BlahBlahCafe - Jean-Michel Jarre forum

Hi All,

I would be extremely greatful for any advice as to what would be a good but simple audio recorder to use on my pc.

I am an absolute no-hoper with my computer and don't know where to look and how to obtain or let alone set up a program???

When I was last a regular on here, I had a freind download WAVEPAD for me and that worked ok for me. I would then load it onto MEDIAFIRE and post the link on here.

As I am utterly useless with my pc, I am terrified of downloading a load of rubbish and any viruses that lurk within it.

So basicly, I have a room full of synths connected to my Mackie 24 track desk with a cable going into the back of my pc tower's LINE-IN socket.

What do I do next? Thank you.

Hi!
Well, having been out of the audio recording game for a while, I have just got back into it myself.
I purchased an Alesis Guitarlink cable for £14.99 from my local music store(it has some snazzy guitar software with it, but I just used the lead!).
The cable in it has a 1/4 inch jack on one end and a USB on the other.
You then plug the USB into your PC, put the 1/4 inch jack and run it from your Aux out from the mackie mixer(means you can turn up the aux sends on each channel and get a mix of synths going right to the aux out(great for blending big sounds in 1 go!).
The software I downloaded for free is Audacity.
Its very simple and should recognise the guitarlink/usb as PnP input.
After that youre more or less ready to go.
However, you may have to fiddle about with the latency so that everything is in synch, but its a doddle to do and there is stacks of stuff on the interweb showing you how to set it up.
I got it all going in about 90 mins!
Have fun!!

matt222 wrote:Hi All,

I would be extremely greatful for any advice as to what would be a good but simple audio recorder to use on my pc.

I am an absolute no-hoper with my computer and don't know where to look and how to obtain or let alone set up a program???

When I was last a regular on here, I had a freind download WAVEPAD for me and that worked ok for me. I would then load it onto MEDIAFIRE and post the link on here.

As I am utterly useless with my pc, I am terrified of downloading a load of rubbish and any viruses that lurk within it.

So basicly, I have a room full of synths connected to my Mackie 24 track desk with a cable going into the back of my pc tower's LINE-IN socket.

What do I do next? Thank you.

First, don't record with the direct line of your PC, it's full of noise ^^

YOu have to buy a simple external audio card with just a stereo line in such as Avid Mbox Mini , but there are many other one. Check this out
or http://www.thomann.de/gb/usb_audio_interfaces.html

Then record it in 24/96 and make post-traitement eventually with the offered light version of the DAW generally given with the card.

Ok Thanks guys,

My pc ( windows xp ) currently seems to have nothing to allow me to record via the input jack??? ( If it does, how do I find it? ) Is there anything VERY basic I can download now?? I just want to get a few covers to you guys now without spending anything. HEEELLLLPPPPP

NOTE: If I connect to my line input, I can only just hear it through the output but no proper signal. Computers HATE EM - GEEKY NERDY BORING BOXES OF UGLY CRAP!!!!!!!!!!! Do everything you dont need and nothing you do!!

matt222 wrote:Ok Thanks guys,

My pc ( windows xp ) currently seems to have nothing to allow me to record via the input jack??? ( If it does, how do I find it? ) Is there anything VERY basic I can download now?? I just want to get a few covers to you guys now without spending anything. HEEELLLLPPPPP

NOTE: If I connect to my line input, I can only just hear it through the output but no proper signal. Computers HATE EM - GEEKY NERDY BORING BOXES OF UGLY CRAP!!!!!!!!!!! Do everything you dont need and nothing you do!!

Check for Audacity, it's a good start

Ok Thanks Beeloo,

Just tried that and a box came up saying: This application has failed to start because the application configuration is incorrect ??????

matt222 wrote:Ok Thanks Beeloo,

Just tried that and a box came up saying: This application has failed to start because the application configuration is incorrect ??????

Dis you download it from the official site ?

http://audacity.googlecode.com/files/au ... -2.0.4.exe

Yes, just tried your link and exactly the same outcome? Im useless!

well, as others already told you, get a external soundcard.
A simple USB M-Audio Fast Track PRO (if you still find it new or second hand) are good enough...
or a Sapphire Scarlet maybe...
anyway almost all cheap USB audiocards have decent converters for recroding.
Depending on your budget you can get something with more inputs/outputs if you need them.

For the recording software yopu can use also the same DAW you use for compose (like Cubase, Sonar, Ableton Live, Studio One). Of course if you already use one of them and are not a old hardware sequencer musucian only.

otherwise, the entry version of Wavelab (Elements if I remind right now) has more editing options than Audacity.
I tried Audacity, but didn't like much its interface.