Not really a newbie, just...lost

  • Thread starter Thread starter TheBargains
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TheBargains

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Ok...first post after months of reading every rec forum I could find. This is long, sorry.

I'm 21, I've been recording (bands, myself, barking dogs, pretty much anything that makes a noise) for around 3 years. Started on a crappy single tape deck with a built in mic, bought a Boss BR864 digital 8-track, and then another (just for fun?). I've recorded everywhere, from bedrooms to rehearsal rooms to live venues in London (why do some engineers look so angry when you suggest different mic placement and then ask to take a line out of their desk?), I've spent alot of time learning about mic-ing pretty much anything, and for a while now I've been fairly happy with the results. It can't still be beginners luck after 3 years, so I'm guessing I must be ok at this recording stuff? I now own all this (don't ask how, it's another VERY long story):

Muisc-only PC - 3ghz Pentium 4, 250gb hard drive, Creative Audigy soundcard, ultra-quiet fans, 19" flatscreen monitor
Alesis HD24
2 Boss BR864's
3 mixers (Behringer MX3282A 32 channel; Mackie 24.4 VLZ 24 channel; Yamaha MG16/4 16 channel)
EMU ESI4000 Sampler
Lexicon MPX100 multi-fx; Boss SE 50 multi-fx
Behringer DI4000 4-channel DI unit
Mics - AKG Drum Set Big (7 piece), Arena Drum 7 (7 piece), MXL 990, Samson C01, Shure PG58, PG48, 3x Behringer XM1800S (they actually sound not too bad mic-ing guitar amps) and a few others not worth mentioning
2 Drum kits; Yamaha DD-55 drum machine
Various guitars
Roland VA7 (keyboard, sampler, and sequencer)
Amps - various inc. huge Trace Elliot bass
Monitors - at present just some little Edirol (Roland) MA10-A's
PA (1000watt amp, 2 300watt speakers)
Cables - 15 XLR-XLR, mostly 30' long; a 32-way 45' XLR loom (28 send 4 return), around 20 guitar leads

That's pretty much everything, except stands etc. Basically...what the hell should I do with it? I know I need more gear, some better mics, better monitors, compressor, more effects units but...what do you guys suggest? I mean gear-wise and also...direction I suppose. A few more years recording local bands at rehearsal and gigs until I finally get bored of it?

Any replies would be...wonderful

Si
 
Wow! Hard to know where to start!

My first inclination is to tell you to sell the some of the lower quality equipment and focus on a really good mixer (Soundcraft Ghost, Midas Venice, etc.). Use it with the Alesis hard disk recorder and ditch the computer. My second inclination is to say ditch almost everything and get a laptop and a really nice firewire interface (RME Fireface, Metric Halo Mobile IO). Give you back a rest and set up a nice, modern mobile recording rig.

Of course, if you're going to get bored with recording other peoples stuff in a year or two, why not record your own music? Sounds like it might add a dimension you're missing. Or focus on the barking dogs!
 
Thanks for the reply, I know it's a strange situation.

I've read alot about ProTools setups, and a few friends have them. The whole ProTools DAW idea...is a turn-off for me! I know they make life easier but I love analogue desks. I know how to use all the gear I have, and at the moment my mixer-HD24-PC setup looks like the way I want to go. Ethernet is painfully slow so I'll have to get the firewire add-on for the HD24.

I've been considering investing in premises of my own to have a decent dedicated space for recording instead of a garage and a spare bedroom or whatever local rehearsal space bands are using. So...I suppose I should've made my original post more clear. I know selling what I have and starting again is an option but...I know how it works, I know it can make acceptable (to me and to the guys I record) sounding recordings. So working with what I've got, what else do you think I need?

I should add I know I'm far from a newbie but...I still have a hell of alot to learn, and with this amount of uncertainty I thought the newbie forum was the place to start!

Again, any replies would be great

Si
 
TheBargains said:
So working with what I've got, what else do you think I need?
Click to expand...

I would get a dedicated space and room treatments to insure a high quality monitoring/mixing environment. I would also upgrade your monitors and look at some high quality LDC mics. You could also upgrade your preamp selection since it looks like your just using the built-in preamps in your mixers.
 
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