jhk Posted October 27, 2007 Share Posted October 27, 2007 As an old git struggling with p.c`s and the like .................. I want to be able to play my bass guitar into my computer..... Have been advised to get a decent stand alone sound card interface. My question is, for entry level(i`m not trying to do a master recording),what`s a good ,simple,easy to use/understand card that will not leave me breathless on hearing the price. be gentle with tech type talk on replies as I`m not very p.c savvy! regards jhk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
slaphappygarry Posted October 27, 2007 Share Posted October 27, 2007 yo: [url="http://basschat.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=7441&pid=80093&st=0&#entry80093"]http://basschat.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=...amp;#entry80093[/url] The little presonus comes with software and is prob the best and easiest of its price range. G Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andy67 Posted October 27, 2007 Share Posted October 27, 2007 (edited) creative audigy 2 zs about £40 or less on the bay...you can also get a breakout box for these... link: [url="http://search.ebay.co.uk/search/search.dll?from=R40&_trksid=m37&satitle=creative+audigy+2+zs"]http://search.ebay.co.uk/search/search.dll...ive+audigy+2+zs[/url] andy shouldve thought about this also! [url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Edirol-UA-20-24bit-Digital-USB-Audio-Midi-Interface_W0QQitemZ170162313245QQihZ007QQcategoryZ123445QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem"]http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Edirol-UA-20-24bit-D...1QQcmdZViewItem[/url] ps there are pleanty of audigy derivatives out there that are real good if you are on a budget... Edited October 27, 2007 by andy67 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jhk Posted October 27, 2007 Author Share Posted October 27, 2007 (edited) [quote name='andy67' post='80110' date='Oct 27 2007, 01:25 PM']creative audigy 2 zs about £40 or less on the bay...you can also get a breakout box for these... link: [url="http://search.ebay.co.uk/search/search.dll?from=R40&_trksid=m37&satitle=creative+audigy+2+zs"]<a href="http://search.ebay.co.uk/search/search.dll...ive+audigy+2+zs" target="_blank">http://search.ebay.co.uk/search/search.dll...ive+audigy+2+zs[/url]</a> andy shouldve thought about this also! [url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Edirol-UA-20-24bit-Digital-USB-Audio-Midi-Interface_W0QQitemZ170162313245QQihZ007QQcategoryZ123445QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem"]<a href="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Edirol-UA-20-24bit-D...1QQcmdZViewItem" target="_blank">http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Edirol-UA-20-24bit-D...1QQcmdZViewItem[/url]</a> ps there are pleanty of audigy derivatives out there that are real good if you are on a budget...[/quote] I`d rather have an independant unit than an integrated card with seperate lead/loom.But thanks very much for suggestion. At the GAK store in Brighton they keep suggesting Edirol ua25 unit............... any experience by anyone with these? Whoops! just seen your e-bay suggestion of similar model.......................... Are there any issues with `delay` between what you play and what you hear? also is `latency`an issue or is that the same problem I`ve just asked ? Edited October 27, 2007 by jhk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
acidbass Posted October 27, 2007 Share Posted October 27, 2007 [quote name='jhk' post='80140' date='Oct 27 2007, 03:21 PM']Are there any issues with `delay` between what you play and what you hear? also is `latency`an issue or is that the same problem I`ve just asked ?[/quote] Yes, latency refers to the time it takes for your playing to be heard. The lower the better obviously! I'm also contemplating buying something similar to what you've asked for so will be watching this thread with great interest. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andy67 Posted October 27, 2007 Share Posted October 27, 2007 (edited) always found my ua 20 to be of great value and cant recall any latency...but if you are up for top notch usb home, can only recommend protools le 7.4 and mbox mini with ignition software pack - comes in at around £200 - best ever! Edited October 27, 2007 by andy67 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tauzero Posted October 28, 2007 Share Posted October 28, 2007 Worth having a look at the Tascam US-122. Plenty of them on ebay, going at about 50 quid. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EdwardHimself Posted October 28, 2007 Share Posted October 28, 2007 probably the simplest thing you could do is if you have a line in port on your computer (mini jack, usually blue on the back) if your amp has a preamp out or a direct line out (NOT THE SPEAKER OUTPUT) then you can get a converter cable and use that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jhk Posted October 28, 2007 Author Share Posted October 28, 2007 So there is another way as direct jack suggests? Does that mean there is some kind of trade-off between the two methods of digitizing signal. what are the advantages of the soundcard interface over the direct lead method? For a novice(MOI)what do you guys recommend? Also bear in mind i`m just about to get involved with sequencing software for first time? Possibly some form/edition of cubase ,steinberg thingy. be gentle! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andy67 Posted October 28, 2007 Share Posted October 28, 2007 good software to get you going! its free for download, legally, here: Audacity: [url="http://audacity.sourceforge.net/download/"]http://audacity.sourceforge.net/download/[/url] Acid Express: [url="http://www.sonycreativesoftware.com/download/freestuff.asp"]http://www.sonycreativesoftware.com/download/freestuff.asp[/url] audacity is an audio editor alowing you to create and edit audio within the package. Acid express allows you sequence any audio you create. It has built in wav/loops you can play around with and their is also a raft of free loops and wavs on the net. enjoy andy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tauzero Posted October 28, 2007 Share Posted October 28, 2007 [quote name='jhk' post='80372' date='Oct 28 2007, 11:13 AM']So there is another way as direct jack suggests? Does that mean there is some kind of trade-off between the two methods of digitizing signal. what are the advantages of the soundcard interface over the direct lead method?[/quote] They're actually the same - the direct lead input is going to the soundcard that you already have built in to the computer, either as a plug-in card or (very commonly) actually on the motherboard itself. You can get reasonable recording quality from the built-in soundcard - however, the specialist ones, either to go into a PC expansion slot or to connect via USB (for example), will give the best results. [quote name='jhk' post='80372' date='Oct 28 2007, 11:13 AM']For a novice(MOI)what do you guys recommend? Also bear in mind i`m just about to get involved with sequencing software for first time? Possibly some form/edition of cubase ,steinberg thingy. be gentle![/quote] Audacity has been mentioned - that's a very good recording package. However, if you're going to be MIDI sequencing, you need something like Cubase. I mentioned the Tascam US-122 as a possible soundcard, and it should come with Cubase LE, which is a good entry level sequencing and recording package. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jhk Posted October 28, 2007 Author Share Posted October 28, 2007 Thanks to every one for answers/tips and suggestions.I`ll have to do a bit of research into these devices but I`ve had a great heads up so far from you guys! I`ll have a quick sniff around e-bay as well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted October 28, 2007 Share Posted October 28, 2007 (edited) Another option might be the new zoom H4 [url="http://www.dolphinmusic.co.uk/page/shop/news_story/a/news_id/e/918"]http://www.dolphinmusic.co.uk/page/shop/ne...a/news_id/e/918[/url] you can plug a bass straight into it and also use it as a stand alone recorder ( for recording band practices etc, it has built in mic,s) you can also connect it via USB to record direct to your computer, might prove to be a more versitile investment. Personally i use a BOSS Micro BR with good results, most of the time i plug it into the XLR out on my LINE 6 studio 110 ( it has cab/ modeling so sounds like a 'real bass' direct only recording can lack a little personality. The reason i don't recommend the boss for what you want is that it takes a little manual time and lacks direct to computer recording, you can however pop the SD card out and use that in your computer. Edited October 28, 2007 by steve-norris Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alun Posted October 28, 2007 Share Posted October 28, 2007 If you only want to record bass ( or other instruments with jack sockets) , these are pretty good, basically a soundcard on a USB to jack lead... [url="http://www.stealthplug.com/"]http://www.stealthplug.com/[/url] They come with assorted software goodies too. Only downside is that you monitor with it as well so end up plugging your headphones into your lead which is weird at first Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted October 28, 2007 Share Posted October 28, 2007 [quote name='Alun' post='80437' date='Oct 28 2007, 02:39 PM']If you only want to record bass ( or other instruments with jack sockets) , these are pretty good, basically a soundcard on a USB to jack lead... [url="http://www.stealthplug.com/"]http://www.stealthplug.com/[/url] They come with assorted software goodies too. Only downside is that you monitor with it as well so end up plugging your headphones into your lead which is weird at first[/quote] Not seen those before, look a cool bit of kit for the price in fact very tempted bt one just for the ease of use! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alun Posted October 28, 2007 Share Posted October 28, 2007 [quote name='steve-norris' post='80443' date='Oct 28 2007, 02:53 PM']Not seen those before, look a cool bit of kit for the price in fact very tempted bt one just for the ease of use![/quote] I think mine was about £79 from Dawsons in Manchester ( after last year's Bassday), and it's worth it for the bundled software alone. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted October 28, 2007 Share Posted October 28, 2007 just one question, can you play audio on another program like guitar pro or media player and hear that as well as your bass? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alun Posted October 28, 2007 Share Posted October 28, 2007 Oo, don't know. You can definitely listen to tracks playing back while you're recording but not sure about other applications. Will try later and let you know. If not you could play the track in the Tracktion studio software that comes with it anyway. Cheers, Alun Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted October 28, 2007 Share Posted October 28, 2007 cheers, perhaps a review? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Soulfinger Posted October 29, 2007 Share Posted October 29, 2007 Won´t get much cheaper than this: [url="http://www.thomann.de/gb/search_dir.html?sw=jamlab"]http://www.thomann.de/gb/search_dir.html?sw=jamlab[/url] I have one (couldn´t resist at that price) and it works a treat. Dead simple to use and no latency issues. The included software is rubbish though, better download something like Audacity mentioned above. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
grosa Posted October 29, 2007 Share Posted October 29, 2007 [quote name='steve-norris' post='80450' date='Oct 28 2007, 03:06 PM']just one question, can you play audio on another program like guitar pro or media player and hear that as well as your bass?[/quote] as long as your sound card lets you,you could open 8 windows at once and it should play if the mood took you. [quote]Won´t get much cheaper than this: [url="http://www.thomann.de/gb/search_dir.html?sw=jamlab"]http://www.thomann.de/gb/search_dir.html?sw=jamlab[/url] I have one (couldn´t resist at that price) and it works a treat. Dead simple to use and no latency issues. The included software is rubbish though, better download something like Audacity mentioned above.[/quote] cant really go far wrong with that,thats well good price. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alun Posted October 29, 2007 Share Posted October 29, 2007 OK, my laptop is playing up so didn't get to try it sorry Steve but yes, it does show up as an ASIO thingie in Media Player so I guess you could. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WalMan Posted October 30, 2007 Share Posted October 30, 2007 What is your ultimate goal having got the bass into the PC and what sort of cash were you thinking of? I know you are talking soundcard, but you might keep an eye out for a Line6 Bass Pod (XT) on fleabay. That gives you amp modelling, gets the bass into the PC by USB and is a headphone practice amp. It's a while since I had mine hooked up to the PC, but as I recall it doesn't work with the Guitarport or Gearbox (which allow you to play along to tracks all through the headphones), so as an alternate you could look for a Pod XT and use the DI patch with no amp models. Audacity has been mentioned already as cheap (as in free) but good software. I use it a lot for editing audio, and managed to add and mix a pair of harmony guitar ([i]sorry!!![/i]) lines to a live track from my band (on the MySpace) quite easily Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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