#433136 - 10/12/03 07:19 PM
Any benefits to digital recording?
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mikapc
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Registered: 10/12/03
Posts: 8
Loc: Michigan
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Right now my immediate goal is to find equipment to record just myself (I'm a clarinet major in college) in my studio apartment with preferably my computer. I have a fairly high end but not professional sound card (sb audigy 2) and sound forge software. What additional sound recording equipment would I need. Hopefully I would prefer to just need to get a mic and connect it the audigy 2 card which has digital in. Now first off I'd like a clear definition of what digital recording really means. All sound is originally analog and is received by mics through analog so where does the digital part take place? Finally getting back to my subject question what benefits are there to digital recording in terms of quality?
I'd appreciate any advice on how to get the best sound recording setup possible with the minimal amount of additional equipment purchases. For one it's my guess given that I'm only planning on recording myself that more then one microphone will produce any better effect. My purpose for recording is first to create high quality audition tapes/cds for music festivals etc and for recording practice sessions.
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#433137 - 10/12/03 08:26 PM
Re: Any benefits to digital recording?
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LawrenceF
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Registered: 10/11/01
Posts: 481
Loc: ,,UNITED STATES
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Originally posted by mikapc:
Right now my immediate goal is to find equipment to record just myself (I'm a clarinet major in college) in my studio apartment with preferably my computer. I have a fairly high end but not professional sound card (sb audigy 2) and sound forge software. What additional sound recording equipment would I need.
Now first off I'd like a clear definition of what digital recording really means. All sound is originally analog and is received by mics through analog so where does the digital part take place?
There are too may types of digital signal formats to list here but generally in recording the digital signal is a bi-polar type signal (positive and negative voltages) I believe, just like an analog waveform. Some data formats are uni-polar (positive voltage and O only). ISDN would be a 2B1Q (2 binary 1 Quatrinary). DSL, 2B+D. Nothing to do with music per se but understanding digital formats in general helps. Some of the more technical types will correct my misstatements if any.
Generally digital signals are much less succeptable to noise and interference. There's a lot more to it but you'll find out later.
Finally getting back to my subject question what benefits are there to digital recording in terms of quality?
A. Editing. With digital you can actually see what you're editing and almost anything (good or bad) is possible. The latter is called "editing the life out of your music". 
B. Random Access. Instead of rewinding as you do with tape you can jump anywhere and play immediately.
C. Generations. What that (theoretically) means is the the 1,000th copy is the same as the first. Analog degrades with each generation or copy.
D. Most people agree that generally analog sounds better than digital. Some would say the advantages I listed above outweigh that difference. It's kind of subjective. We've become so accustomed to hearing the "artifacts" of analog recording they've actually become part of what we expect to hear. That's partly why some would say digital sounds "cold" and "harsh" in comparison. Again a generalization.
I'd appreciate any advice on how to get the best sound recording setup possible with the minimal amount of additional equipment purchases.
Warning: Be careful. Audio engineering is about as addictive as golf, which I heard one NBA player refer to "the heroin of sports". Try not to go crazy buying technology. Concentrate on your music not the electronic thinga-ma-bobs. Digital recording devices can sometimes get complex and intefere with the music.
Good luck. We all started right where you are now.
Lawrence
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#433138 - 10/12/03 10:00 PM
Re: Any benefits to digital recording?
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AudioMaverick
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Registered: 05/19/01
Posts: 1790
Loc: Outskirts of Big Bear, CA,UNIT...
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Mikeapc, LawrenceF gave you a really good synopsis. I would just like to append a bit, though…
Think of recording digitally as just another medium to use than analog. Instead of recording to tape, you are going to record to a hard drive. They each have their own sound qualities. Some people prefer one format over the other. But, for demos, I’d like to paraphrase another forum user, “it isn’t quality of the recording that is going to attract the listener’s attention, but the quality of the musician.”
You can make pretty decent recordings with the Audigy card. I am personally not a fan of the microphone preamp. And, depending on the microphone you end up with, you may need to get a small preamp with a phantom power supply to run it. The Sound Forge software will let you do wonderful things. To cut the learning curve, try to make friends with someone who has experience with it… to assist you. This will help you to focus on your music, while they do the initial recording for you.
Many low-budget microphones can be used on a clarinet. Choices abound. If you stay in the dynamic microphone family, they don’t need a phantom power supply. And, you could plug it straight into the microphone input of the Audigy card… with an adapter to get from 1/4-inch to 1/8-inch. I picked up an Electrovoice 767a that does very well with strings and reeds, for about $140. The 267 model runs about $100. And, there is the ever-popular Shure SM57 that runs between $70 & $80.
Microphones are subjective to the individual. See if you can try out a few at a local Guitar Center (or similar store)… through headphones During off-hours, the stores in my area are happy to do this. They are mostly college persons with similar passions.
Good luck on your endeavors!
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#433139 - 10/13/03 12:26 AM
Re: Any benefits to digital recording?
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Dugan
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Registered: 10/01/03
Posts: 13
Loc: New York Philly Boston
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for what you want to do, mikapc, i dont think you really need to worry about a mic pre-amp, unless you are already an audio geek, which it doesn't sound like you are...
just get a decent mic, and try to get your hands on some software plug-ins to use with sound forge... especially any of the waves plug-ins, the restoration and EQ's especially are great fro audition cd's...
i was a student at conservatory until this mat and i did a lot of recording audition materials for people, and you are not expected to have studio-quality stuff, and you are doing this yourself so clearly that is not your goal.
anyway sometimes i recorded people on my own gear but often they would bring me mini-discs or cd's of old live performances or even worse practice sessions to be edited together and i had to do what i could.
i found that the waves x-noise plug-in got used on every one of these jobs. used properly, it will cut out the background crap while taking as little of the attack transients and actual music as possible, bringing the music to the forefront.
i found it especially useful on reeds, as it will help take some of the harshness out of the sound and mute gasping breaths and unwanted "sshhh" of the reed. these plug-ins can be gotten "cheap"  if you cant afford the expense.
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#433140 - 10/13/03 01:34 AM
Re: Any benefits to digital recording?
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mixsit
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Registered: 03/31/01
Posts: 91
Loc: sacto,CA,UNITED STATES
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You might also consider a pair of inexpensive condensor mics so you can record in stereo. It would give you a bit more of a nice natural sounding recording. Most need phantom power but some come battery powered.
Wayne
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