general questions

[guhlenn]

ok i'm starting to get into this whole thing here but there's still a shitload i don't get.
1) what about the inputs? i've seen the adat systems with separate mixers are these mixers preamplified? ) now the alesis studio24 to pick one has a lot of XLR inputs, those all in one things like the fostex VF-16 has only two.
i do not understand that. I need to record my band as a whole.. so will i need more xlr inputs or can i adjust the existing jackinputs?
2) the tascam 488 has 2 mic/line 6 line and 2 line stereo. What is the meaning behind this?
and is there a difference between analog and digital recordings which will be mastered on a PC?

A lot of questions and very chaotic but please help
thanx guhlenn

 

[regebro]

What connector you use really isn't very important. The important thing is if the input has a mic preamp or not, if it is balanced or not and if it has phantom power or not.

If you need more mics than you have preamped inputs, you need separate preamps. The VF-16 has preamps on all 8 inputs, so you can use up to 8 microphones or lined instruments at one time. Only two inputs are balanced with phantom power though, which means that if you need more than two mics that use phantom power (condenser mics, that is) you need either external preamps or external phantom power supplies.

Do you really need to record your whole band at one time?

I don't understand your second question.

No, there is no difference to how you master digital and analog recordings. If you are going to do commercial recordings, use a professional mastering studio.

 

[guhlenn]

thanx regebro,

the second question is resolved though i meant to ask if a line input was preamped or not. Because i know the answer now the question gets a bit less vague doesn't it?
But still I don't get the balanced unbalanced part,
is it just that they give phantom power or not, or is there more? i know what phantom power is btw. I'll just say what I do know that's a lot less typing LOL.
About the condensor mics: a SM57 is condensor or not?
I think not and it that case it won't be necesary to have this phantom power on all inputs.
The thing is that it's not just intended to record a cd but also to record jam's rehearsals and that kinda things cause we found out that listening helps.
I don't think that would be possible without recording all the instruments at the same time.

Oh I'm already aware of the mastering problems...
our last recording in a commercial studio went great and it sounded sooooooooooo fat on ADAT....
ok you know what's coming now:
the mastering was done in an hour and after a week we all were irritated like hell over the mastering, but we didn't have any money left so we had to do with it.
bummer

Could you help on the mic's?
i heard for guitars there's nothing like the sm57
but for bass singing and drums?
Although leave the drums cause we have a drummer who will probably spend more mobney on the mic's then we alltogether.
Will a DI box do for bass or does it have to be miced to get a decent tone?

thanx, you helped alot (again)
greetz guhlenn

 

[regebro]

The difference between balanced and unbalanced has been explained both here and at other places, so I'll be brief: Balanced is a technique to get rid of outside interfearence, like noise and hum. It's especially useful on weak signals, like microhpnes.

For your mic questions, ask them again in the mic forum, and you'll get lots of response. Probably the questions have been asked before, so try searching first.

 

[guhlenn]

tahnx i've already found it...
hey manb thanx again for answering a lot of questions!!!
i appreciate it VERY much.
what would the world be if there weren't people like you?
greetz guhlenn