From: owner-idealcopy-digest@smoe.org (idealcopy-digest) To: idealcopy-digest@smoe.org Subject: idealcopy-digest V9 #211 Reply-To: idealcopy@smoe.org Sender: owner-idealcopy-digest@smoe.org Errors-To: owner-idealcopy-digest@smoe.org Precedence: bulk idealcopy-digest Tuesday, August 15 2006 Volume 09 : Number 211 Today's Subjects: ----------------- Re: [idealcopy]Ignoramus requires help(of a tech-y muso sort)..v2/ was I'm Packing A Grin! [Derek White <] Re: [idealcopy]Ignoramus requires help(of a tech-y muso sort)..v2/ was I'm P... [MarkBurs] Re: [idealcopy]Ignoramus requires help(of a tech-y muso sort)..v2/ was I'm P... [Andrew Walkingshaw Subject: Re: [idealcopy]Ignoramus requires help(of a tech-y muso sort)..v2/ was I'm Packing A Grin! Silly me. I ask for some advice then forgot to send the details, some of which you've anticipated, Mark. The interface/soundcard doohickey has got to be able to do both jobs, i.e. allow me to multi-track on my own, but equally (if not more) important to me is the ability to let me record a live band, sending almost every input to it's own channel / track in my sequencer software. As for the number of inputs required, it goes thusly:- 2 Mic inputs AS A MINIMUM (pref with 48v phantom power feed, for vox(es):- each to be routed to separate tracks, 2 inputs , ( Hi-Z with gain/trim control) 1 for each guitar, again sent to own tracks, A stereo pair OR 2 mono 'ins'. for keyboards (This is a minimum requirement, and assumes that 3 stereo k/b sound modules will be sent already mixed down to 1 stereo pair)*** Another stereo pair ( 2 mono i/p's ) for a stereo drum 'submix' and finally one high impedance input for bass guitar d/i-ing So, yes I can just about get away with 10 inputs, although if I can find one that doesn't cost the earth that's got 14 inputs, that would allow for recording the main guitar with a stereo signal from the guy's Roland GT-3 floor FX, and taking the bass-drum/floor tom out of the drum mix and routing *that* to a separate track. So, with these requirements in mind, can I get a device with all the I/O I need , AND that will keep all the instruments on separate channels for simultaneous recording on 10 or 14 channels? I have to ask because this is my first foray into digital audio recording, and I just don't know if what I require is possible with what's available, given my PC's spec...... .....which BTW is a Hewlett-Packard 7425, Pentium 'D' dual-core processor, 1Gig memory under the bonnet, a 1 gig cache, and 800MHz FSB:- each processor core churns away at 2.8 GHz according to the blurb, so whilst it's not a 'cutting-edge' machine, it's fairly capable. Also, during recording, I'm not going to be pushing it with 'soft' synths, VST instruments or Virtual FX either, since I'm going to be running Cubase SX-3 which allows you to send signals from virtual 'insert points' to outboard effects, which I'd much rather employ. There's a firewire port on the front panel, as well as about 6 USB sockets I see you mentioned Edirol :- I *had* looked at their 1010 I think it is:- the one with 10 ins, anyhow. And also, an M-audio unit who's model number escapes me, both of which IIRC weigh in at about or just above the #300 mark:- for the purposes I described above, is this the sort of cash I should expect to fork out for such capability? BTW, I didn't know that Edirol was a Roland marque:- it increases my confidence somewhat, as I've never had *any* trouble whatsoever with anything that I've owned made by Roland / Boss etc.......... Any pointers, particularly if you've done similar recording tasks with a PC, will be gratefully received. I just don't want to make an expensive mistake...... Thanks in advance. Derek PS:- As I'm a rank beginner with *this* version of Cubase (altho' I have used the MIDI-only version on my steam-powered Atari STe for years!!) there's a problem with the set-up as it is ie with the 'onboard' soundcard in that I cannot get rid of this accursed 'slapback' echo when trying to multitrack:- I know about the problem with a soundcard's latency, but surely that would just give one out-of-sync repeat, whereas, I'm getting several repeats. How do I get shot of it before it drives me bananas ? I reckon there's some sort of 'circular assignment' thing going on somewhere, but I can't figure out where exactly? I've more or less left Cubase with all it's default setting intact, except for poiting it at my ASIO drivers, in the input select dialogue? Sorry for boring the non-musos, but I thought I might as well ask the musos that *do* occasionally lurk about here....... ;-) MarkBursa@aol.com wrote: > (BTW, as regards the above-mentioned 'gizmo', I need some advice, so if > any of you more technically-minded muicians on the list would care to help, > see my post 'Ignoramus requires help'.............) Depends what you want to do. Are you using it to make demos on your own, or are you recording a live band? The number of inputs is pretty important here... Edirol interfaces look pretty good (made by Roland) - they do a 10-input box for about #300 and a 4-input one for about #200. Most comprehensive selections in London are our old friends Turnkey and Rose-Morris - but they're not necessarily the cheapest. However for new gear there's not a huge amount of discounting - it's not like vintage guitars, where Tin Pan Alley prices are stratospheric... Mark

Check me out! - --------------------------------- How low will we go? Check out Yahoo! Messengers low PC-to-Phone call rates. ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 14 Aug 2006 10:18:43 EDT From: MarkBursa@aol.com Subject: Re: [idealcopy]Ignoramus requires help(of a tech-y muso sort)..v2/ was I'm P... Derek, you need an Edirol FA-101. About #300. There is a M-Audio equivalent, but the Edirol looks a bit more user-friendly. Not sure what version of Cubase it works with though - you may need an upgrade. But you probably don't need anything too elaborate. It's just an interface - no knobs & sliders. But AFAIK nobody does a 10-channel multitrack inteface with a built-in mixer. In any case it sounds like you need to get the band recorded and then worry about the mix later... Hope this helps Mark ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 14 Aug 2006 16:53:26 +0100 From: Andrew Walkingshaw Subject: Re: [idealcopy]Ignoramus requires help(of a tech-y muso sort)..v2/ was I'm P... On Mon, Aug 14, 2006 at 10:18:43AM -0400, MarkBursa@aol.com wrote: > It's just an interface - no knobs & sliders. But AFAIK nobody does a > 10-channel multitrack inteface with a built-in mixer. They do, but they cost a pretty penny; http://www.m-audio.com/products/en_us/ProjectMixIO-main.html (Digidesign, who are the same company, have something pretty similar.) Have a look at the Presonus Fireface too. Andrew ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 14 Aug 2006 13:49:27 EDT From: MarkBursa@aol.com Subject: Re: [idealcopy]Ignoramus requires help(of a tech-y muso sort)..v2/ was I'm P... >>But AFAIK nobody does a > 10-channel multitrack inteface with a built-in mixer. They do, but they cost a pretty penny; http://www.m-audio.com/products/en_us/ProjectMixIO-main.html (Digidesign, who are the same company, have something pretty similar.) Have a look at the Presonus Fireface too.<< Guess I should have added the word "affordable" in there somewhere! Mark ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 14 Aug 2006 15:01:26 +0100 From: "Keith A" Subject: Re: [idealcopy]Ignoramus requires help(of a tech-y muso sort)..v2/ was I'm Packing A Grin! talking of things techie anyone got one these turntables? http://www.firebox.com/index.html?dir=firebox&action=product&pid=1401&src_t= hfp looks great - in theory at least. - ----- Original Message ----- From: "Derek White" To: ; Sent: Monday, August 14, 2006 12:42 PM Subject: Re: [idealcopy]Ignoramus requires help(of a tech-y muso sort)..v2/ was I'm Packing A Grin! > Silly me. I ask for some advice then forgot to send the details, some of which you've anticipated, Mark. ------------------------------ End of idealcopy-digest V9 #211 *******************************