help with recording set up

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mjrugg2002

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I am looking to get the best possible recordings for a couple of acoustic guitar and a couple vocal tracks (eventually I would like to use my PC, but for now time allows for only guitar/ vocals).

I currently record to a fostex mr 8 digital recorder. I am using a Oktava mk 319 microphone, Presonus pre amp, Alesis Miniverb for reverb/ fx, fmr rnc 1773 compressor, and I have a BBE 422a sonic maximizer. I can master and convert to WAV files on my PC with the fostex.

MY question?? should I run through a mixing board, such as mackie 1202, and how can I best utilize my current equipment...
 
Are you trying to record live with several acoustic guitars or trying to track one guitar using overdubs? A mixer might be helpful in a live situation, but if your just tracking perhaps a patchbay would do the trick. This would alow you to organize your effects, preamp, compressor, etc. is any configuration.
 
One guitar with overdubs. Is a patchbay necessary? Where should I put the pre-amp, fx, compressor, sonic maximizer (order wise) ...would I use all thes before going to the recorder?
 
The patch bay would allow you to route different combinations of effects into your Fostex. I assume, that you are bypassing the pre amps in the Fostex using the Presonus. I also assume that you are plugging your Oktava mic into the Presonus. When all your gear is hooked to a patch bay, you can still run from your Oktava/Presonus to your recorder, but you can also add the RNC, the Miniverb, or the Sonic Maximizer. You could use all three or any combination of the three. Moreover, you can run them in any order that makes sense. All the routing is done in the front of the patch bay--not crawling behind your rack--with short 1/4 plugs (usually TRS chords). The order of effects is not written in stone; it really depends on the sound your looking for.

If you want to use your current setup only (i.e., no patchbay), I would run the Oktava into the Presonus and use the RNC as an insert into the Presonus. Check your preamp to see if this setup is possible, but many preamps are configured this way. (In fact, I think Presonus makes a small half-rack compressor that mounts side-by-side its preamp?). Then I guess I would run the Presonus/RNC into the miniverb followed by the Sonic Maximizer. You might want to clarify the role of the Sonic Maximizer to determine how important it is to your recording chain. You might also want to run directly from the Presonus/RNC to your recorder to limit the length and complexity of your signal chain--especially if you are getting a great deal of noise. Under this setup you could use the onboard effects provided by the Fostex. Or you could add reverb during mixdown. Check you Fostex manual, though, becuase I’m not sure how the unit handles this process.
 
Just a quick follow-up. I noticed in your first post that you were looking for the “best possible” recordings for acoustic guitar and vocal. I assume that you mean best possible given your current equipment. Two thoughts, here. First, you can obviously upgrade equipment to improve the quality of your recordings. There are always better mics, preamps, and recording formats. Many people use multiple mics (often in stereo) to capture the subtlety of the acoustic guitar. And small groups of acoustic instruments can really benefit from 24bit recording versus the 16bit offered by the Fostex MR8. Second, there are plenty of non-equipment issues that can help an acoustic recording. There is nothing like the sound of a decent guitar with fresh strings. Do you need a $2,800 D-28? No, but the quality of the instrument does matter even though it’s not talked about as part of the recording chain. In addition, mic technique is almost as important as having a good mic or preamp. The acoustic guitar is a challenge to mic and you will benefit greatly by experimenting with different mic setups--point the mic at the neck, the bridge, the body, everywhere from every angle and listen!
 
thanks for the advice...it sounds as if I have everything I need to get some nice sounds. as for the BBE, I have'nt used it yet in my chain....but I have just heard so many great things about it, as far as really brightening up a recording.
 
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