Minimalist home recording setup?

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Unsprung

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I'm inching closer and closer, to being able to start recording some of my music, and especially as soon as my sister is all the way moved into her apartment, and I take over her room (my old room, that I shared with my brother anyway, when we were kids). So far, I've got a Line6 Guitar POD 2.0, and an M-Audio Audiophile 2496 card resides inside my Power Mac G3. Next month, I plan to add a Line6 Bass POD, and quite possibly a ToneWorks PX4 Pandora portable recording studio (SmartMedia card based), as well as having an Ibanez Artcore AG75TBS on lay-away, right now.

Would I, at any point, maybe need a squeeze a mixer in, if anything, to avoid the hassle of plugging/unplugging different instruments/effects boxes? What should I look for, in the way of up to an 8 channel mixer? Should I go with Behringer, or Mackie? Any lesser known, but just as/more capable mixers I might look at?

I'll stop, here...if I keep going, and eventually follow up on my ideals, my (future) room will be so full of music gear, I won't be able to fit into it. :-P

Matt in Indiana
 
Have you seen my threads on recording packages and Budget recording setup's?

I think I found the cheapest way possible!!!!!
 
IMHO the choices for your next equipment purchases should be based on how experienced and comfortable you feel at this point.

You'll hear a plathora of emotions and facts regarding the choices of mics and mixers around here. Duck under the table every thime you say "Berhinger"!

If you're in the learning stage, I'd suggest the cheaper stuff from the onset. Get familiar with a cheapie Behringer to see what you can do with a mixer and how you'll use one in your setup. Establish the features you like from those you don't need. Then you can make a solid choice when you upgrade. You may decide you'ld rather use software mixing.

While you're getting hands-on experience, scour the specs on other models to see what's available.

What mics do you have so far?
 
Just another 2 cents...

Forget about the PX-R4. You don't need the recording ability if you are setting up a DAW. Don't expect to be able to record on that and then transfer it to the Mac. I've found its converters to be wanting and its effects very noisy.

If you want to get around the plugging/unplugging dilemma, you don't really need to get a mixer. Obviously, if it's in your budget, go for it. Personally, I would use a patchbay to bring all the connections to someplace conveniant, and save the money for a microphone or 2.

If I had 2 cents for every time someone gave me their 2 cents, I could afford all this stuff
 
getuhgrip, I don't yet have any mics, although a lot of folks have suggested Shure SM57's and/or SM58's, when I have the need to mic anything (like my Hammond M2, whenever I can get it going). (Ducking already)...Also, I mentioned Behringer only because several folks I chat with have had good success using the $300-range Eurodesk mixers. If I really do need a mixer, I guess I might just go with a Mackie, since they seem to be used by most everybody, and they've got mixers in my range of affordability.

Hawking, your mention of a patch bay is noted, and I'll take that under serious consideration, if I can get away cheaper than the price of a mixer such as I'm looking for. Since I'll be running my guitars and bass through POD's, anyway, the patch bay sounds like a more prudent route.

I'll make sure I make my needs well known, next time I get to Guitar Center, in Indy (next chance I get to go to Indy).
 
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