If you’re like me, you are obsessed with home recording. I’ve spent a lot of time and money figuring out the best way to connect my microphones and guitars to my computer over the years. Here are the routes I chose and what worked best.
Platform
From the beginning I decided to go with the Mac platform, just because I had played with their iLife included software “GarageBand” and was somewhat satisfied with its recording capabilities. I don’t think it has everything, but I got a Powerbook G4 in 2003 and now own a MacBook Pro.
Straight Line-In w/ Radio Shack Adapter
The first thing I tried was to use the built-in line-in on my Mac, which is a 1/8 inch female stereo port. So, I got a 1/4 inch to 1/8 inch adapter from Radio Shack. This was the worst way to interface my guitar to my computer. The part from Radio Shack didn’t fit my instrument cable just right, it caused undue wear on my Mac’s port, and the sound was super tinny.
iMic
The iMic is basically the same as the Radio Shack adapter, only its got a short cable on it and it fit my instrument cable better. I still got a pretty tinny sound.
M-Audio Fastrack USB Audio Interface
I had my first fruits of success with this $99 audio interface. Essentially it takes your guitar’s or microphone’s analog signal and turns it into a digital one. It sends the digital data via USB to your recording software, and voila!
This solution was my first experience of semi-professional sounding recordings, paired with some GarageBand post-production mixing and effects. There was still a problem with buzzing and feedback, however.
I also borrowed a friend’s mixer which would allow me to do some mixing, and balancing, and pretty soon I was making stereo recordings. It sounded pretty good, but the interference increased. I had too many connections and cables and opportunities for signal loss and corruption.
Alesis 8-Channel USB Mixer
This is the solution that has worked best for me for a small home-grown budget while getting virtual recording studio quality. This mixer was around $200, but acts as both a regular analog mixer, and a USB interface (both parts of which can be used independently of the other). This mixer/USB interface removes some of the seams of the rig, allowing for purer sounding, higher quality recordings. The mixer also features 100 different pre-amp effects.
So, essentially, the signal goes from my guitar, through a cable to my USB mixer, through the USB cable straight to my computer. There are very few analog connections involved.
Behringer iAXE 393
There is one more option that has even less analog connections. The Behringer iAXE 393 has a USB port right on it, allowing you to plug it straight into your computer digitally. This is quite an incredible idea, allowing seamless digital recording. Hopefully more guitar companies will jump in and add their own USB versions of their guitars.
I tested the iAXE, and I must say that although the action was a little high, the guitar sounded great, pumping data straight into Garageband.
Help answer the question about best audio mixer
Would it be advantageous to me to buy an audio mixer?
I'm starting up my own video editing business and I was wondering if it would be a good idea to buy a digital audio mixer or if Adobe Soundbooth has good enough capabilities for professional sound quality. Should I buy one or would it be better to use my money somewhere else? Thanks!
About Author
Cameron Postelwait is Content Manager for SewellDirect.com, retailers of the Behringer iAXE 393.
Article Source: ArticlesBase.com – Various Ways To Interface Your Instrument To Your Computer
Check out http://www.djauctions.net.
That site explains everything about buying your dj setup! Thats where I learned about it and got mine. Good Luck.
it is the onboard default audio driver for your system, if you have an aftermarket sound card, the new drivers will overwrite those settings, but if you are using your basic out-of-the-box machine, you will still need those drivers to listen to music or sound
What brand would your PC Camera be?
Audio Mixer Device should be within your Windows. Try to Reinstall Windows Features.
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Do you mean computer software or a real mixer?
This is a good mixer to start out with if you need a real mixer:
http://www.zzounds.com/item–BEHXENTX802
Of course there are much bigger and more expensive mixers out there, but this mixer would be a good place to learn the basics.
Adobe Soundbooth has very good quality and tons of very capable mastering racks. I don't know if a digital mixer is what you're looking for, since Soundbooth has no multitrack capability.
Adobe Audition does. It's what I use for my multitrack projects. If you'd like, you could use both of these products together. You can record individual tracks with Audition and sync them with Soundbooth.
You should also look up Audacity. It's a freeware multitrack recording program. Very good quality.
Connecting a mixer to the output of any amplifier that can drive speaker is going to fry the mixer. The mixer is designed to control preamplifier levels. Your connection sequence would be microphone, or line output from an audio source, such as a CD player, to the preamp, which a mixer usually has, and then out to the main amplifier. DO NOT try to use a mixer to control tone levels, or volume level for signals coming from an amplifier, and going to the speakers. Not only is that very late in the process, but it is as stated, an excellent way to fry the mixer. You need to remember, there is a bunch of transistors of some kind connected to those speaker terminals. They are controlling the flow of a few volts and several amps of electrical power. Even if you did not fry the mixer, your sound level would drop to a bare whisper. The mixer, as stated, is for microphone, or line level signals. It's output is NOT designed to deliver power to a speaker. If you did this, and the mixer survived, then you would need another amplifier to get back the desired power to drive the speakers. Use studio type equipment to get the control of signal quality that you want. That is the best way to go. The chances of finding what you want in consumer electronics is very small.
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