Recording an Ensemble

[Scottu57]

I am new to this and doing my research. I would like to record our band playing all at once. (2 guitars, bass, and drums. Blues) Can that be done? I realize that I will need the proper equipment. Right now I have a good laptop with 8 GB of memory and for the DAW Acoustica Mixcraft 6. I am looking at getting a Behringer X32 Compact for the interface/mixer (open to other suggestions). Still researching microphones and monitor (This forum is a big help) Can this be done? I worry about bleed through on the mics.
Can anyone give me some advice or point me in the right direction?

 

[Steenamaroo]

Hi,
I suppose a good place to start is to make sure you're happy with the plan.
Recording as a live group is a great idea and can be done but there's probably a lot more to go wrong.

Do you have a decent recording space? Isolation (to some extent) is desirable for editing. Even simple things like basic eq and compression will rely on some amount of isolation between instruments.
It's not so bad for guitar and bass amps that are close miked, but it can make the drums and vocals tricky.

That said, it's not essential to keep everything isolated but without it you're going to need
A: All of the instruments to sound great as they are in their environment.
B: Perfect takes.

Just some thoughts.

The main alternative is to get one decent sounding room on the go and to track your drums there.
Next, track the bass, then guitars, then vocals.

Some might argue that this takes something away from the whole thing, but it might be more practical for you.
You also have much greater control over the sounds your capturing, and the editing after the fact.

 

[Scottu57]

Thank you. You have given me something to think about as far as recording in the sequence you mention.

Any thoughts on the mixer/interface? I do see that Beheringer products are not in very high regard. However I have heard good things about the X 32. Should I stay away from it?

Scott

 

[Tom Hicks]

if you want to minimize bleed, turn amps around to face the wall and use gobos. careful placement of cardioid mic will also minimize bleed, by aiming the null point of the mic at the sounds to be rejected. but bleed can also act as a kind of musical glue, ala phil specter.