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Cz · 2004-07-20, 03:25

Here's what I use to record songs with Creative Sound Blaster hardware and software. You need:
1) Creative Recorder software
2) Sound Blaster card with "What You Hear" recording control (or other cards with equivalent feature under different names)
3) Microphone & speakers (personally I prefer a headset/mic

)
4) Audio player, eg. Winamp.

Here are the steps:

Double-click on volume control icon in Windows system tray (or open it from Control Panel)
In the volume control:
- Make sure Options -> Advanced Controls is checked.
- Go to Options -> Properties, select "Recording", check "What U Hear" below, if not checked. Click OK.
- In Recording Control, check the "Select" box below the volume slider for "What U Hear". **
- Go to Options -> Properties, select "Playback", check "Play Control", "Wave/MP3", and "Microphone" below, if not checked. Click OK.
- Make sure the "Mute" boxes below the three categories above are not checked.
- Since Options -> Advanced Controls have been checked, there should be an Advanced button under Microphone. Click on it and check "Microphone +20dB Boost" or else your voice might be too soft.
- Adjust volumes as needed. **
Start up Creative Recorder.
- Click on "ARVL" in the display and make sure it's enabled. That is the Automatic Recording Volume Limiter that compensates for loud input if necessary.
- Change the "Record from" box so that it reads "What U Hear". That is where you will record from. Basically what you hear on your speakers/headset is what you will record, ie. your voice from the mic and the background music from an audio player.
- Adjust the "Recording Level". **
- The volume slider is the playback volume. I set it to maximum (to the right).
Start up your audio player (like Winamp).
- Load the song you want to sing (instrumental/karaoke version preferred).
- Adjust volume on the player to about 50% (so your voice will be louder than the music).
To begin recording:
- Bring Creative Recorder and your audio player up on the screen near each other without overlapping.
- Click on Creative Recorder so that it is in focus.
- Get your mic & headphones (headset preferred) ready.
- Position mouse cursor on Play button on audio player.
- Press CTRL+R (keyboard shortcut for Creative Recorder) to begin recording.
- Immediately after that, click on the Play button on your audio player.
- Sing!!
When song is done:
- Stop the recording.
- Choose name to save it as.
- Find file (default: C:\Program Files\Creative\Recorder\Recordings) and play it back.
- If satisfied, encode into your favorite format (mp3, ogg, etc).

** You need to experiment with volume controls a bit. My personal settings:

Recording:
"What you hear": between line 2 and 3
Microphone : full, with +20db boost

Playback:
Play control : full
Wave/MP3 : middle (or 50% in winamp)
Microphone : middle (or around 4th line) with +20db boost

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Well there you have it, a simple guide that worked for me. With different software and hardware or versions I cannot guarantee that the instructions will work. I am using Sound Blaster Live! Value on a Windows XP computer with Winamp 2.91 and Creative Recorder 2.00.31.

Disclaimer: I take no responsibility for impaired hearing, broken glass/speakers/headphones and other negative consequences resulting in the attempt to follow these instructions without using common sense or good judgement (in case I missed something).

2004-07-20, 03:25	Link #21
Cz Needs more sleep~ Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: #animesuki	Here's what I use to record songs with Creative Sound Blaster hardware and software. You need: 1) Creative Recorder software 2) Sound Blaster card with "What You Hear" recording control (or other cards with equivalent feature under different names) 3) Microphone & speakers (personally I prefer a headset/mic ) 4) Audio player, eg. Winamp. Here are the steps: Double-click on volume control icon in Windows system tray (or open it from Control Panel) In the volume control: Make sure Options -> Advanced Controls is checked. Go to Options -> Properties, select "Recording", check "What U Hear" below, if not checked. Click OK. In Recording Control, check the "Select" box below the volume slider for "What U Hear". Go to Options -> Properties, select "Playback", check "Play Control", "Wave/MP3", and "Microphone" below, if not checked. Click OK. Make sure the "Mute" boxes below the three categories above are not checked. Since Options -> Advanced Controls have been checked, there should be an Advanced button under Microphone. Click on it and check "Microphone +20dB Boost" or else your voice might be too soft. Adjust volumes as needed. Start up Creative Recorder. Click on "ARVL" in the display and make sure it's enabled. That is the Automatic Recording Volume Limiter that compensates for loud input if necessary. Change the "Record from" box so that it reads "What U Hear". That is where you will record from. Basically what you hear on your speakers/headset is what you will record, ie. your voice from the mic and the background music from an audio player. Adjust the "Recording Level". The volume slider is the playback volume. I set it to maximum (to the right). Start up your audio player (like Winamp). Load the song you want to sing (instrumental/karaoke version preferred). Adjust volume on the player to about 50% (so your voice will be louder than the music). To begin recording: Bring Creative Recorder and your audio player up on the screen near each other without overlapping. Click on Creative Recorder so that it is in focus. Get your mic & headphones (headset preferred) ready. Position mouse cursor on Play button on audio player. Press CTRL+R (keyboard shortcut for Creative Recorder) to begin recording. Immediately after that, click on the Play button on your audio player. Sing!! When song is done: Stop the recording. Choose name to save it as. Find file (default: C:\Program Files\Creative\Recorder\Recordings) and play it back. If satisfied, encode into your favorite format (mp3, ogg, etc). You need to experiment with volume controls a bit. My personal settings: Recording: "What you hear": between line 2 and 3 Microphone : full, with +20db boost Playback: Play control : full Wave/MP3 : middle (or 50% in winamp) Microphone : middle (or around 4th line) with +20db boost ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Well there you have it, a simple guide that worked for me. With different software and hardware or versions I cannot guarantee that the instructions will work. I am using Sound Blaster Live! Value on a Windows XP computer with Winamp 2.91 and Creative Recorder 2.00.31. Disclaimer: I take no responsibility for impaired hearing, broken glass/speakers/headphones and other negative consequences resulting in the attempt to follow these instructions without using common sense or good judgement (in case I missed something).