best stupid person recording setup (advice solicitation)

[noteminer]

Hi;

I am a 26 yr old guitarist/mandolinist/ songwriter who wants to record some orifinal pieces. What do you guys suggest to be the best 4/8 track recorder and mixer to use for this project

While I am looking for bang for buck, i don't know many people with recording experience, so finding something that a 3 year old can understand would be key (btw how much do you pay a 3 year old nowadays).

As for equipment, I have an sm58( which I'm told is suitable), an ART tube preamp ( the new 1/4 rack space thing with the chicken head knob presets, I think it sounds good w/ mic). I also have guitar effects (Memory-man, Dyne-Comp, Varitone, electric mistress, wah). Could any of these be used for vocals?

Also could I use my amp (a fender performer 650--it has nice spring reverb) as a preamp for vocals?

I am probably going to use this info when i raid sam ash's after holiday sale (which is probably no different than its b4 holiday sale-- i wonder if anyone ever sells anything for "list" price)

Thanks for reading this lengthy tome, and excuse my probable redundancy to this post.

Have a merry Christmas, happy new Year, and a Festive Festivus

 

[The Green Hornet]

Yo mine full of notes:]

As I let your tome lixiviate through my ratiocinative processes, I think you might want to peruse this site using the search function as to dissertations regarding various media of recording.

You should be able to grab a digital recorder after the 1st of the year at a good price as the new stuff will be coming to the surface from the NAAM convention.

Tracks? Well, 8 would be fine; a few more might due. As far as easy to operate, well, your research on the site will get you many opinions. There is a learning curve for most boxes. You need to decide if you want to go PC or SIAB. [studio in a box]

I use the Yam 2816 -- plenty of tracks and "not too hard to learn.'

Korg has a couple of nice units out there. These units do it all, right down to burning your own CD which is nice. And, they do a decent job.

But, you might be happy with an MD8 but you will not get the quality of digital--I have an MD8 and did some nice work with it.

Well, not to slip into redundancy or Zen, I Zen you a Merry Christmas and happy shopping.

Green Hornet

 

[billisa]

The Fostex VF80/VF160 are very solid units. The VF80 is eight tracks, with 7/8 being a stereo track. Nice unit with the CD burner. Very stable, easy to use -- guitar effects you might like. The VF160 is similar, but with 16 individual tracks, plus a stereo master. No guitar effects, but lots of reverb/delays, and built-in compression. Solid, stable.

 

[Kelly5150]

I wouldn't use those guitar effects for vocals, those are analog effects and I'm sure they're pretty noisy...

Most of the multitrack digital recorders have some descent effects, or you can pick up a used all purpose digital effects unit for vocals, guitar, etc....

I use a Boss VF-1 multi effects, Its quiet and has everything you'll ever need for recording or live... I got mine off Ebay for a couple hundred....