how to record on your computer?

[Ryan]

Hi All,
I wondered if any of you have any tips for recording onto my computer, and the easiest budget software you have found? I have been looking at the 'Line 6 Pod Studio UX1' as a starting point, but not sure if it is any good.
I have tried 'Audacity', downloaded free, but found that there was a serious latency problem between when i played and what i could hear, causing my timing to be terrible. Ended up uninstalling it as it was driving me mad , couldn't find anyway of fixing it (not very experienced with computers). Has anyone else managed to solve the latency problem using Audacity?
Can anyone else help me with any info much appreciated, as i would love to be able to record myself playing to my UB Hank backing tracks, and recording guitar, bass and vocals for some of my own songs i have written.
I am very new to computer recording, so i apologize if some of this doesn't make any sense I've only ever used a Tascam 4 track to record previously.
Thanks for any info received, much appreciated
Ryan

[JimN]

What is it that you wish to record?

[dave robinson]

What is it that you wish to record?

I think this is quite clear Jim, from the above.

. . . as i would love to be able to record myself playing to my UB Hank backing tracks, and recording guitar, bass and vocals for some of my own songs i have written.

[roger bayliss]

It may be that the latency issues are being caused by the sound drivers (usually ASIO type) but maybe MME or DS drivers... check settings

I have found a great generic ASIO driver caller ASIO4ALL (google it) and I have tried it with several units including POD HD and Zoom G3 with good results and others have also reported it working with other units well.

I did get hold of one of these for about £26 recently and it is a good simple to use interface - it works with the ASIO4ALL interface as well as it's own ASIO driver.

http://www.behringer.com/EN/Products/UCG102.aspx

Not sure that Audacity supports ASIO drivers though.

Have you tried joining this site they have free VST Host software and cater for the Shadows sounds, you will need to enrol firstly.

http://vintage-sounds.freeforums.net/

[roger bayliss]

The other thing is how powerful is your computer ... you will need good spec to use these interfaces with low latency, and plenty of memory with processor around 2.5Ghz

[Twang46]

Any of the Zoom models from G2.1u upwards will work as they have there own interface built in just plug in the usb cable.

Audacity will work ok with these units & you don't need a hi spec pc/laptop

Something such as Mixcraft is better (more flexible) but by the time you buy that & a s/h Zoom you are up around £100

Zoom + Audacity is about as simple & cost effective as you can get I would have thought.

I used a Zoom G7 to make a few recordings with Audacity on quite a low spec laptop (1.2 celeron, 1gb ram) without any latency issues

Cheers

Dick.

[JimN]

I have never had any difficulty with lack of sync ("latency problems") using the multi-track facility in Cool Edit Pro (as was - it's now called Audition). Not even on a computer back in the 1990s.

[Hank2k]

i use the ASIO4 All driver as well on a cheap netbook with audacity for all of my recordings on youtube. I brought a cheap Behringer usb audio interface aswell and have had really good results so far.

[mojolomjl]

Hi Ryan,

Like you I tried to record on my PC and spent more time trying to get a decent set up that I wasn't playing
my guitar enough. My solution was to buy a Boss BR900CD which is a completely self contained recorder
that does everything you need down to burning a CD, it is also quite easy to understand and operate.

Best regards,

Maurice.

[Uncleboko]

I mourn the day when my Teac 3340 open reel tape recorder reached a state of notworkingness that defied the best of techs that I knew! Main problem became tracking down spares.

If one must record and mix on a PC, Adobe Audition CC is very good indeed albeit slightly complicated!