A bunch of questions from your typical newbie.

[sixraysun]

Hey
I'm new to this forum, but it looks like I've struck gold as it does seem perfect for what I'll be doing in the near future! (Home recording)
I'm in a band and we recently spent a ridiculous amount on a day at a studio and only got one song recorded... So we're thinking about having a go at recording ourselves. I own a macbook pro and i have ableton and logic configured on it.
I also have an Alesis iO2 Express Audio interface. (For the 2 guitars)
We have a midi keyboard as well.
Now here is the tricky bit: Recording drums...

So we were thinking it didn't seem economically viable to purchase 8 drum mics, and then have to purchase another 8 channel audio interface.
So 1st question just to help me understand this more -
Can I record drums (using a drum mic) into any channel, or does it have to be a specific mic input channel? As in, could i use the mics and input them into the same channel i could also put a guitar into?
2nd question - Would it work getting 8 mics, but only having a 4 channel audio interface? For example, this audio interface only has 4 mic inputs, but also has 2 stereo inputs- Behringer Xenyx X1204 USB- So would i be able to record using 6 drum mics?


So as a newbie i was thinking that the best option would be to go for 4 mics, and have a go at the Glyn John's recording technique.
This is what we were thinking

2 of these (Stagg CM-5050 condenser mic)
1 of these (Stagg DM-5020 dynamic mic)
1 of these (Stagg DM-5010H dynamic kick drum mic)
And this is where i am confused. We are looking for an audio interface that would work with that, but for around £100-200. We were thinking perhaps this? "Akai EIE 4x4 USB Audio Interface" Would post the links but i don't have those permissions!
We were drawn in by the fact it said specifically 4 mic inputs, as I am unsure as to whether you can put mics into any channel, or they have to be specifically mic channels...

I think that's all of my questions really... Sorry there are so many, as i said earlier i'm really quite new to this sort of thing! Answers to these questions would be so amazing!
Thanks so much!
Noah

 

[David S.]

Your mics will need a preamplified input or an external mic pre. If you can plug in an ordinary electric guitar and get a loud signal, there's a preamp on that input. That Akai interface has 4 mic inputs and you could simultaneously record all 4 into separate tracks in your DAW.

That Behringer Xenyx 1202FX is a mixer with 4 mic pre's. You could connect 4 mics to that mixer, then connect the mixers output to one of the Alesis interfaces inputs. 4 mics is good in any case. Put 1 on the kick, 1 on the snare and 2 overhead. Use headphones with good sound isolation to dial in the levels through the mixer. This route offers less flexibility because all of your drums will be recorded on a single track in the DAW.

I think you'd be better off replacing your current interface with that Akai EIE or similar. Use a click track and record the drums separately from the other instruments.

 

[ecc83]

Be wary of the EIE Six!
There are two models and you would nede the "Pro" version because I don't think the cheaper one records 4 discrete channels? In any case only the Pro is 24bit capable and you really need that.

There have been mixed reports of the interface, mainly concerned with latency and driver stability, electrically they seem very sound. You might be better to consider a straight 8 input AI such as the Tascam 1800?

You would not then need the mixer but if the funds are available you would probably find one very useful, most bands do!

Dave.