Significant step up in recording quality?

[mikgag]

Right now I record my band live off the floor (always, no tracking) and get pretty decent results. However, being musician/hobbyist/gear-whore I'm always looking for better. My current setup is as follows:

Mackie CR1604 (not vlz, not pro, the original)
I use 10 channels

channels 1-3 (XLR w/pre) = vocals (lead + 2 backup)
channels 4-5 (XLR w/pre) = guitar1, guitar2 (both cabs mic'd with 57's)
channel 6 (XLR w/pre) = overhead (modded MXL 603)
channel 7 (1/4 unbalanced line) = kick (D112)
channel 8 (1/4 unbalanced line) = snare (57)
channel 9 (1/4 unbalanced line) = tom (57)
channel 10 (1/4 unbalanced line) = Sansamp bass DI

I then run 2 1/4 to rca cables from the "mains out" into an Audiophile 24/96 card and record in Soundforge.

Question 1: Would swapping the mixer with a PV14 or Yamaha MG12 make a significant difference (the "wet blanket off the speakers" kinda difference) since I'd have all channels using bal XLRs w/pre's + rca tape outs and I'm sure a few other improvements(better pre's?).

Question 2: Whether I change mixers or not, since I record everything live down to to a stereo track, would putting an outboard compressor in front of the kick and snare be beneficial to add punch/level control?

Sorry for the long winded (cross)post....

 

[Daisy]

Question 1: Would swapping the mixer with a PV14 or Yamaha MG12 make a significant difference (the "wet blanket off the speakers" kinda difference) since I'd have all channels using bal XLRs w/pre's + rca tape outs and I'm sure a few other improvements(better pre's?).

Probably not.

Question 2: Whether I change mixers or not, since I record everything live down to to a stereo track, would putting an outboard compressor in front of the kick and snare be beneficial to add punch/level control?

Depends on how it's used. But CAN it be beneficial? Yes. Can it be detrimental? Yea, that too.

Right now, you're pretty much limited to whatever you're able to dial in on the board at the moment. Until you get in to actual multitracking, you're always going to be limiting your options. Particularly in regards to phase issues. Right now, you've got all these drum mics with the audio arriving to the mixer at different times (by fractions of seconds), and there's really no perfect way to ensure phase coherency, which will make by far the largest difference in terms of clarity and impact with your drums. Given your current circumstances, you may even be better off with just a kick mic, paired with one well-placed overhead.

Your next step up will be to record everything on it's own track. Then you can come back here and worry about whether or not your mixer is good enough, and if you should use a compressor and all that jazz. First things first. "Significant steps" happen gradually over time. No one thing, or one one technique or one piece of gear will suddenly thrust you in to another plateu. It's more the sum of a lot of little things over time.


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[NL5]

Your next step up will be to record everything on it's own track. Then you can come back here and worry about whether or not your mixer is good enough, and if you should use a compressor and all that jazz. First things first. "Significant steps" happen gradually over time. No one thing, or one one technique or one piece of gear will suddenly thrust you in to another plateu. It's more the sum of a lot of little things over time.

This is great advice.