starting out, needing help.

[vomer]

Hi, my first post here, grateful for any help. I want to record multi-track using my laptop. A few mates, acoustic and electric blues, nothing too demanding. So first question, will my laptop handle it. 1Gb RAM, 1.8MHz Intel mobile processor, 40Gb hard drive. The internal sound card is a SigmaTel C-Major Audio. Also have an external HD with about 10Gb space available.

Second question, what do I use to interface between the mics and the laptop? I have no idea, I assume an external sound card with multiple inputs, some kind of analogue-digital convertor?

I'll search here on software later, just wanted to get the hardware question sorted first.

Thanks!

 

[Nick98338]

Laptop - You have enough power to handle most basic recording stuff. Might not do well with very processor intensive stuff like mastering plug-ins. You have enough RAM. HD space depends on how many music files you need to have in the laptop at any one time. You can always add external storage, or burn to CD/DVD.

Interface - Yes, you will need an external interface. Firewire, or USB. All of them have A/D converters in them. Most have multiple inputs and outputs. Many of them have mic preamps built in. Some have midi built in. Some have additional digital S/PDIF built in. Generally, you get what you pay for here. The more inputs you need, the more the interface will cost. What ever interface you get *will become your soundcard*. You should disable whatever internal soundcard is built into the laptop.

Are you going to record drums? With drums you are actually recording several individual instruments at the same time. Requires multiple microphones. Maybe a mixer.

 

[drossfile]

1 GB of RAM is very good. get an interface--the presonus firepod is a good low-cost solution (if your computer accepts firewire)--8 xlr inputs if you do decide to track drums, way-better-than-cheap preamps, and a cubase DAW bundle included to boot. once you have instruments, mics, and ideas, you're set. the best possible mic you could get for verstility, quality, and value is an akg c100s--get it for $200 at americanmusicalsupply.com or a pair for $300 (great for drum overheads, vocals, acoustic guitar, and general room mic usage). hope this helps.

 

[vomer]

Thanks guys, that's exactly what I needed. Drossfile, I looked up the presonus firepod on ebay and I'll read up on it here and on Harmony Central etc. It looks like it would fit the bill.

I couldn't find akg c100s, did you mean c1000? According to HC its a little pricier new than the SM58 which I'm used to, but gets great reviews. And unbelieveably its the equivalent of $200 here in the UK, often we end up paying pound for dollar which makes everything twice as expensive over here.

I used to run a semi-pro 8 track studio in the mid 80's but left music entirely before digital happened, so I have some good sound experience but I'm a complete dinosaur now. Looking forward to getting back into it.

Thanks.

 

[scrouch]

I have a C1000s and it's pretty good. Really different sound than a SM58 so it kind of depends what you're going for. The Shure Beta series has dropped in price a lot so they might be worth looking into as well.

Your computer should be alright but it depends on how many tracks you're dealing with at once, their sample rate, and if you're doing a lot of processing to them. I was playing around with a bunch of looping one day and my computer ran out or memory so I upgraded from 1GB to 2GB of RAM. I'm using a 2GHz G5 and run into problems occationally but not too often. Normally only if I'm playing around with synths as they can be rediculously intensive on your system.

 

[daav]

don;t have any personal experience with the c1000 but i have heard some bad stuff about it, you might want to do a search inthe mic forum to get some comments.

If you are jsut getting into the recording hting again, let me reccomend you check out the naiant MSH-01s (and other products). check this thread:
http://www.homerecording.com/bbs/showthread.php?t=228380

For the price of one mic elsewhere (say $150) you could get a stero pair of msh-01 s for acoustic and drum recording and a couple more mics that will all sound good and give you a chance to have a stepping off point when you are ready to drop bigger sums. You might be missing a studio vocal mic at first, but the SM 58 will do in the short term.
Daav

 

[mikemorgan]

The biggest drawback on laptop recording, and no one seems to discuss this much, HD speed. Most laptops will have something like a 5400rpm drive whick is simply not enough to do much multitracking. Check your hard drive speed, and if it's 7200, you'll be fine.

I still have to recommend the Korg D888 to anyone contemplating "getting in" to multitracking. I don't own one, don't work for them, and think some of their gear is second rate. BUT! This piece looks like the ultimate low-buck HD multitracker with simultaneous 8-track recording and total thru-put of signal chain. Hell, it can double as your analog mixer while recording your live performance. I been looking for something with enough tracks and portability, and price point for a long time. Take this thing to the gig, hit record, and play. Dump it all into your laptop later, imho.

 

[drossfile]

Thanks guys, that's exactly what I needed. Drossfile, I looked up the presonus firepod on ebay and I'll read up on it here and on Harmony Central etc. It looks like it would fit the bill.

I couldn't find akg c100s, did you mean c1000? According to HC its a little pricier new than the SM58 which I'm used to, but gets great reviews. And unbelieveably its the equivalent of $200 here in the UK, often we end up paying pound for dollar which makes everything twice as expensive over here.

I used to run a semi-pro 8 track studio in the mid 80's but left music entirely before digital happened, so I have some good sound experience but I'm a complete dinosaur now. Looking forward to getting back into it.

Thanks.

no problem--glad i could help out. you can view the c1000s here:

http://www.americanmusical.com/item--i-AKG-C1000S2PAK.html

this is a condenser mic, which will sound much more crisp and clear than your sm58, which is a dynamic--a good dynamic mic, but still more thick and wooly than any condenser. it works with phantom power (which the firepod provides) or with a 9V battery (which can be found anywhere). i have more expensive mics in my studio, but this one is the most versatile and the best value hands down. good luck!