Help with setup and adding components

[BenWV]

I'm kind of just getting started with this whole thing. I've recorded poorly for some years now and am trying to come into my own. I'm editing with digital performer on a power mac. I have a motu 828 mkII which has 2 pre-amped mic inputs. I'm also using a behringer ultragain pro-8 to get 8 more inputs. I record full band hardcore/punk stuff and acoustic multi-tracked country music. I have several sm 57's, 2 audio technica mo2020's, and a few marshall mxl mics. Monitoring with mackie 824's. I'm interested in adding a few components. I find I'm having real problems with reverb and compression. I'm also getting sick of editing with my mouse, so I'm looking for help with compression/reverb units and usb or firewire controlling mixers.

I'm really not sure how the outboard component units chain up in the mix. Do you apply reverb before the sound hits the hard drive or can you bus to effects. Also I'm wondering if what I have as far as mic pre-amps is sufficient.

I hope someone can help.

Thanks.

 

[trabalais]

Outboard Components

Outboard components are very useful at mixdown but have to be used very sparingly during tracking. You say you are tired of editing with a mouse. I think I would invest in some effects plugins for Digital Performer. That way you don't have more outboard gear cluttering up your workspace and you can use as many instances of the compressor, eq, etc as your computer can handle. If you buy a compressor with 2 channels and you need compression on 6 channels, you're going to have to dig in your wallet again.

Thomas
www.yourhomestudio.com

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[cpl_crud]

I would say never, ever apply effects to your tracking, but I don't believe in absolutes, so I'm going to say:
"Don't apply effects to your tracking. Ever."

Ahem.

Now, by saying that you're "recording poorly", do you mean that you're doing your best with cheap gear, or that you're shit?
Sorry to put it bluntly, but if you're shit, more gear isn't going to help that.

The pres you're using aren't all that great. Maybe look into getting a newer, 8-mic FW/USB pre (I belive mackie's actaully bringing out a 12 channel pre with FW that does some crazy amount of I/O, the Onyx 1200F. I'm a fan of the Onyx 800r, so I'm going to look into the 1200F.)

Depending on your budget, you might be better off upgrading your software to something with a bit more grunt, or even just some decent VST plugs. I'd also reccommend the UAD-1 audio processor- it does some funky things in the box.

If you're sick of your mouse, start lookign at control surfaces, like the Mackie Control Universal (man I sound like a mackie whore, don't I?), or, if you're on a budget, something like a Behringer BCF2000. They will give you some faders to play with and make you feel like an audio engineer.

Back to where outboards go in the signal chain, it's usually inserted/looped over your mixer during mixdown. If you're mixing in the box and really, really need to use outboards, I'd invest in a decent A/D/A converter that can handle simultaneous Dig I/O- go out with the signal you want to apply your effect to, then come back in on another channel and record onto another track in your software. Not the cleanest way of doing things, but, hey, you get to tell your clients that you're using outboard effects!

Seriosuly though, I would get some more confidence in your skills before shelling out dollars. Is your mixing poor because you can't get the sound you want, or are you really being held back by your gear? With the list you've provided, I'd say it would go either way.
If you are being held back by your gear, how are you being held back by your gear? If you can't answer that question, I'd go back and rethink your answer to #1... But if you can say "My mixes are poor because the reverbs that I own are shallow/muddy/whatever and I can't do anyhting to fix them" then maybe we can point you in the right direction.

Later,
Crud

 

[BenWV]

follow up

I just finished recording a small coutry band's 5 song ep and this weekend I'm working with a metal band. I think my room could use a revamp and I think I've been successfully talked out of outboard compression, etc. I was just under the impression that drums needed outboard compression and I'm having a great deal of trouble with reverb on vocals. Of the 5 songs we recorded, I think 1 went tremendously well as a result of my work. 1 I am totally dissatisfied with, and the other 3 are somewhere inbetween. I think I would spend more time doing things that mattered if I had a control surface and would be less reluctant to do mix overhauls, so this is the next piece I'm going to look for.

Can someone possibly suggest some vst plugins and if I was to change my DAW what would be suggested and why?

Thanks,
Ben