Please help - I'm new to this

[Jamesie]

Hi there!

I'm new to this whole recording thing so please bare with me if all these questions sound stupid, but I would appreciate any help, and if as many people could answer these questions! I'm a musician, and am wanting to record many instruments at once, and separately. I want to buy a 16 - channel mixer - (not powered), and the connect that mixer into the computer somehow for use with my recording software.

How do I do this, which outputs into which inputs on mixer and computer, what type of cables, what type of soundcard? So, if necessary, where does the amplifier go - and how? Will all separate channels need to be connceted to the computer separately, if I am to change the volumes of each instrument's channel individually? Also, after the recording is done and all the instruments have been put away, can the gain's of each channel still be altered? - if this is possible - how can you do it? - with which equipment, cables etc.?

Oh yes, and where do monitors for playback get connected, and the monitors for instrumentalists to hear themselves get connected - into the computer/mixer???

Thanks very much if anyone could answer any of these questions, it would be a great help to me.

Thank-you all

Jamsie

 

[MadAudio]

So many questions, so little time...

Normally I'd suggest using the search function, but it's been temporarily (I hope) disabled. So for now I suggest checking out this site http://www.theprojectstudiohandbook.com/directory.htm and read as much as you can stand.

Keep in mind that if you really want to do it yourself and make it sound good you will need a lot of the following:

1. Time
2. Money

DIY ain't always cheap!

 

[tedluk]

Jamsie-

Your questions are too general to really be able to give you a meaningful answer.

There are many different solutions for recording sound using a computer. A mixer doesn't necessarily need to be a part of that solution, though it often is. Theoretically, you can input everything directly to the computer with the right hardware.

The first method of narrowing the answers is usually financial. What is your budget?

I second the suggestion that you read a great deal more before you spend one cent on equipment. You will waste a lot of money and time if you don't gain some knowledge.

Tell us more about what kind of instrumentation and how you want to record. Also tell us what equipment you already have. Is your computer adequate for computer recording? Do you have any software for these purposes?

General answers to your questions- If you use a mixer, in order to record thing onto separate tracks you will either need a mixer with direct outs on the channels, one with multiple busses or have to limit the number of things you record simultaneously to the number of individual outputs or busses that you DO have. IOW, if you want to keep things separate, you can't combine them in the mixer. Seems obvious when said that way.

I think that most of us now are using powered monitors. If you go that route, you won't need to purchase an amplifier. There are many powered monitors available now covering a wide range of prices. They connect to the main output of your mixer or soundcard.

As far as headphone monitoring for overdubs goes. Again, it will depend on what equipment you purchase. If you need a number of headphone mixes, there are headphone amplifiers for this purpose available. Different mixers offer different approaches to supplying headphone mixes. As with most things, it comes down to money. The more you spend, the more features you're going to get. This is why it's important to know what you need before you purchase.

I hope this helps.

Ted

 

[Jamesie]

More details

Thanks very much for your help tedluk and MadAudio.

Just a few more details. In the band there are 3 vocals, 2 keyboards ( 1-stereo 1-mono), a guitar, bass, and drums. I have an old Peavey Mp5 powered mixer with 2 main outs on the back panel labelled 'speaker outputs', 5 inputs, a recording out, and just like a single out on the front panel labelled main output. What the most helpful type of recording this mixer could do? A friend said that he'd lend me his Behringer UB1622FX-PRO EURORACK if I wanted it, as he's not using it at the mo. I also have Cakewalk Home Studio to record. I haven't got a decent souncard, so if I did want to record from direct outs of channels on a mixer, and then mix the tracks after recording with the mixer, what kind of I/O do I need on a sound card?

Essentially, I'd like to record drums first onto the computer through the mixer, then once thats recorded, I'd like to record the rest of the instruments and vox simultaenously over the drums. Then when mixing, is it possible to send each instrument to each channel of the Behringer (including the stereo keyboard and the drums)?

My budget is about $600, including money for a mixer if neccessary.

Thanks very much

Jamesie