Setting up Hardware for Recording

[joepee]

If I have a PC running Windows XP, a Soundblaster Live 5.1 soundcard, a Pentium III, 256 Ram (I think), what version of Sonar could I be running?

Could someone show me how to set up and plug things in the correct order? I have a Behringer Eurorack UB802 mixer.

A friend of mine set it up so I could record ages ago, but I cannot get it up and running.

Should I be running a better sound card? Something with USB instead of the tape in/out (old stereo speaker type conection to my soundcard)?

I have a Sonar 4 Producers Edition installed, but originally used ProAudio9. Nothing works now. Help!

A drawing diagram would be very useful.

Thanks,
Joepee

[tmossman]

Step one - new sound card or external interface (USB or Firewire) is a must. Sonar 4 will be fine for now. You may want to upgrade at some point. Some of the new features can be very helpful.

Step two - Describe what you want to record (number of instruments at a time, effects etc.)

Step three - Describe your system in more detail (processor, ram, hard drive speed, etc.)

[joepee]

Thanks, Todd.

What kind of Soundcard should I be looking for? Brand? Price range?

I could use as many tracks as I could. I used to start with 16 in Po Audio9. Vocals, Harmonies, Acoustic Guitar, Electric Guitar, and I have a small M-Audio MIDI Keyboard for adding other instruments, Bass, Drums etc.

Not sure how to elaborate on my PC, or speed. Is there something I could do to find the info you need about my computer? Like do a search or something?

Any help would be much appreciated.

Thanks, again,

Joepee

[tmossman]

I missed the computer specs in your original post, sorry. Your system is a little dated so spending a lot on your interface won't really help you right now. Something like the M-Audio Firewire Solo or a USB equivilant, would be fine as long as you record one track at a time. It will also simplify the setup as you will not need the mixer. If you can add RAM it will help you but I would be reluctant to spend money on the computer. If this takes off for you you will want/need to upgrade to a more powerful system, so save your money for that.

Feel free to pm or email if you need more info.

Once you choose an interface and get it home we can work on the setup. I will see if I can find my copy of Sonar 4 to have as a resource.

[joepee]

Todd, and anyone else who can chime in,

What do you mean by interface? Is that basically a USB driven soundcard?

Does it replace having to have a mixer as well?

Thanks,

Joepee

[joepee]

I also looked up the M-Audio as per your suggestion, and I noticed there are several approaches offered.

A PCI audio interface. This looks to me somewhat like the soundcard I currently am using. I assume this is the slowest form of recording into a computer software? I hear occasionaly about LATENCY issues and assume this is the because the soundcard is so slow?

Then there is the USB audio interface. I assume this is a better faster way to run Cakewalk Sonar, rather than through the soundcard? USB being a bit more direct with the signal?

Third: there is the Firewire audio interface, which I assume is the fastest with fewer LATENCY issues. Firewire just sounds fast!

PCI=inexpensive $$
USB=moderate $$$$$
Firewire=pricey $$$$$$$$

Am I right? Is this the basics of the interface business?

Thanks,

Joepee

[tmossman]

Todd, and anyone else who can chime in,

What do you mean by interface? Is that basically a USB driven soundcard?

Does it replace having to have a mixer as well?

Yes an interface is basically an external soundcard with analogue to digital and digital to analogue converters.

Replace mixer, no. Sonar does that. IF AND ONLY IF you are recording one instrument at a time. If you want to record several instruments a mixer is needed as well as a multi-input soundcard/interface.

Firewire, usb, pci. Many debates here. Speed depends on several factors. With your system there will not be much of a difference. The advantage of the external option is you can leave your system configured as is. Firewire is fast but there are some controllers out there that cause issues.

Latency is the time required to convert your guitar sound to digital send it to Windows then to Sonar, process it (effects, volume, etc), send it back to Windows, back to the interface, convert it to analogue, send it to speakers. Interface, processor, ram, drivers and Sonar will all contribute to the delay. Your computer specs tend to make me think you will have issues with this.

[joepee]

Appreciate your patiece Todd!

So let's talk speed. Where should I be if I wanted to easily and effectively run Sonar 6?

RAM? Processing? Pentium4? Hard disk space?

[qwezirider]

So let's talk speed. Where should I be if I wanted to easily and effectively run Sonar 6?

RAM? Processing? Pentium4? Hard disk space?

I apologize for the brief response (trying to get a 4 year old's lunch on the table), but the fast and dirty answer is all three. Well, not so much on the HD space as what kind of HD.

A more up to date processor is a good start as well as more RAM (2GB is a good launch point). Regarding HD, SATA is going to be faster on throughput than older IDE drives. Faster throughput from the HD equals fewer bottlenecks of data leading to more tracks available for playback.

It's almost impossible to point at one of those three as being the saviour to making Sonar 6 (or any application) run better. The three (an other factors) really do work hand in hand.

[tmossman]

Joe, pm sent with direct contact info. It will be easier to help you "live" than through the the internet tubes.