4 Mic set up, Help!

  • Thread starter Thread starter Griddle
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Griddle

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Hi all,

Got a little querie. I am basically looking to beable to record 3 or 4 microphones all at the same time and all on to sepreate tracks on my mac. The Mics would all be vocals.

I have Garage Band at the moment but i am unsure what i need to put them through to achieve this.

I dont have a huge budget at the moment so would be looking to do this fairly cheaply :)

I basically have a Mac, 3 SM47s with mic to jack leads (i think thats what they are called) :confused: but havent really got a clue what else i need. Iv heard talk of interfaces and pre amps but iam clueless!!

Aslong as i can get 4 mics onto 4 diffrent tracks at the same time il be a happy camper. Please help!
Thanks very much.
 
ya need an interface dude.
A quick search will get ya there. ;)
 
This ^^^^ plus to upgrade from garage band down load Reaper as your recording software. It's a free trial.
 
Thanks for getting back to me so quickly guys, much appreciated. Ok without sounding like a total cheap skate can i get like any firewire interface or is there certain things i have to look for? Just kinda wanting it to mess about with so was hopeing to get it a wee bit cheaper to begin with :P

And yea i ment SM57's! My bad.

Thanks again guys
 
Griddle said:
can i get like any firewire interface or is there certain things i have to look for?
Click to expand...

Well...I'd think you'd be looking at an interface with 4 inputs and 4 outputs. (don't think you'll find a three and three ;) )
The 4 outputs are what's gonna keep them on separate tracks instead of something like a mixer with a stereo out (2 outputs).

Like I say...do a search around here and you'll find LOTS of info on em.
:drunk:
 
Griddle said:
Would the likes of the Alesis MultiMix 4 USB work with 3 mics?

Sorry i cant link it as iam a total noob to this site :)

Cheers
Click to expand...
Unless you get the MultiMix 8 USB 2.0 you are only going to get a stereo mix down. (which I don't think is a bad thing.)

Basically you set up your mics, get your levels to sound how you want them witht the panning the way you want them and whatever you get out of the main output is what you get in the computer.


EDIT: Why do you want four vocal mics to go in and be kept seperately? Just curious.
 
Griddle said:
Thanks for getting back to me so quickly guys, much appreciated. Ok without sounding like a total cheap skate can i get like any firewire interface or is there certain things i have to look for? Just kinda wanting it to mess about with so was hopeing to get it a wee bit cheaper to begin with :P

And yea i ment SM57's! My bad.

Thanks again guys
Click to expand...

The quality of the A/D and D/A converters and preamps are critical to good sound in an audio interface, so you should compare specs for these in addition to getting an interface with the right number of inputs. Compare dynamic range specs on the converters (higher dynamic range is better). On the preamps, you want high quality, low noise preamps, with lots of clean gain for those dynamic mics you want to use.
 
Re-tox_stl said:
Buy PreSonus FP10 10x10 Firewire Interface (Firepod) | Audio Interfaces | Musician's Friend
Click to expand...

Griddle said:
Ok without sounding like a total cheap skate can i get like any firewire interface or is there certain things i have to look for? Just kinda wanting it to mess about with so was hopeing to get it a wee bit cheaper to begin with :P
Click to expand...

Yeah, I'm not sure why people always throw out firewire suggestions right off the bat (I mean...people, he's got 3-4 mics) You don't have to get firewire...usb 2.0 is basically just as good.
Something like this would suit you fine and also give you a little more room to expand (I think it has 6 xlr inputs)

Product: US-800 | TASCAM

Oh yeah, and you could get it for half the price of that other thing.
Peace ;)
 
Thanks guys, much appreciated! Yea i think the Tascam US-800 is more what iam looking for, plus like you say it does give me the option of explanding a wee bit.

Nice one!
 
Again though, why do you want four seperate vocal inputs?

If you're doing A'cappela type music, one or two mics would be sufficient and, in my view, better. The more you track together mixing vocally instead of mechanically the better the end result. This is just my view, take it as you will.
 
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