help recording...

[revert]

hi.

everytime i record a mix to my pc, the sound is totally muffled - it almost sounds distant. i'm not looking for a "mux" recording by any means, but something decent would be nice.

i've been using soundforge 7.0 to record.

i've tried recording w/ two different scenarios:

a) from mixer > pc. i have a vestax pcv275. i connect master out 2 (1/4 inch phono plugs) to my audio card (sb audigy) using a standard 3.5mm jack. i then record with soundforge @ 192,000, 24 bit, stereo.

b) from mixer > minidisc > pc. same as above, except with a minidisc in the picture.

with both the scenarios above, the sound is tight coming from my pc speakers, it's just the recording itself that is totally muffled.

any ideas? software settings? change recording app?

[stringbeans]

it might be your soundcard. what soundcard are you using? i use a soundblaster live and it works great

[revert]

Originally Posted by stringbeans

it might be your soundcard. what soundcard are you using? i use a soundblaster live and it works great

it's a creative sb audigy.

what app do you record to?

[stringbeans]

soundforge 7

the recording volume setting is turned up right? if so then i have no clue hehe

[decypher]

If all the levels on your mixer are fine, then did you check the levels on your computers input and in the program your recording into?

[revert]

Originally Posted by decypher

If all the levels on your mixer are fine, then did you check the levels on your computers input and in the program your recording into?

system sound levels are all up (this includes "line in"). i know that it's not the system sound settings because when i'm recording, the actual sound coming from my pc speakers is crisp. it's the actual recording when i play it back that's muffled.

this leaves me to believe that something isn't "set" in soundforge right... but i don't know what it is.

[~god~]

Hmm.. make sure your volume is not too high either.
If you see 'Clip' at the top of the bars, you have to turn it down a bit. Thats the only thing i can think of that might distort your sound.

[revert]

my soundcard (sb audigy) comes with "audigy recorder". when i record with it, the sound is perfect.

could it be that my soundcard does not like recording @ 192000, 24bit, stereo?

[Royal_Phunk]

set it up to Record @ 44,1 16bit then make a high quality mp3 (192, 320) if you dont have the tools to record @ higher rates.

[revert]

Originally Posted by Royal_Phunk

set it up to Record @ 44,1 16bit then make a high quality mp3 (192, 320) if you dont have the tools to record @ higher rates.

i use the "resample" tool to make it higher quality, right?

[revert]

Originally Posted by Royal_Phunk

set it up to Record @ 44,1 16bit then make a high quality mp3 (192, 320) if you dont have the tools to record @ higher rates.

on a side note, you nailed it. i was totally recording at too high of a rate.

thanks muchly!

[Krusha]

does sound blaster even support 192KHz?!?

thats only for some crazy mastering house , just stick to 24bit , 44100Hz and dither it down to 16 bit if your gonna make an audio CD

[revert]

Originally Posted by Krusha

does sound blaster even support 192KHz?!?

thats only for some crazy mastering house , just stick to 24bit , 44100Hz and dither it down to 16 bit if your gonna make an audio CD

yeah, sb audigy 2 supports 192KHz - which i thought i was using. turns out it was a sb audigy 1. but thanks!

[[EFM-7]]

How muffled is the sound?
if its only a bit it may be because youre using a consumer card instead of a pro audiocard.
when i had my SB Live i noticed that the recordings sounded NOTHING like the signal going straight throught to the speakers when i played it back. The recording that was played back had compromised stereo separation and lost its "punch"

the problem was solved when i got an Echo Mia audiocard. (now i use a m-audio delta-44) and the difference in prescision was scary. it really doesnt matter how high of a resolution the audigy claims to go. it wasnt made for any serious recording. the outputs were meant for watching movies and playing computergames and the inputs were put there so that preteen girls can have voice-chats.

I record everything at the standard 16bit 44kHz through balanced inputs and everything sounds great.

[Revolver]

Originally Posted by [EFM-7]

the outputs were meant for watching movies and playing computergames and the inputs were put there so that preteen girls can have voice-chats.

HAHA so true, ive never trusted creatives cards, M-audio is really the only way to go for great recording at good prices. M-AUDIO now belongs to digidesign so there is some serious pro-audio muscle backing them up now.

in my pc i use a audiophile card. rock solid.

[[EFM-7]]

The audiophile is definitely a tried tested and true card, i used to have one for a day until i realized that i have that one incompatible chipset on my mobo, so i never got to use it.

however Creative owns the professional E-MU line and E-MU have the 0404 card which is pretty cheap cheap, never used it but id check out some reviews and try it out http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/0404/