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Post by bluesbruce on Feb 15, 2015 14:54:27 GMT -6
Good news, Tbone. I'm anxious to hear some of your recordings!
Bruce
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Post by jack1982 on Feb 23, 2015 5:54:11 GMT -6
Tbone, I'm no computer expert but 2 GB of memory might be causing the problem. If you hit Control Alt Delete, task manager, and then click on the "performance" tab you can see how close you're coming to maxing it out. Running out of memory will definitely cause the computer to hang up.
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Post by jack1982 on Feb 23, 2015 8:04:15 GMT -6
You should get some tabs and stuff above that: And if you click on "performance" you should be able to see this:
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Post by jack1982 on Feb 23, 2015 9:37:31 GMT -6
Oh oh, that's a bit of a problem
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Post by jack1982 on Feb 23, 2015 14:47:21 GMT -6
Is Audacity less CPU intensive? Could try that. It works fine, just has less bells and whistles than Reaper. Otherwise there are outboard multitrack recorders, I know Mick uses one, and you could probably find something affordable. Tascam, Zoom and Boss all have a variety of units.
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Post by cunningr on Feb 23, 2015 14:49:46 GMT -6
Tbone what operating system are you running? If it's 32 bit XP or vista even adding memory won't help. You could verify if you can shut down some of the nonessential background process.
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Post by cunningr on Feb 23, 2015 15:29:25 GMT -6
Yeh the old systems using 32 bits won't support using more than 2Gb of memory. If your a windows user and can get a copy of Windows 7, would be a good way to go. Good luck.
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Post by jack1982 on Feb 24, 2015 10:01:45 GMT -6
Success!!! I just got me a few mor RAM, and guess what - it works! Thanks a lot guys! Will post some recordings asap! That's awesome I thought with the CPU at 100% you were doomed but it 's great to hear that some more RAM took care of the problem!
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Post by jack1982 on Feb 28, 2015 9:42:53 GMT -6
Hey...you lookin' at me? I've got a Pod Studio UX1: www.amazon.com/Line-6-POD-Studio-UX1/dp/B001EKECAY/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1425137655&sr=8-1&keywords=pod+studio+ux1It's got the usual 1/4" input for guitar or bass, and an XLR input (without phantom power) for a mic. On the back it's got two 1/4" inputs that I use to plug my drum machine into. It also comes with Pod Farm software, which has a whole bunch of guitar and bass amp sim's and tons of effects. There's also the Pod Studio UX2 which I think Bruce has got. It's got two instrument inputs, two mic inputs (with phantom power) and a couple meters for monitoring the input signal level. That also comes with the Pod Farm software. Anything you plug into the Pod Studio has to go through the Pod Farm software, but Reaper seems to recognize that without any problem. You can just set up a preset in Pod Farm that has no amp sim and no effects if you want to record something clean, like a drum machine or acoustic guitar via a mic. I'm sure there are many other types of interfaces you can get, but that's the one I've got and it's the only one I know much about
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Post by bluesbruce on Feb 28, 2015 11:13:45 GMT -6
Tbone,
That Behringer MIC 100 looks like a microphone pre-amp. It will bring a mic signal up to line level, but then what are you going to plug it into the record? I agree with Jack on this one - what you need is an audio interface. Your Behringer Guitar Link is a very simple audio interface. I may be wrong, but I think it's only designed for electric guitar input - so you can't plug in a microphone or a keyboard to it. An interface like the Line 6 UX1 or UX2 can accept any of these inputs. The main difference in audio interfaces is HOW MANY things you can plug into and record at the same time. The UX1 will only allow you to record one input at a time and the UX2 would allow me to record two inputs at a time. When I first got the UX2, I was using Windows XP and the drivers would actually allow me to record FOUR inputs simultaneously (so two guitars and two microphones all at the same time, would record to two stereo channels in a DAW). The drivers for the Mac I use now will only allow me to use TWO inputs simultaneously.
So in looking for an audio interface, the first thing you need to decide is how many inputs you want to be able to record simultaneously. If you're wanting to record acoustic guitar and vocals AT THE SAME TIME, you probably want to use two microphones (one for the vocals recorded to one track and one for the guitar recorded to another track). If you're recording "live", you're obviously going to get some bleed over on your tracks. Now you could take the path of first recording the acoustic guitar part, then going back and recording the vocal part on a second track (while listening to the guitar part in headphones). Now all that said, you can see there's more than one way to skin a cat, so to speak.
With the UX2 unit, using the Pod farm software, I was able to record both a "dry" track (without any effects) and a "wet" track (with whatever effects - amp sims, pedals, etc) at the same time to two separate tracks in my DAW. This was really useful, because you could use the "dry" track to go back after you've recorded and apply different effects (whereas once a track is recorded "wet" with effects, you can't do this. I'm pretty sure Jack can do the same with his UX1 (he may just not realize how to do this).
Another thing you've got to look at before getting any audio interface is going to be the hardware requirements, especially since it sounds like you're using an older computer. Also be aware that with the Line 6 units, the use of the Podfarm software is tied to the interface unit (the unit has to be plugged into the computer for the Podfarm modeling software to work).
Now that I'm using a Mac computer, I've purchased a new audio interface, and am using a Focusrite scarlet 18i8. Something like the microphone pre-amp you originally asked about could plug into one of the line level inputs on this interface if I needed to plug in more microphones. I know all this audio interface stuff is really confusing, so please ask questions. Hopefully, you can find something you'll be happy with. It's kind of a computer recordist's joke that you can never have too many inputs... Unfortunately, more inputs = higher price tag. Heck, Tony, if you didn't live so darn far away I'd let you use the UX2 for a while - nothing like using equipment to learn about it.
Bruce
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Post by Phil on Feb 28, 2015 11:14:10 GMT -6
Hi guys, I hope this thread doesn't become too annoying... I know this probably sound a little overambitious, but I'd like to record some acoustic guitar and maybe even some vocals, so I wonder whether plugging in a mic would work - did you guys do something similiar before? Would you know which software best to use for this purpose? As I'd also like to put my old drum machine to use, I guess I ought to think about getting something better than the guitar link I got... all this plugging in and plugging out of stuff really makes me seasick... how do you do this (looking at Jack)? Thanks and greetings, Tony T-Bone, If I was thinking of upgrading my Guitar Link I would probably get a Focusrite 2i2. It's very reasonably priced (I've seen them for 138 euros), well built, and most importantly it has a gain control on each input. This is something missing even on the Line 6 - UX1. Also, each input is a dual 1/4 inch jack and an XLR input.
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Post by jack1982 on Feb 28, 2015 11:30:02 GMT -6
Tbone I'm not sure how that Behringer you've linked to would work. Ideally you want something that takes the audio signal from your guitar or microphone and converts it to a digital signal that your computer can use, and then of course you'd want it to have a USB output to plug into the computer. That Focusrite 2i2 does all that, but on the downside it (apparently) only comes with software that provides EQ, Compression, Gate and Reverb, while the Pod Studio comes with the Pod Farm software that includes a whole pile of amps sim's and effects.
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Post by cunningr on Feb 28, 2015 14:06:05 GMT -6
Jack has a good recommendation with the focus rite, one of the top rated audio interfaces, you should be able to use it with your daw of choice. The 2 I is only 2 channels though, you'll also need to keep the need for phantom power from the unit to power some mic's. Anyway this is the way I am headed also, shure mic, decent audio interface and some studio monitors, mic stand.
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Post by wannaplayblues on Feb 28, 2015 15:14:44 GMT -6
As a Linux user I use Ardour (https://ardour.org/) the multi-trak stuff it does is great IMHO.
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Post by jack1982 on Feb 28, 2015 18:48:03 GMT -6
With the UX2 unit, using the Pod farm software, I was able to record both a "dry" track (without any effects) and a "wet" track (with whatever effects - amp sims, pedals, etc) at the same time to two separate tracks in my DAW. This was really useful, because you could use the "dry" track to go back after you've recorded and apply different effects (whereas once a track is recorded "wet" with effects, you can't do this. I'm pretty sure Jack can do the same with his UX1 (he may just not realize how to do this). You told me about that a while back and I'm actually doing that right now to try and find good rhythm and lead guitar sounds on Groovin' Funk (well I'm drinking beer right now, but you know...earlier today I was doing that ) It's a really handy feature when you're having a hard time finding exactly the sound you're looking for, or maybe the rhythm track sounded great when you recorded it but once you put the lead track down they don't sound good together, or they blend together too much and you can't tell one from the other etc. It's awesome being able to try different amp sim's, cabinets, effects etc. and hear the results as you're listening to it.
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Post by bluesbruce on Mar 1, 2015 10:15:52 GMT -6
You told me about that a while back and I'm actually doing that right now to try and find good rhythm and lead guitar sounds on Groovin' Funk (well I'm drinking beer right now, but you know...earlier today I was doing that ) It's a really handy feature when you're having a hard time finding exactly the sound you're looking for, or maybe the rhythm track sounded great when you recorded it but once you put the lead track down they don't sound good together, or they blend together too much and you can't tell one from the other etc. It's awesome being able to try different amp sim's, cabinets, effects etc. and hear the results as you're listening to it. Jack, I'm glad to hear that you're a beer drinking man - that's one of my many favorite vehicles for the consumption of alcohol. I'm sure there's nothing like a good cold one to help you thru the Minnesota winter. Heck we've got snow on the ground here in Oklahoma and it hasn't been above freezing for 3 or 4 days. You probably think I'm a wimp to complain about such downright tropical conditions... Yeah, once I found out about recording those dual channels with the Line 6, I never recorded any other way. Since I've switched to using Logic on a Mac, I've found that even if you record using any of Logic's effects (very similar to all the stuff available in Pod Farm), the actual guitar track is recorded dry, so you can go back and turn all the effects you've recorded with off and apply different effects - just like you can do with the dry channel from Pod Farm. It would sure simplify life if maybe everybody on the forum would all buy the same computer, the same software, and the same interface - yeah, and we can all buy matching shirts, too - maybe the Black Country Metal Tee's - yeah... Bruce
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Post by jack1982 on Mar 1, 2015 10:38:56 GMT -6
Bruce, my folks live in Florida and I have to listen to them complain about how it was 50 degrees but with the windchill... Last winter with the polar vortex I was like "Yeah well it was twenty below here today, just like every day this month..." Beer makes it seem much warmer though, especially when you stay inside
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Post by bluesbruce on Mar 1, 2015 11:13:44 GMT -6
Yeah, Jack, my wife's from Florida, Tampa area. First time we visited her parents, before we were married, I noticed they had a fireplace in their house. After a few days, I got up the courage to ask her dad about it. He told me "sometimes it gets cold here". I said, "yeah?". He said," yeah, sometimes it can get down into the 40's at night." Throw another log on the fire, man, and pass the Schnapps... Bruce
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Post by cunningr on Mar 1, 2015 14:03:37 GMT -6
Sounds like a good deal, the line 6 sight has most of their manuals in PDFs form.
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Post by Phil on Mar 1, 2015 14:11:02 GMT -6
Okay, guys, if the thing works I can consider myself lucky, I guess... I just shot myself an used Line 6 Interface UX2 on ebay. Let's see how this turns out! I hope there's no hook to the deal: The device doesn't come in the original packing, and the owner doesn't have the manual any more; furthermore, the software seems to be a copy, but I guess I can download it from the manufacturer's website... if so, I guess for EUR 65 I can consider this to be a good deal - otherwise... there are also some Focusrite devices out there on the 2nd market, but those auction still go on for a few more days, and I guess those are more sought after so the prices go up far... also, I want to join the same club as Bruce and Jack and enjoy some inside jokes in the future to come... Does this include the Pod Farm Software? My son bought a used UX1 and didn't know it was supposed to come with modeling software. Not a big issue since you can still use your NI software that came with the Behringer and you are bought it for a very good price. Does the UX2 have a gain control for the guitar channels? The UX1 does not.
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