mixing/tracks recording vocals question

R

Ricoinats

New member
If I use a PZM microphone to record a seated interview do I not need a multi-track recorder? I want to get this into the computer (but I won't be recording directly into a computer) if I use one microphone like a PZM does that mean I only get one track to edit thus eliminating the need for a mixer?

I was also thinking of gettng a Fostex MR8 digital mixer/recorder that says it only records two tracks simutaneously. It has two XLR inputs for two microphones so does that mean only I can only record myself and one other person at the same time if I decided to use lapel microphones instead? I want to sit down with two other people and record an interview and I just want to understand what equipment is needed to record and then get it into a computer for editing. This is very confusing because I don't see external or internal sound cards with more than two inputs. If, say, 3 different tracks are recorded does the computer need an input for each track? Please help!!!
 
Ricoinats-

Let me try to first give you straight answers then try to explain some for you.

If I use a PZM microphone to record a seated interview do I not need a multi-track recorder?

No, you don't. Any device with a "mic in" will be able to record for you. Any device that says "Line in" will work, too..but you will have to amplify the signal with a mic pre-amp when using line in.

if I use one microphone like a PZM does that mean I only get one track to edit thus eliminating the need for a mixer?


If you are recording one thing at a time you do not need a mixer. A mixer also provides an amplification source if you are using line-in inputs (see above), but one channel mic pre amps are available too.

It has two XLR inputs for two microphones so does that mean only I can only record myself and one other person at the same time if I decided to use lapel microphones instead?

Yes

If, say, 3 different tracks are recorded does the computer need an input for each track?

Not necessarily. If you are using 2 or more tracks (multitracking) you can import the tracks one at a time, or two at a time, and do the editing in your software.

This is very confusing because I don't see external or internal sound cards with more than two inputs.

You won't find these soundcards at Best Buy or CompUsa. Look at places like www.musiciansfriend.com or www.sweetwater.com and look under computer recording. There are soundcards with from 2 to 16 or more inputs at a time.

Hope some of this helps, ask if you need more clearing up.

H2H
 
Thank you so much for taking the time to break it down for me. You're obviously in the business so please tell me if you had to sit down with two people, day after day, and record a 30-45 min interview in which you needed CD quality sound to eventually edit in the computer and burn to CD what equipment would you use to get the job done (without recording directly to the computer)? That's all I want to do and I can't believe how many variable are involved. I will do whatever you suggest as I'm so confused and If I don't get this project rolling I'm going to be fired. My wife is home now with three kids 3 years and under so the pressure is heavy. Thanks again for taking the time to make yourself clear. May I beg you do it again with the question above?

P.S. I bought a DAT second hand recorder thinking that was the best way to go but now I understand they are almost non-existant (how stupid was that-I can't even figure out how to work the thing). Its a nice one, (I guess) Sony PMR300. But I'm willing to not use it at all if I can get away with some other type of recorder that's easier to operate for what I need to do-whatever you would use...
 
There's just a ton of stuff out there to do exactly what you want. Alot is made for business-class dictation recording that doesnt necessarily usually apply to music recording. It starts with the exact quality you want. I see it as, let's say, 3 levels of quality.

Let's call level 1 recording 101. That's what I'd use to tape a lecture or a meeting where sound quality wasn't great, but I could burn a big CD of my professor or my meetings for myself to listen to later. For this I could use something as easy as a tape recorder with an output so that I could record it onto my computer later. A cool new thing they have for this is the PDA's with built in sound. I was just helping my mom who bought an HP PDA with built in 16/44 (cd quality) recording. You can record to that, then connect it via usb and get the sound files straight off it.

Level 2 I would call presentation. I used to work in HR and create Powerpoint stuff day in and day out. I would work with sound files and make presentations with graphics and sound. For this, I would want something a little better sound, since more people thn myself would hear it. I used a small multitrack recorder and two mics (as you were talking about above). Then I would dump it into my computer later and do the editing. For this I basically had to have a recorder with pre amps for the mics, and a soundcard on my computer that would record 2 tracks (which a standard soundblaster will actually do). Left and right stereo work as track 1 and track 2 in most programs. The programs are many, something like Cakewalk Home Studio or N-Track wuold be easy enough to learn on I think.

Level 3 I would call broadcast. Actually, the DAT is still used quite a bit in broadcast. The standard DAT is a stereo digital tape recorder. There are also versions of it that record 8 tracks at a time. Many pro cameras are set up to hook up to DAT's and TV and Radio use them all the time still. It depends on your exact model, but generally would need am interface to hook up between the mics and the DAT (a pre-amp that amplifies the weak signal of a microphone). Then you would just need a soundcard with a digital input that matched what your DAT has as an output.

There are many variables to consider. Not knowing the exact application and environment it is hard to give an exact answer as what you need to be using.

Is this making sense?

H2H
 
Thanks a lot for taking more time with me. I guess I want level two with CD quality. I was looking into the Fostex MR8 but it only records two tracks at the same time. I guess I need a mixer with three mics but does that combine the tracks so the MR8 accepts it? I don't understand the deal with only recording two tracks at the same time and how a mixer can make it possible to send three tracks to a recorder that can only record two at the same time. I know I'm missing something (probably common sense I know). If you have any patience left for me please reply. Thank you very much.
 
Unfortunately it seems that with digital multitrack recorders, there's not alot of middle ground.

You could just as easily use a casette tape based unit like the Tascam 424 $329. Let me tell you the inportant advantage of using this unit for you in this application. It has individual channel direct outs. That means that you can hook it up to a soundcard just as I describe below

Once you choose what fits into your budget as a recorder, get a simple 4-in soundcard, my personal choice is the Delta44 $229. Yuo install it just like a video card or a soundcard in your PC and you have a really good soundcard with 4 inputs and professional sounding results. There are other choices out there, too. Some of them are USB or Firewire so you don't have to open up yout computer.

You would just hook up the outs of the recorder to the ins of the soundcard 1-2-3-4 and hit record in your software. Then it's on your PC and you can do all the editing you want. PS... This is Exactly how I used to do the Powerpoint stuff for human resources when I was a working stiff. Tascam 424 to Delta 44. My end product always got rave reviews.

H2H
 
The reason I'm suggesting a tape based unit instead of a digital one is that I can't find one with direct outs for each individual channel (in a lower price range with smaller track count). Maybe someone else out there knows of one. But having the tapes to archive may be a plus for you also.

H2H
 
To answer your mixer question:

Lets say we have a mixer, for fun it has 16 channels and 16 mics going to it (16 is the same as 3 in this example). You can mix these mics together until the inputs sound good together. Then you would send it via the mixer outputs to the MR8, but you would only get a stereo mix of the output. Since the MR8 has only 2 inputs, no matter what you hook up to it you are only going to end up with 2 tracks of audio.

H2H
 
Think I got it, but not really...

For starters, thank you so much for helping me out. What I've learned through my posts is the fact that, with the MR8 I can use a mixer if I want more than two seperate tracks (because the MR8 only records two at a time). What I still don't understand fully (so sorry for being such a duntz on this) is when I use a mixer with three mics, say, and it gets recorded on the MR8 and then I use the USB to the computer, does my hard drive then recognize three seperate tracks still or only two? Does the USB make it so tracks are seperated going in or is it only one track (I know this is a stupid question but I don't know). If I'm only recording voices does it really matter how many tracks there are to edit? (back to using a PZM recorder for all three of us on one track). I do want CD quality and these 30 min interviews will be burned to CD. Thanks again!!!!
 
In that case you would have 3 mics on one or two tracks depending on how you set it up. You are probably overcomplicating the situation. I would just get a simple mixer and a two track recorder for this application. You don't have to 'mix' speech. You can just stick some compression on the final recording and it will even things out pretty well assuming the levels are close to even.

If you want a tighter and more professional sound then get seperate mics for each of the speakers. PZM's are nice for micing an entire room but you also get a lot of 'room sound'. That makes it sound like a cheap porn soundtrack.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top