Noob needs help with home recording

[dsideb]

Hi everyone,

I'm looking to invest in a small home recording setup. Basically, I'm going to be recording by myself, doing multiple instruments -- drums, guitars, vocals, etc -- piece by piece.

I'm not sure what route I should go with a recording interface...I plan on doing all the mixing on my laptop.

If I plan on using multiple mics to record different parts of my drum kit, do I need a multitrack recorder? As I understand it, a multitrack recorder will create separate tracks in whatever mixing software I use on my computer...right?

Thanks for any input

 

[ollie99]

you may be a newb but you seem to know around the place already.
Whats your budget?

 

[Steenamaroo]

If I plan on using multiple mics to record different parts of my drum kit, do I need a multitrack recorder?

To record multiple simultaneous tracks to your computer, you'd need a multi channel usb, firewire, or pci/pcie interface.

You can get straight forward ones with 8 channels and 8 gain knobs, like a firepod,
or ones with mixer capabilities, like the alesis firewire ones.

 

[xbxrxixtx]

You just need to make sure your interface has enough inputs for what you are trying to record. You'll also want to think about the processing power of your laptop and if you'll be able to handle recording as many mics and you are trying to record. Also when you mix all of your tracks and start adding effects that will weigh down on your laptop as well.

You don't really need a multi-track recorder because with an interface and computer your hard drive essentially becomes the recorder.

Also, if you intend on doing any MIDI recording you will want to make sure the interface you choose has that capability.

 

[dsideb]

You don't really need a multi-track recorder because with an interface and computer your hard drive essentially becomes the recorder.

Ok, I guess what I'm wondering is what's the difference between a multitrack recorder and a regular interface?

And I'm going to be mixing everything on my mac... I don't forsee using more than 3-4 mics at a time...would that be an issue for processing, etc?

 

[dsideb]

I've had some basic experience recording, but not much, and I haven't done it in awhile.

And I haven't figured out an exact budget yet, but as far as a recording interface/multitrack recorder, I probably would want to spend less than $250-300.

 

[Armistice]

An interface interfaces between your instruments and your PC, where the recording is done - it doesn't record anything. A multi-track recorder is an all-in-one device that does the recording directly from your instruments.

Different animals.

 

[xbxrxixtx]

Ok, I guess what I'm wondering is what's the difference between a multitrack recorder and a regular interface?

And I'm going to be mixing everything on my mac... I don't forsee using more than 3-4 mics at a time...would that be an issue for processing, etc?

The multitrack recorder is something that records multiple tracks simultaneously (sp?). An ADAT, or tape machine would be examples of multitrack recorders. The interface is the bridge between your instruments in computer.

For example an old school recording back in the analog days would go something like this; instruments -> into mixing console -> into tape machine. When you record digitally using a computer you would take your instruments into your interface rather than the mixer. The computer then becomes the mixing console. You could then take that signal out to a multitrack recorder like an ADAT or tape machine if you wanted to, or you could record it all straight to your computers (or an external) hard drive.

As far as processing power and all of that is concerned, I'm not too familiar with a lot of it. I had a simple 2-track "master" i was working on and just adding a few effects to the tracks my macbook would not handle it (should be said that i never messed with the settings or anything so that was probably the problem). I easily worked around it by bouncing tracks down which took a lot of the load off the computer. Now I have a different interface with a lot more inputs and I'm curious about how its going to work while multi-tracking. To find out I hooked 4 mics and two DIs up and had them all recording at once, and had no issues. Now I need to try adding effects and try to simulate a mixing scenerio to see how it fares. As long as I can get it all tracked without a problem, I can deal with having to bounce tracks down to get what I'm wanting, but if I can't record it, I have a problem.

I think with a Mac you should be fine in general. You may want to go in and adjust your settings to best optimize what you are trying to do. I wish I could have better info, but when it comes to specs and processing power and all of that I'm an idiot.