What hardware is needed?

B

Boongoon

New member
Hello,

I am just getting started recording on the computer. I while back I purchased an Alesis MulltiMix16 USB2. I know i can use that as i have with Mixcraft and Cubase LE. However, my band now uses the mixer for live gigs.

So, my questions follow this path. I am considering selling the Alesis mixer and buying a less expensive mixer for the gigs. I still want to record. I am a drummer but have recently purchased a TD-12. I am less interested in recording a full drum kit now that i have this so i assume the channels needed are less. There is only two main outs. But lets say i do want to record a live situation with say 8 mics. How do i do this when i see most of the interfaces have a max of 4 channels? Can I use a non usb/firewire mixer in any way to the computer? Sorry if they are dumb questions, but!!!!!!!

Thanks
 
Boongoon said:
Hello,

I am just getting started recording on the computer. I while back I purchased an Alesis MulltiMix16 USB2. I know i can use that as i have with Mixcraft and Cubase LE. However, my band now uses the mixer for live gigs.

So, my questions follow this path. I am considering selling the Alesis mixer and buying a less expensive mixer for the gigs. I still want to record. I am a drummer but have recently purchased a TD-12. I am less interested in recording a full drum kit now that i have this so i assume the channels needed are less. There is only two main outs. But lets say i do want to record a live situation with say 8 mics. How do i do this when i see most of the interfaces have a max of 4 channels? Can I use a non usb/firewire mixer in any way to the computer? Sorry if they are dumb questions, but!!!!!!!

Thanks
Click to expand...

There are plenty of interfaces that have 8+ channels, just look around. Personally, I use the tascam 1641! It's possible to connect a mixer to a pc without usb or firewire, but the sound quality will probably take a dive.
 
My obligatory standard reply-for-newbies that I keep in Wordpad so this is just a paste (I don't want to re-type this all the time):

First off, immediately get a good beginner recording book (spend $20 before spending hundred$/thousand$) that shows you what you need to get started and how to hook everything up in your studio:
Home Recording for Musicians by Jeff Strong - $15
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/04...mp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0470385421
(Wish I'd had that when I started; would have saved me lots of money and time and grief)
You can also pick up this book in most any Borders or Barnes&Noble in the Music Books section!

Another good one is: Recording Guitar and Bass by Huw Price
http://www.amazon.com/Recording-Gui...=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1215734124&sr=1-1
(I got my copy at a place called Half-Price Books for $6!!)

And you can get a FREE subscription to TapeOp magazine at www.tapeop.com

Barnes&Noble or Borders are great places to start --- they have recording books and you can go get a snack or coffee and read them for FREE! Don't pass by a good recording book --- this is a VERY technical hobby and you REALLY want to start a reference library!!!

Good Newbie guides that also explains all the basics and have good tips:
http://www.tweakheadz.com/guide.htm
http://www.computermusic.co.uk/page/computermusic?entry=free_beginner_pdfs
http://www.harmony-central.com/articles/
http://www.gearslutz.com/board/tips-techniques/168409-tips-techniques.html

21 Ways To Assemble a Recording Rig: http://www.tweakheadz.com/rigs.htm

Also Good Info: http://www.theprojectstudiohandbook.com/directory.htm

Other recording books: http://musicbooksplus.com/home-recording-c-31.html

Still using a built-in soundcard?? Unfortunately, those are made with less than $1 worth of chips for beeps, boops and light gaming (not to mention cheapness for the manufacturer) and NOT quality music production.
#1 Rule of Recording: You MUST replace the built-in soundcard.
Here's a good guide and user-tested suggestions that work: http://www.tweakheadz.com/soundcards_for_the_home_studio.htm
(you'll want to bookmark and read through all of Tweak's Guide while you're there...)
Another good article: Choosing an audio interface - http://www.soundonsound.com/sos/sep08/articles/audiointerfaces.htm


Plenty of software around to record for FREE to start out on:

Sony ACID Express (free 10-track sequencer): http://www.acidplanet.com/downloads/xpress/
Audacity: http://audacity.sourceforge.net (multi-track with VST support)
Wavosaur: http://www.wavosaur.com/ (a stereo audio file editor with VST support)\
Kristal: http://www.kreatives.org/kristal/
Other freebies and shareware: www.hitsquad.com/smm

Another great option is REAPER at http://www.cockos.com/reaper/ (It's $50 but runs for free until you get guilty enough to pay for it...)
I use Reaper and highly reccomend it...

Music Notation and MIDI recording: Melody Assistant ($25) and Harmony Assistant ($80) have the power of $600 notation packages - http://myriad-online.com
Demo you can try on the website.

And you can go out to any Barnes&Noble or Borders and pick up "Computer Music" magazine - they have a full FREE studio suite in every issue's DVD, including sequencers, plugins and tons of audio samples. (November 2006 they gave away a full copy of SamplitudeV8SE worth $150, November 2007-on the racks Dec in the US- they gave away SamplitudeV9SE and July 2009 issue they put out Samplitude10SE, November 2010 SamplitudeSilver. FREE. It pays to watch 'em for giveaways...)

'Give a man a fish and he'll eat for a day, teach a man to fish and he'll eat forever...'
 
OK, so i read through one of the sites you suggested http://www.tweakheadz.com/guide.htm

And it was tremendously helpful. I realize that there is no reason for me to sell the Alesis mixer and go the route of interface. The Alesis will do everything i need it to.

My next question is with the drums. I have previously tried recording them through two channels on the mixer (there are only two outs on the TD-12). Am i better off using the other instruments on the mixer and just recording the drums through the Midi (i have a midi to USB cable)?
 
The beauty of recording the midi output of the drum box is that you can do ANYTHING with it later.

You can replace the sounds with any sampled drumkit.
You can clean up or modify the performance.
You can even output the midi back to the td12 and record the audio back into the computer.
Midi files are also universal and very very small.

In the end, it's up to you and what YOU can use the most tho...
 
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