You are one step away from taking part in the most inspiring community of musicians and songwriters.
It won't cost you a single cent.
Click NOW to get instant access!
or
Log In
5. Does the computer and/or software program take the place of my mixer and processors?
Yes and no. You will still need your mixer, but the computer and software programs can handle many of the processing chores. There is some debate as to whether PC based effects are as high a quality as stand alone units. You can use both and decide which you prefer. Also, you can of course use both. For instance if you are recording a drum you can use your current compressor to compress the kick while you record it to the pc. Then use a software compressor on the entire kit.
6. What hardware do I need?
To use your PC as a mix down deck.
Recommended Minimum: Computer Pentium class 450 or better. Memory - 64 meg. Hard Drive - 20 GIG Sound Card - Sound Blaster Live, Turtle Beach Montego or equivalent. Backup - Tape, Jazz or Zip drive. Optimally a CD burner. This will get you started and the quality will be much better than a cassette. But to realize the full potential of your PC you will want to upgrade things. If you find yourself runnning out of hard drive space get a second hard drive, as fast as or faster than the one you have now. You may also want to get a better audio card, possibly a multi track card. And of course, you can never have enough RAM.
To use your PC as a multitrack recording and mixing station.
Recommended Minimum: Computer - Pentium class 450 or better Memory - 128 meg Hard Drives (2 recommended for serious audio work) - 15 gig for data and 20 Gig for audio Sound Card - Midiman Audiophile 2496* Backup - Tape, Jazz, Zip drive. Optimally a CD burner. Mix down - What else, a CD burner. *See the section on What card should I buy?
There is a boat load of stuff out there for multitrack recording on your PC. There are several complete packages, such as the Paris system from Ensonic. Be forewarned, you can spend some major dollars. I prefer to build things myself. I started with a generic 166 with 16 meg of ram, a 2.2 gig hard drive and a Sound Blaster Pro. I have since upgraded (piece by piece) to a 500 with 128 meg of ram, a 5.7 gig hard drive, a 15 gig hard drive, a Gadget Labs Wave/4 and a Mitsumi CD burner. The best thing about PC recording is the ability to upgrade. It's easier to convince the spousal unit you need $300 for a sound card than $3000+ for a new system
7. Should I get a IDE or SCSI hard drive and or CD burner?
Yes. Just kidding. You can record very well with the speed of today's UDMA hard drives. I would recommend either (SCSI or IDE). What I wouldn't recommend is to mix and match. While you can do it, it adds unnecessary complications. Whichever you go with stick with it. If you have an IDE hard drive I would get an IDE CD burner or extra hard drive. And vice versa.
Right now your best buy is the IDE drives. The newer IDE drives with a 7200 spindle speed are more than adequate. Add a large buffer or cache and you will be able to record more tracks without stuttering. Also look at the Sustained Data Transfer Rate (SDTR), the higher the number the better.
8. How can I get demos of the programs you are talking about?
For Quartz (excellent multitrack programs)
Digital Sound Planet (opens in a new window)
for more information on Quartz check out our freebies page.
For Pro Tools (pro level multitrack program)
Pro Tools Free (opens in a new window)
for more information on Pro Tools check out our freebies page. For Ntrack (another excellent multitrack software program)
FASoft (opens in a new window)
For Cool Edit 2000 and Cool Edit Pro (excellent editor and a good multi track system)
Syntrillium (opens in a new window)
For Goldwave (a very good editor)
Goldwave (opens in a new window)
9. Who are you and how do you know this stuff?
I guess I'm a computer geek. I don't know how it happened for sure. Way back in 1983 I was a normal guy driving a fork truck in a local factory. Then one day the factory closed and I needed a job in the middle of a recession. I took a test at the local job service and they said, "hey you would do good in computers". They sent me to school to learn COBOL programming and I was hooked.
Since then I have worked with computers in various ways, programming, teaching, administration. I even installed an IBM system 36 (which still gives me nightmares). And I am constantly tinkering with my home pc, both the software and hardware.
I am still learning recording. In my youth I was in several different bands, rock and folk. The first recorder I bought was a Radio Shack cassette. Then I got an Akai reel to reel which right now is sitting on a shelf about 2 feet to my left. When my kids were born I quit my low down ways (playing in bars till the wee hours) and concentrated on raising a family. I must have done something right cuz about 5 years ago my son started a band of his own. Of course they wanted to be recorded and old dad could do it, right! So I called an old band mate and he brought over a Tascam PortaStudio and I was hooked. I bought a Yamaha MiniDisc (the word 'digital' hooked me). Unhappy with the mixes I was getting I tried importing tracks into the computer and manipulating them with the sound editor that came with my sound card.
My obsession has progressed from there. I am constantly reading and tinkering. I don't think my computer has had a cover on in months. If it is true you learn by your mistakes I must be a genius
Dan
<< Previous Page
Discuss this article in our Music Forum.
About Dan Monk
(c) 1999, Dan E. Monk, All rights reserved.
About the Author
(You are allowed to copy and use this essay for your own non-professional use. You are prohibited from distributing copies to others for a fee or for no-charge. You may not publish or quote this essay without obtaining the written permission of the author.)
