Hi,
I have modest means and modest goals: to record songs that I use for musical theatre shows that I write. Keyboard based, plus vocals. I have WinXP with a SBLive! card (with breakout) - which I *may* replace. Also a small mixer (Xenyx 802), FCA202 interface, PC300 controller and Nanopiano, C1 condenser mic, SM58 mic, Cubase s/w.
I am used to doing stuff with MIDI in the past and now want to mix MIDI and audio together. How should I be wiring up this modest studio?
I can get the MIDI in. I can the Audio in. but trying to do both at the same time seems tricky to my limited brain . . When recording audio I am getting an overdub of previous audio tracks on the new track (channel?) I'm sure this is really obvious but you know what ... it's getting me confused!
Can anyone advise on how to set this up?
Cheers
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Thanks for the info. Im still not sure however, I know the SBLi
Thanks for the info. Im still not sure however, I know the SBLive! card is not the best but it has a breakout box with MIDI i/o and I have a separate audio interface. What advantage will be gained (aside from possible sound quality and/or latency) by having these in one box? Will I be able to record 2 audio tracks without haering the first dubbed onto the 2nd? I am sure I'm missing something in my understanding ....:)
You can. That is what a proper interface does. It brings in in
You can. That is what a proper interface does. It brings in individual channels of audio to your computer to be recorded via a DAW program such as Reaper or Cubase or Logic or whatever. You Creative card was not designed to do that. Of course the routing has to be set up correctly in your DAW program for it to work. That will also allow you to play some tracks while recording a new track provided your computer system has low enough latency to make it work.
I haven't set any 'routing' in the s/w (Cubasis, but juts instal
I haven't set any 'routing' in the s/w (Cubasis, but juts installing Reaper which seems to get lots of mentions on here). The audio is not coming through the SBLive card but via an FCA202 interface and mixing desk.
What I've been tring to do is record a piano track (audio) and then a vocal track on top while still being able to listen to the piano. I then get a second track with piano and vocal combined (with the piano effectively being dubbed onto the new track). Saem thing if I try doing a MIDI version of the piano and then record vocals on top (audio) ... I'm sure I've got wires in a mess somewhere ......
It sounds like you need to learn how to route the audio within C
It sounds like you need to learn how to route the audio within Cubase LE itself. I don't use it so I don't know exactly where to point you except the manual which is pretty detailed. You are describing recording the main outs instead of recording the audio by itself. There are some videos on youtube that describe very basic DAW setup which you should watch. I doubt you have any wiring screwed up otherwise you wouldn't have any audio at all.
You have everything you need except a proper audio interface/sou
You have everything you need except a proper audio interface/soundcard. You need a 2 preamp interface that also has a MIDI port. You could get as cheap as a Presonus Firebox or reasonable as the E-Mu 1616M PCI card (best bet). Download Reaper and get to recording.