A2E TD-10, how to record?

[stevo955]

Hey everyone,

I just "finished" my A2E conversion project - the countless hours of tweaking are still to come - but I'm wanting to know what I'm going to need to record this thing. My buddies back home are recording guitars and vocals with some software called Music Creator 5 and I'm responsible for recording drum tracks to lay over top of it.

I've got the TD-10 module with the TDW-1 expansion with v-cymbal control (if any of that matters). Can anyone provide some insight to what software and extra hardware (ie cables) i'll need to get started? Might I add that if I can get away with it, lets try to keep the $$ down.

Thanks in advance!

[grog]

Let's assume you'll be recording this with audio from the module and not going the VST route (like EZDrummer, BFD, etc).

Also, is this a PC or laptop? Please say PC.

Assuming a PC, you'll need some kind of interface between the module and the computer. There are a variety of options available but a good sound card for this is a must since most onboard computer sound cards won't do the trick.

I use an M-Audio Delta 44 box. You can find full info about it online and there's always a crapload of them for sale on ebay. Don't bite at the "buy it now" ones since they typically charge a new price. I bought mine on ebay several years back and paid $100 for it.

What's nice about is are all the 1/4" inputs and outputs. It really makes the interface issues between the module and the onboard recording software easy.

Lemme stress it's by no means the only option. M-Audio makes others and other brands make stuff.

If you have a laptop, search in here for laptop and soundcard and start boning up on all the posts about how to configure a laptop for recording.

www.myspace.com/rubberuniverse

[200 Motels]

Line 6 make some fine USB Recoding interfaces ranging from maybe $50 used and up. They're mainly geared towards guitarists because they're bundled with guitar VST software.

When it comes to recording software, Reaper is a pretty affordable option plus it has a free trial and it's easy to configure.

[stevo955]

Originally Posted by grog

I use an M-Audio Delta 44 box. You can find full info about it online and there's always a crapload of them for sale on ebay. Don't bite at the "buy it now" ones since they typically charge a new price. I bought mine on ebay several years back and paid $100 for it.

What's nice about is are all the 1/4" inputs and outputs. It really makes the interface issues between the module and the onboard recording software easy.

See, this is why I come here... I wasn't even aware that I needed an interface between module and computer! I thought I was going to be able to find a midi to usb cable and plug directly into my CPU!

Anyways, what would the benefit of having the 4 1/4" inputs and 4 outputs on the interface? And how would this connect with the TD-10? Would I simply go 1/4" output (module) to 1/4" input (interface) then interface to computer?

Maybe it would make more sense when I have one in front of my face, just trying to gather more info before I go out and buy one. Thanks!

[grog]

Originally Posted by stevo955

Anyways, what would the benefit of having the 4 1/4" inputs and 4 outputs on the interface? And how would this connect with the TD-10? Would I simply go 1/4" output (module) to 1/4" input (interface) then interface to computer?

This particular setup has a PCI card that goes inside your PC. It has a cable that then runs from the PCI card to that breakout box. You plug the L and R outputs from the TD-10 into two of the inputs on the Delta 44. This assumes you have the software setup on the computer correctly.

You then can record a L and R signal. One of the nice things about the Delta 44 are those other inputs. That means you can use a direct out on the TD-10 and send let's say one component into the computer and record that as well. Yeah, you can do that with other input devices but then you're stopping, swapping cables and crap like that.

Again, this assumes you're using a PC and not a laptop. Again again, there are other interfaces that can do this sort of thing. I just happen to have had very good results with the Delta 44 and picked one up used on ebay for about $100.

www.myspace.com/rubberuniverse

[sciomako]

Originally Posted by stevo955

I wasn't even aware that I needed an interface between module and computer! I thought I was going to be able to find a midi to usb cable and plug directly into my CPU!

2 different things.

You need an audio interface in order to record the audio. (i.e. mp3 files, wav files, etc.) In its simplest form, the sound card on your PC is already an audio interface. You can actually plug your module output into the Line/Mic In of your sound card. But quality won't be as good as delicated audio interface.

You need a MIDI-USB interface in order to record the MIDI signals. (i.e. *.mid files.) With the MIDI signals, you need some kind of VST software to regenerate the sound from your PC. (Or, to confuse you further, you can feed this MIDI back to the module to retrigger the sounds on the module.)

Originally Posted by grog

Again, this assumes you're using a PC and not a laptop.

Is the PC vs laptop issue that critical? I have a Roland UA-25EX which uses USB port. I use it on a lowly Atom-based netbook and record onto Audacity, just for my practice. It's not bad.

[grog]

Originally Posted by sciomako

Is the PC vs laptop issue that critical? I have a Roland UA-25EX which uses USB port. I use it on a lowly Atom-based netbook and record onto Audacity, just for my practice. It's bad.

Not critical in terms of whether or not you can do but but critical in terms of what equipment I recommend.

www.myspace.com/rubberuniverse

[stevo955]

Well to resolve the PC vs laptop question, I plan on using a PC. I've got an old PC that's current only purpose is to surf the internet and house my music collection - and soon my drum recorder.

anyhow, the sound card is stock, so it sounds like the Delta 44 is a smart way to go... 2 for 1 special!

In the long run I may go the midi route and get SD or equivalent, but for a quick and relatively cheap solution, this should get me going.

Another thing, does the Delta 44 come with the software I need to record into .mp3 (or other audio file) and edit clips? Or is this purchased separately?

[grog]

Use what your band mates are using. Believe me, it's far, far easier that way.

Audacity and Reaper are two other freebies highly recommended here. But really, I've been doing collaborative recording over distances for close to 4 years now. It's much, much harder to do it if one person is on another piece of software.

I use an older P4 box with 2gb of Ram on my PC and have no trouble recording. Now, 20 vocal tracks with effects clog it down but that's a different story.

www.myspace.com/rubberuniverse

[stevo955]

Maybe you could suggest some software that we could all use? I know they bought an interface and it came with a demo Music Creator 5 software, but they haven't gone out and bought the full $300 version yet.

I might just tell them to buy a Delta 44 that way they can record guitars and vocals all at the same time instead of recording separate tracks...

Which software would be best to use with the Delta 44? If Audacity or Reaper would work for us that would be great. Who doesn't love free??

[grog]

They would work fine. Start with either of them and see if they'll suffice before you go blowing big money on software.

www.myspace.com/rubberuniverse