Noob - looking for stand alone recorder, mic, advice..

[thag_play]

Hey everyone..
I'm looking to buy a portable recording device with channel inputs, good onboard mic, built in mixer, and USB connection which is relatively easy to use..
(Also gonna pick up mic and a new laptop..)

I want to use it to;
- Record band practices at good quality (currently using ipod recorder, rubbish)
- Record audio to accompany video (using GoPro)
- Use alongside our current mixer to expand number of input channels for gigging (another 6-8 would be fine)
- Record straight onto laptop (new song ideas etc)

I'm an utter noob with recording tech. Currently have sm58s so assuming I need a new one that can be set up in the middle of practice to catch everything..? Also looking at Macbook Pro or possibly Air if money won't stretch!

Thanks for any and all help,
TP

 

[thag_play]

PS.. was looking at Alesis MultiMix 8 USB, looks cool.. but looked like I could only record direct to laptop? Want to be able to record with device only (or plugged into an ipod etc..) – rather than always need laptop..
Cheers,
TP

 

[xbxrxixtx]

If you are wanting to record practices and all of that I would say get an audio interface with enough inputs to fit your needs. The interface will convert your analog instruments and mics to digital signals and the software on your computer will be your mixer. I don't know why you would need an onboard mic. No interface I've ever seen has one, and I don't know why it would.

Sitting one mic in the middle of a practice space will probably sound like crap. My suggestion would be using DI's for bass and guitar, putting mics around the drum kit, and a mic on vocals. Then take the output of your interface to some speakers that the whole band can hear. It will all depend on what kind of band and instruments you have.

If you already have a mixer you can just take the stereo output of that mixer into a small interface(2 channels). You wont have control over the channels after it hits the interface though which could be a problem for you.

You could also get a medium size interface (4 channels or so) and use your mixer to record your drums, then send that out of your mixer into your interface, and then plug guitars and whatever else into the interface directly. Less control over the drums, but if your mixer has eq and even a comp you will be able to get decent drum sounds....assuming you know what your doing.

I'd suggest doing some research on DAWs and how they work. That will probably help.

 

[xbxrxixtx]

PS.. was looking at Alesis MultiMix 8 USB, looks cool.. but looked like I could only record direct to laptop? Want to be able to record with device only (or plugged into an ipod etc..) – rather than always need laptop..
Cheers,
TP

If that is what you want you will probably need a digital mixing console with a hard drive onboard.

 

[mjbphotos]

Do it the way everyone else does - an interface with as many inputs as you use on your mixing board, recording direct to the laptop.
Not sure why you would want a stand-alone recorder, it's not going to be able to be used as a chained-mixer to your current board. And like has already been said - why a built-in mic?
The Alesis Multimix 8 or 16 USB might be what you need.

 

[thag_play]

Cheers - the onboard mic was a brain-fart, don’t need that, sorry.

I don’t need studio quality recording (have a studio we use) - just good enough audio to mix with video to post cool indie vids online..

HQ recording would be for acoustic at home only, to accompany video as well..

I could really use the extra channels for gigging, I was thinking I could run inputs through this new ‘thing’ and then run the output into one of my existing channels – using new ‘thing’ to mix individual inputs.. not possible??

Like the Alesis, but wanted SD recording or something..

Been looking at these as well:
- Tascam DP02CF 8-Track Compact Flash Digital Recorder
- Zoom R16 Multitrack SD Recorder Interface and Controller