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02-13-2012, 08:33 PM
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#1
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Human being with feelings
Join Date: Jul 2010
Posts: 512
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I Want a CHEAP and RELIABLE recording set-up
I have an HP Pavilion dv5-2135dx laptop,
also a dell 519 inspiron desktop.
I've been using an ancient Fostex MR-8 recorder, with an sm-58 and/or sm-57.
There always seems to be a hiss,fizz,crackle and pops in the recordings, even in the dead silence of the room.
Is this because of the interface, mics, or both?
I would like to set up to record tracks crystal clear at minimal cost.
I don't care how many bells and whistles I'd be missing. I can do work arounds or what ever. I just want to record a clear track that I can import into Reaper.
What do you think? Should I go with an MXL 990/991 mic package along with perhaps an M-Audio Firewire Solo? OR...Am I overlooking other similar setups that may be a tad bit more or less expensive, but have advantages as well?
Can I even use the M-Audio Solo with either of my PCs as-is, or am I trying to make quiche without the eggs?
Please remember; I'm stupid but I'm also capable of learning. Thanks
__________________
Mongo broke compooters again D;
Vista, and Windows 7
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02-13-2012, 10:03 PM
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#2
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Human being with feelings
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: Pacific Northwest
Posts: 1,598
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It would be REALLY helpful to diagnose what is going on
if you were to upload the noise you're getting to SoundCloud.
Your noise could come from any part of the chain - it would
be throwing good money after bad without determining what is
the cause of the noise. And replacing more than one thing
at a time is not good troubleshooting. It might work in the
end, but you might end up throwing money away.
Post up a file of what you're getting - that will help a LOT.
Jedi
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I'm simply no longer here
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02-14-2012, 08:52 AM
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#4
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Human being with feelings
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: austin, tx
Posts: 169
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Just a note on that Mackie - I've owned several Mackies, and that little 402-VLZ3 kicks ass. I use it all the time for my project workstation, mostly for line level stuff. It is super quiet, even compared to previous Mackie iterations. Also built like a tiny tank. I wish every piece of gear was built as great as that one is. : )
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02-14-2012, 10:16 AM
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#5
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Human being with feelings
Join Date: May 2011
Location: Canada
Posts: 1,371
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Look into trhe used market, some studio guys like to keep up with technology, and sell off their gear quite often. I buy used, last generation MOTU stuff for extreamly cheap, and I have no issues with it.
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02-16-2012, 09:58 AM
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#6
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Human being with feelings
Join Date: Jul 2010
Posts: 512
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Quote:
Originally Posted by aste
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I absolutely like the price of the 2496 at under a hundred bucks delivered to my door, and I take your word that it is clean and rock solid- BUT, I'm still wondering- How am I to plug in my instrument and microphone cables? I'm not seeing any jacks that will accept TRS or XLR connectors.
I am definitely ignorant, but it seems to me it should be commonplace for an interface to have TRS and XLR jacks. Aren't these the two most common cable heads used by musicians?
So are there other pieces I would need here to bridge the gap from my guitars and microphones to the sound card itself? Would a pre-amp be appropriate here as well?
__________________
Mongo broke compooters again D;
Vista, and Windows 7
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02-16-2012, 10:10 AM
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#7
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Human being with feelings
Join Date: Jul 2010
Posts: 512
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Quote:
Originally Posted by aste
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Wait a minute...Are you suggesting using the Mackie along with the 2496? In my ignorance and confusion, I simply assumed with a name like MACkie that you were giving me 2 choices: the 2496 for a regular PC, or the Mackie if i had a MAC PC.
I didn't even bother to look at the Mackie...DOH!!
Another quick question? Would the addition of a pre-amp still be appropriate? if so, Do you have any suggestions as to which ones to use?
Thanks for ALL of your help and suggestions! I don't just use Reaper because of it's cheap, free and user friendly, but also because of the contributing community
on these here forums. Hats off!
__________________
Mongo broke compooters again D;
Vista, and Windows 7
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02-16-2012, 10:25 AM
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#8
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Human being with feelings
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: Liverpool UK
Posts: 192
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The 24/96 is the soundcard & the mackie is the mic pre. You'd be buying both.
24/96's are indeed rock solid and can't be beat for their price.
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02-16-2012, 11:13 AM
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#9
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Human being with feelings
Join Date: Jul 2010
Posts: 512
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I would have thought that most interface mixers now-a-days would have USB ports or firewire ports.
Even on my old dinosaur Fostex Mr-8, there is the Midi-Out port, a USB port, a Digital Out port, plus a slot of a flash card.
I noticed on the Mackie there there are 1/4 inch outs, as well as the unbalanced RCA outs. Looking at the 2496 card, I see only the RCA and Midi-Out jacks.
Am I to use the RCA jacks only when connecting the Mackie to the sound card. or am i missing something?
Will either unit come with the cables I would need for the connections? If I need to buy them, Are there any that are recommended for this application?
__________________
Mongo broke compooters again D;
Vista, and Windows 7
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02-16-2012, 11:19 AM
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#10
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Human being with feelings
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Norway
Posts: 7,318
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Quote:
Originally Posted by aste
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If you care about how it sounds:
Don't use the vlz3 preamps.
I have a 802-vlz3. It's nice as monitor-mixer, but the preamps gets worse and worse the more you listen to them. IMO
I've heard good things about Presonus and Focusrite audio interfaces
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Reaper x64, win 11
Composer, text-writer, producer
Bandcamp
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02-16-2012, 11:31 AM
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#11
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Human being with feelings
Join Date: Jul 2010
Posts: 512
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Are you suggesting to cut out pre-amps all together, or just the Mackie's and perhaps going with another pre-amp?
__________________
Mongo broke compooters again D;
Vista, and Windows 7
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02-16-2012, 12:07 PM
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#12
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Human being with feelings
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Norway
Posts: 7,318
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Hoof Hearted
Are you suggesting to cut out pre-amps all together, or just the Mackie's and perhaps going with another pre-amp?
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Yes, I'm suggesting just an interface. You'll get cheap, reliable interfaces with totally adequate preamps now adays. Two xlr/guitar-jack combo and 2 ch line out + midi in/out should cover the basics. More in/out if you want that for the future.
Usb or firewire.
http://geir-music.blogspot.com/2010/...interface.html
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Reaper x64, win 11
Composer, text-writer, producer
Bandcamp
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02-16-2012, 12:16 PM
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#13
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Human being with feelings
Join Date: Jul 2010
Posts: 512
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Quote:
Originally Posted by G-Sun
Yes, I'm suggesting just an interface. You'll get cheap, reliable interfaces with totally adequate preamps now adays. Two xlr/guitar-jack combo and 2 ch line out + midi in/out should cover the basics. More in/out if you want that for the future.
Usb or firewire.
http://geir-music.blogspot.com/2010/...interface.html
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I totally thought midi in/out should be a standard too, yet I'm not seeing it on the Mackie. Am I missing something?
__________________
Mongo broke compooters again D;
Vista, and Windows 7
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02-16-2012, 01:47 PM
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#14
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Human being with feelings
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Norway
Posts: 7,318
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Hoof Hearted
I totally thought midi in/out should be a standard too, yet I'm not seeing it on the Mackie. Am I missing something?
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The Mackie is not an interface. It's a small preamp/mixer.
Something like this is what you want:
http://www.sweetwater.com/shop/compu...io_interfaces/
__________________
Reaper x64, win 11
Composer, text-writer, producer
Bandcamp
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02-16-2012, 02:49 PM
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#15
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Human being with feelings
Join Date: Jul 2010
Posts: 512
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I've been looking at Motu 2408 MK2's for a while now.
Any thoughts on these? Used they seem to be under $200.
Would I still need a sound card to go with it?
__________________
Mongo broke compooters again D;
Vista, and Windows 7
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02-16-2012, 03:10 PM
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#16
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Human being with feelings
Join Date: Jul 2010
Posts: 512
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Quote:
Originally Posted by G-Sun
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So, If I were to get the Mackie, would I still need an interface to convert the signal into my DAW, or is this where the M-Audio 2496 soundcard comes in?
I'm just trying to figure out why I would be spending money on a mixer if I've already got a mixer in Reaper. Is an interface not essential in being able to record and manipulate the recordings on my PC?
__________________
Mongo broke compooters again D;
Vista, and Windows 7
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02-16-2012, 05:18 PM
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#17
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Human being with feelings
Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: UK
Posts: 151
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Hoof
Think of the mixer as a fancy breakout box. I use a 2496 and being PCI it has excellent latency and decent sound quality(converters). I get around 3.5ms at 64 sample rate. The midi in/out is good for hardware (keyboards) and the RCA goes to the mixer where you have all your various phono options.
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02-17-2012, 01:13 AM
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#18
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Human being with feelings
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Norway
Posts: 7,318
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Hoof Hearted
So, If I were to get the Mackie, would I still need an interface to convert the signal into my DAW, or is this where the M-Audio 2496 soundcard comes in?
I'm just trying to figure out why I would be spending money on a mixer if I've already got a mixer in Reaper. Is an interface not essential in being able to record and manipulate the recordings on my PC?
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Yes, with the makcie vlz3 there is no audio interface.
At home I have three mixers that get's used all the time:
- Reaper, DAW (could be used for monitoring yourself while playing, but often not the best choice)
- RME HDSP Mixer: A router and mixer for my computers ins and outs (This is the audio-interface mixer, a good choice for monitoring)
- My Mackie 402 vlz3. Basically I use this to regulate different hardware signals, monitor volume and headphone-volume)
In your setup, you could do without the last of those, but the two first are IMO mandatory.
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Reaper x64, win 11
Composer, text-writer, producer
Bandcamp
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