Need feedback and experience on a new setup

  • Thread starter Thread starter Tim Walker
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Tim Walker

Tim Walker

New member
Greetings all!

My goal is to be able to record a live 3 piece rock band (guitar, bass, drums) with a couple of vocal tracks. The drum kit is 4 piece. All organic sounds, no midi or computer generated things. My thoughts are to get a Mac laptop, some sort of input device with software (this is where I need help), some monitors, and some decent mikes. I only have a small room, so everything will be played together live... can I run a direct line for the guitar and bass to the computer, and only have the drums miked. In my mind this will get the cleanest sound (no drum bleed in the guitar/bass, but some guitar/bass bleed in the drums, which could be managed somewhat).

Any suggestions on what to buy (I have nothing now except a couple of mics, and of course the instruments). Do I need 8 inputs? Is cubase better than pro-tools, etc. Is there some thing like ampfarm that is not a part of pro-tools - where I can get the guitar sounds "in the mix".

Any thoughts and suggestions are greatly appreciated!

Tim
 
Whats the budget. I have a Tascam FW-1884 that I love. It has 8 mic pres and 8 ADAT ins. You can grab them B-stock from AMS for $1000.00
 
budget is maybe $2000 (not counting the Mac)

Budget is maybe $2000 (not counting the Mac)
 
are you willing to look at windows based laptop ? if you are. search under my name for many suggestions.
 
carter.
and many of us powertracks users dont want what you use EITHER !
expensive....to say the least.
 
Oh ya manning1 welcome back, now go sell your crap software somewhere else.

Hey Tim,

Use some of the funds you have to treat the room you're doing the recording in if you want a decent sound. You might want to think about tracking one instrument at a time and micing the amps, at least the guitar. If you go direct you still will need a DI box.

If you go with a pc you'll have more options I think but then again I don't own a mac. There are lots of happy campers with m-audio soundcards here that use cubase, cakewalk, cooledit pro and n-track. There's also a fostex and tascam forum here where you can grab lots of support. The best thing you can do is plan ahead before you buy something.
 
The best suggestion I can give you is to try as many as you can to see which fit your view of the world and your natural flow best.
 
manning1 said:
carter.
and many of us powertracks users dont want what you use EITHER !
expensive....to say the least.


I have NEVER recommended anyone to buy Cubase unlike you and Powertracks! :rolleyes: Expensive yes, better than Powertracks YES!
 
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