Track Seperation

[TylerDrums109]

So what type of hardware would i need in order to record each mic separately in a drum recording setup? im not even sure how to begin on this as all of my experience is in recording guitar or single inputs...thanks for the help on this rather vague question

 

[Everybody]

How many different drums do you want to record?

You need more mic pres, a good starter if you want to record a whole set and all the toms is the firestudio. It has 8 pres built into it.

Just a suggestion though

 

[TylerDrums109]

Well i need about 7 or 8 tracks....one kick...one snare...three toms...two overheads...and maybe an underneath for the snare...i have a mixer with a usb input connection but the cable was lost before the mixer came into my possession and im not sure if i can get separation after the mixer or how i could get my hands onto another cable for this mixer

 

[BlackHawk2029]

The firestudio would probably do you well, or an Alesis Io26. either way you'll have to go firewire. you can get a PCI card which will add firewire input on your pc for about 25-30 bucks

 

[TylerDrums109]

The firestudio would probably do you well, or an Alesis Io26. either way you'll have to go firewire. you can get a PCI card which will add firewire input on your pc for about 25-30 bucks

See thats the thing...im doing all of this on a severe budget and never realized how expensive track seperation would be...i suppose i will just have to deal with the mixdown single track and do alot of work in the signal chain to get a good sound

 

[BlackHawk2029]

yeah, try recording everything else first, and then recording the drums over and over again, tweaking things until they're just right, that way if you record it once, and everything else makes it sound like crap, your stuff is already set up and you don't have to deal with it.

 

[TylerDrums109]

yeah, try recording everything else first, and then recording the drums over and over again, tweaking things until they're just right, that way if you record it once, and everything else makes it sound like crap, your stuff is already set up and you don't have to deal with it.

Deff thanks

 

[BlackHawk2029]

no problem man. i had the same problem for a long while, that was just something i figured out from experience.

 

[drossfile]

See thats the thing...im doing all of this on a severe budget and never realized how expensive track seperation would be...i suppose i will just have to deal with the mixdown single track and do alot of work in the signal chain to get a good sound

you can get pretty good results using three channels: 2 overheads, one kick.

google "recorderman method" for the overhead placement.

i used to use 8 mics on my kit, and now i use 4. the aforementioned 3 plus a snare mic for extra beef. the sound is MUCH improved.

more doesn't always equal better.

good luck!

 

[TylerDrums109]

you can get pretty good results using three channels: 2 overheads, one kick.

google "recorderman method" for the overhead placement.

i used to use 8 mics on my kit, and now i use 4. the aforementioned 3 plus a snare mic for extra beef. the sound is MUCH improved.

more doesn't always equal better.

good luck!

Looked it up...sounds pretty sweet....i will definitely try this method as it is in my resources to do so and it seems as if the sound is as good as i will get...i too have noticed the less mics the better...but other sources of influence have been nudging me towards individual instrument micing...thank you very much

 

[doctorfungi]

You can buy mixers that have Firewire built into them. I know Alesis, Mackie (expensive though), and Phonic make them. USB won't do it, being that the vast majority of USB mixers simply send a stereo signal to the PC, and not the separate tracks.

That would probably be the cheapest way to go.

Other than taking that approach, you'd have to invest in a Firewire interface and some pre's. That would leave you with a much bigger hole in your pocket than a Firewire mixer, however.

 

[gross115]

Alright, here's a few things...first of all, USB cables are pretty standard, so picking up a new one of those shouldn't be an issue. Moving on, for the longest time I was on a severe budget myself...all I had was an analog mixer and an Audix drum mic set. So my only option was to mic up the set and do all of my eq, panning, and leveling on the board, and send a stereo mix into my laptop's line in jack. The results were actually half decent. What this method really does is force you to really think about what your doing with micing and eqing and leveling, and gives you something of a crash course. Also, when you can afford to upgrade to a setup where you can track everything separately, it gives you just that more power, as you've already gained a strong background doing things the hard way. Premixing everything and going right to tape was the way they did it for years, especially back in the 60s when a lot of classic records were made and they were going straight to 4 track. Of course they also had top of the line pres, and mics, and boards...but the point is it's still possible.

Good luck man. The best advice I can give, especially when you're on a budget, is learn how to use what you already have inside and out before you start spending on upgrades. Not only will it make your recordings better, but it'll allow you to spend your money more wisely as you'll know exactly what you need.

 

[Dogbreath]

And another props to the Recorderman Technique. That, and the Glyn Johns method.

I'm using a variation of the two. I can't remember who it was now, that told me they use a combo of the 2 methods (had alot of reading at the time) and that's what I'm doing now.

If you want a sample of what it sounds like, I posted one called Bugg Butt Juice in the MP3 Clinic that has this set up. (blend of the RM and GJ methods)

Hang in there man...it's not always gonna be so overwhelming.

 

[Dogbreath]

The best advice I can give, especially when you're on a budget, is learn how to use what you already have inside and out before you start spending on upgrades.

+1...

good advice there...