PC Recording

[shorts]

Hey folks...

I am starting out in PC recording and have just done the first demo for my band.

I have been using Logic 4.7 but also have cubase 5, Nuendo, Sonar and a few other programs.

Very new to this but eager to learn and trade tricks..

Starting with my first trick i stumbled on:

ever had messages saying your CPU / Disk is too slow?

if you are using FAT32 as your disk file system, create a new partition for your music recordings and raise the cluster size to 32k or higher. (I used Partition Magic 6 and 32 was as high as I could go, but I believe even higher is better).

FAT32 usually defaults to 8k clusters to make the storage of data more efficient. The problem is that when you record an audio track at 30meg+ the number of clusters used is massive. The processor and disk work hard to keep track of all these clusters as the File Allocation Table becomes huge. This will slow your disk and your processor when recording or mixing.

Shorts...

[tavenger5]

To add to that you should have at least a 7200 RPM ATA66 drive. If you have some old crappy one laying it won't work. Trust me, I tried. You should also check the transfer rate. NOT THE BURST TRANSFER! but the sustained. Usually bts is the # taht most manufactures give you.. you want to look for sts..

Oh and shorts.. do you have a full version of Cubase 5? I really really could use it. I'm running Win2k and v3.7does work on it.. soo.. I have to have a duel boot with win98 just for cubase..

Is it a rip or the actual CD?

[shorts]

I have all cracked copies of the software except I have the Cubasis CD.

I am still in the middle of changing from Soundblaster Live to Audigy and having sample rate problems there.

I have 2 9gig UltraWide SCSI drives in my P3/500 and 512Meg Ram. I found that even with these drives, the changing cluster size made a huge difference.

Shorts

[saherndz]

Get Pro tools and some more memory and you'll be OK.
Relax Rookie

[ch1819]

or just more memory

[turbocoo]

I dont think that the soundblaster cards are much use when it comes to audio recording. A good audio card is a must.

[hoolie]

I agree. The latency is pretty poor which causes problems when recording with effects.

[amoodswing2000]

I use Cakewalk 9.0 in conjunction with Cool Edit Pro ver 2.0 and it works very well. Especially on Demo stuff.

[shorts]

Ahh my how time flies when your are having fun!!!

Seems like ages since the SBlive.... as my Recorder PC now has an Audigy card but has been demoted to a lowly internet server. The new Recorder PC is now a P4 with 512meg RAM (have another 256 for it but the vid card seems to crash the system if the system has more than 512... go figure). Also still running UltraWide SCSI Hard Drives (5 of em now) plus burner and DVD. Now using a Maudio Delta 2 in 2 out... what a difference!!! :)
The 21" monitor is a must now too!!! How did I ever do without it I ask myself...

Software... now theres another story...

Let me just say... SOANAR 2!!! Take a serious look at this for home studio stuff. I also run Logic 5 and sometimes Reason. (I seem to have left Cubase VST behind). Soanar is getting much better and the DX synths are beginning to be as comprehensive as the VST instruments... well worth a look!!!

one thing that I can recommend too.... if you are serious about a PC Recorder, use the PC ONLY FOR RECORDING!!! Get a second machine for your games and Net Access etc!!! Dont load unneccesary crap onto your prime recording machine as it can cause conflicts - crashes etc.. My machine has been very reliable since I rebuilt it from scratch and just installed Audio Apps!!!!

Craig...

[theARTiSAN]

Originally posted by amoodswing2000
I use Cakewalk 9.0 in conjunction with Cool Edit Pro ver 2.0 and it works very well. Especially on Demo stuff.

Aside from still using Cool Edit Pro 1.2a, this is my combination exactly. Love it. Tried Cool Edit Pro 2.0, but have had a frustrating synch problem - so I lost it and went back to 1.2a

Anyone have any idea what would cause a (curser) synch/playback problem in CEP 2.0?
SB Live card maybe?

Ciao!

[mudguy]

Try a mac.

[NuMidOne]

if you reall ywant to record on your pc then go get a better sound card. one with better A/D converters and perhaps more I/O if you want to record many tracks at once.

[cbeitzel]

I have found sonar 2 to be quite effective. I use most of the available plug ins and T-RACKS24 to do the mastering. As for digital audio in I use a M-audio DELTA 1010. MOTU is the place to be if you want 24 ins and outs. As for the computer, as said before, It should only be an audio computer. I have gotten away with IDE drives (7200 rpm 120 gig).

[Tevita1]

Yes I use an ISIS Pro sound card and you will be amazed at the results

[Tevita1]

I also use Cubase VST for midi, Maxi Audio pro, and Sound Forge. All with fantastic results

[Firegarden]

Sonar with Aardvark - beautiful

[PsyChoPath]

Macs are really good for recording Music. They use them in Professional Studios. I studied in one for a couple of months and I learned there that Macs are more stable than PC for Music Editing and so on. That's why it's Music Industry Standard (Atleast for Recording Studios). Me Personally, I still prefer the PC
:withstupi

[The Keeper]

I agree, macs are much more powerful, but I have a pc.
Tevita1 hit the nail on the head with isis. I have just finished an album using isis maxipro, very user friendly software and great recording. One thing that can also drag down your cpu is plugins. Different types use different amounts of power, if you can do your eq-ing and single track compression in another proggy like wavelab or soundforge, it makse for more power in the mixdown

[tc_chicago]

i use reason to create music and then import into digital performer to enhance the sound. have remixed a few projects for sony records.


tc

[MacMan]

(chanting)10,000 RPM! 10,000 RPM! 10,000 RPM! 10,000 RPM!

lol

-MM

[ryeman]

I use a pentuim4 with 256 mb ddr ram,cubase/cakewalk and I recently purchased an M-Audio "audiophile 2496 card.

This setup rocks!

[MacMan]

ryeman: I am using dual 1.25GHz powermac G4 with the new 7.1 m-audio card, but I have 1.5GB of ddr ram

[robbmiller]

Cakewalk 9 and CoolEdit are the affordable combo.

[james]

Well I use the very early cakewalk express to run sound module for bass guitar , sound module also doubles up to run alesis drum module, All final editing is done with sonar I find it works quite well as long as you have enough space and speed.

[dmbjt]

I still use cool edit 96

[phoenix]

use cool edit pro. Record midis as mp3 straight from sound module into soundblaster live, then import them into sony jukebox and send them to my net md as required for each gig....Most kool!!!