general basics question

[marcacho]

Hi. I've been using my Fostex MR-8 digital multitracker for about a year now, and I'd like to continue learning and creating more. What basic equipment would I need to get at least decent digital quality? I'm thinking of getting Cakewalk, but would I also need a mixer, synth with MIDI, something for beats and rhythms, etc? I play guitar, bass, some keys, and just looking for a basic idea of what I'd need to get to the next level. Appreciate any help. Thanks!

 

[Calwood]

I dont really know what other equipment you have,..but I can tell ya this,..there is no one piece of equipment that will give you the quality your after. It's the expierience you gain on your equipment that will yield the results. Having said that,..here are some things to think about,...

If you mix on your computer,....the best sound card you can afford. If you want a mixer,..Behringer probably makes the least expensive. There are varying opinions on them,..but I think they sound ok.

A decent mixdown deck.

compressors,..

Eq's

Quality mics and pre's.

And hours upon hours of research and notetaking!!!!!

Good luck bro.

Take 'er easy,..
Calwood

 

[rvdsm]

Hi. I've been using my Fostex MR-8 digital multitracker for about a year now, and I'd like to continue learning and creating more. What basic equipment would I need to get at least decent digital quality? I'm thinking of getting Cakewalk, but would I also need a mixer, synth with MIDI, something for beats and rhythms, etc? I play guitar, bass, some keys, and just looking for a basic idea of what I'd need to get to the next level. Appreciate any help. Thanks!

The next level being what, exactly? If you already have a digital multitracker that isn't giving you a decent digital recording, then perhaps it's not what you have, it's what's going in. Performance is key and if the sound source isn't what you are wanting, then no amount of mixing is going to fix that.

The main ingredients for a good sounding mix are:
- good source (good instruments, good musician)
- good transducers and amplifiers (mics, preamps, direct boxes, a/d - d/a converers, monitors)
- a good ear! (focus, quiet listening environment, decent room acoustics)

Experience helps a lot in the avenue of time it takes to achieve your goal, but it in no way is required. The more experienced engineers have stumbled down every dead end path and fallen through every trap door there is in their travels and it has made them wiser. Just starting out, you should pay homage to those who travelled the path before you and learn from them. Some of them may be cranky, but that's alright. Their journey may have been longer than others.

 

[Calwood]

"Experience helps a lot in the avenue of time it takes to achieve your goal, but it in no way is required."
rvdsm



Absolutely disagree with that. But everything else ya said was spot on!

Later,..
Calwood

 

[tdukex]

The next level, equipment wise, would be the following:

(1) Sell the MR8

(2) Get a good audio card for your computer (M-Audio, MOTU, Echo, etc.)

(3) Get good audio/MIDI software (Cakewalk, Steinberg, etc.)

For MIDI sounds, you can use a Soundblaster Live ($35) and its soundfont capabilities or there are some inexpensive programs available that are supposed to work also (but I'm not familiar with them). I use the SB Live, and it works very well for soundfonts.

Ethan Winer discusses soundfonts in the following articles:

http://www.prorec.com/prorec/articles.nsf/files/E8FC6F1272005BC0862568D700634565

http://www.prorec.com/prorec/articles.nsf/files/95FF388F66E4334786256B47001C295D

The other MIDI option is to buy various sound modules.

 

[radiorickm]

Hi marcacho.

i use an MR-8 also and i love it

Here are some things i would consider.

#1. A small mixer board like the Behringers will help out alot. I hate plugging and unplugging everything into the MR-8 each time i change insturment.
SO the Mixer would eliminate this problem.
PLUS, you will gain EQ controls, insert point for outboard processors, mike pre's and probably another fx setup.

#2 For the rythm track, Alesis SR-16, Dr Boss or which ever you decide you like and can use easily will plug right in to the recorder. It has a midi sync to lock onto the drum machine, plus the MR-8 has the click track.

Althoug i am not familiar with it, you could use some of the MIDI tracks recorded into the computer for the rythm.

#3 Get a couple of good (not necessarily expensive) mikes.
A large diameter (LD) Condensor, a cople of decent dynamics (like the Sure 57/58's) will do wonders for you sound.

The biggest thing i would recommend is learning how to use all of this stuff. Take time and learn about mike techniques and all of the other thousands of things you need to know.

I think knowledge and experience will produce an ultimately better recording than hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of equipment.