A Little Help Please!!!!!

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fjh

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I'm new to all this so give me a little break.

A little background. My wife owns a dance and music teaching studio. The music students range from 6 to 18 years of age and are learning guitar, drums, keyboard, voice, piano among other things. Neither my wife or I play or teach music. We hire teachers for the music dept.

Now to my point of this post. Our quitar/drums/keyboard teacher would like to start doing some recording with some of the students. None of us really know anything about it, but after reading everything I can find over the last couple of days I have an idea of what me need, software, interface, computer,etc. We are looking at REAPER for the software. I have someone that can help me with the computer we will need. The part I'm having trouble with is the interface. I've been reading everything I can on them and I'm still not sure what to get. We were looking at the Lexicon Omega, but after reading reviews on it appears most are not the happy with it.

So, my question is this. What interface that would be close to the Omega in features and price THAT IS GOOD, WORKS WELL, AND IS RELIABLE do you recommend

When we get something we well figure out how to use it. My main point of at this is I would like some help on getting an interface that will work well and not be JUNK

If there are other details that would help you recommend something, let me know.

Thanks ,
 
Before anyone can advise on the interface you need some more information would be good.
- How many tracks do you want to record at once
- Are you going to be using condenser microphones that require phantom power. If so how many will you be using at once.
- Does your computer have a good firewire card or an extra PCI slot for a firewire card (opens you up to more then just USB mixxers)
- What sort of budget are you working with?
- Do you need a midi interface?

Are you set on Reaper?? Alot of audio interfaces come with a slimmed down version of a DAW which you may want to familiarize yourself with and see if it might work for you.
I setup a cheap studio for a bunch of students as well and they love being able to make recordings to share with thier friends and family. I setup everything with a budget of slightly under $5,000 including the computer.
 
What type of recording? A Kodak Zi8 and a Zoom H1 might suit basic needs (youtube).

What is needed in terms of reliability? Operates in -40F to +120F? Runs on batteries for 8+ hours? Can be run over by a truck several times? Or just wont break if you look at it (most of the time). To go on tour for five consecutive years? Or just able to take out of the house once in a while without succumbing to the rigors of travel?

If you're looking for studio like stuff, with multi-tracking and other facets (midi), it could be quite a bit more complex. If you just want something to throw up on the internet to show that you actually exist? Or something more? In addition to recording gear, there's a whole post flow (software and data management) in there as well.

Audio and Video? If mostly indoors (dance studio), you'll likely need a wide angle lens and other extras for video. Perhaps a directional mic and room treatment too.
 
smithers138 said:
Before anyone can advise on the interface you need some more information would be good.
- How many tracks do you want to record at once
- Are you going to be using condenser microphones that require phantom power. If so how many will you be using at once.
- Does your computer have a good firewire card or an extra PCI slot for a firewire card (opens you up to more then just USB mixxers)
- What sort of budget are you working with?
- Do you need a midi interface?

Are you set on Reaper?? Alot of audio interfaces come with a slimmed down version of a DAW which you may want to familiarize yourself with and see if it might work for you.
I setup a cheap studio for a bunch of students as well and they love being able to make recordings to share with thier friends and family. I setup everything with a budget of slightly under $5,000 including the computer.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the reply. Remember the only thing I know about this stuff is what I've been reading the last couple of days so bear with me.

Maybe 4 tracks. The students are private lesson students and will mostly be recording one at a time, but there may be times when we put 2 or 3 kids together.

As far as the mic, not really sure how we would use it(refer to line one of this reply) but might be nice to have.

The computer. We have a early Vista desktop that was bought new and only used for a couple of hours before being put on a shelf that could be used for this. I don't have it in front of me so I don't have the specs on it in front of me, but I'm sure it is not firewire.

Please explain the midi interface to me.

Not sure yet on the budget, have to talk with the boss lady on that, but the Lexicon Omega runs about $150.00 and it would be nice to stay in the 150.00 to 250.00 for the interface. I know that is low end of the range but we don't want to sink a bunch of money into this until we are sure how much we will use it.

I'm not set on Reaper or any DAW, but in my reading I saw it mentioned a lot and it seemed a lot of people use and like it

What we are trying to do. Nothing fancy, we are not trying to be a pro recording studio. This is something we are trying to add as another feature in our music dept. Just want to do some simple recordings for our students personal use.

Thanks
 
I would invest in a minimum of 8 channels - the alesis multimix 8 is better than the omega but a little bit more expensive.[/QUOTE]

Yes, I did read the post you did and it helped a lot, but because I have NO (and I mean NO background in this a lot was still over my head) I'm trying to learn what I can, but what I'm working on finding out is not what the best interface is because you never get that answer in a forum, but the ones people are happy with and the one people hate. Just don't want to buy one that's junk from the start. Seems like I could hardly find anyone saying anything good about the Omega. Another thing that I seem to be reading is that most of the problems people have may not be related to the interface but more to the computer they are using it with.
 
What type of recording spaces are we talking about? Just private lesson rooms? Or concert halls that can fit a couple hundred (or thousand)? If you get towards pro-ish stuff, you definitely need at least 8 inputs. A drum set could easily eat most, if not all of those channels. If you're recording and doing a live show with MC and guest artists, two for the group, one for the MC, one per guest artist, and other options are always good. Probably not going to happen on $150 though. Used SM58 / SM57's are like $50+ each, x8 and do the math. Cables about $1 per foot, plus a tenner for the connectors, plus tax, brand spike, and other things depending on where you buy them.

Midi can easily add up, $100-ish just for a 49 key controller, sans computer to do any "synth"-ing. And up from there depending on if you just need an input device (with 88 keys), or something realtime or something vintage.

Software is software, the second you buy it there's another version out, so put that off until you "need" it IMO. Or cope with whatever is cheap/free until you better understand what you need. At least find out if your existing system meets the minimum specs first.

Interface wise, you tend to start talking $$$ per channel with reference to the "good" ones. At least $50 a channel, easily $500 a channel on the boutique side. x8, and do the math. For a school, you're probably looking at x16 for a starting point IMO. A good sized jazz band could easily eat up more than 16 channels of inputs.

At $150 you're barely getting out of the cell phone category of recording gear IMO. You can get a decent USB 2 channel interface for that, but without a mic and mic cable, much less a stand, boom arm, and stuff, probably not going to do most folks any good. Baring a few all in one devices like a Zoom H1.
 
fjh said:
Yes, I did read the post you did and it helped a lot, but because I have NO (and I mean NO background in this a lot was still over my head) I'm trying to learn what I can, but what I'm working on finding out is not what the best interface is because you never get that answer in a forum, but the ones people are happy with and the one people hate. Just don't want to buy one that's junk from the start. Seems like I could hardly find anyone saying anything good about the Omega. Another thing that I seem to be reading is that most of the problems people have may not be related to the interface but more to the computer they are using it with.
Click to expand...

Your basic Vista machine should be more than sufficient for what you want to do. I have never used Omega but I never thought much about them. I use an Alesis Multimix 16 USB 2.0, I upgraded from the Multimix 8 USB 2.0 which I got on ebay for under $300 if i remember correctly. I think I have seen them for around $250 new and they come with CuBase LE 4 (which is a DAW like Reaper).

It's a good unit and you will get some money back on it of you end up not using it and selling it on ebay later (depending on how much later of course). Make sure its the USB 2.0 not the plain USB - they are a lot less expensive because the 2.0 versions are much better. But you could probably get away with the plain USB model for what you are doing (those run $150).

I think they both come with Cubase.

There are many good (and bad) products out there - I recommend Alesis because I have had good experience with it. Tascam is a popular brand for mixers and I have heard good things about zoom - there are specific brand forums here - check the index for Aleses / Tascam / Etc. forums if you want specific brand info.

The alesis is a very straight forward device and modeled on years of standard mixing board design - and they have been doing it for a long time - I think you will be happy with it
 
Shadow_7 said:
What type of recording spaces are we talking about? Just private lesson rooms? Or concert halls that can fit a couple hundred (or thousand)? If you get towards pro-ish stuff, you definitely need at least 8 inputs. A drum set could easily eat most, if not all of those channels. If you're recording and doing a live show with MC and guest artists, two for the group, one for the MC, one per guest artist, and other options are always good. Probably not going to happen on $150 though. Used SM58 / SM57's are like $50+ each, x8 and do the math. Cables about $1 per foot, plus a tenner for the connectors, plus tax, brand spike, and other things depending on where you buy them.

Midi can easily add up, $100-ish just for a 49 key controller, sans computer to do any "synth"-ing. And up from there depending on if you just need an input device (with 88 keys), or something realtime or something vintage.

Software is software, the second you buy it there's another version out, so put that off until you "need" it IMO. Or cope with whatever is cheap/free until you better understand what you need. At least find out if your existing system meets the minimum specs first.

Interface wise, you tend to start talking $$$ per channel with reference to the "good" ones. At least $50 a channel, easily $500 a channel on the boutique side. x8, and do the math. For a school, you're probably looking at x16 for a starting point IMO. A good sized jazz band could easily eat up more than 16 channels of inputs.

At $150 you're barely getting out of the cell phone category of recording gear IMO. You can get a decent USB 2 channel interface for that, but without a mic and mic cable, much less a stand, boom arm, and stuff, probably not going to do most folks any good. Baring a few all in one devices like a .
Click to expand...

Thanks for the reply!!!!

Maybe I have not been clear on what we are trying to do here or maybe it's not as simple as I'm hoping for.

I a nut shell, We would like to be able to do a decent recording a of guitar or keyboard student in their private lesson room so they could have a CD of themselves playing. At this point it would be really be nothing more them that. If this works out we may want to get deeper into recording, but for starters it would be pretty basic

Thanks
 
Shadow_7 said:
What type of recording? A Kodak Zi8 and a Zoom H1 might suit basic needs (youtube).

I agree this might be your best solution if you don't know much about recording, also if your tutor is the one who is suggesting this it needs to be at a level they can understand and work with or you are gonna have some expensive paperweights.

Luck
Click to expand...
 
fjh said:
Thanks for the reply!!!!

Maybe I have not been clear on what we are trying to do here or maybe it's not as simple as I'm hoping for.

I a nut shell, We would like to be able to do a decent recording a of guitar or keyboard student in their private lesson room so they could have a CD of themselves playing. At this point it would be really be nothing more them that. If this works out we may want to get deeper into recording, but for starters it would be pretty basic

Thanks
Click to expand...

Well, you mentioned dance studio.

A Zoom H1, or H2 or H4n depending on the quality level you're wanting for audio. Are you wanting to record straight to CD? And hand it to them at the end of the session? Or something with a post flow, i.e. editing? If you also need video, the Q3 might be worth a look. But not the best of the cheap ones.

It can be cheap ($100-ish / i.e. Zoom H1). ($160-ish for a Kodak Zi8 on the cheap video side). Or it can be expensive.

In my case I have a stereo pair of mics ($550 MSRP). I want way better mics ($1K+ per mic). I have battery powered microphone preamps ($325-ish each x2). I have a battery powered field recorder ($1.2K). And results are good (for almost $3K had I bought them NEW, it had better be), but I'd be hesitant to call the results pro-ish, given that I'm not properly trained, only have 1 pair of mics that are not well suited for ALL occasions. Plus other redneck tendencies. But I can author a CD or DVD that meets specifications. But for a couple $$$ in software, who can't?

As a general rule, buy cheap, buy twice. But it really depends on what you consider good enough. I originally tried to get by with a $10 electret mic and my laptop. But it was fairly obvious fairly quick that I wasn't going to settle on that. Aside from the poor quality of input (high noise, unrealistic sounding result), there were other technical difficulties to overcome. As in set up, boot up, and shutdown times. And battery life. Plus that whole outdoor, all weather, direct sunlight, set it and forget it stuff.

I've got a USB interface, but rarely use it these days. I have a PCI 4x in and 4x out soundcard and also rarely use it these days. Plus cables, mic stands, boom arms, goosenecks, shock mounts, cord ties, and basically tons of stuff. While not a lot individually, at $10 to $50 each, it adds up. And unless you already have a lot of this stuff, that's a lot of loose change. Blank CDs, at $1 each. CD burner at $50-ish... Just lots of little things... Do your students even have CD players these days? Or just MP3 players. A CD doesn't do them much good, if they don't have the CD player to play them. And then you add video, that needs a tripod, lights, green screen, software, ..., lenses, filters, rain capes, ........
 
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