Backing track recording help needed,

You're saying you'll take the analog line out of the Korg into the Zoom, right? As long as signal levels are good (strong, not clipping) and noise is low it should be fine. Try it with a totally quiet track, too, to see if clock noise is getting into the analog path, though. Certainly worth a shot if you like these tools.

 

My recording setup is all direct-in although I could use a mic if I didn't mind picking up the macaw screaming in the background from time to time. I send the guitar signal into my old Behringer EuroRack mixer and use its tape out plug to go into my PC using a RCA to 3.5mm converter cable. I've considered getting a new USB digital based mixer but I've been happy with the setup I'm using. I've got a few different DAWs on my PC, mainly for synth use, but I mainly use Audacity for recording guitar since it's quick and easy to use.

On putting stuff on YouTube, I stopped doing that for the Twanger tracks and covers due to the risk of copyright strikes. Even a couple of my original songs were flagged as violations but I won the disputes in the end.

 

https://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/Studio24C--presonus-studio-24c-usb-c-audio-interface

Don't look back.

 

These are both digital recorders with a lot of clocked circuits: analog to digital converters, digital signal processing, probably a microcontroller for the user interface. The digital circuits draw a spike of current at each clock edge that causes noise and ripple on the supply and ground for the digital circuits. It has a lot of high frequency harmonics. If that couples into the analog signal you can hear 'crunchy' noise, possibly intermittent. (For example I had an amp I tried to go direct into a recorder with, and kept getting a slow swell of noise if I had an effect enabled.)

It can be more of a problem when connecting two different pieces of equipment that have different clocks... the high frequency harmonics can mix down to lower frequencies in the data converter if the filtering is not good.

But, if the equipment is designed well and still in good shape, etc. it won't be a problem.

 

I think that mastering onto the Zoom will sound just fine. However, I will drone on with my usual Mantra: get yourself a Mac with Garageband - just for music if you are a normally a PC guy. I have several Macs of varying ages in the house and the 11 year old one in my studio still works great on Garageband 6, which was fab even then. Someone would probably give you a Mac of that age or you'd pay next to nothing for it. These days I import the files into Logic but I stayed on Garageband 6 for years and even recorded and mixed albums that were commercially released and played on national radio with it.

 

You need a computer to go with that kind of USB interface. It comes with a version of Studio One, so you would have the software, but you need a computer to run it on, either a Mac or a PC. I have a feeling from previous conversations that you are computerless, though I may be wrong. For a backing track and a couple of other tracks, you don't need a powerful one.

 

Soundclick is great. I use the non-premium free version. No complaints--except for their popularity points ("Number 1 sub-genre for a week!"), which are complete BS. I have no need for that stuff.

 

I would echo what @estreet offered, my attempts to use a number of DAWs with a PC was an exercise in futility. It became a huge battle against latency. A mac with Garageband was drop dead simple --totally plug and play. I would also add that since you have a Katana amp you can record directly via USB into whatever DAW you choose. No need to futz around with audio interfaces or mics.

 

Excellent point about the Katana @MrClint - makes the whole process as cheap and simple as possible then. just drag the backing track into GB, create an audio track and you're off. FX, loops and mastering facilities all on hand if you want them. If you don't want to invest money or house room in another computer system you could buy an old iMac or laptop just to do this. - even a G4 iBook ran Garageband 6 just fine. And yes, Garageband is a cinch to use - leave the average 12 year old alone with it for the afternoon and they'll have written a song using the supplied loops.

 

+1 on both estreet's and MrClint's posts.

 

Which in turn brings it's own problems, not least of which being having to monitor via headphones plugged into the amp, in mono.

 

Get yourself an inexpensive USB audio interface. The Behringer UM2 ($50) is the absolute best one in the "affordable" category if you're recording one track at a time:

https://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/UM2usb--behringer-u-phoria-um2-usb-audio-interface

It contains 1/4" and XLR input jacks, as well as input gain control. It also has a stereo headphone out with volume control--use that to monitor. It also supplies 48v phantom power on the XLR input for any mic that requires it. This little box is a screamin' deal for home recording.

I use this interface with Garage Band on an iPad and there is zero latency.

 

I use one as well into a PC/Cakewalk.

 

Well, you can set the input in Garageband to the USB from the Katana and the output to your normal speakers. I guess there could be latency issues but I don't know. If money isn't a big issue then I agree it's preferable to use an interface - and you would need one if you wanted to use a mic for singing, acoustic guitar etc.

 

I was just pointing out the problems with the suggestions of using the Katana, I've been using USB interfaces for donkeys years.

 

But not with Reaper, or anything else, in Windows which I use...