Author Topic: Help with my band's Recording Setup! (Read 6358 times)

ibanez4life SZ · « **on:** June 14, 2006, 02:10:18 AM »

Hey guys!

So, I sat down with my drummer, and we decided it is finally time to invest in a good recording setup.

My original plan was to do this:

Buy a Apple laptop.....use a presonus firebox as an interface, each band member would buy his or her own mics....guitar would go into pic input 1, drum mics, mixed down with a mixer, into mic input 2, and bass either direct (3 or 4) or miced with the bass drum mic after words.

The advantages of that setup I saw was that each instrument would record as its own track, for simpler editing and fixing. All the editting would also be digital.

Now, this was my optimal plan, but we really want to get the recording setup together within the next week or two, and I will not have the funds for the laptop for quite some time, so we need to find an alternative.

What would you guys recommend? I have thought of a few alternatives....please either comment on these, or share and idea of your own!

- Get the identical setup mentioned, but work with our desktops for now, and later just use it with the laptop when we get it.

- Get a digital recorder (I have a few questions with this one....)
- This way, can instruments be recorded as seperate tracks, and then layered (each member lays his part down while listening to what has already been done so far).....or does it all record as one track? Is there any way we could export the seperate channels as tracks onto a computer to be editted?

Help me out guys! We want to go get all this stuff this weekend, so all help is greatly appreciated!

TwilightOdyssey · « **Reply #1 on:** June 14, 2006, 03:16:27 AM »

Both of those options will yield good results.
I guess my main question is: what is the purpose of the recording? If you're recording songwriting demos, you will be looking for different features than if you're going to be shopping the demo or tracking for a commercial release.

I use a Yamaha AW16G because it's portable and allows me to export the tracks into my workstation for mixing. It can record up to 8 tracks simultaneously, with phantom power to the first 2 inputs. I've tracked live rehearsals using this setup, even two mics on a stereo bar, and got great results.

I've also used it for tracking live drums while tracking a direct guide guitar (for future overdubs) and it's worked just fine for that, too.

ibanez4life SZ · « **Reply #2 on:** June 14, 2006, 03:32:41 AM »

Well, basically, we want to get our music down....so far, it is all just live playing....we want to get a CD/demo together. In the process, obviously, we could use it to record some ideas/riffs as we jam.

Which would you recommend as a more effective setup?

What you recommended was a recorder....and you said it would allow me to export each instrumental track seperately, correct?

Would a firewire interface, such as the Presonus firebox, be more effective? Mackie also seems to make a very nice firewire interface.

Basically, what kind of a recording setup would you guys recommend for our situation?

38thBeatle · « **Reply #3 on:** June 14, 2006, 07:44:49 AM »

It is a huge question in many ways- guitars bass vocals etc are relatively easy compared to recording drums. Sure, you can stick a mic near a kit and hear drums but you are going to get frustrated wiith the results. For drums you need, at the very least, 2 mics and becareful of what you get, i.e dont go getting a vocal mic for drums etc etc. Like TO, I have a Yamaha AW16G multitrack recorder and it is very versatile and you can things with the tracks afterwards.I am really not helping you much I realise but I am just trying to suggest that you don't rush in. I have to go now but I am sure others will chip in and TO knows his onions -and there are others on the forum who will, I have no doubt, share their wisdom.

Fubar · « **Reply #4 on:** June 14, 2006, 08:11:46 AM »

I would personally say that you're best off ditching the apple idea and going PC (as much as it pains me to say it!). Nowadays it is possible to pick up a PC that will do exactly the same stuff as a mac for a lot less cash (unless you really wanna use the latest editions of Logic). Also, is it completely neccesary to have a laptop? You could put together a much cheaper desktop solution as well. What's your budget?

ibanez4life SZ · « **Reply #5 on:** June 14, 2006, 10:31:24 AM »

There is not budget...we're saving up whatever we need to fund the setup....it should all be together within the next 3 months.

The only problem with the desktop is portability......can't really keep it with me, then take it to the drummer's....

Searcher · « **Reply #6 on:** June 14, 2006, 06:32:12 PM »

Quote from: Fubar

Nowadays it is possible to pick up a PC that will do exactly the same stuff as a mac . . .

But it won't do it as easily or reliably, I'm afraid.

As has been noted, it's a pain to get a good mix with only a few mics, especially considering the drums. Although, I guess it depends on the quality you're gonna be happy with.

How about something simple to just record your ideas on, but a different setup for doing the actual demo? Demos aside, a lot of people record one instrument at a time these days, rather than while they're jamming together. There are pros and cons either way.

HTH AMPS · « **Reply #7 on:** June 14, 2006, 08:18:45 PM »

I used to have a similar setup with my old band. We had a PC running Cool Edit Pro to 'track' the session and Logic Audio to mix everything.

Soundcard was a Midiman Delta1010 allowing simultaneous recording of 8 analogue inputs to a very high quality (above CD - 24bit, 96KHz)

Mics were...

SM57 for the guitar cabs
D112 for the bass cabs
Groove Tube GT-55 condensers for drum overheads (and vocals)
D112 for kick drum
SM57 for snare (top and bottom)
SM58s for each tom
Rode NT3 for high hat
pair of small diaphragm condensers for distant micing the kit in the hallway outside the room (I mixed this in a little for excellent natural reverb)

When mixing the drums I prefer to have the overheads providing the main body of the sound then bring each drum into focus enough to make it punchy. You'll surprised at how little the toms need in the mix.

If you need to track the guitar & bass at the same time as the drums then same baffles are gonna be needed - we used to hang thick duvets around the drums to lower spill from the other instruments. I found it best to use lower wattage amps and crank them for great tone while still keeping the bleed through the drum mics low. I was mostly using a 15w 6V6 head I made based on an AC15, that was 'just right'.

Hope that helps.

:twisted:

ibanez4life SZ · « **Reply #8 on:** June 15, 2006, 01:32:30 AM »

Very helpful! Thank you! Keep the opinions coming!

OD-Black_Fire · « **Reply #9 on:** June 15, 2006, 02:42:40 AM »

I would recommend everyone getting equipment for their desktops, and the drummer getting enough equipment so you can record your whole band playing at once.

Use the same software. If you record something at your house, you can load it on a CD and bring to a band meet. If you want to record live, your drummer has all the equipment for that. I am assuming you meet at the drummers place when you jam.

For you individually, I would stick to basic mixers and do your editing on your PC. For group recordings, I have no clue. :(

hunter · « **Reply #10 on:** June 15, 2006, 05:49:50 AM »

I am using Apple / Logic Pro and I am absolutely convinced by it being the ideal solution.

If I were you I'd get more ins. Another option which I'd consider for drums, which is the most problematic to get decent, is a trigger - to - midi set. Your drummer could play to Midi tracks and you could make it sound fantastic with Drumloops from Hell.

Fubar · « **Reply #11 on:** June 15, 2006, 02:49:55 PM »

Quote from: ibanez4life SZ

There is not budget...we're saving up whatever we need to fund the setup....it should all be together within the next 3 months.

The only problem with the desktop is portability......can't really keep it with me, then take it to the drummer's....

If portability is an issue then you can get rackmount PC cases, that may be helpfull but I would really err away from laptops, they can create as many problems as they cure.

The soundcard Heavier Than Hell was talking about is an ideal bit of kit for people wishing to produce music to a proffessional level without paying ridiculous prices, it's just worth noting tha the company that makes them are now known as M-Audio instead of Midiman. They're available for about £150 second hand if you know where to look. Other than that pretty much any modern PC will be able to handle most recording duties and offer better sound quality/better editing features etc. than a standalone multi-tracker, just make sure that it has plenty of RAM installed (ideally around 2 gig at the moment). With regards to sequencers/audio programmes any of the big names (Logic, Cubase, Pro Tools etc.) will do anything you could wish for and more but can be horrendously complex, I'd advise getting some training in whichever ones take your fancy as it just makes life a helluva lot easier

HTH AMPS · « **Reply #12 on:** June 15, 2006, 06:37:41 PM »

btw, you can link up multiple Delta1010 soundcards - two of them for 16 ins/outs should be more than enough for anyone.

:twisted:

Antag · « **Reply #13 on:** June 15, 2006, 08:12:41 PM »

Quote from: TwilightOdyssey

I use a Yamaha AW16G because it's portable and allows me to export the tracks into my workstation for mixing. It can record up to 8 tracks simultaneously, with phantom power to the first 2 inputs. I've tracked live rehearsals using this setup, even two mics on a stereo bar, and got great results.

Twilight (or anyone else) - could you explain a bit more about this please?

So you record on your multitrack, then export (via USB?) the "raw" WAV (or whatever format) file to PC, then you can mix it into a finished track on the PC? Do you need any special hardware (soundcard?)

What software do you use?

Does this give you an MP3 at the end or do you need another package to convert it?

Sorry for the muppet questions - I guess I'm a bit of a luddite when it comes to technology :lol: but I'm also looking for a new recording setup :)

38thBeatle · « **Reply #14 on:** June 15, 2006, 08:22:27 PM »

TO will surely be far more articulate than I but for now, with an AW16G, you can export the wav files ( burn them to CD) and then import them to whatever software you have on your PC and mix away. You can also record extras on the PC and move them back again but for me, I just send a CD to a mate with a studio and he messes around with them. You do need a soundcard and you can create an MP3 at the end of the mix if you so wish. As for software, my mate uses Locic I think but there are many that will be capable of importing wav files. TO, old mate, help me out here man.