Embarrassing and probably a stupid question.

[Dave-Curran]

I'm very new to recording music. I'm so new in fact that I don't even have any equipment. I've been making a list of things that I'll need and I'm stumped on one small detail...

Do I need to have an audio interface and a mixing desk?

I'm going to be recording my 5 piece band, including a drum-kit so I know that I'll need something with multiple mic inputs, BUT do I need both?

Thanks and apologies for the noobie-ness.

Dave.

 

[tooloud61]

are you going to record things seperate or all together...... how many mics for the drums

 

[mdainsd]

No, is the short answer. You need an interface that can handle the number of mics you would like to use, and a DAW program in your computer. Very basic, but gets you on your way......

 

[DM60]

No, is the short answer. You need an interface that can handle the number of mics you would like to use, and a DAW program in your computer. Very basic, but gets you on your way......

++1This and
you might want an 8-16 channel interface (USB/Firewire/PCI), record the source and make sure your levels are good to your computer and not clipping, set the number of tracks per microphone, most of them mono, keyboards probably stereo (2 channels), record (keep effects out as much as possible) then mix after the recording session.

You may want to play with the faders as you monitor the recording but you're not committed to that mix. The final mix will be a part of your post recording phase.

 

[BroKen_H]

I don't answer stupid questions, so I'll answer this one (it's not a stupid question).

You need one or the other or both, depending on what you're doing. Focusrite's Scarlet 18i20 ($500) for example would give you 8 mic inputs and 8 line inputs. No need for an external board, unless you have a sound man that needs to ride faders.
You can use a small mixdown desk to take all your drums down to two channels into a smaller interface (but you'll still need mic and guitar/bass inputs. Or lastly, you can use a USB mixer to run signal through the USB cable to your computer/recording device.

Be aware that most inexpensive digital mixers/USB mixers only give stereo (2 channel) output to your DAW. If you spend the bucks to get a board (like the StudioLive from PreSonus) you'll have something that you can use for recording AND for live performance. They run around $2k to $4k depending on how many inputs/outputs you want.

Share a level of performance and level of budget with us and we can get more specific about what your options are.

The basic routing goes like this: Input -> PreAmp -> Machine
The input is a line or mic. The preamp is an interface or desk (depending on how many channels of in and out you need) and the machine can be a stereo tape deck/digital recorder/computer/Neve desk with 32 track 2" tape...There are lots of options.

 

[Richard Monroe]

All of the above is essentially correct. Bottom line- there's more than one way to skin that cat. Essentially, you need an audio interface with at least the maximum number of simultaneous inputs you will need, and more is always helpful. But- how many simultaneous inputs you need is dependent on how you intend to go about recording. The only reason you would need a mixer (mixing desk) is if you don't have enough inputs, so the drums become a submix. That way, all the drum mics go into the desk, and come out as 2 channels, into the interface. This means that if the drums aren't properly mixed in the beginning, you can't change it later, the drum mix is pretty much carved in stone. Most folks here, I think, would agree that in most cases, you are better off with an interface with as many channels as you can afford. For a band, 8 is the bare bones minimum. You could do it with 4, if the drums only get 4 mics, and everything is recorded separately, but that is a real pain. Even if you record separately, generally bass and drums are recorded together, so you would need at least 5 channels. I'd go for 8 channels, record bass and drums together first, and then add the other tracks as you see fit. I consider the mixer route to be the solution of last resort.

 

[BroKen_H]

All of the above is essentially correct. Bottom line- there's more than one way to skin that cat. Essentially, you need an audio interface with at least the maximum number of simultaneous inputs you will need, and more is always helpful. But- how many simultaneous inputs you need is dependent on how you intend to go about recording. The only reason you would need a mixer (mixing desk) is if you don't have enough inputs, so the drums become a submix. That way, all the drum mics go into the desk, and come out as 2 channels, into the interface. This means that if the drums aren't properly mixed in the beginning, you can't change it later, the drum mix is pretty much carved in stone. Most folks here, I think, would agree that in most cases, you are better off with an interface with as many channels as you can afford. For a band, 8 is the bare bones minimum. You could do it with 4, if the drums only get 4 mics, and everything is recorded separately, but that is a real pain. Even if you record separately, generally bass and drums are recorded together, so you would need at least 5 channels. I'd go for 8 channels, record bass and drums together first, and then add the other tracks as you see fit. I consider the mixer route to be the solution of last resort.

Yes, absolutely. You will get better sound recording Glyn Johns and adding a kick and a snare mic for 4 channels total than you will recording 16 mics through a desk and getting stereo out! But, like I said, depending on budget and performance, something like the StudfioLive or even better, something like it with motorized faders like the Tascam DM-4800 ($3500) will serve much better if you are going to do live performances. But for the basics, yeah, stick with the $500 18i20 or something similar....

 

[BroKen_H]

Hey, just spotted this baby...
Allen & Heath Qu-24 30-In/24-Out Digital Mixer QU-24 B&H Photo
Allen&Heath with motorized faders for only $2800!
That's obscenely cheap.
Do you know what we paid for our motorized fader desk in the late 80s???? Our AH was around $8k then!

 

[mjbphotos]

I'm very new to recording music. I'm so new in fact that I don't even have any equipment. I've been making a list of things that I'll need and I'm stumped on one small detail...

Do I need to have an audio interface and a mixing desk?

I'm going to be recording my 5 piece band, including a drum-kit so I know that I'll need something with multiple mic inputs, BUT do I need both?

Thanks and apologies for the noobie-ness.

Dave.

Don't buy anything until you do some reading. Here and here, to start.

 

[Dave-Curran]

Thank you for all your help, advice and wise words!

I will be recording everything separately and was planning on mic-ing up amps for the guitars and bass rather than plugging them straight into an interface and using plug-ins. This a bad idea?

 

[BroKen_H]

Yers and no. Guitar, absolutely...Here's a decent start point.
Art of Audio Recording: Recording Guitars - 4. General Micing Guidelines - YouTube
Bass is sometimes best served with two sources. Mic the cab and use DI to get a good sound and balance.
Good article here.
http://www.soundonsound.com/sos/mar99/articles/recordingbass.htm
Ask questions!

 

[Richard Monroe]

Thank you for all your help, advice and wise words!

I will be recording everything separately and was planning on mic-ing up amps for the guitars and bass rather than plugging them straight into an interface and using plug-ins. This a bad idea?

Not necessarily. guitar amps are usually mic'd up, and bass usually goes direct. But- that's a standard guideline, not a rule. As noted above, often both are used, so you can use whichever you prefer, or use both in some ratio. Often a direct line is taken off the guitar amp also, so the dry (un-effected) signal can be run through different amps or modelers later. Do a search on "re-amping".

 

[moresound]

Now next on the list is the room that you'll be recording in.

 

[BroKen_H]

That's a very nice rendering, Dave. I think you've improved a great deal. Can you hold it a bit closer? That's Dr. Hunter, isn't it?

 

[Dave-Curran]

Now next on the list is the room that you'll be recording in.

I've already got the space, which is why it's so annoying that I don't have any equipment yet!

 

[Dave-Curran]

I am pretty set on the idea of mic-ing up amps for the bass and the guitars, rather than plugging into the interface. So, thank you for all of the helpful links!

 

[lilseez]

Not quite sure, good luck though!