[TriLUG] Sound recording/editing/archiving - where to start?

[William W. Ward]

One thing Lisa may want to check for, depending on her application, is the
quality of the sound card in use.  If the sound card is handling the
analog-to-digital recording, the noise picked up by the sound card (consumer
grade soundcards in particular,) from the computer's data buses may be
unacceptable for a master recording.

Be sure to QC the resulting CD for pops and clicks or whine that may not be
present in the source material.  If this is unacceptable for your needs, you
may want to consider a higher quality sound card, or an external sound
device (Creative makes one, for example) to put some distance between the
noise source and the encoding hardware, or using one of the SPDIF outputs
from your studio gear (if equipped) to one of the sound cards that comes
with such (Turtle Beach and Creative both offer SPDIF-equipped cards.)
SPDIF is a common digital connection method between audio equipment when
that audio equipment deals with digital sound, like high-end CD players or
multi-track digital recorders.

That's one of the desirable reasons to go with audio-specific hardware for
recording CDs, but if you pay attention and get acceptable results on your
current machine, there is no reason NOT to use it - mechanically it works
just as well.

-b-

----- Original Message -----
From: "Jeremy Portzer" <jeremyp at pobox.com>
To: "TriLUG" <trilug at trilug.org>
Sent: Tuesday, July 30, 2002 12:34 PM
Subject: Re: [TriLUG] Sound recording/editing/archiving - where to start?


> On 30 Jul 2002, Lisa C. Boyd wrote:
>
> > Thanks Tanner and Lisa for the quick responses :)
> >
> > Tanner: I'll keep this list of apps to check out when I get to that
> > point. We also have a digital video camera so possibly we can pull in
> > video to the computer too. Sound would be the first priority now though.
> > Currently we are having to burn special music cds when someone wants a
> > copy which are more expensive than just using regular data formatted
> > cds. Of course, I have to look into all of this more too :)
>
> There's not normally a difference (phsyically) between CDRs used for music
> and those used for data.  The only difference is the "special" music CDRs
> include some sort of kickback to the RIAA, since they assume you may be
> copying RIAA music with them.  If you don't want to pay this (especially
> if it's your own creations you are burning), just use the normal data
> CDRs.
>
> > Do any of you know if I would need a special sound card or anything like
> > that for the computer part? Or if I'm able to find a way to get the
> > signal from the sound board (or other parts like cd player) to the
> > regular inputs on a regular sound card - it'd work?
>
> It should use regular line-level analog audio; all you need are the
> physical connectors.  Most inputs on the sound card are stereo, so make
> sure you get stereo miniplug connectors.  I've found it handy to have
> several adapter cables hanging around with a stereo miniplug on one end,
> and dual RCA plugs on the other end.
>
> --Jeremy
>
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