joke )
2. Trash your Pro Tools preferences or reinstall to be safe (Google search "trash Pro Tools preferences")
   
3. Download and install the latest Focusrite drivers.
4. Reboot
5. Make sure the USB is connected to Scarlett (not my overseas technical serviceman joke)
   
6. Open Pro Tools, click on Setup>Playback Engine
7. Make sure that Focusrite USB ASIO is selected, set buffer size for something safe, like 256 samples.
8. Open new session (cntrl-N)
9. Create new audio track (cntrl-Shift-N) select mono audio track > create
10. Select input 1 on new track
11. Plug instrument into input 1 of scarlett
12. Arm track (red buttin should blink)
13. See if you get signal input. While playing you should see green light on scarlett channel and the green bars bouncing on audio track 1 in PTs

If you do all that and it doesn't work maybe you have a faulty interface. Report back if you can.

 

[comatosedragon]

Thank you so much everybody for all your support.

After some more research beginning with a reddit and Tom's Hardware post, it seems that my issue is related to Nahimic drivers that MSI motherboards stealth install, and do not play nice with ASIO. So, my biggest takeaway from this is not to build using MSI in the future. They used to be my go-to. Anyway.

Because of all you fine people's insistence that yes, I did in fact have the correct hardware; I was able to dig in and find a solution for my issue.

Talk Bass Community For The Win!!!