Simultaneous recording

[eraos]

Right now, I have an Mr-8 with a 12 channel mixer. I can record my drumset with 3 mics, but I don't have complete control over the individual tracks. (I do have snare and overheads panned right going into track two and the kick panned left going into track one. But that's as much separation as I can get with the Mr-8.)

After the recording part, I hook it into my pc and blah blah.

But I want to be able to record the drums with 4 tracks simultaneously. But as far as I can tell, I need to put down 700-1000 dollars to upgrade for something like a Yamaha AW16G. And recording direct into the computer is not an option right now.

So I was thinking buying a used Tascam 424mkiii. It can record 4 tracks simultaneously like I want, and I can buy it off ebay used for about 120 dollars... give or take 30.

I was thinking I could record my kit into 4 separate tracks... then hook up the unit to my soundcard and record each track separately into it's own wav file..one for the kick...one for the snare, etc. (yes, i know that will be a long process).

So my question after all that is... is that a total bad idea? I know it's cassette and stuff, but i'm not looking for top quality stuff. I just want to learn first.

Is there any other cheap alternatives? Cheap meaning under 500.

No flaming please.

[mshilarious]

If you're going to PC, why not just a soundcard with 4 inputs?

[eraos]

but like i said, right now, recording directly into the computer is not an option

[radiorickm]

well, i guess you could do what you want by getting the Tascam, recording onto 4 trx and then dumping the audio....

you could just as easily record the drums twice into the MR-8 for that matter and use what you have

it there a reason you don't want just a "stereo" drum track, and want 4 (you will end up with more before you are done) drum tracks. is it just for the sake of mixing??

[invisiblenemies]

I actually did this for a while with my 424 mkIII. It was a lot of work - but the only option I had to get the results I was looking for.

I had two main issues.

1. The transfer cable I was using resulted in a significant signal loss. I upgraded to a better shielded one - no problems.

2. The software I was using at the time was a real generic wav editor. I had a horrible time getting things to match up just right. It seemed that there was a split second on every song I did that was out of time.

Because of the off-beat issue, I eventually stopped this process. I decided it would be better to use the ghetto software I was using to create drum loops first, burn it to CD, record the audio on the CD onto 2 seperate tracks (one panned hard right, the other hard left)on the Tascam, and lay down all the other tracks on top.

Still a lot of work.

Eventually, I bought a Protools setup & no longer have to worry about it.

Although, I am planning on getting another 424 for home/personal use. I embrace that lo-fi, de-corporatized, raw sound...very Frusciante-esque.

[eraos]

Originally Posted by radiorickm

well, i guess you could do what you want by getting the Tascam, recording onto 4 trx and then dumping the audio....

you could just as easily record the drums twice into the MR-8 for that matter and use what you have

it there a reason you don't want just a "stereo" drum track, and want 4 (you will end up with more before you are done) drum tracks. is it just for the sake of mixing??

i want a cheap way to record 4 tracks simultaneously. so basically, yes, it is just for the sake of mixing... well, learning to mix.

[mshilarious]

Originally Posted by eraos

but like i said, right now, recording directly into the computer is not an option

Oh I thought that was because of the soundcard.

In that case, I'd just track the drums a few at a time.

[eraos]

Originally Posted by mshilarious

Oh I thought that was because of the soundcard.

In that case, I'd just track the drums a few at a time.

the reason i don't want to record into my computer directly is because my computer's upstairs and my "studio" is in the garage. it will make things a lot harder having to move my computer. that's why i like the fostex... i can just pull out the mem. card and put it into my card reader on my pc...and that's where i got the idea of buying a tascam or something. so i can just hook that into my pc... not instruments.

but i'm still researching. and if there are any better, cheap alternatives, let me know, anyone.

[eraos]

any more feedback?


please?

[eraos]

are yamaha md8's any good?

[manning1]

for the price of an md8 you might as well get a computer like i use, an amd athlon. i get 48 tracks,.
just search under my name for more info.
better solution imho from a technical perspective.

[eraos]

i can get an md8 for about 350 on ebay

[manning1]

with respect eraos this is short term thinking.
if you want something that will grow as you grow and is very flexible
then pc is the way.
also lets say you buy that ebay deal. think about future service.
there is all smt technology in these units. its not like the old days
when i could just fix a tape machine myself. with surface mount technology
one cant do that. one has to send the unit out.
with a pc its real easy to get up and running quick.
due to proliferation of products for the pc.
up to you . i'm just trying to help.
just search this bbs and see what a lot of people are going with and other recording forums if you dont believe me.
the shrewd daw user who wants lots of tracks is getting amd athlon pc's.
as well as lots of professionals because they are cheap and you get a boatload of tracks.
if you dont believe me , post your question on the powertracks forum at
pgmusic.com and ask the users there (you can log in as guest)
which they would prefer. an md8 or a pc recording 48 tracks.
i think youll be surprised at the answers.
just trying to help.

[eraos]

Originally Posted by manning1

with respect eraos this is short term thinking.
if you want something that will grow as you grow and is very flexible
then pc is the way.
also lets say you buy that ebay deal. think about future service.
there is all smt technology in these units. its not like the old days
when i could just fix a tape machine myself. with surface mount technology
one cant do that. one has to send the unit out.
with a pc its real easy to get up and running quick.
due to proliferation of products for the pc.
up to you . i'm just trying to help.
just search this bbs and see what a lot of people are going with and other recording forums if you dont believe me.
the shrewd daw user who wants lots of tracks is getting amd athlon pc's.
as well as lots of professionals because they are cheap and you get a boatload of tracks.
if you dont believe me , post your question on the powertracks forum at
pgmusic.com and ask the users there (you can log in as guest)
which they would prefer. an md8 or a pc recording 48 tracks.
i think youll be surprised at the answers.
just trying to help.

Don't worry, I'm not rushing into things. I'm just planning out. Plus, i'm only looking for short term right now, anyway. I assume the "resale" value of an md8 .. or whatever i get, if anything at all... will be about what i pay for it off ebay.

i have an amd 3000+ right now, and i have some software that i use to edit and mix the things i record on my current fostex. i stated up in this post somewhere... twice maybe, i don't remember.. about the fact that i'd rather not use my pc because i'd have to move it downstairs and having it down there in the garage would make other things needlessly harder.

although, the more i think about it, i may just upgrade my sound card and use this computer for recording. who knows.

thanks for the replies

[Bulls Hit]

You've got an amd3000+ and it's just sitting upstairs doing nothing, while you're fiddling around in the garage with a lofi mr8?

You've already got a mixer right? You can get an M-Audio Deltat1010Lt pci card for $220 that will record 8 simultaneous tracks into your computer.

I don't know what you're waiting for

[manning1]

i agree bh. he's got the basis for a great studio right there.
i wouldnt bother with the md8.

[volition]

moving a computer takes 15 minutes, don't be lazy.

[eraos]

i don't know if you read when i wrote 3 times that using my computer will make OTHER things needlessly harder.

don't be lazy when reading a post so that you don't make an ass out of yourself.

[Bulls Hit]

Originally Posted by eraos

i don't know if you read when i wrote 3 times that using my computer will make OTHER things needlessly harder.

don't be lazy when reading a post so that you don't make an ass out of yourself.

The only ass around here is someone willing to pay $350 for an obsolete piece of technology that's no longer being manufactured or sold.

How will you get 8 tracks from the minidisks to the pc?

[eraos]

relax. i wasn't talking to you.

[eraos]

Originally Posted by Bulls Hit

The only ass around here is someone willing to pay $350 for an obsolete piece of technology that's no longer being manufactured or sold.

How will you get 8 tracks from the minidisks to the pc?

the whole point of this thread was for people to give me ideas about recorders that offer simultaneous recording of at least 4 tracks.

i'm NOT going to use my pc. period. understand?

i ASKED if there were any ideas about a cheap recorder that offered 4 tracks simul.

so i threw out some suggestions to get ideas from people. the tascam and the md8 were the two ideas i asked about.

plus, i never said i was going to buy the md8...