My First Recording Gig: Here's my Setup...

[ChuckU]

I've been recording my own original stuff for a while now, but it's always been one instrument at a time. My friend's band is coming over tomorrow to see what I can do for them. I'm planning to record live drums/bass, and maybe one guitar simultaneously. Bass and guitar direct. I'd like to have the vocalist sing while recording the three instruments, for a guide, but dub him in afterwards. I can also put him outside the room.

My plan is for everyone (including myself) to be wearing headphones. I should be able to tap my 3 mixers, my receiver and my tape deck (not shown).

I've attached a diagram of my home studio setup. I've got an opportunity to make some $$ here, so any suggestions about wiring/monitoring, etc. are welcome.

I hope the diagram is clear. Let me know.

Thanks

 

[heinz]

Looks tight. I assume the bass gtr will hit some kind of a preamp on the way into the mackie (your 'mic input' graphic means lo-z input right?).

Did you actually draw all the little knobs by hand???

 

[Tom Hicks]

Very impressive diagram!I wish I could do graphics as nicely.
I record my rock band with less gear than you have and just have a couple suggestions based on our efforts."Feel" is much more important than any kind of technical expertise.First,you want to lay down a rhythm bed that rocks with rhythm guitar-bass-drums-keys locked in a groove that will propel the vocals,leads and all the other stuff that goes on top.Bottom line is you want to get a good drum take as a foundation to build on.
A well rehearsed band will not settle down untill the second or third take.And this is guys that are prepared.More than three takes and it goes stale fast however.Have a notepad and make remarks as you listen to the tracking.
With everything going direct with everything except vox then your drum tracks will sound a lot crisper without all that bleed..A guide vocal is usually layed down now to help everybody keep their place in the tune but will be replaced later.
Double check every connection and cord before the session and do a 30 second "sound check" to verify signal flow.
Remember that you are dealing with MUSICIANS,so gently steer them with humerous banter into getting focused into the moment in the same way that professional atheletes do,into "the zone" of creativity.Good luck with the session.Post some clips when you get done.

 

[TexRoadkill]

Looks pretty good. I would consider that direct Roland guitar a scratch track. You will probably get a better sound micing his amp with a 57.

The bass should be fine going into the mackie mic pre if the cable run isnt too long.

You dont mention 2 of the most important things. Your mics and your monitors.

 

[ChuckU]

Thanks for the input guys.
Heinz, I did the graphic in AutoCad, then output the screen shot to a gif - design is my day gig...

Tom, the band is actually pretty tight. They play together often and play out at least once a month. I'm pretty comfortable with drum recording these days as it's been my main focus for the last five or six months. I like your 30-second sound check idea.

Tex, I'm probably going to run the guitar through my J-Station, which will allow me to use its digital out to go to the Delta digital in. I'm sure they'll want to dub the guitar later. Also, I want to avoid bleed and micing the guitar and drums in the same room will probably be a problem.
My mics:
Snare: SM-57
Kick: Shure Beta-52
Rack Tom: Peavey dynamic (HD-40) don't laugh. I get good results from this thing.
Floor Tom: Sennheiser 421
Overheads: 2 Behringer ECM-8000's
Hihat and Vocals: Marshall V67
I have a Shure AX-1 for the scratch vocal.
I'm monitoring thru a pair of Bose bookshelves. If this gig pays off, I'll probably get a set of nearfields.

Thanks for the replies. I'll report my results tomorrow.