Recordong and mixing I'm just starting

[roustabout]

I'm just getting my feet wet.
I need to know what I really need.
I have a Fostex DMT 8VL with a 8.2 Gig hd.
I have a zoom 1201 STUDIO MULTI-EFFECTS PROCESSOR.
I have 3 mics. 1 Good Mic 2 pretty good mics and one fair mic all four are older ones I got from a retired sound engineer, he said they were all more than I really needed for a home studio.(I really don't know but they sound good).
I'm working off Sound tracks on CD going from the sp/dif out of the CD player to the sp/dif in the the DMT 8vl.
I do play Guitar and vocals.(lead and backup) That I add to the sound track.
I also go into the computer and use Cool pro editer.
The computer is a 3 Gig CPU, 1 Gig ram, 180 Gig Drive space,.
I use the optical sp/dif as input.
I've been happy with the end product.
Now I'm ready to do more than the playing around.
I work in a 50's -70's rock show.(a hobby)
we want to do our next CD ourself.
We will use sound tracks with some of our own Guitars, bass, and drums on some tracks.
with all the talent out there I hope to get Ideas
What else do I need ?
I'm on a buget .
any help would be great

 

[bbop73]

Sounds like you need to utilize cool edit pro more. Anytime you mix to computer, noise is added. Plus you're converting to digital going into the fostex dmt, so why not eliminate that and go directly into cool edit pro. I don't know what type of mics you have, but I would recommend a condenser mic such as Studio Projects B1 or C1 (more money), sure sm57, and a pair of of mxl 603s or oktava mc012's. Also not sure what soundcard you are using, but I recommend one with asio drivers, direct monitoring, and multiple inputs for recording simultaneous tracks for drums, bass, guitars, etc. If you are looking to record your entire band, one of the higher end cards will allow the simultaneous recording of multi tracks (ie. motu 828II, rme multiface, or aardvark).

 

[bbop73]

Oh yeah.. I decent mic pre can do wonders. Try an RNP or for lower cost, an M-audio dmp-3.

 

[roustabout]

Thank you for the ideas.
On the sound card I have a Realtek ALC202A It has 4 inputs. It also has both Cable and optial sp/dif Input.
I may be wrong on this, If I input over the sp/dif Optial
that sound should be digital from the DMT 8VL to the computer so there sound be no noise or loss???

I can't use the computer for the recording as it just to much to get to out studio. ( the barn we use)

here is what I have been doing

Most of the music comes off CD tracks to the DMT using the sp/dif Optial.
From the CD player to the DMT.This should stay digital and clean this way right???.

WE then add our guitar and stuff to the CD tracks already on the DMT.

After we are happy with the music I add Vocals.
On the DMT I add reverb to Vocals and any othe FX on the mix down. I keep the raw Vocal track intact. I then go to the computer over the sp/dif Optial .
I EQ in Cool edit Pro If needed and go to CD.
the computer I use to burn Cd and Edit pro for any last minute touchup.
I also have Pro tools 5.0 ( I think It's Ver 5.0)


On the mic's I have older Shures .
They sound pretty good.

I'm looking at the Marshall Mxl Mca Sp2 for vocals. Is it any good?
or what mic should I get I'm on a buget I want to keep the mic under 200

thank you so much for the input

 

[bbop73]

Thank you for the ideas.
On the sound card I have a Realtek ALC202A It has 4 inputs. It also has both Cable and optial sp/dif Input.
I may be wrong on this, If I input over the sp/dif Optial
that sound should be digital from the DMT 8VL to the computer so there sound be no noise or loss???

I can't use the computer for the recording as it just to much to get to out studio. ( the barn we use)

here is what I have been doing

Most of the music comes off CD tracks to the DMT using the sp/dif Optial.
From the CD player to the DMT.This should stay digital and clean this way right???.

WE then add our guitar and stuff to the CD tracks already on the DMT.

After we are happy with the music I add Vocals.
On the DMT I add reverb to Vocals and any othe FX on the mix down. I keep the raw Vocal track intact. I then go to the computer over the sp/dif Optial .
I EQ in Cool edit Pro If needed and go to CD.
the computer I use to burn Cd and Edit pro for any last minute touchup.
I also have Pro tools 5.0 ( I think It's Ver 5.0)


On the mic's I have older Shures .
They sound pretty good.

I'm looking at the Marshall Mxl Mca Sp2 for vocals. Is it any good?

-You are correct about the s/pdif. If you stay digital, then you should not lose sound quality. However, you might want to refer to some of the other threads on bit depth (not rate). There are some guys lurking around here who are real guros on this stuff.

- Shures are good for certain instruments and styles of music, particularly the sm57's and 58's. The MXL you refer to i'm not familiar with, I have an MXL 2003 myself, and yes... it sounds like a cheapo chinese mic. If you're thinking about a budget LD condenser, then shoot for the Studio Projects C1.

 

[roustabout]

Thank you ! I will do that and look into the Studio Projects C1
Thank you all again