Firewire Interface purchasing advice

[Jeff_D]

OK, if I get the AI, is there a need (and I mean NEED) for any other gear?

You're going to need a way to listen back to what you've recorded. *Most* people with home studios use "active" monitors. These have amplifiers built into the speakers. Cheapies start around $150. A good set with 8" drivers is going to be around $500+ a set. This is maybe a dumb question, but do you anticipate doing the other instruments too? Like is the boy in a band? Mixing dense rock and roll can really be tricky if you can't hear the lows properly (lots of things competing for space and smaller speakers don't reproduce, so you can't hear what you're doing). If you were just doing drums, a set of 6"s is probably ok.

Also, can someone explain what the importance of phantom power for condenser mics is? The 2000 has it where the 1641 does not. Thanks.

Phantom power is voltage sent down the mic cable conductors from the mic pre to the mic and is necessary for condenser mics. The only exception would be that *some* mics (very few that I'm aware of) take batteries in lieu of phantom power. Does the 1641 have phantom power?

 

[KCPYRO]

Right now, it's just going to be him drumming. I've heard talk of a band for a year or so now but nothing's materialized. It's the other kids who aren't panning out because my son would love to be in a band.

Yes, the 1641 has phantom power. I didn't see it in the specs when I first looked. The new 2000 has it as well. The 2000 is about $150 more. Not sure if there's enough reasons to upgrade to the new model?

I may try to pick up a used pair of monitors off craigslist. There seems to be sets on there frequently.

 

[Jeff_D]

Cool. I'd look at KRK, Event, Mackie, I've even heard good things about the Behringer monitors... but, I haven't been monitor shopping since I bought mine about 8 years ago, so I don't know whats hot right now. If you buy used, make sure you get a chance to listen to them. The tweeters seem to be the first to blow.

Next thing to consider would be acoustically treating the room you're recording and mixing in. You can definitely get setup and get your feet wet without room treatments, but if you/he ever get serious about good quality sound that translates to other systems, that'll be the next step. Don't let the sales guys talk you into foam.

Aside from some cable for the monitors sounds like you've got it all covered. If you decided you wanted to get an early start, you can download reaper now and play around with it.

 

[KCPYRO]

Building a room is on the list! We're in the process of finishing our basement now and I'd like to add a room for his drum kit/studio. It will be large enough to accommodate some other musicians in case the band materializes. What should be used for acoustics other than foam? I think I saw something called Rockwool or something mentioned elsewhere.

I'll check out Reaper now. Thanks!

 

[Jeff_D]

Rockwool and/or rigid fiberglass is what you want for acoustic treatment- Owens Corning 703 (OC703) is most prevalent. You'll need to get with a local commercial material supplier to get it- Home Depot's not hip. Rigid Fiberglass works just as well in the mid and highs as foam, but it keeps working well into the bass frequencies... which when you start to research that, you'll read that in small rooms (i.e. not auditoriums) bass is where all your problems will be. Anyway, that's a whole nother can of worms. Check out the studio building forum when you're ready to get into that! Oh, and if you're laying out the basement now, avoid square rooms. There are 'ideal' dimensional ratios that minimize standing wave problems, though i couldn't tell you what they are off the top of my head.
Merry Christmas.

 

[KCPYRO]

Since we're going to be out of town for Christmas, my son gets to open his presents tonight. I think he's going to like the mic kit when he sees it. I'm going to order the AI when we get back. I downloaded Reaper last night and installed it but have not opened the program yet. The TASCAM 1641 comes with Cubase and that seems to be pretty poular so I wonder if it's worth trying to learn multiple programs or just stick to the one?

I thought of something else he will need, a bass drum head with the cutout for the mic. I guess I could always cut a hole myself. I'm getting a bit concerned about sound quality though once we get this all set up since his drums are in basically an unfinished basement. I've got the walls studded out but the acoustics still aren't going to be real good. We'll give it a try but we may wind up moving his kit into his bedroom or his game room which is basically a bedroom that we've made into a "man cave" for him.

 

[Jeff_D]

Reaper and Cubase are pretty similar- at least they were 3 years ago last time I looked at them at the same time. I've been using Reaper ever since. You guys will do fine... Maybe I missed this; which drum mic kit did you get? Room acoustics are important, when tracking, but its *less* of an issue when you're "close micing". Most people that mic drums do a close mic on each drum, then a pair of overheads to pickup the whole kit, cymbals and room sound.

 

[KCPYRO]

I bought him the Samson 8 mic kit. It came with XLR cables and 4 mic stands. It's the same setup the Youtube drummer my son likes uses in his videos. I posted a video previously but if you didn't see it, here's another. //https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mSYSvRuWYFQ The price is pretty amazing considering what you get and it appears the sound quality is pretty darn good. You can get the complete kit for $359 shipped off ebay. I got his here: DELUXE Samson 8KIT 8 Piece Drum Mic Pack 8-KIT + Stands - eBay (item 370467085838 end time Jan-14-11 19:25:13 PST)

With the 8 mics, he can close mic the drums and we'll try two overheads as well. If he can do what this drummer does, he will be very happy. He'll need to learn how to do the video too but I bought this drummer's DVD that shows how he does his recording and videos so that should help him a lot.

 

[KCPYRO]

Son loved the drum mic kit. I've lined up some web pages for him to to read and youtube videos to watch while he waits to receive the AI. Thanks for all of the help here!

 

[KCPYRO]

OK, the TASCAM 1641 is being delivered today. I've downloaded Reaper to try out first. Any startup suggestions you may have learned by experience to make things a little easier?

 

[guitaristic]

OK, the TASCAM 1641 is being delivered today. I've downloaded Reaper to try out first. Any startup suggestions you may have learned by experience to make things a little easier?

Read the manual

No, but seriously, pay close attention to the directions. It's quite easy to get lost along the way during the installation process!

 

[KCPYRO]

Check. Reading the manual. I have to, otherwise I would be clueless. At least I got my son to clean up his drum area today so we can get busy this evening. He's ready to go.

 

[Jeff_D]

We expect a full report back.

 

[guitaristic]

We expect a full report back.

Definitely! I hope it all works out!

 

[KCPYRO]

OK, so here's an update. Just got around to setting up everything today with my son. Picked up a pair of M-Studio BX8a's today, mic'ed the drums, got the TASCAM 1641 a little figured out and did some recording with Reaper. Everything works! Now, it's time to figure out more about mixing and getting the best quality sound out of the drums. The "drum room" happens to be a studded out basement so we're certainly not working with the best room right now. At this point, being new at this and all, we don't know what we can expect out of the current setup an will have to do alot of experimenting to see if we can produce better audio. The toms and cymbals don't sound too bad but the snare and bass drum could be alot better. We're using 8 mics and have all of the drums (5) close mic'ed, two overhead condensers and a condenser on the hi-hat. Thinking about losing the hi hat mic and adding a second mic on the snare underside.

Open to any and all suggestions at this point.

 

[guitaristic]

Thinking about losing the hi hat mic and adding a second mic on the snare underside.

Open to any and all suggestions at this point.

Yeah, that'd get a snappier, more powerful snare sound! Try it out and see! As for the kick, just play around with positioning a lot! I used to get so frustrated while trying to get a good sound from my kick, but then I turned it into more of an experiment of what sounds came from what mic positions!

Glad to see everything is working out for you!

 

[c7sus]

Be sure and flip the polarity of the underside mic. You can probably do that in Reaper.

https://homerecording.com/bbs/equipment-forums/microphones/microhone-polarity-44158/

I tried to get my kids into recording, and the youngest kid is totally wired tech-wise and plays guitar/bass/some keys/and trombone and knows Vegas backwards and forwards but became obsessed with a girl. And that just messed up his mind. Becoming an annual thing. D'oh!

The other kid went the Fruity Loops route. He messes around on guitar but doesn't have a lot of focus or self-discipline.

Kudos for you for the effort to make music and recording more accessable and provide the tools so your kid can learn the technology.

 

[KCPYRO]

Rather than run out and buy another mic for the bottom of the snare, can I use the condenser mic that is for the hi-hat? I don't know too much about microphones yet?

We'll definitely play with the positioning of mics. I don't know how much the space we're recording in is affecting the quality yet and how much we can improve via mixing but I can share with you this, the time my son and I spent together yesterday setting this up and trying things out was priceless!

 

[sockswithshoes]

Rather than run out and buy another mic for the bottom of the snare, can I use the condenser mic that is for the hi-hat? I don't know too much about microphones yet?

We'll definitely play with the positioning of mics. I don't know how much the space we're recording in is affecting the quality yet and how much we can improve via mixing but I can share with you this, the time my son and I spent together yesterday setting this up and trying things out was priceless!

Yeah a sdc will work great for the underside of a snare.

 

[KCPYRO]

glad to hear that. Thanks!