Help with interface!

[Hypnotist]

I'll keep it really simple, unless someone else wants to add their two cents. (I usually write a book, but I just walked to Grand Central in Manhattan from Brooklyn to get on a train and I'm beat)

Here's a basic compression startup that works for me:

I usually start with a ratio between 3:1 and 4:1, threshold at -10dB, somewhat quick attack and moderate release. I change it depending on how the compression "breathes", but if your ears aren't developed for that yet, just pay attention to the meters, watch the compression kick in, and make sure you're not clipping.

As for EQ:

Most times, your vocal track competes with guitars, keyboards, samples, etc, and needs just a little bump, or "warmth" in the 3-5kHz range. Your vocals need to be up front, on top of the record. Don't go too crazy. Just enough to hear it. Never make drastic adjustments... one dB at a time or your ears will play tricks on you.

 

[damird]

I usually start with a ratio between 3:1 and 4:1, threshold at -10dB, somewhat quick attack and moderate release. I change it depending on how the compression "breathes", but if your ears aren't developed for that yet, just pay attention to the meters, watch the compression kick in, and make sure you're not clipping.

.

First, thanks for always replying to my questions. Second, are these setups for your drums or vocals?

 

[Hypnotist]

Vocals.

You have to be more careful with drums. If you compress a kick drum you have to worry about it losing its punch, and a snare can lose its snap crackle pop. If I compress drums, it's just to limit it in case the drummer gets crazy during a hook or something. But usually with the drummers I've recorded, they've been pretty professional. I don't compress kicks while mixing, because they stand out anyway, and become moderately limited by my stereo compression over the entire mix.

Hope this helped.

 

[damird]

Thanks Hypno, it does clarify things.

 

[damird]

Man I'm recording in Acid 4.0 and using this interface. It constantly freezes! I updated the driver, and still same shit. What can I do?

 

[Hypnotist]

Don't know much about Acid freezing. But make sure it's the only thing you got running, maybe even try a different USB port for your interface? Do you have USB 2.0?

 

[damird]

Don't know much about Acid freezing. But make sure it's the only thing you got running, maybe even try a different USB port for your interface? Do you have USB 2.0?

I dont have USB 2.0. My machine is a P4, 1.9ghz, 256 SDRAM on WinXP. Its an old Machine, but still. It keeps freezing. My version of Acid is not bootleg either. Acid never froze before, It started freezing when I started using it with interface.

Does USB 2.0 play a big diffrence?

As always, thanks for responding Hypno.

Try adjusting the audio settings on acid. if the input is set to 'try as WPDM' then itll fuck up.

How do I check for that? I don't even see the option anywhere.

 

[Hypnotist]

See I don't even know if your M Audio Pre is USB. Is it?
It may be that you don't have USB 2.0... that's sometimes the case with all USB devices, including mouse, flashdrives, etc. But that's just a stab in the dark, assuming your processing power is up to par and ram and all that jazz. Like I said, I know nothing about the new Acid with a mic pre.

How do I check for that? I don't even see the option anywhere.

Always look for "options" or "preferences" under a menu in Acid. There, you can set your input/output configuration. Usually. But it may be as simple as clicking on an icon in the track, and setting it there.

Anybody else know what he's talking about?

Hypno

 

[damird]

Hypno,

I do have Mobile-Per USB. My specs are P4, 1.9ghz, 256 SDRAM on WinXP, as I said in post above. I don't have USB 2.0 though. Damn, I dunno what to do.

 

[Hypnotist]

It might be your ram that's a problem then. You should be using at least 512 with all audio programs, especially if you're recording and need a decent quality. I'd get an upgrade in ram if I were you.

Here's a few sites, but I'd compare prices if I were you:

http://www.upgradememory.com/
http://www.archmemory.com/
http://www.memorygiant.com/

 

[Big Tone]

its not ram. thats not the first person i know that uses acid and has problems with it freezing. i know someone with 1.5 gb ram and it still freezes

 

[damird]

Hypno,

Thanks again man. I really appreciate your effort to help me.

Big Tone, or anyone for that matter,

Is there another affordable program I could use to record vocals? Something with a similar user-friendliness as Acid? I'm low on budget, but I'm willing to sacrifice some cash.

 

[Big Tone]

i use adobe audition and sonar. i use sonar only to record midi tho. havent used it in a while

 

[damird]

I switched to Adobe Audition. It seemed to run smooth. I imported my beat, recorded the first verse, recorded the second verse, and then the it got very choppy and the application was lagging behind. It didn't freeze and I was able to save my work. However, I couldnt record back into the same session because it was very choppy. Now, I am on 256 RAM.. is this just a RAM issue now or is there a way for me to tweak this?

 

[Hypnotist]

It sounds like a ram issue. I had the same problem when I had Cool Edit Pro 2.0 back in the dayz and I was trying to record a session. There was this little green bar that would refresh when the computer was good and ready to record. Sometimes it took like 10-20 seconds, if there were a lot of tracks in there. But I'm sure with more ram, your computer can handle more audio processing at one time.