Recording a small band...

[Dr_Sbaitso]

Ok, I've got a situation here...

I've been asked to work with a small band 4 peice band, 2 guitars, bass and drums, and I think I need a touch more equipment... Its probably a month off, so I may be able to buy a bit of gear in time, else I'll have to hire some stuff.
I generally record myself and a friend and we multitrack everything, building it one track/instrument at a time... but this time theres four of them, and I'd like to record them live to multi-track, and then overdub stuff only as needed. Its going to be demo stuff, but I'd like to do it as good as I can, because I want the experience, and they are a prog rock band, and want to try messing around with different sound in the studio type environment...

My set up follows, what else do you guys think I'll need?

12 channel/4 Bus analog mixer w/ direct outs
8ch in sound card

Drum Mics:
2 x Rode Nt3s (overhead/acoustic guitar)
1 x AKG D770 (snare/ guitar amp)
1 x AKG D550 (kick)

Othe Mics
1 x AKG D880 (used generally for vocals)
1 x AKG D660 (general purpose Dynamic)
1 x Shure SM57 (Amps/Snare)

Im fine for the drums, but Im thinking I need to cover two guitars and a Bass and I've only got 3 mics to do it...

Im going to need a minimum of one mic, but I was thinking of getting 1 or 2 more dynamics, and borrowing a LD condensor for the vox... the dynamics will mainly be to amp the guitar cabs.

I was also thinking I'll need a compressor...

This is a big question, a what to buy next one I guess, but any help would be much appreciated...

thankyou,

Dr_Sbaitso

 

[dr.colossus]

first off, you wont need the compressor for tracking, (you may want one for mixing, dunno about plugin comps). track it all dry, especially with all that going on at once...

as for the bass, i would go for an active d.i. to save a mic, probably be a little cleaner and you wont have to worry so much about bleed on that chennel.. if you don't already have a d.i. you can pick em up cheap , i got a no-name ex-hire one for $50...or you could hire one for about $3-5 a day (aussie dollars)

with the nt3's you might want to keep them nice and close too the kit just to play down the bleed ( not that bleed is all that evil, sometimes it really helps the instrument that bleeds through)

 

[Track Rat]

IMHO, it looks like you need one more dynamic mic. A couple more 57's would be cool. Minimal mic'ing on drums can be good but I prefere mics on the toms as well. This is just the way I'd do it and FAR from the only way;
Mic in the kick to its own track
Mic the snare to it's own track
I'll assume that there's two rack toms and a floor tom so I'd put a dynamic between the rack toms and one on the floor tom, your condensors as overheads, sub mix these all together and buss them to a stereo pair to two tracks.
A mic on each guitar amp with each to their own track.
Bass I'd either get a line output from the head or use a direct box like a Countryman or something and go direct to tape in its own track.
I'd dub the vocals after the rhythm parts are tracked.
Just how I go about it. YMMV.

 

[Dr_Sbaitso]

Thanks for the quick responses guys.
I was thinking of extra tom mics, but Im pretty happy with the sound I get of the 4 mics. If I have extras, thats where they will go. The drums will probably be in a different room anyway, so bleed will hopefully not be too bad.

I was thinking DI for the bass, but I know my bass sounds terrible on its own, but acceptable if I mic up the bass cab. But the bassist has a really nice P Bass, so I will probably DI that(always wanted a DI anyway...). I will most probably redo the vocals as overdubs, but is it worth doing them as a scratch track?

The guitar sounds are probably the most important. If I record a live take and get a very little bit of guitars bleeding on the other tracks, is that going to be a big headache later if do another take of the drums?

 

[Track Rat]

Not at all. A little bleed works FOR you, IMHO.