Electronic Music 411 - What do you use to record?

04/05/08 + dustindust

For years I've been using the following to record my music:

- M-Audio Audiophile USB
- Cubase SX 3
- Sony Sound Forge

I sequence my music in Cubase SX 3, and record it into Sound Forge.

The Audiophile USB is my main audio interface. One pair of outputs on my mixer run into it's inputs. It's outputs run back into mixer, allowing me to play and record through it at the same time. It's ASIO driver works very well. The only problem I've ever had with this device is that it's output is a little lower than I like, so I have to accomodate using the Gain control on my mixer. Not a big deal really.

Recently I decided to reformat my computer, and figured I mine as well hit the web and find updated drivers for all of my devices. A new Audiophile driver was released just a week ago, so I downloaded and installed it. With the new driver the sound is definitely "beefier", but if I try to open Cubase and Sound Forge at the same time, they compete with eachother for the sound card rather than letting me play and record at the same time like I have in the past. If I use the "Release ASIO Driver in Background" option in Cubase, I don't get errors, but both apps still don't work when open at the same time.

I put the old driver back on my machine, and I'm back in business, but I did notice improved sound qulaity with the new driver and wish I could use it. This has me thinking it might be time for a sound card upgrade...

Any thoughts or advice?

edited: Apr 05 2008 + Zanf

Why dont you just render the output direct from cubase? [file > export > audio mixdown] then throw it into soundforge and tweak as you please.

Youll also introduce less noise like that as its not running out and then back through the AD/DA converters, unless you want to run it through some external hardware.

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04/05/08 + sweettrip

yeah, just do everything in Cubase and then when done, just render the mix. use Sound Forge for other editing purposes.

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04/05/08 + ignatius

or you could print separate tracks w/in cubase then import them into soundforge for mixing/editing.

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04/05/08 + dustindust

I only record MIDI... I don't use any audio tracks in Cubase. I need to run the mixer into my PC to record all of my hardware synths, and I run the PC into the mixer for any VST instruments I might use. When everything is done I just hit record in Sound Forge, hit Play in Cubase, and record the track like that.... then I tweak it a little in Sound Forge. I did some more experimenting today and I think if I'm going to do it this way with the Audiophile, I just need to stick with this driver.

04/05/08 + ignatius

so, you could record to cubase though and monitor the output of the track you are recording on... that way you could hear what you are recording.. then you just import the recording into soundforge and tweak away.

i record lot's of hardware and that's what i do using logic. i multitrack it all so i can mix in logic.

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edited: Apr 07 2008 + morgberg

Sound Forge seems redundant in your set up.
You can record two tracks, record one at a tim,e or 2 mono INTO CUBASE, I always use a mixer and listen to the ready track 'pre computer' through the mixer, mixed with the cubase output. shouldn't matter with zero latency, but I don't know about audiophiles. Don't select 'release asio driver'. And in my opinion don't use SF, just get used to cubase.

Those m audio philes are pretty lo fi, The one I tested sounded about as good as 1/8" dell, I guess the advantage is having midi and 24bit/48khz. but with shit converters you're not much better off for the money.

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04/07/08 + Leo

I use Cubase. If you are using external synths, I would recommend that you look into using "External Instruments" in Cubase. If you are using a synth that is triggered via MIDI in Cubase, you can set it up so that when you do an audio mixdown, it will do so in realtime. This will also record the external synths. Alternatively, you could record the audio one part at a time. Cubase does have a pretty good latency compensation, and when I do it that way, I don't run into any problems. Once you've recorded all the parts, you can cut them up, process them, mix them, and do a final bounce. That is my working procedure for external synths. I agree that SF is redundant for what you are doing with it here. Also, look into "Release ASIO driver in background", as previously stated. I don't mean to sound like a jerk when I say this, but you may want to refresh yourself with a nice cool cola and a sit down with the Cubase manual. I like reading it on the porch with a soda. I absorb more that way.

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04/07/08 + mlbot

Drivers affect audio quality?

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04/07/08 + skab

mlbot said: "Drivers affect audio quality?"

I just upgraded my maudio drive for my card and they took out the -6db output option

maybe it's not quality dustindust - it might just be louder

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04/08/08 + dustindust

Thanks all for the suggestions. I think I will try recording in Cubase.