Need recording setup for piano / voice

[BrazosPiano]

I want a setup for my piano and me singing. I gotta setup and take down quickly when I use it b/c I have 4 and 2 year old kids who are into everything...

What I have:
1) 5'8" M&H grand
2) MacBook Pro (~1 yr old)
3) ElectroVoice 457A mic
4) Roland MP8 (don't use a whole lot as I favor the piano which I play daily)
5) $1000 budget absolute max for now to get setup (less always good)

For working on my singing (I need headphones to hear myself and otherwise go out of tune some) and considering kids affecting ability to leave stuff out, I just ordered a Tascam DR-07 and will use some overear headphones to get started. Was this good choice? I would use this daily when practicing while playing (as well as acapello w/ headphones to improve my singing).


Considering these:
A) Fast Track Ultra
B) Lexicon U42S
C) ?Package deal with FastTrack Ultra 8R, ProTools and mics (but are these the mics I need for piano?) $850
Mics are Audio-Technica AT2020, Sennheiser e609, and 2 Samson CO2 mics (I assume I would use the 2 Samsons for the piano?)
http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/FastTrkU8Bun/
D) Zoom R16. Is the lower sampling an issue? It seems to have lots of cool features and setup / takedown would be very quick.
D) Other choices I should consider? I really liked the Apogee Duet and it looked slick, but then I only have 2 mic inputs....

I was wondering if spending less on the interface / software and more on mics might be better choice than the package deal? I have Garageband already.... I am really confused buy all the choices out there

 

[dastrick]

I think that something like the Zoom R16 would be the way to go. It would be a very simple setup since it will record straight to the SD card. Just set your mics up and hit record.

 

[BrazosPiano]

re: choosing ZoomR16 for setup

The Zoom16 does seem pretty cool, and I can even forego the computer.

I was wondering about the sample rate, which seems half of the other ADCs... is this a problem with quality?

If I wanted something similar to the ZoomR16 but with higher sampling rate, what would the next choice be, a Tascam or a Mackie?

 

[TeyshaBlue]

The Zoom16 does seem pretty cool, and I can even forego the computer.

I was wondering about the sample rate, which seems half of the other ADCs... is this a problem with quality?

If I wanted something similar to the ZoomR16 but with higher sampling rate, what would the next choice be, a Tascam or a Mackie?

The Zoom will record at up to 24/96khz, so rate's not a problem.

 

[BrazosPiano]

Ahhh.... I think I understand now. The Zoom has 4kHz recording with its own software
24-bit/48kHz linear PCM recording in WAV format (I assume with onboard memory)


and High-definition 24-bit/96kHz recording capability using digital audio software (I assume this means LogicWorks or ProTools or Cubase?)

So is there any advantage to buying the Ultra Fast Track 8R compared to the Zoom R16 other than rack mount? It sounds like they have very similar features, only the Zoom is cheaper and also has recording feature and can work standalone.

And the Zoom and Cubase works fine on Mac platform?

 

[BrazosPiano]

I watched Cubase review on Sweetwater. It said I can import video? I would like record me playing on my Flip HD and import this into my DAW.


Can Cubase do this?

Can Pro Tools do this?

Can Logic do this?


Does the Zoom work with Logic / Pro Tools okay?

 

[TeyshaBlue]

I watched Cubase review on Sweetwater. It said I can import video? I would like record me playing on my Flip HD and import this into my DAW.


Can Cubase do this?

Can Pro Tools do this?

Can Logic do this?


Does the Zoom work with Logic / Pro Tools okay?

I dunno about PT, but it will work with Logic.

Here's a dedicated Zoom forum. Go read up on it there and you can probably find most of your questions already answered. http://2090.org/zoom/bbs/viewforum.php?f=17&sid=2991d0b4717a5fe84721b3c419b74651

 

[dastrick]

Cubase supports video.