some set-up questions...

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kyda

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ok, i'm getting ready to setup my home studio. i play drums and will be mostly using this setup to record multi-track/layered drum/precussion ideas, but also to record my band. i'm considering going the digital pc route and had a few questions. it looks like a lot of you have or recommend the darla and alesis 12r setup. are the two inputs on the darla going to be enough for me to record drums? i'd like to have individual control over my snare, kick, toms, etc. once their recorded to my hard drive but also be able to lay down the whole set at once. should i look for a card with more inputs? if so, any recommendations on one at or around the darla's price? i've seen a 4 in/4 out card from midiman, any good? also, is there a mixer/pre-amp that is comparable to the 12r that is not a dedicated rack mount? i'd kind of like to stay away from anything rack mounted...
now something off topic if you don't mind: what is the best way for me to be able to record my drum tracks but get a guitar/bass headphone mix so i can play with the rest of the band but isolate the drums? will any headphone amp or personal monitor amp work,
or is there something i'm missing about this technique? thanks.
ps-i'm assuming once i record one set of tracks, i can assign them to the outputs on the sound card, run them through the alesis and into headphones so i can hear them while playing the next set of tracks? can i do this and still use the alesis to mix into the inputs on the card?
thanks so much for your time...
d a v e
 
Hi Dave,

You need an input on your soundcard for each instrument that you want individual control over after recording. There are a few cards with 8 inputs, Gadget Labs and the Aardvark 20/20+ etc. The mixer you get should also have as many XLR inputs as you need, but also have either line out's for each channel or inserts for sending the signal into your multi-input soundcard. If you plan on recording drums, guitar and bass all at the same time you may run out of inputs on your sound card. But you could submix the mic's on your Drums to 4 inputs, or just use less mics.

As for the other question. If your playing drums along to tracks that are prerecorded, just plug a set of headphones into your mixer. This will allow you to monitor whatever channels are coming out of your soundcard into the mixer, and play along at the same time. If however, your band is playing all at the same time, you may want to get some type of headphone distribution amp so you can plug multiple headphones in, and control at least the volumes and perhaps, the mix of each one.

Emeric
 
You made reference to the DMAN 2044 4in/4out from midiman. I use one and love it. Though I agree with emeric that you'd prolly run out 'o inputs really quick. I also echo his comments about using a submix and distribution headphone amp.
 
I have been chasing the best interface for about six months now. Ok this is gonna run a few bucks more than the gina.. but no one has impressed me more than the Mark of the unicorn (MOTU) with its 2408. I won't spam it out, but peek at a web page on it. All digital. Boots up with DATs, puters and the whole shi-bang. Personally I would suggest a resident 12-16 channel mixer for the kit otherwise. That way you can mix the whole party at the board, including effects on specific drums and dump the whole trap as a single track to your PC or recorder.
 
I have been chasing the best interface for about six months now. Ok this is gonna run a few bucks more than the gina.. but no one has impressed me more than the Mark of the unicorn (MOTU) with its 2408. I won't spam it out, but peek at a web page on it. All digital. Boots up with DATs, puters and the whole shi-bang. Personally I would suggest a resident 12-16 channel mixer for the kit otherwise. That way you can mix the whole party at the board, including effects on specific drums and dump the whole trap as a single track to your PC or recorder.
 
I have been chasing the best interface for about six months now. Ok this is gonna run a few bucks more than the gina.. but no one has impressed me more than the Mark of the unicorn (MOTU) with its 2408. I won't spam it out, but peek at a web page on it. All digital. Boots up with DATs, puters and the whole shi-bang. Personally I would suggest a resident 12-16 channel mixer for the kit otherwise. That way you can mix the whole party at the board, including effects on specific drums and dump the whole trap as a single track to your PC or recorder.
 
I have been chasing the best interface for about six months now. Ok this is gonna run a few bucks more than the gina.. but no one has impressed me more than the Mark of the unicorn (MOTU) with its 2408. I won't spam it out, but peek at a web page on it. All digital. Boots up with DATs, puters and the whole shi-bang. Personally I would suggest a resident 12-16 channel mixer for the kit otherwise. That way you can mix the whole party at the board, including effects on specific drums and dump the whole trap as a single track to your PC or recorder.
 
interface: Mark of the Unicorn (MOTU) 2408 hands down is the best. Yes, it costs a bit more. Then again you will not need to upgrade next week either. Second option, 12-16 channel mixer just for drums. Mic all of them, toggle and play with effects, and dump the whole mix out the headphones to a single line into your interface.
 
warning <smirk>: click send reply only one time reguardless of how slow your damn puter seems to be.
 
warning <smirk>: click send reply only one time reguardless of how slow your damn puter seems to be.
 
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