Setting up a Home studio

[LTJ918]

Hi

Iam in the process of setting up a home studio and I have some questions about setting it up. If I have a digital recorder that only has 2 XLR inputs and I wanted to set up more mics could I hook up a mixer to the workstation and plug mics in the mixer would the workstation pick up the extra mics from the mixer. ( in other words I want to record a live band but the workstation only has 2 XLR would a mixer help me???)

jake

 

[ragata]

Hello Jake!
Yes, a mixer would indeed help.
You would still only be making a stereo recording though.

 

[BrettB]

What workstation do you have?

a mixer can help you handle more inputs, more tracks depends on the facilities on your machine (more line inputs? ADAT?)

 

[LTJ918]

Im looking into getting the korg d1200mkll but it only has 2 XLR input which isnt that good for recording a live band, or a drum set

 

[LTJ918]

if there is a better workstation than the d1200mkII then Iam open to suggestions

 

[LTJ918]

in the same price range

 

[Killer B]

Im a real fan of computer based recording, for its cost efffectiveness, versatility and for its nonlinear digital editing abilities.

I will still go with PC, but thats oly because I learned to use computers through PCs, and I find macs, in contrast, arent as easy to navigate. I just like the PC style.

Anyway, I use a protools 001, gives me 2 mic ins, and 6 line ins, 32 audio tracks and 20 busses. my amd 1800 gives me about half the CPU power I need for the most complicated songs I do, but I am also finding that as my techniques evolve, my computer is under less strain.

Sounds like you want to begin recording full bands, so you would probably want 8-12 inputs ideally.

Check out the presonus firepod. It has 8 XLR ins, and each has a preamp. Works by firewire, and youd probably get any up-to-date computer to run it OK. I think it comes with cubase LE, but it works with cool edit pro2 ( i think it is now called adobe studio) Total setup is probably about $2000. Also check out ebay, to see how it stacks up against the old 001's.

Remember that every extra mic you use needs to go into another preamp (gain pot on a desk). - Normally looking at $30-50 per preamp for starters, so that makes the firepod a very cost effective option. - And it is DVD quality!!!

The main drawback to having computer based systems, is transportability. You probably have to weigh up the pros and cons, but I find the computer is so versatile, and a laptop is very portable anyway. Besides, you can get software to run on the same system, so it can be your beatmaker, cd writer, graphics designer (cd labels and covers), email . . .

 

[Cloneboy Studio]

An Alesis HD24 hard disk recorder costs about 1200 now and allows for the seamless and worry free recording of 24 simultaneous inputs.

Try that with your PC for under 4k.

The only drawback to the Alesis is you need a decent sized mixer to deal with the sheer amounts of outputs to be mixed. However, for 250 bucks you can get a Roland or Mackie line mixer that will do the job that won't sound too god awful.

And then export that stuff via Firewire or Ethernet to your PC to mix.

A lot of guys around here to it that way, and that's how I do it as well. Since I moved away from the computer as a recording device tracking has been a breeze.