how to record individual instruments...

[orangesushi]

Yes, a super noob question...

I am just now getting in to some home recordings.

I am the drummer in the "project - group" I picked up a Mackie 1202-VLZ3 mixer and have it going to a laptop for the recordings. For the software aspect of it all I just use some simple stuff like Sony Acid pro and Sony Sound Forge ( I am just starting simple and basic because I know these programs OK enough, my next big tackle is to move to Sonar) Anyways...

Question of the day for me is...How can I record 1 instrument at a time?

I'd like to lay down my drums (Roland TD-20 kit) and play along to the band...but have the guitars muted so that the recording only picks up my drums and no guitar...can I achieve this with my Mackie?

Baby steps...this is where I am currently at right now. I'd simply like to record my drums only along with my guitar players...then once my drums are recorded..I can replay them and the guitar player can track his guitar on a separate track.

please help!

thanks!

[Dani Pace]

The simple way (IMO) is to record a scratch track with guitar, drums and maybe a rough vocal. Use a click or metronome to be sure timing is right. This is only a referance track so it does not have to be perfect. Play the scratch track through headphones and rerecord the drums on as many tracks as nessassary, do the same with the guitar. You should now have your drum tracks on seperate tracks and the guitar on seperate tracks. Mute the scratch track(s) and procede by adding other tracks to the drums and guitar. When using this process a headphone amp and decent headphones, closed back if possible, will make hearing previously recorded tracks easier. Hope this helped, happy recording.