Simple software for sound recording

H

hellboy80

Well-known member
Hi. I usually use Sony Vegas for sound recording when I'm home, but now I need to go to one college to record some speech with some actress and I don't what to install Sony Vegas there only because of this. Can you recommend me some simple, but still good solution (I want to record sound on HDD, not on camera). Audio should be 48kHz; 16bits; stereo.
 
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Thanks.
By the way, I have a problem with recording sound on computer I'm using now (not only in Audacity, but with anyl software): I have a very low level of recorded sound (even if I turn mic volume of my soundblaster and even mic volume on any recording softwares I tried on maximum, it records only sound which is a -36db max.) Very quiet sound when I'm listening to it after recording). I'm sure my mic is ok, so its something else. Some idea?
 
What OS are you running? If Windows check this:
Control Panel
> sound, speech and audio devices
> sound and audio devices
> audio tab
> sound recording .... volume.
 
What recording hardware are you using? (What type of mic, and what type of interface?)
 
Soundmax HD Audio (integrated in ASUS P5B).
Ccondenser microphone Sony ECM S959C (but I tried a different mic too and there was no difference)
 
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hellboy80 said:
Soundmax HD Audio.
Ccondenser microphone Sony ECM S959C (but I tried a different mic too and there was no difference)
Click to expand...

There we go.

You're using a consumer-level interface that's made for Windows-based PCs and for general house-hold/consumer applications, yet your editing apps are trying to record a professional-level signal. I feel pretty comfortable saying that the pre-amps in your computer's audio inputs are not very strong at all. In fact, they're pretty much useless for this kind of application.

Your best bet is to invest in, at the very least, a USB-based DAW interface. You can find many for under $250 that offer at least passable pre-amps, if not some fairly decent ones.
 
I just grabbed a version...it's now called AVS Audio Editor (I have the BETA 1.3 version).
In the mic set-up, select "advanced" and turn on the mic boost.

picture.php


Let me know if this works....you can see from the waveform in the background, it worked for me...on an XP Pro machine with a cheezy little mic plugged into the 1/8" mic jack.
 
http://www.sweetwater.com/c695--USB_Audio_Interfaces

Just don't buy a Digidesign box unless you want to start using ProTools.

Also know that we're getting into XLR mic connections here, so your little Sony won't have the right connection. But then, you really shouldn't be using a stereo mic for anything but ambient sounds (outdoors, birds chirping, etc.) and live music. If you are recording VO, dialog, etc., you need a good single-element mic.

But for a quick fix, try Zaza's solution and see if that doesn't help. It should get you in a better spot, but I can't help but think that it'll only amplify noise from the computer's sound card as well.
 
Mic boost - I turned this on in setting of my soundcard before. It helped little bit, but not much :)
So I have to buy a better soundcard (or buy one of these audio interfaces)?
 
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BTW - there is some interference too (in the recorded sound). And the strange thing is - the recording volume (in Sony Vegas) shows some action even when I'm not recording? Is this normal?
 
hellboy80 said:
Mic boost - I turned this on in setting of my soundcard before. It helped little bit, but not much :)
So I have to buy a better soundcard (or buy one of these audio interfaces)?
Click to expand...

The one I pointed out is in the AVS software... try what I showed you (see the image if you don't know where to find the settings).

It almost sounds like you'd be better off just buying a Zoom H2 ($159.00)...press record and be done with it. :happy:
 
ZazaCast said:
The one I pointed out is in the AVS software... try what I showed you (see the image if you don't know where to find the settings).
Click to expand...

I tried this (asi I wrote before). The settings of my soundcard popped up and the mic boost was already on.
Anyway, this guy seems to have the same problem as me (so maybe the problem isn't in cheap soundcard):
http://www.nvnews.net/vbulletin/archive/index.php/t-16570.html
But I can't find any drivers for my soundcard (ASUS P5B SoundMAX ADI1988A - Win XP) on www.asus.com.
 
So I tried to reinstall the drivers. The recorded sound is now maybe little bit louder, but there is very strong buzzing in it. Some interference.
BTW - Is it normal when volume of recording sound (in Sony Vegas) indicates sound activity (something between -65db -55db) even when my mic is turned off? Maybe it has something to do with my problem? When I connect my mic in the front part of my computer (I had it connected in the rear part previously), nothing is recording, except this buzzing sound.
 
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