Jumping into recording with drums and possibly other instruments

[akmusic]

Hi guys,

Wanted to start experimenting with recording and was wondering about some recommendations for a nice way to start in the 1000 dollar range. For drum mics I was thinking Shure PGDMK6/XLR but then I read some reviews and figured I'd be better off going for the Shure DMK57-52 Drum Pack w/Cables and then buying some over heads? any recommendations for some cheap but good quality sounding over heads?

Also, I'd be able to use the Shure sm57 for instruments as well therefore saving the money from getting other mics.

The one thing I wasn't to sure about was what type of mixer i should get. I was thinking the Yamaha MG166CUSB 16 Input 6 Bus USB Rack Mountable Mixer and I'd just plug it in and use a program on my computer to mix everything but I was reading on here and saw that it might make my computer lag? I'd be using a dell 1525 laptop so its not too reliable.

Therefore would you guys recommend getting a multitrack digital recorder? If so which one in the price range of 300-500 dollars? I will be needing at least 8 mic inputs so that i may mic up my drums, 10 or 12 would be lovely.

Would this seem like a reasonable set up?

Thanks beforehand for your answers. Just a bit of money so I thought I'd ask for some advice before making any purchases.

 

[mixsit]

Looks like a reasonably decent start but for the lap top part. Maybe a low end/used desk top to run the recording?
Mixer' gives you head phone/monitor control, all you need is a stable computer and fairly low latency during punch-in mode. (Tracking and playback doesn't typically take a lot of power on it's own and you can minimize real time mix' extras and reduce latency during tracking to squeeze by on a modest rig.

 

[The Cancers]

I'm assuming that Yamaha is like most USB mixers in it's price range in that it's only going to send a stereo out via USB, so you're not gonna be doing any mixing on your computer. That's the point of buying a mixer and not a multi-input interface - capturing the stereo mix you created on the mixer as a live, good as it's gonna get take.

Keep in mind that it isn't absolutely vital that you mic every single drum to get a good drum sound and that the most important aspects of a good drum sound - a good drummer playing good sounding drums in a good room - are gonna be harder to get right than making sure you can get a mixable input from each drum into your computer.

 

[mixsit]

Hey almost forgot. Welcome to the site.

 

[akmusic]

I'm assuming that Yamaha is like most USB mixers in it's price range in that it's only going to send a stereo out via USB, so you're not gonna be doing any mixing on your computer. That's the point of buying a mixer and not a multi-input interface - capturing the stereo mix you created on the mixer as a live, good as it's gonna get take.

sooo would you recommend just getting a multitrack digital recorder? I won't have room for a desktop in my room therefore i probably wouldn't rely on my laptop. Which multitrack recorder would you recommend?

Thanks again for all the help.