help someone new to recording?

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calltoarms03

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Hey, this is my first post. I'd like to start out that this is all practically brand new to me. I'm currently a high school student with an extreme passion for music, and I love the idea of recording my music and helping others record theirs.

To start out I figured I should buy a pretty cheap audio interface for my old computer so I can start recording things. So i bought the Lexicon Lambda audio interface. I also bought some microphones, and got started. The only problem now is that the audio interface only has two microphone inputs, and I've been recording enough to need at least four. (for drums)

So my question is this: How would I go about adding more mic inputs without buying another audio interface? I was thinking of getting a cheap mixer that has four inputs. Would I be able to hook up the mixer to my audio interface? Or would the mixer take the place of the audio interface?

I really appreciate any one who can help me, and if you know any great books or websites that have good information to help people new to recording like me I would very much appreciate it.
 
Re:

hi-


First if you're new to recording I'd slow down and see what you can do with the 2 mic inputs you have before you go out and spend more money especially if you have an old computer. How old is old?

As far as an answer to your question that I don't know, but I don't think it would work. As far as books get the most one you can find for Home Recording.
I now it sounds bad, but try the Home recording for dummies book. It cuts through all the crap and breaks it down as a lot of books out there make things sound more complicated than they really are.

Good luck
 
the cheapest option for getting more inputs would be to get a mixer, run all the mics into it, and set up the drum mix on it...then run the L/R outputs of the mixer into your interface. you won't have control of the individual parts of the drums after they're recorded, but you'll be able to use more than 2 mics, and will at least have control of the inputs on the mixer itself.

the other option would be to buy another interface with more inputs...there's a million of them out there nowadays, but the cheapest option that will give decent results would probably be a used presonus firepod...things were about $600 new, and sell used for probably around $400 - which is pretty good for 8 inputs.
 
Hey thanks for the replies.

I have been recording myself for awhile, and even a couple of my friend's bands. The only thing thats been bothering me is that I can't get the kind of drum sound that I want from only two microphones, and seeing how my birthday is coming up I figured I'd see what I can find that would help that problem.

The computer I'm using though is probably about five years old, but is pretty stable. It is, unfortunately, the only thing I can use right now since I don't have the money to go out and buy a new computer.

So could I just do what Ironklad Audio stated? If thats possible, do you have any suggestions on the mixer I should get?

And again, thank you so much for any help you could give me.
 
Yeah, I'd agree with slowing down. Better to make sure before you start putting money into something. I like to get the most out of what I have before I think about upgrading, that way I really understand what I need and why I need it.

How much money did you think you would get for your birthday? That could really help with suggestions.
 
To Almy, I'm thinking I'll get somewhere between 100 to 200 dollars for my birthday.

Also, it may have come off as I just started recording yesterday, but I've been recording and experimenting different techniques etc. for about a year, and I feel fairly burdened when it comes to recording drums just because I can't get a full range of sounds.

I don't know, maybe I am going to fast, but I figured since i would essentially be getting something of 100-200 dollar value for free, and I've wanted to get more inputs for awhile, I might as well see if I can hook up some sort of mixer to my audio interface.

Thanks.
 
Sounds like you're ready to consider upgrading your interface then! And $100-$200 puts you near some nice options. I don't know if you have any possible way to but if you can you might want to save up another $100 and be around some nice options.

In the price range you have you might take a look at this kind of thing:

http://www.musiciansfriend.com/product/MAudio-Delta-44-Digital-Recording-System?sku=701346

I haven't researched those in a while so you might want to find out how good/bad they are. But it gives you some options.

If, however, you can save up and get yourself into the $300 to $500 range your options really start to open up:

http://www.musiciansfriend.com/product/PreSonus-FireStudio-Project?sku=241723X
(One of the presonus' are really liked and the other two aren't, I can't remember which though)

http://www.musiciansfriend.com/prod...2-FireWire-12Channel-Analog-Mixer-?sku=630153
(although it's 12 channels really only 8 for your use, the other 4 are spdif/rca/et cetera.)

These aren't the only options, but it might give you an idea of where to start looking.
 
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