Out of channels!

[jagpunk]

Ok, so I have an eight track board.

Here's what I want to throw on there:

4 tracks for drums
1 track for guitar
1 track overdub guitar
1 track bass guitar
1 track main vocals
1 track backup vocals

If you examine, that equals 9 tracks. How can I fit everything without bouncing? I'm thinking either consolidating 2 drum tracks for left and 2 for right or trying to throw both vocal tracks together. You see, I have some recording experience (by trial-and-error mostly) , but pretty much know jack squat about mixing down. I thought of using a little four track to go along with it, but how would I get the timing right to put them on the same track on the reel-to-reel?

Or, if someone can explain how to bounce a couple tracks and have them come out stereo in the mix down please enlighten me.
I feel like a helpless fool. If I'm missing something, and this can be done easily, then how bout showing me how to throw a fifth drum track on, too?

Thanx.

 

[Rick Hammang]

"Ok, so I have an eight track board."
--Jagpunk

If you need more inputs. Take that little four track and use it as an extender to your 8-track board, not recording on the 4 track, just line through. You can use the buss ins, if you have them, or an aux in. Or effects return. The 4 track will give you 4 more inputs, that you will sub mix, in stereo, with everything else. Just connect the L & R outs of the 4 track to a pair of line ins, aux, RTN, or Buss.
If you have an 8-track machine, then the sky is the limit on carefull track bouncing, but you just said reel to reel, 2-tr, 4- tr, 8-tr, ???, till I know what you have, I can't help you build a plan.

--Rick

 

[sjoko2]

Good advise Rick. But jagpunk - can you clarify your list of equipment please?
You state you have an 8-track board - a board is not a recorder - and you go to a reel-to-reel? An 8 track reel-to-reel?
Suffice to say, IF you have an 8 track analogue machine, you've got a lot of possibilities.
Please provide more info and we can give you some sound advise

 

[jagpunk]

yes, yes!

An eight track recorder have I! Sorry I neglected to clarify that. Yes, each channel on my board goes to it's own respective track on the reel-to-reel.

Yeah, this is what I was touching on when I stated I had a four track, to incorperate that in the mix. I knew I could do it somehow, just needed some more proffesional clarification. Please give me all the details.

I sort of know how to use buss(there's four busses), but not how to EFFECTIVELY utilize them. So if it would be easier to use the aux 1, I'd prefer to use that.

 

[sjoko2]

Its not so difficult to learn how to bus?? I'd advise you to get that figured out first, you'll find that will open up a whole bunch of stuff.
Listen to some classics like for instance Golden Earring's Radar Love. Bass and drums there are a submix from one board, routed as a stereo pair to a 8 track machine.