Please Help Home recording and practicing setup

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am1900

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Please help, I would like to setup home recording studio for 10 yrs old. Singing solo and duets, He sings Indian classical and plays, we have Harmonium (Only could be miced), Tabla only could be miced, Guitar electric and non electric, Keyboard Yamaha PSR E413 with cable to hook up to mixer or audio interface, one EV 767a Dynamic Microphone with cable. We may need about more than 3-4 microphones. We also have 2 audio technical Dynamic mics and cables.
I could only spend about maximum $2000.00, would appreciate your input.
We are looking into getting following.
Interface: Focusrite Scarlet 18i20 USB 2.0 $500.00
Monitors: Yamaha HS8 $350.00 x 2 = $700.00
Microphone Shure $159.00 $159.00
Cables $125.00
About $1475.00 plus taxes, 2 years warranty total comes to $1650.00
Which condenser microphones would be good choice?
Can we use Focusrite 18i20 as standalone mode or even with laptop to just simply practice for stage performances?
We have been using Audacity and Reaper with USB condenser microphone but like to move into interface.
Thank you for your time and help.
Aj.
 
Hi Aj and welcome,

I would have a serious think about your methodology here?

Recording "classical" style music (and most jazz) is usually done as an enssemble activity and it is really only "pop" and rock that uses multitracking which is I believe what you are talking about?

The idea is that "good" musicians can get a good instrumental balance as normal and the recording equipment merely has to capture that good sound. This is usually done by using one of several stereo mic techniques. Most common in UK is probably "Co-incident" directional mics. Cardiod condensers as a rule but figure 8's, (ribbons are lovely!) are better some say. The system is not perfect and other "spot" mics are needed and "panned" into the stereo picture.

All this is done via a mixer* of some sort and the resultant stereo mix fed to a 2 channel AI.

*You mention stage reproduction? I take it you envisage running the band through some sort of PA? (tho I would guess you don't want to hit the back wall of the venues with 120dBSPL like the rock boys?!) . Again, a mixer would be required although in the live case you have feedback to contend with and so close miccing would be needed. But again you would end up with a stereo mix to feed the PA rack.

If you go this route AJ you only need a modest 2 channel AI (but I would still suggest the 4 channel NI KA6!) . Mixers are legion but you might consider two small mixers instead of one big one? DO NOT! Whatever you do buy a cheap usb mixer!!!

Google for "XY" stereo and "spaced microphone" stereo recording. They both have their advantages and their fans and detractors.

Dave.
 
Hi Dave,

Thank you for taking time to reply.

I will do some research regarding stereo XY microphones. NI KA6 looks good.
I am thinking of Audio Interface with on board DSP so that I could us as standalone
without computer. What is your opinion of Focusrite Pro 24 DSP. I know it's firewire.
some time in this 10 year old group more than 2 person singing, some time
we also have chorus too. I do need at least 2 or more preamps in AI.
Mixers you mentioned do you have any recommendation on USB vs Non USB mixers?
Mixers from Allen & Heath and Mackie which one would your recommend?
I thank you for your help.

Aj.
 
am1900 said:
Hi Dave,

Thank you for taking time to reply.

I will do some research regarding stereo XY microphones. NI KA6 looks good.
I am thinking of Audio Interface with on board DSP so that I could us as standalone
without computer. What is your opinion of Focusrite Pro 24 DSP. I know it's firewire.
some time in this 10 year old group more than 2 person singing, some time
we also have chorus too. I do need at least 2 or more preamps in AI.
Mixers you mentioned do you have any recommendation on USB vs Non USB mixers?
Mixers from Allen & Heath and Mackie which one would your recommend?
I thank you for your help.

Aj.
Click to expand...
I have no personal experience of the Pro 24 DSP but I am sure it is a fine AI and it is usually the case that interfaces are recommended 90% of the time to aspiring recordist however, in you case the number of instruments and voices you will command is so large that a mixer is I feel the only practical solution.

If you are micing people up for stage work you will need panning, EQ per mic (well bass cut at least), the ability to make a monitor mix perhaps? These features are not found as hardware on any AI known to me but mixers DO have onboard FX, and very good ones theses days. Of course if you can afford a mixer AND a muiltitrack AI????

I have a usb mixer, the A&H ZED10FX and it is probably the best 16 bits usb mixer there is but it is not as good an AI as my KA6 and I am sure A&H would be the first to agree about that! Again money! There ARE really top line, 24 bit usb multitrack mixers, not many tho.

Sorry I can't be of more precise help but it is hard when your requirements seem to overlap into two related but different fields. My best guess would be to get as good a mixer as you can afford, looks like you need at least 12 mic inputs? Use that to get your stage sound sorted then buy a modest AI....Don't forget to budget for a heck of a lot of stands and mic cables!

Ooops! And cans!

Dave.
 
ThomasFuller said:
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Click to expand...

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Well, a couple of suggestions for what they're worth:

The recording gear you've described sounds fine, but there are somewhat lower cost alternatives. For example, the RK Rokit 8 monitors will shave a hundred or two off the cost, as would a Fast Track Pro interface, while giving virtually identical performance. I'd use the money you save to get a better keyboard.
 
PTravel said:
Well, a couple of suggestions for what they're worth:

The recording gear you've described sounds fine, but there are somewhat lower cost alternatives. For example, the RK Rokit 8 monitors will shave a hundred or two off the cost, as would a Fast Track Pro interface, while giving virtually identical performance. I'd use the money you save to get a better keyboard.
Click to expand...

If a second hand fttpro can be found yes, a decent starter interface. I had one for years and found it most reliable. Son now has it in France with an XP laptop but....

It is quite an old design and whilst I personally had no trouble with mine on W7/64 I have read of those that did and wither Windows 8? Then, M-Audio as a company have been bought out and fragmented and piss the punter about mightily these days. I would steer clear of a Pro unless, as I say you can get one very cheaply.

In any case, for new the KA6 is only about another £50 and blindingly better in almost all respects.

Dave.
 
ecc83 said:
If a second hand fttpro can be found yes, a decent starter interface. I had one for years and found it most reliable. Son now has it in France with an XP laptop but....

It is quite an old design and whilst I personally had no trouble with mine on W7/64 I have read of those that did and wither Windows 8? Then, M-Audio as a company have been bought out and fragmented and piss the punter about mightily these days. I would steer clear of a Pro unless, as I say you can get one very cheaply.

In any case, for new the KA6 is only about another £50 and blindingly better in almost all respects.

Dave.
Click to expand...
I think Avid has taken over support for the Fast Track Pro, but not for the lower-level Fast Tracks. All my machines are Win7, so I don't know the problems in Win8; they work fine on my machines (I have two).

I'd just like to see a better keyboard in the setup. If the son is serious about getting into music, he'd be better off with an 88-key weighted controller without the effects, rhythm generators and speakers. All of that can be done with VSTs, and with far more variety and control and for a lot less money, and it's a system he won't out-grow.
 
Thanks to all of you, I will look into all of your suggestions. I spoke local store in US, getting 15% off of entire package that I mentioned in my first post, should I get that setup? about $245.00 less from total of $1650.00. We do have gathered all the stands and cables while on sale about month ago almost at half price.
As for the Mixer we are waiting for the A&H MW 4 (Any thought on that Model) Will it have USB 2.0? that I also can get for about 15% off of the $999.00. This will be the biggest expense we will have to absorb.
We only have Windows PC, Win 7, latest processor, 8GB RAM (With Firewire), Desktop, and Win 8 with, Latest Processor, 16 GB RAM, Laptop, NO FIREWIRE.
Please advise, Thanks again.
Aj.
 
Hello Dave,

Yes, that's the one I am thinking about, on A&H MW 4 web site in documentation it says requires USB Kit?
When I searched it could not find one, and don't know how much it would cost.

AJ.
 
am1900 said:
Hello Dave,

Yes, that's the one I am thinking about, on A&H MW 4 web site in documentation it says requires USB Kit?
When I searched it could not find one, and don't know how much it would cost.

AJ.
Click to expand...
I would email A&H directly and get the exact information. I have found them very nice people to deal with.

Dave.
 
Hi Dave,

I emailed the A & H their response is they don't know the exact release date MW 4, and Kit release date and price.

Aj.
 
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