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Forums > Recording > I am about to explode, help me with my inputs

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Original message:179 days 20 hours 22 minutes ago

Member: Cargen

80
WebCred

Ok, i have my microphone and my line in plugged in(which is my guitar, and my mic) now ... i cannot get them to record at the same time, my computer wants one or the other "set priority" how do i fix this?

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Reply:179 days 19 hours 9 minutes ago
Member: pinsone

490
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i have no clue man i use standalone units when i can

you could just record them separately though

or find some crazy way to run them through the same line

if possible

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“music is not the meaning of life life is the meaning of music”-Joshuah Pinson

Reply:179 days 17 hours 56 minutes ago
Member: bachmirage

+ 2

1047
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your sound card (assuming you are trying to use the one that came with the computer) is only equipped to handle one input at a time. the average computer sound card is NOT designed for what you are trying to do. if you want to do any kind of decent quality recording you will want to upgrade to a real soundcard. preferably one with the multiple inputs to use. there are many to choose from. bestbuy is a good place to start. ebay is also full of good soundcards on the cheap. look for one with a 1/4 inch in on it for the guitar applications.

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Reply:179 days 13 hours 53 minutes ago
Member: G_Barber

+ 1

436
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Either what Bachmirage said, or get a mixer so you can run everything through the line in at the same time.

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Reply:179 days 9 hours 4 minutes ago
Member: ibzRG

2736
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Record the guitar part alone. Then play back the track and record the singing part

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Reply:179 days 3 hours 28 minutes ago
Member: Cargen

80
WebCred

thanks, i am going to get a new sound card, i thought that was the problem, but i wasn't sure.

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Reply:179 days 2 hours 51 minutes ago
Member: Chester Field

+ 1

333
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Get a small mixer, your soundcard isn't the problem. Really.

Reply:178 days 13 hours 42 minutes ago
Member: ibzRG

2736
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I'm afraid no regular soundcard will do the trick as they are either meant for gaming or for watching movies.
What you can do is use two soundcards. Just check the signal/noise ratio and it doesn't matter if it has multiple inputs or a single all-purpose input. Then you need a real multi-track recording program that will record from multiple sources at the same time. Or use simultaneous instances of the same software and record the parts at the same time, but independently. It's complex though.

A small mixer or a professional soundcard is the right solution. The rest are work-arounds.

Wait...
The Line6 TonePorts series are USB guitar interfaces and they have separate inputs for mic too. That might do your trick for not much money, if you don't mind amp emulators.

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Reply:178 days 12 hours ago
Member: Xarkzila

+ 2

2685
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Here's the real deal...

DO NOT USE THE MIC INPUT ON YOUR SOUNDCARD! It has a crappy pre that doesn't sound very good.

The LINE in is a STEREO input. Using this input WILL give you two channels to record from. Left and right.

You WILL need a mixer so you can preamp your mic. It also doesn't hurt to plug your guitar into the mixer as well. Pan the mic hard one way and the guitar hard the other way so you send two different signals, (left and right,) to the LINE in.

You don't need a fancy mixer to accomplish this. As long as you can separate left and right, you're gold.

You will also need adapters to plug into your sound card from the mixer. Remember, the LINE in is a STEREO input and uses a 1/8" mini jack. (See the graphic for adapters.) Your mixer will have 1/4" or XLR outs. You will need to combine these two outputs into a single line ending with a 1/8" mini jack. (Parts are available at Radio Shack. Just don't ask them questions as they don't have answers.)

Your current soundcard should work just fine. If you decide to go for a recording card with the proper breakouts, then you will still want a mixer to control certain things, but I'd get the mixer FIRST and go from there if necessary. Getting one that supplies phantom power is also a plus as it will allow you to use condenser mics instead of just dynamic mics.

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"The music industry is a cruel and shallow money trench. A long plastic hallway where theives and pimps run free and good men die like dogs. There's also a negative side..."
http://www.cleargravy.com

Reply:178 days 10 hours 47 minutes ago
Member: dcunning30

3083
WebCred

I have a Tascam US-122. It can run balanced and unbalanced signals into USB into your computer. It has 2 in's and 2 outs, so you can record both mic and guitar at the same time. It also has phantom power for condenser mics.

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