Seeking advice for recording on the cheap...here's my method

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Ricklh

Ricklh

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Below, I have listed my very basic recording equipment to see if others here on the forum with more recording experience under their belt than I have ideas for getting the best from what I'm using:

Fostex MR-8 8-track digital recorder (compact flash recorder)
Behringer 802XENYX 4-channel mixer
Zoom Rhythmtrak drum box
Digitech RP-50 guitar effects box
2- Behringer mics (their sub-$50.00 Shure-like models)

In addition to the above, I have Audacity on my PC, which I'm fairly adept at using, and the demo version of Reaper which I've only used a couple of times (but not recently).

With this equipment – bare bones as it is- I can do some pretty passable demos with the above. My standard recording procedure lately is as follows:

1. Simultaneously record a rhythm track and an accompanying bass (or guitar track) into the Behringer mixer routed to stereo tracks on the Fostex,

2. I play back the above track and add a bass (or guitar) track on the Fostex, again first going through the mixer.

3. I do a vocal track using the Behringer/Fostex combo.

4. Any additional tracks will be done the same as above.

My musical preferences/influences are The Beatles & 70’s/80’s Classic Rock, also instrumental surf rock including The Ventures, Los Straitjackets, etc.

So, my question is: for those here that use DAW's as opposed to laying down tracks directly to PC, do you do your recording in a similar fashion or is there a better way to use this equipment for a decent-sounding demo? Should I scratch the Fostex from the equation completely and just record everything using Audacity or Reaper? (even so, I'll still be using the Behringer – I like hands-on controls!). Please note that I’m financially strapped for the foreseeable future so I’d prefer not to have responses such as “ you need (xx brand), better mics”, etc., - I’m strictly looking for suggestions to get the best recordings possible out of the equipment I have to work with above. Thanks in advance.
 
You really don't need the behri mixer in the equation.






:cool:
 
Seems like a common sequence of events to me. I take it you go through the mixer to add outboard FX during tracking or something?

If not, I agree with the other guys... take the mixer out
 
Yep, I appreciate that you like "hands on controls", but there is a cost to that luxury and it is; your sound. If you had a higher quality board it might be different, but all I see right now is unnecessay, cheap, analog circuitry in your signal path.
 
Yeah, that's my thought. Can't you go direct into your Fostex box save your tracks then load them into Reaper on your PC?

Racherik

Oh yeah, I can go direct into the Fostex, no problem, but it has no EQ controls at all whereas the Behringer has the highs, mids, and lows controls. I just figure I can get better-sounding tracks with it in the chain since I'm not using a PC to do basic tracks. I'm not sure how to get separate tracks into Reaper but maybe I'll attempt it :-). Thanks for the feedback from all.


http://www.myspace.com/rickharrisonband
 
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