DaveO
New member
I did some searching and found a few postings that kind of danced around this topic, so I thought I'd ask directly. My apologies for the long posting.
My equipment consists of : a Tascam 414 cassette 4-track (which probably limits me more than anything right now); Tube MP and Dual MP mic preamps; SM57, SM58, AT 4033/SM, and AKG C100S mics; and a hifi VHS VCR I'm starting to use for external bounces and mixdown. My instruments are an Strat with EMG pickups, a Boss multi-effects pedal, a Yamaha acoustic, a Boss DR-770 drum machine. Hopefully I'll have a bass soon.
I can get individual instruments to sound OK but it usually gets pretty muddy once I start mixing. I know bouncing affects the sound quality, so I limit myself to one bounce. Also, my current EQ options are limited - hi/lo on the 4-track and hi/mid/lo on the pedal. Based on what I've read here and in The Musician's Guide to Home Recording I'm thinking about getting an EQ unit, preferably parametric. Since I usually have to bounce/combine a few tracks I'm assuming I should plan ahead and apply EQ when I first record tracks. That may be easier said than done, but unless I buy enough to handle 4 channels at once it's probably a neccessity. When I bounce back to the 4-track I can also apply EQ if neccessary.
It sounds like I'd be better off with parametric EQ - that would give me better control of the frequencies I adjust than a graphic EQ would for recording. Are there reasons I might want a graphic EQ instead? If parametric, I guess getting a unit with two adjustable bands (like a low-mid and a mid-hi) would almost be a requirement. Am I thinking along the right lines here or do I need to rethink buying it and/or how I plan to use it? Also, I hope to be recording on a PC within a year or so and I'm worried that I won't need the external EQ then at that point. If I would end up using the multitracking/mixing software for all EQ then I wouldn't want to "waste" money on an external one now.
Any thoughts? I'll apologize again for the long posting.
My equipment consists of : a Tascam 414 cassette 4-track (which probably limits me more than anything right now); Tube MP and Dual MP mic preamps; SM57, SM58, AT 4033/SM, and AKG C100S mics; and a hifi VHS VCR I'm starting to use for external bounces and mixdown. My instruments are an Strat with EMG pickups, a Boss multi-effects pedal, a Yamaha acoustic, a Boss DR-770 drum machine. Hopefully I'll have a bass soon.
I can get individual instruments to sound OK but it usually gets pretty muddy once I start mixing. I know bouncing affects the sound quality, so I limit myself to one bounce. Also, my current EQ options are limited - hi/lo on the 4-track and hi/mid/lo on the pedal. Based on what I've read here and in The Musician's Guide to Home Recording I'm thinking about getting an EQ unit, preferably parametric. Since I usually have to bounce/combine a few tracks I'm assuming I should plan ahead and apply EQ when I first record tracks. That may be easier said than done, but unless I buy enough to handle 4 channels at once it's probably a neccessity. When I bounce back to the 4-track I can also apply EQ if neccessary.
It sounds like I'd be better off with parametric EQ - that would give me better control of the frequencies I adjust than a graphic EQ would for recording. Are there reasons I might want a graphic EQ instead? If parametric, I guess getting a unit with two adjustable bands (like a low-mid and a mid-hi) would almost be a requirement. Am I thinking along the right lines here or do I need to rethink buying it and/or how I plan to use it? Also, I hope to be recording on a PC within a year or so and I'm worried that I won't need the external EQ then at that point. If I would end up using the multitracking/mixing software for all EQ then I wouldn't want to "waste" money on an external one now.
Any thoughts? I'll apologize again for the long posting.
