Frustrated. I give up. Help me out (Recording Audio)

Kurt_ · Post by **Kurt_** » Wed Jun 04, 2008 1:49 pm

I have had enough of my little brother's Boss BR900CD Digital Recording Studio. It frustrated me to no end. I just spent the last 3 hours recording a 2 minute song, and in the end, it didn't even work for me.

All I need is an object that has a 1/4" or 1/8" jack that can record audio and turn it into a file on my computer with quality of at least 128kB/s.

Does anybody know what I'm looking for?

vskid · Post by **vskid** » Wed Jun 04, 2008 1:52 pm

Audacity? Then just plug the source into the Line in.

Post by **bicostp** » Wed Jun 04, 2008 1:57 pm

Why are you bothering with extra equipment for basic recording when your PC already comes with a line-in port? (The blue one.)

Just get a 1/8" to 1/4" adapter from Rat Shack if you need one.

As for software, use Audacity.
http://audacity.sourceforge.net

Kurt_ · Post by **Kurt_** » Wed Jun 04, 2008 1:59 pm

The extra equipment is already in my house and record at 132kB/s.

The line-in jack on my computer records in DIRT quality.

Post by **bicostp** » Wed Jun 04, 2008 2:03 pm

"Dirt quality" with real recording software or just with Windows Sound Recorder?

The signal could be too strong or weak for the sound card, too.

Kurt_ · Post by **Kurt_** » Wed Jun 04, 2008 2:09 pm

Dirt Quality With Audacity and a guitar with a $700 effects pedal hooked into the Microphone jack (same as line-in, right? I need to use the laptop, can't move the music room.

)

It's not the fault of anything up to the end of the jack.

project_failure · Post by **project_failure** » Wed Jun 04, 2008 2:22 pm

Microphone jack (same as line-in, right? I need to use the laptop, can't move the music room.

No the Microphone jack is different than line in. The Microphone jack is mono and is not designed for what your trying to do.

Kurt_ · Post by **Kurt_** » Wed Jun 04, 2008 2:23 pm

Okay, so let's say it's integrated into a motherboard. What quality am I going to get?

Post by **bicostp** » Wed Jun 04, 2008 2:25 pm

Kurt_ wrote:Microphone jack (same as line-in, right?

Microphone != Line In

The Microphone jack is designed for very weak signals from a microphone element. Your effects pedal puts out line-level signals, which are much, much stronger. If you put a line level signal into a microphone jack you'll get a distorted mess of sound. Likewise, plugging a microphone into the line in port will make a whisper-quiet signal if you yell into the mic.

You want the blue port. BLUE. Not RED.

Any more expensive laptop, cheap motherboard, or decent USB audio controller should have at least one line-in port.

Post by **marshallh** » Wed Jun 04, 2008 2:26 pm

You're doing it wrong. The microphone input is internally amplified, so it's best only for regular unpowered mics. What you need to do is to use your line-in jack. Depending on the parts used on your mobo, you can get pretty decent recording quality.
If it's still not good enough, just get a cheap PCI sound card.

Kurt_ · Post by **Kurt_** » Wed Jun 04, 2008 2:32 pm

Well to be honest I haven't tried plugging right into a computer for a while. I just remember that the quality wasn't what I liked. Is it worth hauling a desktop into the guitar room and giving a try?

ghosstt · Post by **ghosstt** » Wed Jun 04, 2008 5:24 pm

Kurt_ wrote:Well to be honest I haven't tried plugging right into a computer for a while. I just remember that the quality wasn't what I liked. Is it worth hauling a desktop into the guitar room and giving a try?

Yes. Thats the way I record my guitar. It's really the only way to go. And if you want to be able to use an EQ built into the amp, or effects from the amp, just get a line-out and use that to the line-in

Kurt_ · Post by **Kurt_** » Wed Jun 04, 2008 6:06 pm

Good enough, I guess. I was hoping for professional quality. But I guess I need a band instead of playing over myself for that anyways!

*Zombie Song Coming Soon*

nitro2k01 · Post by **nitro2k01** » Wed Jun 04, 2008 7:51 pm

I looked up the specs for the BR900CD. It turns out it has support for CD burning and memory cards and a USB line. Using any of these three methods will let you copy the wave file in digital quality to your computer. Your sound card sucks anyway, so don't even try to record something with it.

Kurt_ · Post by **Kurt_** » Wed Jun 04, 2008 8:41 pm

Well yes, it does have all that stuff...except it's the most glitchy, frustrating, non-user friendly interface ever.

For USB, it requires a CF Card, so does the CD. THe CD method is a waste of CDs. The USB method gives you about 30 seconds of connection between the computer before going into 'idle' (read: CRASH AND FREEZE UP ON YOU) mode.

It's just too much work to bother with, I've been trying for 2 weekends now.

4 friggin hours to record 0 minutes of music.

I'd rather go with the 64kB/s or whatever the line-in gets, and when i have a band, get a bunch of songs and record them via studio.