Advice On Recording With This Stuff?

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Village Idiot

Village Idiot

The Love Butler
I am forced to record a demo for a record company using my gear.
And that is not good.

Here is the basics.

Compaq Presario, 30 gig hard drive, 533 (?) mhz, AMD-k2 processor, 256 RAM.

Audiophile 2496 soundcard (Just edited post and put this in)

N-Track

Fostex DMT-8vl Stand-Alone 8 track Digital recorder.

Mackie 1604-VLZ PRO Mixer

Alex digital effects procesor
ART CS2 Compressor

Fostex D-5 DAT Machine

2 PODs

Now here is the bigger question....

Do I record from the computer, the Fostex, or both?

And we are renting mics for the drums, the best they have got.

So I will be forced to submix the drums, right?
The Fostex is only 4 in at a time.

Can I get a great drum sound from 8 individual line ins from the Mackie board directly to a submix?

Somebody please look at this equipment and tell me what to use!

Any and all opinions/help on this would be really appreciated.

Only the Guitarist in my band has any faith that I can pull off a good recording for the band.

And I want the others to apologise to me when I am done.

VI
 
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i would go from the Mackie and submix to 4 tracks on the Fostex.....then transfer those 4 to the computer and do all subsequent overdubs with the Audiophile........

ive heard some great sounds done with 4 mics......Ed posted some awhile back and he got the majority of his sound from the overheads...it can be done......
 
Thanks for the advice, Gidge.

If this helps you any more in what is best for us...

One Lead Guitarist/Lead Vocalsist

One Guitarist/Harmonica/Lead Vocalist

One Bassist/Lead Vocalist (Me)

One Drummer/Lead Vocalist

These guys are whining because they want to do the recording all live like at the other place.
I do not have the capabilities/tracks to do that...

And going to the Fostex would be recording it at 16 bit, instead of bringing it into my computer & N-Track at 24 bit.
Is this a big deal to anybody?

Any more advice/opinions?

VI
 
Seeing as they are both Fostex machines, isn't there some capability to sync the two and get 6 tracks? Then use the Mackie to submix the drums to whatever extent you require at that point.

Sounds like a job for a Layla or a Delta1010, if you want something comparable to what you've got. I'd argue better but I haven't heard those two machines :)

I wouldn't sweat the 16 bit too hard if the recorder has quiet electronics. It's plenty good enough.
 
So Doc-Do you think I am better off recording to the Stand-Alone Fostex?

My ears do hear the difference between 24 bit in recording and 16 bit in.
But I have been told most people can't hear the difference..I don't know.

By synching the two Fostex units up, are you saying that I will have 2 more dedicated ins on the 8 track unit itself then?
Or are you saying two of those tracks go to the DAT?
I couldn't sync anything together if it meant my life.

I am feeling TREMENDOUS amount of pressure to do this recording right.

So thanks for all comments.
I am really mulling them over.

VI
 
You didn't say what sound card is in the computer, but Gidge mentioned Audiophile. If so you can probably try something like this.

Record drums with 3 mics to Fostex. Look at the thread in the drum forum. Record bass to fostex record guitar 1 and 2 throu PODs into n-track. I don't know if you can sinq Fostex and N-track thru MIDI but you can probably hit record on both easily.

THen transfer to computer like Gidge said the tracks from fostex. You can probably easily line them up with the guitar tracks that already there.

This will give you good live feel and you can then overdub vocals and harp. It will also satisfy other band members that want a live recording. And since another guitarist is more confident in you he will probably will go along more easily with overdubbing.

And I don't think 16 vs 24 bit is a problem. Just record it all at 16 to be sure. I don't know n-track so I've no idea if it will have a problem with tracks of different rate.

Just some thoughts
cheers
 
You've got two distinct submixes of 16 channels available on the Mackie that fit the 4 in on the Fostex HD recorder. If it's the audiophile I can't say as I haven't heard it.

Yup- two tracks to DAT and 4 more to the HD recorder. If you can plan the recording to take advantage of the bounce on the HD recorder to utilize the other 4 I'd try to design around that. Just in case your sync got stupid over the duration of each tune. Chances are it would sync itself with a one point alignment once you imported them into the computer. I've seen it happen!
 
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If you want to do it all live, i would rent 2 ADAT's....is there a way to get 16 tracks straight out of the Mackie?.......

i know your budget is probably zero, but its gonna be hard to cut it live with just the equipment you have.....

at worst you can have the whole band play and only track the drums on the Fostex(4 mics) or the drums(3mics) and bass....then overdub the rest....

or you can all play thru the Mackie and record the stereo mix to the Audiophile.....

just keep in mind this is a demo only and the feel is what is important....capture the spirit of the band and its music....i dont think the record company is expecting a masterpiece.....
 
You could always do what someone I know did, and that is go to GC, buy a couple of ADATS, then return them when your done...

Course I wouldnt do that, but.....
 
I was thinking buying them and then selling them on Ebay for more than you paid for them.......
 
You might be on to something. Then if you didnt get high enough bids, take them back. I have actually sold used gear on Ebay for more that it sells for new at GC or Mars
 
Beatles-4track, yada yada.

Bernstein, NYPhil, Shostakovitch 5=2 mics.

All you are lacking is confidence.:cool:
 
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