acoustic guitar recording - which motherboard? soundcard or audio interface/mixer?

[the_kiddy]

Hi - I'm building a pc at the end of the month and I'd like to mic up my Yamaha acoustic guitar and record it - and record vocals (preferably at the same time) and I also want to use a midi keyboard to add effects, pad sounds - that kind of stuff.. If this is all I want to do am I better off just using a soundcard? Are audio interfaces/mixers more powerful? do they make better recordings? Will I be more likely to avoid latency problems and noise from inside the computer?

Do I need a mixer or an audio interface? Can someone explain the process of 'monitoring using a mixer' to me? I hear that they're good for that. As I understand it a lot of audio interfaces and mixers do the same kinds of stuff. Basically I'm really confused and still don't know the difference between the two. I really want to make a great sounding demo of me on my guitar - with maybe some midi keyboard programming. Can someone suggest a good rig for that? That's the main question I guess. Thanks people

oh yeah - and which motherboard should I purchase? I want firewire don't I? And I'd like as many USB 2 ports at possible - please. Hehe. What else will make a difference? Which processor is the best? I want my keyboard effects to be nasty - as in real good.

[jdaug]

I dont know much about internal soundcards, but I would imagine both internal and external interfaces come with their own mixer software, in addition to possibly a scaled down DAW like cubase LE (Presonus Firestudio comes with mixer utility software plus Cubase LE, Reason, and some VST synths and effects, which is everything you need to start recording).

question: what do you plan to record on, i.e software? a mixer alone will let you monitor while you are playing, but you still need something to record with, like cubase, PT, logic, etc. A DAW will also have a mixer section so you can monitor with your DAW, as well as record, edit, sequence, add effects, etc

external firewire interfaces are better than USB for data transfer (less latency), and there are some decent external firewire interfaces that are less expensive than an internal sound card, plus you dont have to fiddle around with a clunky wiring harness on the back of your computer. IMO external interfaces are way better, and you dont have to open up your computer to remove it when you get a new computer

i think theres a comparison of interfaces in here somewhere that might help you out.

im not a computer expert, but I know you want lots of RAM (at least 1G, preferably 2), and a decently fast processor.

[the_kiddy]

hey - thanks for the quick reply. I plan to use cubase as most say it's the best one to use. I need to record the guitar and vocals at the same time - now - do I need a seperate pre-amp for both? Will I get better qaulity pre-amps on a mixer, an audio interface, or a soundcard?

I'm looking for zero latency really. Is that unrealistic?

As I understand it I can do everything I need to do in the box via a soundcard and software - but my question is - will I get significantly different results in terms of qaulity if I use an audio inerface/mixer? Are'nt the analouge to digital converters on an audio interaface of a better standard? Thanks

[Archetype]

I will shed some light for you.

First of, you will NOT want to use the built in soundcard on your PC motherboard. Nor should you buy a soundblaster PCI card!

Get a good interface. will let you record everything. hear it back, and give you some nice sounds. Check out the sound card wizard on the left.

As for PC itself. as said RAM is important, 1 gig Minimum! ideally 2.
CPU should be good too. I use AMD and never think twice about them now. go for an athlon 64, preferably an x2 (dual core), i use a 4600+, but just go for what you can afford. If your using alot if VST's RAM is more important.

Motherboard, really depends what you need. needs to suit your other parts. but you can forget about the built on soundcard. you wont be needing it

Have you got any motherboards and CPU's in mind?

[jdaug]

I need to record the guitar and vocals at the same time - now - do I need a seperate pre-amp for both? Will I get better qaulity pre-amps on a mixer, an audio interface, or a soundcard?

you either need a 2 channel preamp or 2 preamps to record 2 sources at the same time. Most decent interfaces have built in preamps, but these arent as good quality as you will find on a standalone purpose built preamp. they are good enough though for entry level. i agree with archetype in that you should forget about an internal soundcard. Your external interface IS your soundcard, built specifically for recording music. they just give it a fancy name and call it an interface.

when you say mixer, are you referring to a standalone digital mixer desk? i dont use one of these, as cubase has all that built in. If you only have 2 inputs you probly dont need a standalone mixer. There are some interfaces that look like mixers (called control surfaces), which are basically an external soundcard with physical faders and knobs on them, as opposed to software mixer. This is just a matter of preference-do you have to have physical knobs to twist or can you do it on screen.

I'm looking for zero latency really. Is that unrealistic?

you can dial in any latency (buffering) you want with your interface utility or DAW, but depending on your system, if you lower it too far you will get unwanted pops, clicks, etc. Once you get your system built you will need to tweak your setttings to find the optimal balance between sound quality and latency. I dont have zero latency on my rig (as in 0 milliseconds), but the latency is so small that its undetectable to my ear. i can monitor while tracking, with effects, with no problem.

I can do everything I need to do in the box via a soundcard and software - but my question is - will I get significantly different results in terms of qaulity if I use an audio inerface/mixer? Are'nt the analouge to digital converters on an audio interaface of a better standard?

i havent looked at any internal soundcard specs, but im guessing externals probably give you better bang for buck in the A/D department, not to mention ease of use, etc. Internal soundcards for music recording are going the way of the dinosaur, so I wouldnt get on that sinking ship.

look at the soundcard/interface wizard in this forum. you can get a pretty good interface with preamps bundled with all the software you need to start recording for $500.

[the_kiddy]

thanks guys - I really appreciate you both taking the time to explain things to me.

So you can moniter on an audio interface? That's cool. I was reading this one post and people were saying that they only use their mixers for monitering. I was wondering why this was. Maybe they'd bought it for other reasons originally. So - could I say - plug headphones into the interface and moniter both the vocals and the guitar at the same time? That would be very handy. I think I'll go with the interface option then - as I think I'll be fine mixing using cubase.

concerning my midi keyboard...will the interface have a midi port?

If you only have 2 inputs you probly dont need a standalone mixer.

why is that dawg? And does my midi keyboard count as an input? if so should I consider getting a mixer?

Have you got any motherboards and CPU's in mind?

I read this one post where the guy said he'd done his research and come to the conclusion that the ASUS P5B motherboards are the most popular. He then goes on to say that the ASUS P5W DH Deluxe looks pretty sweet. what ja reckon? oh - and for a processor I was looking at the Intel Core 2 Duo E6600 (2.4ghz). Most of the reviews say that it outshines anything AMD has done. But I haven't read any AMD reviews yet...

Alex

[jdaug]

So - could I say - plug headphones into the interface and moniter both the vocals and the guitar at the same time?

YES-or monitor through the speakers connected to your interface.

concerning my midi keyboard...will the interface have a midi port?

YES-interface should have at least 1 MIDI in and 1 out. A MIDI input is not an audio input. When shopping for your interface, make sure it has enough audio inputs for your traking needs. If you plan on tracking no more than 2 audio tracks at a time, then you need 2 audio inputs, plus the MIDI input. MIDI tracks are monitored just like audio tracks. Your cubase mixer will have faders for all your MIDI instruments. You can sequence your MIDI track, then play it back while playing your guitar and singing, and monitor all 3 via mixer.

[brandondrury]

If this is all I want to do am I better off just using a soundcard? Are audio interfaces/mixers more powerful?

The definitions of "soundcard" and "audio interface" get blurred. If you are going to record music, you MUST use a soundcard/audio interface designed for recording. Some people get around this, but if latency is ever an issue with anything you'll be doing, you MUST have an real deal recording audio interface.

Do I need a mixer or an audio interface?

Read this:
Why You Don't NEED A Mixer For Home Recording

really want to make a great sounding demo of me on my guitar - with maybe some midi keyboard programming. Can someone suggest a good rig for that?

What's your budget? You could get into this kind of recording fairly inexpensively. I assume by "rig" you mean audio interface and software. Is this correct? I'm BIG on Cubase. If your budget allows, I'd recommend Cubase 4 Studio if not I'd go with a cheaper Cubase version.

[the_kiddy]

What's your budget?

round about £1000

I assume by "rig" you mean audio interface and software. Is this correct?

by rig I mean everything - mics, preamps, software, interface, moniters.

I'm still confused as to whether I'm better off with an audio interface or a soundcard. I know that an audio interface is just an outboard soundcard - but will it give me a better sound? will it's preamps give me a better sound? I liked Jdawgs suggestion of getting a tube pre for both the guitar and the vocals.
I really want to be able to monitor the guitar and the vocals at the same time - so to get them well balanced. Can I do that with the software?

[jdaug]

1000 pounds is like $2200 US right? If so, that should be enough to get a couple mics, a 2 channel preamp, interface and software, and monitors, although none of very high quality. Here is roughly what I spent for a very modest but fully functional system:

mics: 2 SM 57s, about $200
preamp: dbx 386 2 channel tube with digital I/O, $500
interface: presonus firestudio $700
software: cubase 4 studio, $400
monitors: event project studio 8, $500?? (i dont like these-1 is already blown)
subwoofer: KRK rokit 10 $300
headphones: beyerdynamic DT770, $200

total: $2800, which is not much more than your budget if I converted pounds to dollars correctly.

You are better off with an external interface. just forget about an internal soundcard. I dont know about sound quality or preamp quality, but its just easier to use an interface that is on your desktop, or better yet in a rackmount, as opposed to a mess of cables and adapters hanging out of a PCI slot on the back of your computer.

and yes, with cubase or most other decent recording software, you can monitor 2 sources (and much more) while tracking.