Home recording or banging my head against a wall.

[The fasting showman]

I've read this topic with interest, my patience isn't the best.

I bought a basic Scarlett over lockdown and ran it with Audacity; I was emailing out bass parts I'd recorded that other band members would move into other DAWs and hopefully align my part OK.

I never really got the latency as good as I'd have liked. I never figured out dragging notes around either, so I had to record and re record until it was good enough.

The Scarlett has gathered dust since the lifting of lockdown restrictions. I need to get it used again. 

[SteveXFR]

@The fasting showman Audacity broke me. Its really counter intuitive. Reaper is so much easier 

[42Hz]

If you:

 

(1) plug the audio interface into a USB port on the computer and

(2) plug your instrument into the audio interface and

(3) plug your headphones into the PC

(4) put on your headphones an

(5) play your instrument connected to the audio interface and simultaneously

(6) listen ...

 

Do the sound of your instrument reach your ears ?

[Dom in Dorset]

1 hour ago, 42Hz said:

 

 

Edited Sunday at 20:58 by Dom in Dorset

[Dom in Dorset]

1 hour ago, 42Hz said:

If you:

 

(1) plug the audio interface into a USB port on the computer and

(2) plug your instrument into the audio interface and

(3) plug your headphones into the PC

(4) put on your headphones an

(5) play your instrument connected to the audio interface and simultaneously

(6) listen ...

 

Do the sound of your instrument reach your ears ?

I need to wait until I have another afternoon that I'm prepared to waste before trying again.  This might be some time. 

Previous attempts have stalled at 5

Edited Sunday at 21:11 by Dom in Dorset

[SteveXFR]

Did you install the driver software?

https://downloads.focusrite.com/focusrite

 

[SimonK]

As with many things in life if you have a conceptual overview of what you are trying to do things work a bit better - no point buying a hammer thinking it is a screwdriver, or buying a collection of screwdrivers thinking they are an entire toolbox...

 

With home recording there are quite a few different components, and you need to understand what does what before you can get anything done. Thus said the amount of different devices you can get is vast, and there is a massive difference between recording some basic tracks in Garageband (which is my recommendation for a beginner) as opposed to my friend's studio - he re-mortgaged to afford it and even rebuilt part of his house, which is one step beyond even most of us on this forum!

 

As such I too have given up on home recording as I can't afford either the money or time to do a good enough job of it (and I have said buddy with a studio should I need it). Thus said I do like jamming along to my own creations at home, and have got surprisingly far using a digitech trio+ pedal. I am, however, gassing for a "Groovebox" next which is not quite home recording, but going in that direction with more complex backing tracks than the trio+ can manage.

[42Hz]

I will not be the one who waste your time, so - in case someone else comes around with a similar problem:

Did You set the audio input device to "Line (USB Sound Device)" (or named something similar) ??? Your response indicates a "no".

 

If not, then do so by right clicking the loudspeaker icon on the task bar (bottom right of screen) and chose "Open Sound settings", scroll down under Input and select in the drop-down selector. It is not unlikely that Windows or Linux can work with your audio interface directly with standard system drivers. At least good enough for a test.

Edited Sunday at 21:31 by 42Hz

[Dood]

I teach all of this as part of my teaching syllabus. I think recording and performance is part and parcel, important even for the “kit bag” that a modern musician needs.

 

I’d say to anyone struggling to set up recording gear, PA, IEMs and  (of course my other day job), everything bass gear: Seek out some lessons with someone who knows what they’re doing and talking about. A few pennies on a face-to-face lesson or two can save ££££ in the long run 

[Dood]

1 hour ago, 42Hz said:

If you:

 

(1) plug the audio interface into a USB port on the computer and

(2) plug your instrument into the audio interface and

(3) plug your headphones into the PC

(4) put on your headphones an

(5) play your instrument connected to the audio interface and simultaneously

(6) listen ...

 

Do the sound of your instrument reach your ears ?

It won’t unless:

 

a) direct monitoring is enabled on the interface, in which case the computer is essentially bypassed or

b) there is a configured application running that the signal path is flowing through, such as a standalone amp sim or a digital audio workstation 

[Dom in Dorset]

13 minutes ago, 42Hz said:

I will not be the one who waste your time, so - in case someone else comes around with a similar problem:

Did You set the audio input device to "Line (USB Sound Device)" (or named something similar) ??? Your response indicates a "no".

 

If not, then do so by right clicking the loudspeaker icon on the task bar (bottom right of screen) and chose "Open Sound settings", scroll down under Input and select in the drop-down selector. It is not unlikely that Windows or Linux can work with your audio interface directly with standard system drivers. At least good enough for a test.

 

So what your saying is basically 

I am grateful for your help but my problem is on a more fundamental level. Imagine giving a set of car keys to someone from an uncontacted amazon tribe who's never seen a car before and telling them to depress the clutch and put it into first.

Edited Sunday at 21:40 by Dom in Dorset

[Dom in Dorset]

24 minutes ago, SteveXFR said:

Did you install the driver software?

https://downloads.focusrite.com/focusrite

 

Good point, I am using a new computer since my last attempt so I will need to go through that again so I  can concentrate on the brick wall of DAW whatever that is.

 

[Dom in Dorset]

Sorry for my sum what negative tone nut I have never spent so much time and money on something over the years and yet got absolutely nowhere,  achieved nothing.  To continue with the car analogy I haven't even got the door open .

Edited Sunday at 21:53 by Dom in Dorset

[SteveXFR]

Forget the DAW recommended by Focusrite, it's horrible. Use Reaper instead. There's loads of tutorial videos on YouTube. If you still struggle, come back with specific questions and you'll get answers.

[AMV001]

I've got a couple of fundamental questions- do you know how to use a cassette tape deck? Also, do you know how to operate an analogue mixing desk?

[Dom in Dorset]

2 minutes ago, AMV001 said:

I've got a couple of fundamental questions- do you know how to use a cassette tape deck? Also, do you know how to operate an analogue mixing desk?

Yes and yes

[RAY AGAINST THE MACHINE]

35 minutes ago, SteveXFR said:

Did you install the driver software?

https://downloads.focusrite.com/focusrite

 

I think this seems to be where the issue lies. I use mac so whenever I plug in any audio interface or mixer , there is no need .

P.c is more of a pain , only imho 

[AMV001]

1 minute ago, Dom in Dorset said:

Yes and yes

In that case, you should have no issues with Reaper. The basic recording functions are just digitisations of those two.

 

It gets more complicated when you get into the world of plug ins etc but don't bother with that for now. But with those two skills you should easy be able to make basic recordings once the interface is set up correctly. Its honestly not difficult, I managed to do it and I'm a digital luddite.

[RAY AGAINST THE MACHINE]

Only imho, but if you had a Mac or iPad , you'd be all set . Just plug interface in, drivers get recognised by Mac .

Then use GarageBand . 
If you could download the pc equivalent of GarageBand , you'll probably get there once you've downloaded scarlet drivers . 
 

I feel your pain . Stick with it . Lots of good advice from Basschat already !

[42Hz]

You need to focus on this part: 

[Dom in Dorset]

2 minutes ago, 42Hz said:

You need to focus on this part: 

Smite the cowering kushites with a rod of iron ?

[chriswareham]

If you don't want access to all the plugins that you can use with a a computer based DAW package, then something like the Tascam 12 might be a good alternative. It's a standalone, hardware mixer and multi track digital recorder. Very simple to use, and you can also start integrating it into a DAW setup at a later stage since it can act as an audio interface and control surface for the most popular DAW packages.

 

As for someone mentioning a Mac with the inference it will just work. No, it won't. Exactly the same issues as Windows, with latency problems and potentially conflicting drivers if you use anything that isn't a "class compliant" USB audio interface.

[LowB_FTW]

12 minutes ago, chriswareham said:

As for someone mentioning a Mac with the inference it will just work. No, it won't. Exactly the same issues as Windows, with latency problems and potentially conflicting drivers if you use anything that isn't a "class compliant" USB audio interface.

The OP states they are using a Focusrite Scarlet, which is "class compliant" so yes, it would work, and indeed does work, as I have this setup and works with GarageBand no problems.

 

Mark

[Reggaebass]

Im quite good with general IT stuff but a total layman when it comes to recording, I spent days trying to figure out reaper and and a few others, it’s probably simpler if you’ve got someone to show you and get you going, so I tried GarageBand and found it the easiest to work, probably quite limited for some but it does what I need which is to record my playing and play over songs I’m working on , maybe give that a try Dom 

[42Hz]

27 minutes ago, Dom in Dorset said:

Smite the cowering kushites with a rod of iron ?

Metaphorically; Yes, indeed. As you see from the responses the frustration you experience is not so uncommon. I tend to believe that in unision the humanity still has a chance in fighting against the oppressor (information technology) but we need to act very very soon.