Setup Ideas

[jzep]

Hi, my friend and I are ready to embark on a sideproject and need some recommendations on recording equipment. We want to do most of the recording, production, and mixing on the computer. I'm getting a new laptop soon, and it will be as powerful as needed. We will incorporate live instruments as well as drum machines, blips, samples, etc. Do we need a separate recorder for live instruments (guitar, keyboard, bass, and drumset)? Do I want a studio-in-a-box as opposed to a separate mixer/recorder set or can I get software that will do everything I need? I realize this is a broad query, but any advice would be much appreciated.

 

[distortedrumble]

ok! I'm drunk right now cause itsa 151 in the morning so you know what liquor is appropriate...unless your christian or just dont drink...but anyways....either a studio-in-a-box or mixer will be appropriate....the recorder will be softare like sonar or protools or cool edit pro or nuendo or ntracks or cubase or peter or paul or mary and it will work! do not limit yourself! get laid by 2 chicks at once! try three! its choice time...just PICK AND GO!!!!

 

[Bulls Hit]

do not limit yourself! get laid by 2 chicks at once! try three! its choice time...just PICK AND GO!!!!

Haha. Sounds great but you have to be young to handle that kind of schedule.

jzep

If you're using a laptop then you choose form a usb (Tascam US122, M-audio Audiophile USB), firewire(M-Audio Firewire 410) or pcmcia card (Echo Layla) as your analog interface. PCI or fireware are your best, and more expensive options. You'll also need a preamp for each input, or a mixer. It really depends on how many simultaneous inputs you need to record. If you only need 2, a Tascam US-122 would probably be the lowest cost choice.

Instead of a card, you can get a standalone unit, Roland, Zoom, Boss etc all make them. This has your preamps, mixer, recorder built in. You could record on this unit and transfer the files to the laptop for mixing. The downside of these units is they can't be expanded like computers can. However, in conjunction with a laptop, they do provide a convenient and powerful portable solution.

distortededrumble mentioned some software packages before he got distracted. You can download trial versions of all that stuff

 

[jzep]

ok

Thanks for the quick replies. So, I'm beginning to think I should just get a nice digital recorder witih a minimum of 8 tracks and then utilize software for mixing and recording non-instruments. If this is feasible, what will I need in addition to these two things (analog converters, etc.)?

 

[jdier]

dude, if you were getting a real computer and not a lap top you could pick up an aardvark Q10 which would give you 8 ins with 8 preamp and 8 sends (and 4 of those pramps have phantom power.)