Need straight answers to what i need based on what i have

[tachyonradio]

hello,

my band is going to attempt to record our new record ourselves. We record live, but with everything individually mic'd in the past and tracked seperately. i know that much. drums will have shure 57's: 1 on the rack tom, 1 on the floor tom, 1 on top and 1 on bottom head of snare, o1 on hats and 2 58's overhead, one kick drum. Bass amp mic 58, guitar amp mic 58, keyboard amp mic 58. 2 ambient room mics. vocals and other guitars overdubed.


here is what i know i have and what i think i need:

-alien recording computer built by some guy.

Processor- AMD Athlon. Thats all it says in the description in the device manager.

Sound Card- m-audio delta 1010LT

Plenty of hard drive space and plenty of RAM

I'm assuming we need a mixer with 13 xlr imputs so we'll probably need one with 16 because they dont make them with 13. do we need an interface other than the sound card. also can the 1010lt handle 13 seperate tracks or do we need to double up? Looking for the daisy chain from the mics to the computer we have. we want it to sound as good as possible by amending what we have. If you know them, we kind of play dynamicly like explosions in the sky and Mono (japan). thats a sketch of whats going on. Can anyone Just straight up tell me what i need to buy? thanks

ian

 

[PDP]

Sounds like your gonna need a decent mixer. I dont think a 1010 can handle 13 inputs separetly. You may need a mixer that can sub mix to more than just a stereo out or single channel outs. There are some studio owners here that may have better suggestions/ideas.

 

[tachyonradio]

thanks. that piece of info helps.

 

[Kingofpain678]

The thing about using mixers is once tracks are mixed down, they can't be unmixed so if you get your levels wrong you'll have to go back and re-record everything. You'll have to get almost all of your EQ, levels, perfect for everything to fit together in the mix.

Now that's assuming your using just a plain mixer and mixing into your 1010. What you COULD do is get a usb or firewire mixer or interface that records each input to it's own track which would give you freedom to eq, mix, apply FX or anything else in your computer using a DAW (digital audio workstation) after tracking. That would be the fastest, most efficient, and non destructive way of recording/editing.

 

[Re-tox_stl]

Yes, you will need a 16 channel mixer. Sense the 1010 only has 10 ins though (8 unbalanced RCA, 1 Balanced Xlr, and Im not quite sure what the other is) you will have to make a couple sub groups and rout your channels to those.

 

[Kingofpain678]

Sounds like your gonna need a decent mixer. I dont think a 1010 can handle 13 inputs separetly. You may need a mixer that can sub mix to more than just a stereo out or single channel outs. There are some studio owners here that may have better suggestions/ideas.

That is one method that would work but...

Next time you should explain how a sub mix works and the pros and cons of sub-mixing before going to the audio interface and you should also give alternative methods and options and explain the pros and cons of each and let the OP (original poster) decide what is best for him or her.

It would suck if he went just off of your advice and he later realized it would be alot more work and a much bigger pain in the ass if he just sent each mic to it's own individual input.

And please, don't take this as me telling you that you're wrong. Just a piece of advice to help you help fellow members as they need it

 

[Kingofpain678]

Yes, you will need a 16 channel mixer. Sense the 1010 only has 10 ins though (8 unbalanced RCA, 1 Balanced Xlr, and Im not quite sure what the other is) you will have to make a couple sub groups and rout your channels to those.

again, a mixer isn't the only option and once something is mixed, it can't be unmixed. If the OP decides to go with a mixer because no one mentioned any other methods (or the pros and cons of using a mixer) and has to record his song 20 different times before he gets the EQ and levels right he/she may be fairly annoyed.

Other options and information about those options should be presented and explained...

 

[Armistice]

Here's a thought... don't record live...

I mean, record live, but not everyone at once... all play and get the drums down, then all play and record everyone else... or tell the drummer to bugger off for a while and play without him.

I'm assuming you can all repeat what you play reasonably well and it's not some stream of consciousness type o' thang...

 

[PDP]

The thing about using mixers is once tracks are mixed down, they can't be unmixed

Thats not correct. Each channel of a mixer could be assigned to an input via the insert out jack/connector to the ins on the 10/10 but because there are 13 mics somethings (most likely drums would be sub grouped to 3or4 inputs instead of the 8 individual mics.

 

[Armistice]

The thing about using mixers is once tracks are mixed down, they can't be unmixed

Thats not correct. Each channel of a mixer could be assigned to an input via the insert out jack/connector to the ins on the 10/10 but because there are 13 mics somethings (most likely drums would be sub grouped to 3or4 inputs instead of the 8 individual mics.

That's not what KoP's saying and that's not mixing down...

Mixing down is taking the various inputs and creating a mix or sub mix and committing that to the recording medium. Once recorded, it can't be unmixed. That's what he's saying and that's what you appear to be recommending to the OP with the suggestion of a 16 track mixer into the 1010lt.

What you're describing isn't mixing down but just using the mixer as an input interface and routing those inputs directly to the 10/10, which, I assume from the name, has 10 ins and 10 outs - thus the need for a submix of some kind as there are 13 inputs to deal with, and that then can't then be undone, which is what KoP is saying.

If you're going to recommend that the OP buy a 16 channel mixer that can deliver each channel out separately, then he doesn't really need a 1010lt, he would be better served with a 16 channel mixer that has a connection straight to the PC (firewire or USB) delivering each channel directly, and then the mixer acts as the interface.

Which is exactly what KoP was saying here:

"What you COULD do is get a usb or firewire mixer or interface that records each input to it's own track which would give you freedom to eq, mix, apply FX or anything else in your computer using a DAW (digital audio workstation) after tracking. That would be the fastest, most efficient, and non destructive way of recording/editing."

Are you with us on all this tachyon?

 

[Kingofpain678]

Thats not correct. Each channel of a mixer could be assigned to an input via the insert out jack/connector to the ins on the 10/10 but because there are 13 mics somethings (most likely drums would be sub grouped to 3or4 inputs instead of the 8 individual mics.

....



Oh so you CAN unmix a song. I, and the rest of the members here (who aren't retarded) must be wrong. Thank god you came to clear that up.

Look, he can assign channels all he wants but if he screws up the levels or eq or decides he doesn't like the sound of one particular mic/instrument in that sub group that means that the screw up has to be fixed. And according to you, you CAN unmix a mix so he should be fine right? Nope. He gets to re-record until he gets it right thanks to you offering close minded advice. I bet he'll be REALLY happy then.

So again, try to offer alternative options (not just what YOU want) and let the original poster decide and if someone calls out the faults of your advice, please, try not to make it worse for yourself. And AGAIN, multi-output usb and firewire mixers would work in this situation, so would a multi input interface, a normal mixer WOULD work in this situation but you want to take into account the pros and cons.

and no, you CAN NOT unmix a mix.

 

[kcearl]

ive unmixed many songs...im an unmixer to the stars