drum recording

[emomusician]

Ok, I kinda asked this earlier.. but now I am more confused than ever. I want to record drums.. probably 4-5 mics, each mic on a different track. I'm recording on the pc with some form of recording software. What do I need to do this with? I keep getting different answers. I was going to buy the digi 001, but then I was told I need more than that. I have mics, monitors. I just need something record with. Thanks..

I'm used to using standalone digital recorders.. and everyone who I have asked about just buying one of those that has 4 or more simultaneous tracks of recording says that the results will never be as good as the digi 001.

 

[scrubs]

You need some kind of soundcard/interface that has at least as many inputs as you want to use, simultaneously. You'll also need preamps for your mics (or a mixer with built in preamps). Some interfaces have preamps, others just have line-ins. The Digi is one option. There are plenty of other PCI and FireWire based interfaces/soundcards that support multiple inputs. I use the M-Audio Delta 66 card (4 inputs) for drums and it works fine. The Presonus FirePod is a decent option, as it has 8 built-in preamps and a FireWire connection.

 

[emomusician]

ok

So lets say I just bought a sound card with the numer of inputs I need.. do I still need preamps? If so.. how can I tell if a mixer would have the number of preamps needed in it already? Does the digi have preamps? I mean... whats the big deal about the digi anyway.. does it by itself create a great sound?

 

[scrubs]

So lets say I just bought a sound card with the numer of inputs I need.. do I still need preamps? If so.. how can I tell if a mixer would have the number of preamps needed in it already? Does the digi have preamps? I mean... whats the big deal about the digi anyway.. does it by itself create a great sound?

You will need a preamp for every microphone you plan on using. Some of the soundcards (particularly the USB and FireWire interfaces) have built in preamps of varying quality. So, if you got one of those cards, you wouldn't necessarily need external preamps. The Digi 001 has 2 microphone preamps. Mixers generally have more preamps (if you read the product specs, it will tell you how many preamps it contains and whether or not phantom power [required for condenser microphones] is provided). The quality of preamps in mixers, again, varies.

As for the Digi 001, I've never used it, so I don't know what to tell you. IMO, you're paying a lot for the ability to use ProTools software (LE version). ProTools is the standard software package used in digital recording, but that doesn't necessarily mean it's the best. And, no, it doesn't produce great recordings all by itself. Unless you absolutely need ProTools, I would skip the Digi and put your money into another interface.

 

[emomusician]

ok so...

alright then.. so what should I get?

I was looking on musicians friend.. and I was checking out the delta 44.. which was capable of 4 in 4 out, which should be fine.. but what could I get that has more than that?

 

[scrubs]

alright then.. so what should I get?

I was looking on musicians friend.. and I was checking out the delta 44.. which was capable of 4 in 4 out, which should be fine.. but what could I get that has more than that?

There is no one single answer. What is your budget? Do you already have software, microphones, monitors, etc.?

Firewire:
Presonus Firepod (has 8 preamps)
Tascam 1884
RME Fireface

PCI (you would need preamps/mixer in addition):
M-Audio Delta 1010
Delta 66 (you can link 2 together)
MOTU and others also make multi-input PCI cards

 

[emomusician]

ok

here is what I already have..

software:
------------
Cubase
N-track
Audition

Gear
------------
some shure sm58s and a B1 condensor mic
A pair of Fostex Monitors


my price range. Whatever I get, I can get on ebay. I'm not really wanting to spend alot of money on something that I am just starting out on using, but at the same time I want something I can at least expand later.

I don't want to pay more than 200.00 for a card. I need to be able to record drums with it. I saw the digi 001's on ebay for between 150-250 which I thought was incredibly cheap. Which is why I was headed that route.

 

[emomusician]

better yet...

will this do the job?

Digi 001 w/ soundcard, interface and Protools

either 4 mic preamps, or a mixer with 8 preamps in it.

if I wanted to get something other than the Digi.. it would have to have at least 4 ins/outs.