Need Software/Equipment for Computer- based Studio -ACID Product Family

Subject:Need Software/Equipment for Computer- based Studio Posted by: Silky Date:9/16/2002 7:53:45 PM I want a computer-based home studio. This is new to me. I'm not looking to spend thousands of bucks right now. However, I do want to record quality sounding CD's. My Goals: 1. Record instrumental CD's (primarily with loops.) 2. Record CD's with music and vocals. 3. Record Audio CD's (spoken word, speeches, etc.) What I have: 1. A computer with a large hard drive, enough power, etc. 2. A microphone 3. A keyboard 4. ACID Music 3.0 I recorded a CD with loops and vocals in ACID. It was cool except for the "hissing" or "white noise" sound on it. I was told I needed another sound card so I could adjust the grain for my microphone. Or something like that. I have the SoundBlaster sound card that came with the computer. I was also told I needed audio editing software. Right now if I can just record a CLEAN sounding CD, I'll be straight. Anyway, holla back. Tell me what software and equipment (i.e. speakers, headphones) I need. Whew...THANKS!! Silky
Subject:RE: Need Software/Equipment for Computer- based Studio Reply by: Silky Date:9/16/2002 7:57:08 PM I want a computer-based home studio. This is new to me. I'm not looking to spend thousands of bucks right now. However, I do want to record quality sounding CD's. My Goals: 1. Record instrumental CD's (primarily with loops.) 2. Record CD's with music and vocals. 3. Record Audio CD's (spoken word, speeches, etc.) What I have: 1. A computer with a large hard drive, enough power, etc. 2. A microphone 3. A keyboard 4. ACID Music 3.0 I recorded a CD with loops and vocals in ACID. It was cool except for the "hissing" or "white noise" sound on it. I was told I needed another sound card so I could adjust the grain for my microphone. Or something like that. I have the SoundBlaster sound card that came with the computer. I was also told I needed audio editing software. Right now if I can just record a CLEAN sounding CD, I'll be straight. Anyway, holla back. Tell me what software and equipment (i.e. speakers, headphones) I need. Whew...THANKS!! Silky
Subject:RE: Need Software/Equipment for Computer- based Studio Reply by: Iacobus Date:9/16/2002 9:11:02 PM Sounds like a pretty good setup to start with. As you've already noticed, you're starting to feel a little limited with your setup. Indeed, I would definitely suggest ditching the Sound Blaster in favor of a better soundcard, like the Echo Mia or the M-Audio Audiophile 2496. They offer more pro-quality connections in addition to 24-bit audio. Sounds like you might need a mic preamp, which will not only let you adjust gain but will also let you use a pro-quality XLR jacks for a microphone. I've got the M-Audio USB Duo. It's pricey, yeah, but you get a top-notch mic preamp in addition to being able to use it as an external soundcard or a standalone A/D converter. There are, of course, those that are less; it'll all depend on what you're looking for. Digital audio editing? It would be subjective for me to say that I like Sound Forge a whole bunch, but there's also WaveLab as well. Note that Sound Forge has specific tools to ACIDize anything you record into it. There's also a cheaper version of Sound Forge, called Sound Forge Studio. You can compare Sound Forge to its little cousin here. Monitors are basically not cheap. When looking for a pair, look for active instead of passive; actives have an amp that's rated to match the monitors. You'll obviously want headphones that are comfortable to wear for an extended period of time (in addition to sounding good). You can definitely get by using a decent pair of speakers and a stereo amp (like your home stereo) if you don't feel like investing in monitors. Just be aware that different consumer speakers and amps give different results when listening to them. A way around this is to check out your projects on different systems (which can be time consuming). I'm sure others can chime in on this issue. HTH, Iacobus

Subject:Need Software/Equipment for Computer- based Studio

Posted by: Silky

Date:9/16/2002 7:53:45 PM

I want a computer-based home studio. This is new to me. I'm not looking to spend thousands of bucks right now. However, I do want to record quality sounding CD's.

My Goals:
1. Record instrumental CD's (primarily with loops.)
2. Record CD's with music and vocals.
3. Record Audio CD's (spoken word, speeches, etc.)

What I have:
1. A computer with a large hard drive, enough power, etc.
2. A microphone
3. A keyboard
4. ACID Music 3.0

I recorded a CD with loops and vocals in ACID. It was cool except for the "hissing" or "white noise" sound on it. I was told I needed another sound card so I could adjust the grain for my microphone. Or something like that. I have the SoundBlaster sound card that came with the computer. I was also told I needed audio editing software. Right now if I can just record a CLEAN sounding CD, I'll be straight. Anyway, holla back. Tell me what software and equipment (i.e. speakers, headphones) I need.

Whew...THANKS!!
Silky

Subject:RE: Need Software/Equipment for Computer- based Studio

Reply by: Silky

Date:9/16/2002 7:57:08 PM

Subject:RE: Need Software/Equipment for Computer- based Studio

Reply by: Iacobus

Date:9/16/2002 9:11:02 PM

Sounds like a pretty good setup to start with. As you've already noticed, you're starting to feel a little limited with your setup.

Indeed, I would definitely suggest ditching the Sound Blaster in favor of a better soundcard, like the Echo Mia or the M-Audio Audiophile 2496. They offer more pro-quality connections in addition to 24-bit audio.

Sounds like you might need a mic preamp, which will not only let you adjust gain but will also let you use a pro-quality XLR jacks for a microphone. I've got the M-Audio USB Duo. It's pricey, yeah, but you get a top-notch mic preamp in addition to being able to use it as an external soundcard or a standalone A/D converter. There are, of course, those that are less; it'll all depend on what you're looking for.

Digital audio editing? It would be subjective for me to say that I like Sound Forge a whole bunch, but there's also WaveLab as well. Note that Sound Forge has specific tools to ACIDize anything you record into it. There's also a cheaper version of Sound Forge, called Sound Forge Studio. You can compare Sound Forge to its little cousin here.

Monitors are basically not cheap. When looking for a pair, look for active instead of passive; actives have an amp that's rated to match the monitors. You'll obviously want headphones that are comfortable to wear for an extended period of time (in addition to sounding good).

You can definitely get by using a decent pair of speakers and a stereo amp (like your home stereo) if you don't feel like investing in monitors. Just be aware that different consumer speakers and amps give different results when listening to them. A way around this is to check out your projects on different systems (which can be time consuming). I'm sure others can chime in on this issue.

HTH,
Iacobus