I need effects advice

[deferr]

I have just bought a Fostex M-80 8 track reel to reel maching.

A Sunn PX2116 16 channel mixer

A Studio Projects B1 condensor microphone.

I'm planning on buying another B1 as well as a 2 track stereo mixdown macine.

My question is that I will be recording mainly acoustic guitar, bass, vocals, banjo, harmonica, upright piano, etc. So I'm thinking that a few rackmount units would serve me well. I have 2 compressors but they're only 1 channel a piece. When I ran sound at church I would bring them and then just mix the backup vocals to one track and compress that track. That worked great.

Are there any essentials that I am going to really miss by not having them? There is a local used gear place down the road that has some rackmount eq's and stuff for very cheap and I know what most of them do I just have a hard time knowing which ones I could actually use. I am a long time musician who really loves the technical aspect so recording and producing seems like the best next step.

 

[Big Kenny]

I just shuddered after reading your post. Read the stickys at the top. Have you done any recording before? Are you planning on recording strictly to tape? What is your existing signal chain? If you don't know why you want an effect (or eq or comp or delay or verb or flange, etc) don't buy any.

 

[deferr]

I'm sorry I'll clarify my signal chain a little and then explain what I'm saying.

I will plug my microphones and probably some bass guitar through my 16 channel mixer. then from there I will go into the 8 track recorder. For playback and mixing I assume I will do the opposite. I will plug the output of each track on the 8 track reel to reel into the mixer and use the stereo mix to record onto a 2 track reel to reel machine. During mixdown I will ad alterations to the sound as needed.

This is where I thought compression and reverb may come into play. I realize that they are not always appropriate and most of the time one should get the tones right the first time and not have to do much tweaking.

I really wanted to know if there was a good way to add compression to more than one track at a time If all I have is a single input compressor.

I am also here to learn so any discussion about use of effects (lack of use) is very much appreciated.

Thanks for everyone's time

 

[mr.rich]

seems like youve got the right idea to me. now just practice that a bunch of times and figure out exactly what your lacking in the outboard dept.

for 2 track mixdown id say just get a copy of wavelab and a couple convertors since you already seem to have a comp. other than that you could get a masterlink or a analog 2 track mixdown deck.