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Starting some PC recording, and a bit overwhelmed

F

Fwarginator

Dec 1, 2008
160
0
Near Pittsburgh
#1
I'm sure this question is posed a lot around here, but I am looking at doing a little PC recording, and I am just a little overwhelmed as to how to start. My original option was to get the Zoom b2.1u and just record using that connected via USB to my computer and use the cubase software it comes with, but then I began to wonder if perhaps this was not the way to go. I mostly want to do solo recording just for experimentation and educational purposes, but at some point may wish to record with some friends, in which case I would need more than one input to my PC, so that would mean I need something completely different.

I am sorry if I seem at all incoherent here. I am just completely overwhelmed :hmm:
 
#2
What are you looking to spend to get started?

What (if any) gear do you have already?

If you wanted to start small and simple you could get something like the MXL mic mate or for a little more the Shure X2U looks like it has a lot more features and control. Using either of those will give you an XLR to USB 1 channel interface that will work with any microphone or you can record your bass direct using a DI box (on the cheap you can get a Whirlwind or something, but investing in a Countryman Type 85 or Radial JDI is better for the long run... someone has a JDI in the sale forum for $120 right now).

I don't think either of those includes any software, but for starting out Audacity is a decent freeware choice. Another great free (or close to free) option would be Reaper, though it'll have a bit more of a learning curve early on.

When you want to expand to something more advanced, there are definitely an overwhelming amount of options. Keep in mind that the latest and greatest things out there are generally not much better than older versions of the same thing. You can get older rigs for a fraction of what they cost new so you can get an 8 channel interface for well under $200 if you shop around. If you need more than 8 channels, or think you'll want more than 8 down the road, be sure to look for something with ADAT inputs and outputs so you can get something like the ADA8000 (probably the only Behringer product I'd ever recommend to anyone) to expand on it.

If you find yourself in need of preamps, small format mixers are the cheapest way to get a bunch of decent preamps. Mackie's generation old VLZ Pro boards had decent pres and ca be found used for decent prices now (a 1604 VLZ Pro for $400 = $25 per preamp... even the crappiest standalone preamps cost more than that).
 
#3
Now that I think about it, I dont think software will be any problem. I have audacity, and if I want to go more in depth than that, I know some folks who have played around with PC recording, I'm sure they could help me out there.

Really its the gear itself I'm unsure of. All I have at the moment is my instrument and an old Zoom 506 Bass haha. As for price, I guess around $160 would be ideal, although I would be willing to go higher. I just really don't know exactly what it is I need.
 
#4
For very little money, it's hard to beat a Line6 Tone Port UX1, which would let you plug in your bass, a guitar, or a mic directly. They can be had for $70 at Guitar Center. If you could kick your budget up to $200, you could pick up the Tone Port, a SM-57, and a 25 foot mic cable all brand new and have a nice little bedroom scratchpad for recording that is a step up in quality from a Portastudio or something.

If you want to record multiple people at once, you have to *significantly* expand your budget. Just the interface alone isn't enough, you end up spending a ton of money on mics, cables, etc. just to get everything hooked up. You spend even more if you want to actually record everyone to a separate track--that's where you start looking at the 8-channel firewire interfaces that cost around $500.
 
#5
$200 should be pretty doable.

Okay, let me ask this: What exactly is needed for recording with a PC? Would it be enough to just have
Bass->Interface->PC (with Audacity or some other software)
connected with the appropriate cables? Or am I missing something here?

I really apologize for all these questions, I am just a total newb to all this :hiding:
 
#6
I apologize for the double post, but I thought I would put a coupld questions I've recently had in here. I have been looking around and have found some good prices on used interfaces, some of which are FireWire. If I were to use one of these, would I have to have some sort of adapter installed on my computer (Windows XP Desktop)? Also, I am still running the soundcard that came with the computer, would I have to replace this?

Thanks!
 

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