Computer multi-track recording. What to use?

Larry Robertson · Post by **Larry Robertson** » 20 Sep 2008 7:36 pm

What is a good software/audio input multi-track setup for computer recording? I used to use Guitar Studio, but it would not save into mp3 files, so I upgraded to Guitar Tracks Pro 3 & have had nothing but trouble! I am using a P4 2.8 GHz computer, Soundblaster Audigy audio card, along with Guitar Tracks Pro 3, and have all kinds of driver, latency, and recording problems. I also don't want to spend a lot of money. If I am going to do that I might as well get a multi-track piece of hardware.(Boss 16 track is less than $1000 now. 8 trackers $500) What are you guys using and does it work well? Thanks, Larry Robertson

Jack Stoner · Post by **Jack Stoner** » 21 Sep 2008 2:25 am

I'm fairly new to computer recording but I'm using Sonar 7 (Producer edition) and an Alesis io26 8 channel firewire interface unit.

I also have a Fostex VF160 hard drive recorder that I've used for a long time and have done a lot of recording sessions with. I've done several demo sessions for ex Nashville songwriter Jimmy Peppers, master sessions for local singers, some live show recordings and two of my own steel CD projects with it. But, since I've started computer based, the Fostex will probably collect dust.

Jim Peters · Post by **Jim Peters** » 21 Sep 2008 5:47 am

Larry, how much ram do you have, your computer should be plenty fast for that software. JP

Ron ! · Post by **Ron !** » 21 Sep 2008 8:52 am

My 2 cents.....use a Tascam US144($159 at Sweetwater music)
It's a USB device that plugs right into your computer.It is an interface that comes with Cubase LE4.

Best bang for your buck right now.

Ron

Ellis Miller · Post by **Ellis Miller** » 21 Sep 2008 10:52 am

I am also using Sonar 7 and am happy with it. Much of your success will be contingent on having adequate RAM and storage. You will need an audio interface which will depend on what type of recording you are doing, how many tracks at the same time etc.

Larry Robertson · Post by **Larry Robertson** » 21 Sep 2008 1:10 pm

Hey guys, Thanks for the ideas. I'm trying to get my current setup to work, & I think I need ASIO drivers for the SB Audigy card. I know there are alot of USB recording interfaces coming out now with many different capabilities. I am thinking that Guitar Tracks Pro 3 is a small set of Sonar 7 and is supposed to do up to 48 tracks (2 at a time) which would be way sufficient for me. I don't need to record more than a couple of tracks at a time. If I wanted to do more there is the Lexican Omega USB box that has 8 inputs & also comes with Cubase LE for $199 on line. However, If I can find the ASIO drivers for this audio card it should work, & keep me from having to throw more dollars at recording. Are you Sonar 7 users using ASIO drivers or WDM/KS, or windows MME? A fellow on the Cakewalk users forum said that he prefers built-in audio cards. Thinks they are faster being that they are on the motherboard, and USB ports could be a bottleneck for I/O data. Any comments/thoughts on that? Thanks, Larry

Jack Stoner · Post by **Jack Stoner** » 22 Sep 2008 2:07 am

I'm using ASIO with my SoundBlaster Audigy 2 Platinum EX sound card (has the separate I/O console box) and WDM drivers with the Alesis io26.

I'm just using the stock SoundBlaster drivers.

The on-board (Integrated Audio) is not really "faster" and has less options than a SoundBlaster sound card. With modern computers the I/O speed is at a rate that whether it's on the motherboard or on a PCI I/O channel really doesn't make any difference. The Integrated Audio systems do not have hardware MIDI synths and all you have, unless you install another MIDI synth is the not very good Microsoft GS Wavetable MIDI synth. With a SoundBlaster sound card you have synths on the sound card which are far superior to the MS GS Wavetable. The "A" synth on my SoundBaster sound card is as good, or maybe even better than the Roland software synth's.

But, with Sonar 7 and my Alesis io26, I only use the SoundBlaster for audio monitoring when I'm mixing down (I have a set of Samson Resolv 65a "active studio monitors" that I connect when I'm using Sonar 7). All recording (and monitoring when recording) is done with the Firewire connected Alesis unit.

Larry Robertson · Post by **Larry Robertson** » 22 Sep 2008 1:32 pm

Hey Jack, Thanks for the extra info. I do not have a firewire port on my PC so have been pretty much trying what is available for PCI cards. Did the ASIO drivers come with the Audigy card & the external console? I think if I can't find the ASIO drivers for my Audigy PCI card, I'm going to try the Lexicon Omega USB system that comes with Cubase LE. I've been on the Cakewalk Guitar Tracks forum and there are helpful folks over there, but although they think there are some ASIO drivers for Audigy SE, no-one has found them yet. Thanks, Larry

Bent Romnes · Post by **Bent Romnes** » 22 Sep 2008 1:55 pm

Larry, my 2c also...
I learned from our good friend in England, John Roche, that if you have a audio interface, you bypass the computer's sound card altogether.
With that in mind, I bought myself an Alesis Multimix8
USB2 mixer. Seeing you don't have a firewire port, this one would be ideal for you as long as you have a USB2 port.

Couple the Alesis with a quality multitracking program like Adobe Audition 3, you have a home studio.

What I do (or try to do, I am NO expert) is run the mic through the Alesis almost dry ie no effects and record through the Audition. Then, during editing, I add whatever I think is needed..and Audition has enough editing features to make your head spin..
I am still very much on the experimentation stage. I play around with some echo, reverb, compression and several goodies like that.

Of course the Alesis can be used with any brand of recording program.
It can be bought for 329.00 here
http://pro-audio.musiciansfriend.com/pr ... sku=801473

PS the Alesis comes with the Cubase LE4

Jack Stoner · Post by **Jack Stoner** » 22 Sep 2008 2:53 pm

I had the option of ASIO or WDM in the Sonar 7 setup. Not sure where that came from - Sonar or from the SoundBlaster drivers.

Larry Robertson · Post by **Larry Robertson** » 23 Sep 2008 9:12 pm

Hey everybody, Thanks for all the help & advise. I think I am probably going to give up on the Audigy audio card and try to find a usb device (maybe one that you guys suggested) that is compatible with GTP3 and maybe comes with additional software known to be compatible with the device. I liked the earlier cakewalk software (Guitar Studio) & am pretty used to it, but may have to learn some new software. The learning curves are coming faster these days! Thanks again, Larry Robertson

Ron ! · Post by **Ron !** » 2 Oct 2008 9:01 am

Hey everybody, Thanks for all the help & advise. I think I am probably going to give up on the Audigy audio card and try to find a usb device (maybe one that you guys suggested) that is compatible with GTP3 and maybe comes with additional software known to be compatible with the device.

Take it from me....the Tascam US144 can't be beat.It's fairly new on the market and beats everything I used so far.
It comes with Cubase but can be made compatible with every recording software package.
I have it running on CoolEdit, Sonar, Adobe etc etc.

Ron

Earnest Bovine · Post by **Earnest Bovine** » 3 Oct 2008 7:25 am

Ron ! wrote: Take it from me....the Tascam US144 ...beats everything I used so far.
... can be made compatible with every recording software package.

Wow, that is big news that you can run Pro Tools on a $149 interface. This will probably put M-Audio out of business (less than half price of the cheapest M-box) and will seriously hurt Digidesign's hardware sales as well.