Recording Rig

[drewbertca]

I'm a computer Engineering Technologist so it hurts when I say this but I bought a Dell system for recording / home use. I couldn't buy the same parts and build it for less..

It's an intel Core2Quad Q6600 (2.4GHZ)
2GB Ram
320 GB Hard Drive
256MB Geforce 8600 Video Card (I might play a game or two
Firewire
Windows XP for recording - (I hate vista...well I hate windows but recording works here)
Ubuntu Linux for everyday stuff (yep I'm a geek)

I was wondering what some of the home recordists are using for interfaces. I live in a Remote City in northern Ontario (Timmins)and the only "recording Interfaces" are Line 6 Guitar Ports and the built in sound cards...unless you want to order one without any education from the local shops....I'm looking at the Presonus Inspire Firewire interface since it's only about $200 retail but can't find any magazine reviews....any suggestions would be helpful....

[single cut 54]

Hi Drew , I'm sorry I don't do any home recording. I'm a bit ''low Tech'' i've only had me computer about 8 months and findin' hard enough usin' it let
alone buildin' or repairin' it. I just thought I'd say Hello and see how ya doin'.

[drewbertca]

still haven't decided on an interface...I have been doing home recording for about 12 years since I was 15....but I'm trying to step up from plugging into the computer's soundcard to something a little more professional...sure the inspire is far from pro but it's better than the onboard soundcard on my Dell for sure...

[Scooter2112]

Why Firewire and not USB 2.0?

[drewbertca]

From experience with other interfaces I've discovered despite USB 2.0's slightly higher bandwidth there is more of an audio latency....besides firewire allows daisy chaining of devices....

The latency issue was explained to me in college by a professor...he told me that typically you have more devices, printers, mouse, keyboard.....and so on on the USB bus and nothing on the firewire system also firewire has a more efficient communication protocol.....

and if USB 2.0 is so good why are there interfaces with 8+ individual channels for simultaneous recording and USB 2.0 is limited to two or 4?

Quick answer > > > I like the Idea of sometime down the road buying another Inspire and daisy chaining it for more inputs as well as better latency...

[drewbertca]

the computer has 8 USB 2.0 ports if that's what you were asking.....I added the firewire as an option....I never list USB 2.0 because it seems standard on PCs these days.....

[v8ko]

Originally Posted by drewbertca

the computer has 8 USB 2.0 ports if that's what you were asking.....I added the firewire as an option....I never list USB 2.0 because it seems standard on PCs these days.....

Firewire is the only way to go for PC's

After way to much research I think the Presonus stuff is really good. Are you just recording yourself or a whole band? If its a one man show get the smaller presonus stuff but Im guessing if firewire is important to you then your probably using a lot of channels.

Id check with American musical supply they would probably have more info than the Zombies that work at MF.

One thing I was looking for was something that had just as many outputs back to my pa as inputs. This way I can record the band with individual channels (being recorded to the computer) and not send things like drums through the pa during practice/recording sessions.

[coldsteal2]

Originally Posted by drewbertca

I'm a computer Engineering Technologist so it hurts when I say this but I bought a Dell system for recording / home use. I couldn't buy the same parts and build it for less..

It's an intel Core2Quad Q6600 (2.4GHZ)
2GB Ram
320 GB Hard Drive
256MB Geforce 8600 Video Card (I might play a game or two
Firewire
Windows XP for recording - (I hate vista...well I hate windows but recording works here)
Ubuntu Linux for everyday stuff (yep I'm a geek)

I was wondering what some of the home recordists are using for interfaces. I live in a Remote City in northern Ontario (Timmins)and the only "recording Interfaces" are Line 6 Guitar Ports and the built in sound cards...unless you want to order one without any education from the local shops....I'm looking at the Presonus Inspire Firewire interface since it's only about $200 retail but can't find any magazine reviews....any suggestions would be helpful....

Line 6 is great for it, its what i use most of the time
I also have EMU 1616M digital sound system
alot of people are using the Firewire setups and love them

Vista is a nightmare for anyone trying to record on computer
because it drains so much Ram, i sure hope XP sticks around
a few more years

[drewbertca]

Originally Posted by coldsteal2

Line 6 is great for it, its what i use most of the time
I also have EMU 1616M digital sound system
alot of people are using the Firewire setups and love them

Vista is a nightmare for anyone trying to record on computer
because it drains so much Ram, i sure hope XP sticks around
a few more years

Even if support for XP dies the software I already have will work......but what I'd really like is a 2" analog tape deck....oh well I should have been my age 20 - 30 years ago....and rich

And right now I'm working at collaborating with a friend of mine in Toronto (I'm in timmins) and I want something on a budget that will work well and can possibly be expanded in the future...

[VictorLazarus]

I'd get a good sound card and go straight into that at line level, mayb thru a mixer to control the volume. (thats what I do)

I tried a few USB interfaces but they were always slow, my friend has a line 6 pod thou and thats pritty cool, no latency. Plus u get some amp setups in it. (but being line6 I can't imagine they'd b good)

MVL.

[Doctor Dread]

I will cover the very low-end home recording system. This is a PC Windows configuration. You will need a decent soundcard (in fact, two of them), one mixer, one DI box, three software packages and plenty of hard disc space. If you want to lay any vocals or acoustic instruments, one good dynamic & one good condenser mic. My hardware setup is this:

mixer: Behringer XENYX 802
DI box: Behringer Ultra-DI 100
soundcards: two M-Audio Audiophile 2496
dynamic microphone: Sennheiser Evolution E-945
condenser microphone: large diaphragm AKG Perception 100

software:
recording: Adobe Audition 1.5 (former Cool Edit)
amp simulation: Amplitube 2
drum machine: any free you can find, the simpler the better, or free drum loops

The heart of this configuration is Amplitube 2 amp emulator. I’m not affiliated with Amplitube 2 in any way, I’m speaking this out of fascination with the things this software can do. You can download a fully functional demo, so you can see for yourself. But bear in mind that it is NOT a software for gigs (as in a laptop plugged into PA). It’s created to reproduce the sound of those tube amps, stomp boxes, various mics etc AS HEARD IN THE FINAL MIX. So, you are recording exactly the same sound you hear, it’s already in your soundcard.

And for using two soundcards, here’s the thing:

Use one card as a normal one, and the other one assign exclusively to Amplitube 2. Benefits: zero latency. Even an older Pentium IV can handle it with less than 40% CPU load. This is the path: guitar into DI Box, DI Box into line-in of the second card, from there line-out into the mixer, and from there normally into the first, main card. Those two professional cards are much cheaper than one serious, multi-channelled. If you’re concerned with post-production of your wave, just record at 48kHz and you’ll be fine.

As I said at the beginning, this is a low-end configuration, but you can have fun. If you need any additional information, send me a PM.

[drewbertca]

I've been going into an audigy Platinum on my old machine through an old Behringer mixer...I wanted to step up a little quality wise....I have some Dynamic and condenser Mics and was looking at the Inspire due to the 2 Mic Pres (independent phantom power and 2 line input RCA's for 4 total tracks (I could use my mixer into those inputs (pan one mic hard left and one hard right) for 4 total Mics.....And other Firewire interfaces I have seen are awesome for latency the Focusrite Saffire for instance is amazing but out of my price range....

and as for software I have access to Cubase and have used it in the past....I like it....

Thanks for the advice....

[VictorLazarus]

I wanna use 'pro tools' cos I hate the quality of the cubase mix (there's always a 'pop' at the start of a track) and other things. But I got lotsa other stuff I shud get first. lol.

MVL.

[coldsteal2]

Originally Posted by Doctor Dread

I will cover the very low-end home recording system. This is a PC Windows configuration. You will need a decent soundcard (in fact, two of them), one mixer, one DI box, three software packages and plenty of hard disc space. If you want to lay any vocals or acoustic instruments, one good dynamic & one good condenser mic. My hardware setup is this:

mixer: Behringer XENYX 802
DI box: Behringer Ultra-DI 100
soundcards: two M-Audio Audiophile 2496
dynamic microphone: Sennheiser Evolution E-945
condenser microphone: large diaphragm AKG Perception 100

software:
recording: Adobe Audition 1.5 (former Cool Edit)
amp simulation: Amplitube 2
drum machine: any free you can find, the simpler the better, or free drum loops

The heart of this configuration is Amplitube 2 amp emulator. I’m not affiliated with Amplitube 2 in any way, I’m speaking this out of fascination with the things this software can do. You can download a fully functional demo, so you can see for yourself. But bear in mind that it is NOT a software for gigs (as in a laptop plugged into PA). It’s created to reproduce the sound of those tube amps, stomp boxes, various mics etc AS HEARD IN THE FINAL MIX. So, you are recording exactly the same sound you hear, it’s already in your soundcard.

And for using two soundcards, here’s the thing:

Use one card as a normal one, and the other one assign exclusively to Amplitube 2. Benefits: zero latency. Even an older Pentium IV can handle it with less than 40% CPU load. This is the path: guitar into DI Box, DI Box into line-in of the second card, from there line-out into the mixer, and from there normally into the first, main card. Those two professional cards are much cheaper than one serious, multi-channelled. If you’re concerned with post-production of your wave, just record at 48kHz and you’ll be fine.

As I said at the beginning, this is a low-end configuration, but you can have fun. If you need any additional information, send me a PM.

I use Sonar 6 Producer, has alot of what you named already in it
Amplitube 2, and a killer Drum program, On Demand drums are
also awesome, they are all real recordings of drums run through
a computer program thats ajustable.
My EMU 1616M was kind of expensive for a digital
sound system and breakout box, but is really good.

[coldsteal2]

Originally Posted by VictorLazarus

I wanna use 'pro tools' cos I hate the quality of the cubase mix (there's always a 'pop' at the start of a track) and other things. But I got lotsa other stuff I shud get first. lol.

MVL.

You should look into Sonar, you can even get a big cut
in price for crossgrading to it from Cubase

Cakewalk

[drewbertca]

I've never had that pop sound you speak of....I'll listen for it onceI get up and running

[coldsteal2]

It could just be a software glitch

[wackocrash5150]

I also work in the computer industry and have a bit of a home recording setup. Here's what I have and feel free to ask me any questions.

Intel Core2Quad Q6600 2.4GHz
MSI P35 Platinum Motherboard
8 Gigs of PC2 6400 RAM (I know XP 32-Bit only sees 4 gigs)
3 x 500 Gig SATA II Hard Drives in RAID 5 configuration
2 x nVidia 7600GT 256 MB PCI-E Video cards (for multimonitor support)
3 Acer 19" Wide LCD Monitors
Logitech Z-5500 Speakers
Creative SoundBlaster X-Fi Xtreme Audio (just for normal sound and music playback)
Windows XP Professional (I've tried Vista-64 Bit and it was a nightmare!!!)

Presonus FirePod (Now known as the FP10)
Presonus FaderPort
Pair of Fostex PM-04 Monitors
Line6 POD XT Live

OK .... now that I'm done bragging (hey, it's a nice system that i've worked at for a while .... lol) this setup gets some pretty darn good results using Cakewalk Sonar 6.21 and a few VST Plug-Ins. I use AmpegSVT for my Bass guitar. I've tried Amplitube2 before but didn't really like it. It had some very good presets and a plethora of authentic options but just didn't have the feel and response for me. I currently record at 96 KHz just because it gives me the option to. I've recorded at 48 KHz in the past on my old Edirol UA-25 and it turned out just fine. USB vs Firewire? Anything more that 2 tracks at a time and I suggest firewire. Sure, theoretically USB 2.0 has higher data throughput but firewire has better sustainable rates rather than burst rates. Firewire cards with an NEC, Texas Instruments or VIA chip/controller seem to work well, VIA being the most preferred. Digital recording can be overwhelming in the beginning, partly due to having so many options. I would say that my 2 best investments in my setup have been the Presonus FirePod & Faderport. Decent mic preamps in the FirePod and the FaderPort makes it feel like a mixer without all the desk space.

[drewbertca]

Originally Posted by wackocrash5150

I also work in the computer industry and have a bit of a home recording setup. Here's what I have and feel free to ask me any questions.

Intel Core2Quad Q6600 2.4GHz
MSI P35 Platinum Motherboard
8 Gigs of PC2 6400 RAM (I know XP 32-Bit only sees 4 gigs)
3 x 500 Gig SATA II Hard Drives in RAID 5 configuration
2 x nVidia 7600GT 256 MB PCI-E Video cards (for multimonitor support)
3 Acer 19" Wide LCD Monitors
Logitech Z-5500 Speakers
Creative SoundBlaster X-Fi Xtreme Audio (just for normal sound and music playback)
Windows XP Professional (I've tried Vista-64 Bit and it was a nightmare!!!)

Presonus FirePod (Now known as the FP10)
Presonus FaderPort
Pair of Fostex PM-04 Monitors
Line6 POD XT Live

OK .... now that I'm done bragging (hey, it's a nice system that i've worked at for a while .... lol) this setup gets some pretty darn good results using Cakewalk Sonar 6.21 and a few VST Plug-Ins. I use AmpegSVT for my Bass guitar. I've tried Amplitube2 before but didn't really like it. It had some very good presets and a plethora of authentic options but just didn't have the feel and response for me. I currently record at 96 KHz just because it gives me the option to. I've recorded at 48 KHz in the past on my old Edirol UA-25 and it turned out just fine. USB vs Firewire? Anything more that 2 tracks at a time and I suggest firewire. Sure, theoretically USB 2.0 has higher data throughput but firewire has better sustainable rates rather than burst rates. Firewire cards with an NEC, Texas Instruments or VIA chip/controller seem to work well, VIA being the most preferred. Digital recording can be overwhelming in the beginning, partly due to having so many options. I would say that my 2 best investments in my setup have been the Presonus FirePod & Faderport. Decent mic preamps in the FirePod and the FaderPort makes it feel like a mixer without all the desk space.

Nice RIG...I'm looking at the PreSonus Inspire I'm not recording Drums yet....how is the firepod? Is the inspire similar?

and I think 8GB of ram is overkill...lol ...I did the RAID setup...and Like the multi monitor thing....My video card will support two when I get the cash to buy them.....

My monitoring setup is varied...I use a combination ov various headphones, PC Speakers (Logitech 5.1 system), and a 25 - 30 year old Stereo system with the matching original speakers and some small book shelf speakers (the stereo reciever/amp has A and B channels for the speakers so I can use either or or both) and once it sounds good here I burn a CD and check it out in the car.....if it's good in all these places it's good pretty much anywhere...

[wackocrash5150]

Originally Posted by drewbertca

Nice RIG...I'm looking at the PreSonus Inspire I'm not recording Drums yet....how is the firepod? Is the inspire similar?

and I think 8GB of ram is overkill...lol ...I did the RAID setup...and Like the multi monitor thing....My video card will support two when I get the cash to buy them.....

My monitoring setup is varied...I use a combination ov various headphones, PC Speakers (Logitech 5.1 system), and a 25 - 30 year old Stereo system with the matching original speakers and some small book shelf speakers (the stereo reciever/amp has A and B channels for the speakers so I can use either or or both) and once it sounds good here I burn a CD and check it out in the car.....if it's good in all these places it's good pretty much anywhere...

The FirePod is great! The Inspire as far as I can tell is just a model replacement for the FireBox seeing that it's been out for a couple of years. Presonus driver support is pretty good. The only one I've found better is Edirol. I look at alot of M-Audio stuff but the driver support just isn't there, especially with Vista. I like your method of using multiple devices for monitoring. I do the same and find it helps particularly with bass frequencies. When I mix something with my PM04's to my liking I find it has WAY too much bass on my Logitechs. If I figure out how to upload a clip, I'll put one up.

[drewbertca]

cool stuff...I looket at som edirol stuff...but it was cost prohibitive.......so I think I made a good choice....It'll be here early next week

[wackocrash5150]

Good choice. I've been very happy with my Presonus products.

[coldsteal2]

Originally Posted by wackocrash5150

I also work in the computer industry and have a bit of a home recording setup. Here's what I have and feel free to ask me any questions.

Intel Core2Quad Q6600 2.4GHz
MSI P35 Platinum Motherboard
8 Gigs of PC2 6400 RAM (I know XP 32-Bit only sees 4 gigs)
3 x 500 Gig SATA II Hard Drives in RAID 5 configuration
2 x nVidia 7600GT 256 MB PCI-E Video cards (for multimonitor support)
3 Acer 19" Wide LCD Monitors
Logitech Z-5500 Speakers
Creative SoundBlaster X-Fi Xtreme Audio (just for normal sound and music playback)
Windows XP Professional (I've tried Vista-64 Bit and it was a nightmare!!!)

Presonus FirePod (Now known as the FP10)
Presonus FaderPort
Pair of Fostex PM-04 Monitors
Line6 POD XT Live

OK .... now that I'm done bragging (hey, it's a nice system that i've worked at for a while .... lol) this setup gets some pretty darn good results using Cakewalk Sonar 6.21 and a few VST Plug-Ins. I use AmpegSVT for my Bass guitar. I've tried Amplitube2 before but didn't really like it. It had some very good presets and a plethora of authentic options but just didn't have the feel and response for me. I currently record at 96 KHz just because it gives me the option to. I've recorded at 48 KHz in the past on my old Edirol UA-25 and it turned out just fine. USB vs Firewire? Anything more that 2 tracks at a time and I suggest firewire. Sure, theoretically USB 2.0 has higher data throughput but firewire has better sustainable rates rather than burst rates. Firewire cards with an NEC, Texas Instruments or VIA chip/controller seem to work well, VIA being the most preferred. Digital recording can be overwhelming in the beginning, partly due to having so many options. I would say that my 2 best investments in my setup have been the Presonus FirePod & Faderport. Decent mic preamps in the FirePod and the FaderPort makes it feel like a mixer without all the desk space.

As far as DAW goes
thats pretty close to my setup i have i just upgraded
today as a mater of fact

Intel Core2Quad Q6600 2.4GHz
Intel D975XBX2 Extreme Series Motherboard
4 Gigs of PC2 6400 RAM
1 500 Gig 1 350 Gig SATA Hard Drives
EVGA nVidia 8800GTS 320 MB PCI-E Video card
Sony 5.1 dolby digital surround sound speaker system
Creative SoundBlaster X-Fi Fatality 1
Windows XP Professional
EMU 1616M with mixer breakout box

I have another Nvidia 8800GTS and two more monitors
but really dont have the space to set them all up

[wackocrash5150]

Originally Posted by coldsteal2

As far as DAW goes
thats pretty close to my setup i have i just upgraded
today as a mater of fact

Intel Core2Quad Q6600 2.4GHz
Intel D975XBX2 Extreme Series Motherboard
4 Gigs of PC2 6400 RAM
1 500 Gig 1 350 Gig SATA Hard Drives
EVGA nVidia 8800GTS 320 MB PCI-E Video card
Sony 5.1 dolby digital surround sound speaker system
Creative SoundBlaster X-Fi Fatality 1
Windows XP Professional
EMU 1616M with mixer breakout box

I have another Nvidia 8800GTS and two more monitors
but really dont have the space to set them all up

Nice rig. Quad cores seem to be the sweet thing for recording given the price nowdays. 2 GTS's? Were you working on an SLI setup? lol Given that I work in the field, i have system comin out the wazzoo! The rig that I mentioned previously is JUST for recording... (well, MSN and surfing as well) no games and such. This way i don't have to troubleshoot as much if the system is no co-operating. I have separate setup for games. How do you find the EMU for latency? I typically get 8ms with 24-bit/96 KHz set.

[coldsteal2]

I dont game either, I just have two because one is
from my old unit, its in a box still, i like high end cards
because i do alot of video

I get 4ms with the EMU 1616m pci
any lower is pushing it.

[drewbertca]

I'll be happy if i'm below 10ms.....I'm hoping for the best......wven if I have to go 24bit 48kHz....