A whole bunch of recording questions

[The-Warlord]

I've been reading on tweakheadz alot, but these are some things taht remain unanswered:
I'm looking to set up a mobile studio. I'm getting a Macbook Pro, and a http://www.presonus.com/inspire1394.html
Seems enough for me.


1 . The inspire 1394 has a 1/4" guitar input. Does this mean I plug my guitar straight in, and then add effects after it is recorded? Or do I plug the 'output' of my effects into the input? Or perhaps in direct output of my amp? These three options..are they preference things? Can somone briefly explain what a DI box is used for and why that instead of just plugging from the amp-> interface.

2. VST. I'm boggled by this, I tried reading about it but do not get it. Basically they are plug ins that can be anything from loops, virtual instruments or effects that programs like Cubase can use to add to audio tracks or projects...correct? : /

3. How does one go around peaking? I find say if I have 10 very quiet tracks, they 'add up' and peak...And what if a track is not loud enough unless it is 'peaking'

4. At the moment I go Mic/input -> Behringer mixer->PCI interface. If I got one of those inspire things, or any firewire interface, would the mixer still be needed?

5. I was watching a video about installing the Inspire on a mac, and he said something about setting it as the default sound card. Is this thing more powerful soundcard in terms of music and gaming? What I mean is should I have it plugged in all the time as an 'external soundcard' or is the built-in sound card good enough for listening to music and and gaming?


These are a few things that have been floating around in my head since I've started getting my feet wet with recording. Thanks to all who answer!

8)

 

[kithsa]

1 . The inspire 1394 has a 1/4" guitar input. Does this mean I plug my guitar straight in, and then add effects after it is recorded? Or do I plug the 'output' of my effects into the input? Or perhaps in direct output of my amp? These three options..are they preference things? Can somone briefly explain what a DI box is used for and why that instead of just plugging from the amp-> interface.

Probably, the 1/4" instr in should take a direct input from a guitar. Thus, you plug the guit directly into the interface, and effects run on software. If you want to add effects prior to entering the sound interface, I think you'll be better off plugging the output into a standard 1/4" TRS line in instead.


2. VST. I'm boggled by this, I tried reading about it but do not get it. Basically they are plug ins that can be anything from loops, virtual instruments or effects that programs like Cubase can use to add to audio tracks or projects...correct? : /

Yep. VSTs are virtual instruments, effects, samplers.... all software based. Yes, Cubase (and most other sequencers) support VST.


3. How does one go around peaking? I find say if I have 10 very quiet tracks, they 'add up' and peak...And what if a track is not loud enough unless it is 'peaking'

EQ, compression and limiting should save the day. How to do it is a very big topic by itself... I think tweakheadz has a tutorial on this.


4. At the moment I go Mic/input -> Behringer mixer->PCI interface. If I got one of those inspire things, or any firewire interface, would the mixer still be needed?

Probably not, as you can plug the mic or whatever you have right into the interface (if it has preamps), and use the software mixing functions. If your interface doesn't have preamps, then yep, you'll need the mixer, preamps, or whatever to raise the mic and instr signal to lines.


5. I was watching a video about installing the Inspire on a mac, and he said something about setting it as the default sound card. Is this thing more powerful soundcard in terms of music and gaming? What I mean is should I have it plugged in all the time as an 'external soundcard' or is the built-in sound card good enough for listening to music and and gaming?

It is definitely more powerful than a standard soundcard, and will probably give better quality audio. However I find that most people (including myself) are comfortable using standard souncards for easy listening and gaming. But if you like, you can always set up the soundcard for that use.