Total Beginner Needs Guiding Hand, Help for beginner Options

[kaboombahchuck]

OK, here is the deal

If you don't have (or want to spend alot) of money, going the mixer way is the most cost effecient. Some folks say that the sound quality is not as good as it would be with an external audio interface, personally, I think the sound quality is plenty good for the cost. Also having a mixer around is never a bad idea. I like using an external mixer to get the desired sound quality before it goes into the computer. I only use the software mixer to do the final mix. Latency has not been an issue, as I monitor from the mixer. The only time there is latency is when monitoring a live recording played through the head phone jack with headphones, and that's just a bit of not setting the mixer up.

If you have money aplenty, then an external audio interface is the way to go. I do not recomend the USB interfaces, because latency is an issue, as is the number of tracks it can handle. Fire wire or better is the only way to go. Also setting some of these interfaces can be a bit taxing on a persons patiance!

Bottom line, if you recorded LPs into the audio port of the mac, and the sound quality suited you, then you will be happy with a mixer. Also if you are a hobbiest, you need to decide just how interested you are in persuing it. You can always upgrade.

Personally if money was an issue, I'd go totally internal with my midi controlled sounds. There are plenty of great free sound fonts out there, and plenty of cheep vertual samplers to play the soundfonts on. Also there are some pretty good softsynth modules out there for free. Get a midi controller you like, and use it to trigger a virtually limitless amount of different sounds, and samples. Also some of the recording programs out there will render the midi tracks to audio internally, no fuss, no mess! You can always buy external modules as money (or the desire) presents itself.

You folks should look around the Softwares sectoin of this site. It's a great place to find progams that will wow you.

[prrcomm]

I agree with everything that's been said here with one caveat: don't buy ANYTHING from Behringer. Their stuff is all crap.

[landlox]

Thanks much for your answers. As a long time computer programmer I KNOW how a certain specialty has its own jargon and how people in their fields sometimes don't even realize they are using terms outsiders don't really 'get'... I've tried to always be patient and re-explain things to people....

I guess I'm begging for mercy ---
I'm still a little confused about some terms or usages.

Midi controller - I assume that my Casio keyboard can serve as one but want to make sure.

audio mixer - I would like to be clear how they prevent latency. Doesn't whatever they 'mix' still have to get into the computer and bounce around in there just like an 'unmixed' microphone sound? Is it just that they might use USB vs the line-in port or something like that?

sound fonts - a new one on me. I was assuming the sounds in the Casio were ok for starters. I'm vagely aware that there is some kind of Quicktime internal sounds now. That somehow the MIDI keyboard can be mapped to these computer software sounds. I assume you then hear them via the computer's speakers?

I'm not up to the point of worrying if the mic or the mixer is that good - it will sound better then i do without it (smile). Just so long as it works ok.

I'll be exploring the software forums etc - thats for the suggestion. Read enough jargon and it might make sence in context -
Thanks -
landlox

[swilder]

Midi Controller, If it has a Midi Out Port, it can be used as a midi controller.

An audio mixer prevents latency because it frees the application (cubase, logic, etc) from having to playback the incoming signal. You can just listen to the signal as it passes though the mixer.

A typical signal chain goes:

source-->mixer-->soundcard-->application

If you monitor through the application then it lloks like this:

source-->mixer-->soundcard-->application-->soundcard-->mixer-->speakers

Obviously these extra legs take extra time, therefore added latency

Using a mixer, you can monitor yourself as the signal goes into the soundcard.



Scott

[kaboombahchuck]

Yes your casio can be used as a midi controller (if it has a midi out port). You will need to get a USB or better midi interface. You would hook the midi out of the midi controller (casio) to the midi in of the interface (and vice versa if the controller also has a midi in port). If the casio is already USB ready, then you can plug the keyboard directly into the mac.

swilder explained the mixer thing...

Sound fonts are usually samples of sounds that can be put into a sampler (virtual or real) so that they can be triggered by any midi controller. Midi controllers are any device that sends midi commands. This includes your computer with a midi sequencing program, your casio (keyboard midi controller), my yamaha WX5 (wind midi controller), and so on... Sound fonts sound much better than some sounds that come from a synth (your casiio). Drums are the best example. Drum soundfonts are accuratly recorded sounds from a drum, so the sounds are much more realistic that what would come from a synth. Well produced soundfonts already come pre-panned. This pre-panning comes in handy (expecially with drum kits). Pre-panning also used to keep things like the actual stereo recording of a grand piano, that can then be trigerd by a midi controller. Wa-La! Your playing a stereo grand piano on your casio!

[scoutdavis]

I was checking out the software directory based on advice from this string. There are so many sub headers. If I'm looking to start out. Having a new Powerbook g4 1.5 and a very old Shure SM 57, but willing to spend some dough to buy the right items. How do I move next? I saw that the original poster felt that Logic was the first way to go. I read next that you have to have an audio interface but not necessarily if you get a mixer. For a newbie who wants to attempt to buy once and buy decently which way should I go? Any product recommendations?

[kaboombahchuck]

It's really hard to say what way to go when it comes to software... The best thing to do is download demo's and find which "speeks" to you the best..

The mixer responce is directed mostly to folks that don't have alot of money (or don't want to spend alot of money). In my opinion the MOTU 828 series firewire interfaces are just about the best you are going to do.

This post has been edited by kaboombahchuck: Thu 30 Sep 2004, 13:28