NEW! So, Here's how it went...

[ap-emerger]

Well, first of all...thanks everybody for your words of wisdom and recording advice.
I wanted to post a "post-drum recording" follow up.

So, I used the Buss method to record the click & scratch tracks (onto tracks 1& 2). Then, used the Direct method to record the drums (via my Mackie mixer to get the EQ good and tasty on the drums) into tracks 3,4,5,6. They sound relatively good. No effects whatsoever. So, I am happy with the original, unadultered sound of the drums (which I'll pan, further eq & send reverb, effcts etc at a later time).

Ta'Daaa! I did it!

Now, I'll use the BUSS method to mic the guitars onto tracks 9,10,11 utilizing the XLR inputs via my tube -pre amp to color & warm the sounds. For the Guitar Parts, I'm thinking of using my 15W Fender Blues Jr with both a Shure SM 57 up close & a Shure Beta condensor for the room sound. Mix these two sounds together on my Mackie mixer & send to channels 9,10 & 11. (or however many guitar parts I want)

Then, I'll do Bass using the Direct method into track 12, via my tube Pre-amp to once again warm up the sound before I send it to the VF-16.

I guess being a long time analoge hold out, I am a bit intimidated by the "edit", "scene select" & "scene transfer" options of the VF-16. I almost want to run everything to my existing effects, tube pre's and Mackie board, while utilizing the VF-16 simply as a "recording device."

Maybe I'll figure out the manual better and get better at the learning curve & start to trust my digital skills.


We'll see.

Thanks again,
Andy

 

[billisa]

Now, I'll use the BUSS method to mic the guitars onto tracks 9,10,11 utilizing the XLR inputs via my tube -pre amp to color & warm the sounds. For the Guitar Parts, I'm thinking of using my 15W Fender Blues Jr with both a Shure SM 57 up close & a Shure Beta condensor for the room sound. Mix these two sounds together on my Mackie mixer & send to channels 9,10 & 11. (or however many guitar parts I want)

Then, I'll do Bass using the Direct method into track 12

We'll see.

Thanks again,
Andy

Just offhand, I'm not getting the logic of why you use Buss or Direct recording. Not a criticism, but it seems to me you could be using Direct on all of the above scenarios. Direct should technically be cleaner (though not necessarily audibly). Just wondering.

Of course it sounds like you're really learning your way around the machine!

 

[ap-emerger]

XLR's...

Thanks Bill,
the main reason was that I used my outboard mackie to put the drums mics into before sending to the VF-16 (using XLR cables/mics). The VF-16 only has 2 XLR inputs. As for the guitar parts & since I wanted to lay down numerous guitar tracks (by use of SM 57's & condenser mics) utilizing XLR inputs, it seemed easier to my sophmoric brain to just BUSS the signals to whatever track I wanted them in. I suppose I could have done the "track exchange" or the "edit" features to move tracks around but I still haven't figured that part out yet.

Also, I had only 2.5 hours to be "loud" to get the initial tracking for 12 songs (meaning lay down 12 drum tracks on a extremely loud Tama Artstar kit) & 12 guitar parts (a Guibson Les Paul plugged into a TubeScreamer to a Fender Twin).

I had to make sure I got all the loud recording done first. Now I can concentrate on doing the remaining guitars & bass parts quietly by recording directly into the board. (non amplification)


Does that makes sense? Could I have done all this an easier way?
I am still such a newbee on this digital domain. Any advice is appreciated!

I kind of kick myself now for being such an old-school, analoge purist that I have completely fell behind on the technology curve.

But...I do belive that there is something very valuable about totally understanding & being totally personal with your existing equiptment. I can really make a kick@$$ recording from mty 8 track reel to reel. But, it's becoming a pain since nobody makes tapes anymore and if you CAN find them, they are $70 for a 33 minute reel of tape.

Thanks again,
Andy

 

[billisa]

I suppose I could have done the "track exchange" or the "edit" features to move tracks around but I still haven't figured that part out yet.

But...I do belive that there is something very valuable about totally understanding & being totally personal with your existing equiptment.

Whatever works is what's best. I was just curious. Your way is probably best, whereas I go the DIRECT/TRACK EXCHANGE route...

The truth is, many of us will buy into new equipment without ever having gotten the most out of the old. A lot of what you know in the analogue format will transfer, and you may come to appreciate the VF160 more because of your past experience.