advice on where to go next

  • Thread starter Thread starter jimmy_LD
  • Start date Start date
J

jimmy_LD

New member
well, after asking SO many questions...

I am at a kind of frustrating place here.
I am tracking ONE track at a time through my Alesis Studio 32 into my Echo Mia card, and at this time it's just about all I can afford. I have a pretty decent range of mics, and what I want to be able to do is things like add reverb to drums during tracking; right now I have to get a good mix on drums and track ALL of the drums at the same time because I am limited to the main outs on the mixer (MIA only has 2 ins). This is very frustrating, because I can't really tweak any drum individually in post-production.

What kind of "cheap" rack mount piece of gear should I look into?
Should I sell some shit and get an ADAT or DA-88 or something that might give me the capability to go and edit one single piece of drum?

Please help. I get so sick of f*%$ing with this crap sometimes.
I realize that I might have no choice, but you guys always have an answer for everything.

If I were to go to a digital multitracking device, what do I need to start? I believe I can use my mixer (Alesis) with anything...

Jimmy
 
jimmy-

It looks like you're already recording on a PC, right? You can probably find an 8 in soundcard for around the same price you can pick up an adat for. Plus, you wouldn't be limited by all the limitations of going to adat before going to computer. I'd go for a better soundcard. ADAT's and DA88's are old technology and limited. Don't take a step backwards.

Once it's in your multitrack program, you can edit all you want.

H2H
 
sweet

H2H,
are there any 8-in soundcards that take 8 1/4" ins other than like a Layla or something in that price range, that would be of good enough quality for recording?
 
Jimmy...I've got a 20 bit Layla, and it works great for me...has the last three years or so. I've seen them so inexpensive nowadays, since the 24 bit is all the rage....as low as $200 used. I got mine about 3 years ago for $300 used. I think the quality is fine, certainly better than a 24 bit soundblaster, I would think.

and..H2H is correct, once you are in your multitrack program in you computer, edit away on those single drum tracks. I've even bounce drum machines into the computer (since some only have stereo outputs), one drum at a time, and sync'd(drag in time) them back up together....the end result having all the drum machine drums on different tracks in the computer. Infact, as a "solo" artist, you'll probably find that drums are one of the few instruments that you'll need more than stereo inputs.

another (but not so recommended) idea, is to "learn" how you want your drums to sound in the end when tracking, and go ahead and add your effects that you want, etc. You'll have to live with your decisions of course, but that is not always necesarily a bad thing. Many fine recordings have been done on 4 and 8 track machines with lots of bouncing and submixing going on.
 
There's alot of stuff on the market, and you can always look at used like mixmkr said. Here are some I hear about and their approximate cost:

MOTU 828 (firewire) 8 in, digital $729
Delta 1010 8 in, digital, and midi $599
ST Audio C-Port 8 in, digital, midi, 2 pres $449
Edirol DA2496 8 in, digital, midi, 2 pres $679
Digi 001 8 in Pro Tools interface digital, midi, and 2 pres $799



This are just some of the common systems you'll hear about people using around here. If you search around, you may find better prices, or you may find some of them used and get a really good deal somewhere, you never know!

H2H
 
M-audio Delta 1010 and the Echo Layla

Do you guys have a preference?
I'm sure they each have their perks, but is one actually better than the other?
 
I've never owned the delta, but I don't think you'd go wrong with either. I really never read any [justifyable] complaints from anyone, that I can remember. The delta is a couple hundred less for new ones, I believe. I'd probably lean that way just for the cost savings. I know my layla sounds great...to me. for no reason, I'd think many might choose the layla, but I think the delta is geared better for the newer windows operating systems. I "hear" they prefer real pentium processors too... no facts, just what I've heard.
 
also, seems to me, that I never see the deltas on the used market that much..maybe the lower end ones.. but the layla20 seems to be rampant on ebay, since the advent of the layla24.
 
20?

Mixmkr...
is there THAT much difference between the 20 and the 24?

I really don't know what the difference is...
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top