Author Topic: Home Studio Recording... (Read 143 times)

olieoliver · « **on:** February 24, 2009, 10:09:38 PM »

Need some input from my Alembic brothers.

Have any of you guys/gals done much home recording with a Mac/PC? If so I need some advice on which format to record. I've been recording at 44.1hz-16 bit which is what CD format is. But my system can record at 96hz-24 bit just fine. And if I do record at the higher level what problems will I have when I get ready to Mixdown to 44.1hz-16 bit and I assume I will need to use some sort of dithering plugin. Or can most companies that burn the cd's for me dither and convert to CD format?
Or is 96hz-24 bit overkill. I want this CD I am doing to be of good quality.

My Hardware/Software,
Mac-Pro Dual core 2.66 mHz
9 gig ram
1 terabyte firewire external drive
Presonus FirePod and Fader Port.
Leopard OS
Cubase 4.5

Any and all input is welcome, (Dave you're a pretty smart guy, what do ya think?)

OO

adriaan · « **Reply #1 on:** February 25, 2009, 02:26:45 AM »

For non-acoustic source material, where dynamics are limited to the loud end of the spectrum, silence is a rare commodity, and there's not much happening over 6 kHz, even 44.1 kHz sampling at 16 bit is essentially overkill. I doubt you would hear much of a difference.

Perhaps on a high-end audio system, certainly not on the average mac/pc audio debauchery.

One thing though: any downward conversion you can apply after the fact will invariably eat away at the sound quality.

David Houck · « **Reply #2 on:** February 25, 2009, 07:20:01 AM »

Thanks Olie, but all of my past recording experiences suggest that I'm not very good at recording.

lbpesq · « **Reply #3 on:** February 25, 2009, 07:35:43 AM »

Olie:

FWIW I went through this dilemma when I first got my Zoom H2 which has numerous recording rates to choose from. After some research, talking to people whose opinions I respect, and some good old experimentation, I settled on the 44/16 CD standard.

Bill, tgo

olieoliver · « **Reply #4 on:** February 25, 2009, 07:52:15 AM »

I realize that 44/16 is the standard for audio CD and most MP3's aren't that high but I want the best possible WAV file to work with while mastering (I will master the project myself probably using Bias Peak)before dithering down to 44/16 and burn my Red Book cd for duplicating.

I did speak to a Professor at Berklee that teaches a course on Recording with Cubase and he even suggested using 32 bit floating and trying out different sample rates lower than 96.

HMMM choices, choices choices...

OO
I do know one thing for sure.....
......I need MORE cowbell!

adriaan · « **Reply #5 on:** February 25, 2009, 08:26:44 AM »

Agreed - you can't have enough cowbell.

kenbass4 · « **Reply #6 on:** February 25, 2009, 08:29:14 AM »

Olie,

I do alot of PC recording, and I find that while my music (Rock) does not have a huge amount of dynamic range, I still record at 24 Bit, because when you start adding effects (like reverbs and choruses) the tails get jagged. A bigger problem is sample rate conversion, where if you are going to be burning an audio CD, you want your sample rate to divide evenly by 44.1k. So, if you want to start with a higher rate, you're better off starting at 88.2k instead of 96k, because once you downsample, you'll have more noise starting at 96k. I just stay at 44.1k, because my converters only go up to 48k (hey, my Laylas have been flawless for 10 years!)

Ken (TEO)

adriaan · « **Reply #7 on:** February 25, 2009, 09:04:08 AM »

To avoid the tail jagging, you could use analog effects, preferably up front instead of after the fact.

The funny stuff happening on the tail end of notes in the digital domain is one of the reasons why I won't have a digital piano in the house to replace our old German upright, with all its glarious dings and scratches.

staemius · « **Reply #8 on:** February 25, 2009, 09:05:24 AM »

I've been very interested in the Zoom H2 - Bill (or others), how do you like it?

David Houck · « **Reply #9 on:** February 25, 2009, 09:16:00 AM »

James; I have an H4 and love it. I plug it in, turn it on, press record twice, and start playing. When I'm done I plug it in to the laptop with a USB cable and move the file over. It will record to a wav file or MP3.

There are three recording levels to choose from. Pressing record once puts it on standby while you play a little to see which level works best.

I think it's an easy tool to use. I think the recording quality of the built in mics are pretty good, and with the right memory card, it will record an entire show. The only downside is that it feels fragile. You wouldn't want to drop it.

jack · « **Reply #10 on:** February 25, 2009, 09:28:36 AM »

James, all these folks around here told me to go for the H2 (or H4 - but I got the H2) and it's great. I record every gig, rehearsal and concert I go to. Excellent quality, easy to use.

Olie, apologies for the theadjack, but I'd wanted to thank everyone for their advice back when, and that thread disappeared into the archives before I got around to it. Thanks.

-Jack

olieoliver · « **Reply #11 on:** February 25, 2009, 09:59:54 AM »

I've looked at the H2 or H4 myself, may just have to get one.

No probelem on the jack, Jack. I've been guilty of that a few times myself.

OO

kenbass4 · « **Reply #12 on:** February 25, 2009, 10:32:15 AM »

Olie,

I guess what it boils down to is what are you recording, and what are you doing with that recording. I'm recording a full band, 24 channels simultaniously, and then doing overdubs, so recording with effects is not really a good idea. If you're just recording yourself, or you and one other person with no additional tracking after the fact, then using an H-2 or H-4 would be a better solution, and putting the effects in front would probably work out better. Just remeber that whatever effect you use, you're stuck with it from that point on...

lbpesq · « **Reply #13 on:** February 25, 2009, 11:18:05 AM »

Another rousing plug for the H2. I absolutely LOVE it. For years I recorded rehearsals with my old trusty Sony ProWalkman. When that finally gave up th ghost, I got a minidisc. Hated it. PITA. Couldn't even tell if the thing was recording or not without looking at the display under a microscope (and this was before I needed glasses). Lost many a great jam that way. Got the H2. It's close to perfect. Easy to use, great sound, convenient, and I love the two sets of mics that allow 90, 120, or 360 degree recording. I put it in the middle as we play in a circle facing each other at the studio. Also works well for bootlegging concerts. I believe they just came out with a new version of he H4. I looked at the old H4 and it had too much stuff I didn't need. I can't recommend the H2 highly enough.

Bill, tgo

olieoliver · « **Reply #14 on:** February 25, 2009, 12:16:04 PM »

Multitrack Ken is what I am doing. I have all the gear for it now and have been doing some recording. Everything I've done so is at 44.1/16 and has sounded fine. The CD we are starting we will end up burning around 1500 copies and wil use an outside company for that and I wanted to get the best quality possible.

I was thinking of the H-2(4) for recording rehearsals so I can listen to new songs as the band plays them.

OO