Recording Help

  • Thread starter Thread starter SolvoRock
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SolvoRock

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My band has just gotten interested in recording, and we wanted to record a few songs. Were not interested in spending lots of money to get studio quality, we just want something passable. Weve got 2 terrible mics that were planing on replasing with Sure SM58's (or whichever the vocal one is i forget) and one SM57 (the instrument one). We have a Soundcraft GigRac 1000 mixer, and a computer equipped with audacity.Im wondering if we should get something like an eight track recorder, but I have no idea how to use one or even exactly how it is used. I got some advice from another thread somewhere else, but I was just trying to get a wider perspective.
 
The SM58 is a decent choice of mike. It works as a decent dynamic vocal mike and is identical to the SM57 when the ball cap windscreen is removed.

You will be able to record relatively well with the gear you mentioned, however, you will not be able to split each track separately in your pc's software without a multiple input soundcard, which is why an 8-track recorder may make things better. I recommend the Fostex MR 8. The price isn't too bad for a basic multi-track setup, and since it is digital, you will be able to transfer each track individually into the pc.
 
That sounds like a pretty good deal. Because im not exactly sure how 8-track recorders work, i dont really know how many inputs there are. Im kinda assuming 8, but I dont see that many inputs. My band has 2 guitars, a bass, 2 horns (which can record with one mic) and drums. Would we be able to record with an 8track with that many people?
 
You already have an eight track recorder... the computer! If you go computer you'll need MIC --> Pre Amp --> Audio Interface --> Software. That's the basics for digital recording. You've already thought of the Mic.. the Shure 57 and 58 will do fine for starters. You already have the software. Audacity will work fine for starters. You still need to get the stuff in the middle. Audio Interface is another term for Sound Card, but you'll need something just a bit more sophisticated than you're standard computer sound card. The sound card that came built into your computer just won't do the job. Then, you have to think about a Pre Amp. Good news here is that many, many Audio Interfaces have a Pre Amp built in. So, basically, you need to get an Audio Interface with a Pre Amp built in. There are gobbs of them available for $150 to $200 US. Once you have that, and a few cables, you will have all of the basic stuff you'll need to make "passable" recordings.
 
8 input interfaces

on the cheap, the m-audio delta 1010lt (pci card) offers 8 analog inputs and outputs but they do not have preamps. if your mixer has individual outs for every channel, then you could plug each instrument or mic into the mixer and use its preamps and then take an out from each channel into the interface. that way, youre recording each instrument individually. so when your horn player "blows" it, you guys dont have to stop and all have to start over. you just keep going and the horn player can over dub after. that is generally how it works. for a couple hundred more, the presonus firepod offers 8 channels, and is firewire so you dont have to install it permanently in your computer (and it can be used with a laptop). it also has good preamps already in it on all channels. the presonus with a few mics, cables, and talent could basically be a recording studio in a box.

Adam
 
I would go with the Fostex that Cyrokk mentioned. It would be a lot easier to learn than computer recording.
 
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