R
Racherik
New member
Ok, this is where I would begin. Keep it simple to start with if you master this then expand.
Run 2 mixer boards, i.e. your Tascam 688 & Yamaha Powered Amp/Mixer
Mic everything that will generate it's own sound source, start with experimenting with something like your SM57s for mics. This includes Vocals, Electric Guitar Amps, Bass Amp, 2 mics for drums(1 overhead & one for kick).
If your musicians are willing to DI do so, most will choose to fight it. The purpose for DI is reduced audio bleed everywhere which will give you far more control at mix time. The results will be a recording that you will be far more proud if you DI, at the expense of possible on stage sound (not PA).
Now these mics & DI instruments will connect to your Tascam first. Next use your Tascam's insert Jack with a 1/4 phone cable plugged *half* way in so that it shorts the out/return circuit in the jack. Then plug the other end of the cable that you are using as an insert jack into line level input on your Yamaha Mixer/Amp. Note: you can buy/make actual cables to do this more reliably.
Next set the preamp gain knob on the Tascam so that each channel never goes more that roughly 75% on your Tascams peak meters. This can be changed if necessary but you need to start somewhere.
Next is configuring your Yamaha Powered mixer. This should be setup with the thinking that you have 2 mono channels rather that a Right/Left Stereo. Use one Channel to power your stage's floor monitors running through the AUX prefader bus. These speakers will be used so the band can hear themselves. The stage audio mix will likely be a compromise, and if you have the same kind of luck I have everybody will hate you. Just do the best you can. Also, you should try everything in your ability to keep this volume as low as practical. This means that when your punk band e-guitarist cranks his Marshall to 11, and says he can't hear the band tell him he's gotta turn it down. Ignore his cries that you're killing his "tone". Make it clear that you will break his fingers or the knobs off his Tube Amp. Why keep the sound low? Because you just might get a usable recording.
I routinely play with 2 e-guitarist. One of them plays with his amp set to a level that is just under normal speech. I can easily stand next to him and hold a conversation with him while he plays. An incredible joy to work with. The other guitarist I jam with is LOUD, I love his tone but I have to play using isolation ear buds just to hear MYSELF.
The mix that the band will hear is adjusted using AUX knobs on the mixer. The idea here is to set the stage volume and leave it static. The second channel on your amp will be for the Crowd sound. The volume mix for the crowd will be blended real time with the stage sound using the faders on your Yammy Mixer/Amp.
Get lots of Tapes and Load up the Tascam and record everything. Including every practice. You won't have time to mess around experimenting on gig day. About a week after your event use your Tascam to do the mix down or better yet send it into your computer.
Last thing, think about WHY & WHERE to mic. Spend as much time as you can on this part. Experimenting with mics and placement will have big time dividends. Think outside the box on this one, and go with what works. Consider taking the Guitar amps off stage, maybe point into carpet face down, or pointed straight up into the open sky? Mics in the crowd point at stage? Mics pointed at the crowd from the stage? Look in the Mic forum for Ideas.
Sound decays using the inverse square law. The mics need to be positioned to minimize mic bleed. When you play back your test recording, solo each track back individually and listen for mic bleed. For example, one of the 2nd Vocalist tracks that I recorded had more drum bleed in it than her voice. Result? Track unusable, the singer at the mic has to be louder than the drums in the rear. She needed to project and the drummer needed to play quieter. Of course, the drummer claimed, "If I did that, then I would loose my power". The better the signal (i.e. the sound you want) to noise (i.e. sound you don't want) ratio the better off you will be.
Racherik
Run 2 mixer boards, i.e. your Tascam 688 & Yamaha Powered Amp/Mixer
Mic everything that will generate it's own sound source, start with experimenting with something like your SM57s for mics. This includes Vocals, Electric Guitar Amps, Bass Amp, 2 mics for drums(1 overhead & one for kick).
If your musicians are willing to DI do so, most will choose to fight it. The purpose for DI is reduced audio bleed everywhere which will give you far more control at mix time. The results will be a recording that you will be far more proud if you DI, at the expense of possible on stage sound (not PA).
Now these mics & DI instruments will connect to your Tascam first. Next use your Tascam's insert Jack with a 1/4 phone cable plugged *half* way in so that it shorts the out/return circuit in the jack. Then plug the other end of the cable that you are using as an insert jack into line level input on your Yamaha Mixer/Amp. Note: you can buy/make actual cables to do this more reliably.
Next set the preamp gain knob on the Tascam so that each channel never goes more that roughly 75% on your Tascams peak meters. This can be changed if necessary but you need to start somewhere.
Next is configuring your Yamaha Powered mixer. This should be setup with the thinking that you have 2 mono channels rather that a Right/Left Stereo. Use one Channel to power your stage's floor monitors running through the AUX prefader bus. These speakers will be used so the band can hear themselves. The stage audio mix will likely be a compromise, and if you have the same kind of luck I have everybody will hate you. Just do the best you can. Also, you should try everything in your ability to keep this volume as low as practical. This means that when your punk band e-guitarist cranks his Marshall to 11, and says he can't hear the band tell him he's gotta turn it down. Ignore his cries that you're killing his "tone". Make it clear that you will break his fingers or the knobs off his Tube Amp. Why keep the sound low? Because you just might get a usable recording.
I routinely play with 2 e-guitarist. One of them plays with his amp set to a level that is just under normal speech. I can easily stand next to him and hold a conversation with him while he plays. An incredible joy to work with. The other guitarist I jam with is LOUD, I love his tone but I have to play using isolation ear buds just to hear MYSELF.
The mix that the band will hear is adjusted using AUX knobs on the mixer. The idea here is to set the stage volume and leave it static. The second channel on your amp will be for the Crowd sound. The volume mix for the crowd will be blended real time with the stage sound using the faders on your Yammy Mixer/Amp.
Get lots of Tapes and Load up the Tascam and record everything. Including every practice. You won't have time to mess around experimenting on gig day. About a week after your event use your Tascam to do the mix down or better yet send it into your computer.
Last thing, think about WHY & WHERE to mic. Spend as much time as you can on this part. Experimenting with mics and placement will have big time dividends. Think outside the box on this one, and go with what works. Consider taking the Guitar amps off stage, maybe point into carpet face down, or pointed straight up into the open sky? Mics in the crowd point at stage? Mics pointed at the crowd from the stage? Look in the Mic forum for Ideas.
Sound decays using the inverse square law. The mics need to be positioned to minimize mic bleed. When you play back your test recording, solo each track back individually and listen for mic bleed. For example, one of the 2nd Vocalist tracks that I recorded had more drum bleed in it than her voice. Result? Track unusable, the singer at the mic has to be louder than the drums in the rear. She needed to project and the drummer needed to play quieter. Of course, the drummer claimed, "If I did that, then I would loose my power". The better the signal (i.e. the sound you want) to noise (i.e. sound you don't want) ratio the better off you will be.
Racherik
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