Turning my basement into a mini studio...

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Pearl SMX

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Hey everyone. First, i'd like to introduce myself. My names Nick, im 14 and I live in Massachusetts. Im a drummer.

Ok, lets get to buisness. So, im in a band blah blah blah. Now my guitarist has a Tascam dp-01 fx. We've recorded some basic tracks for myspace and stuff, but we are looking to make a cd later this year. Now, the tascam only records 2 tracks at a time. We have the guitar plugged in right to the workstation, that wire goes to an effects pedal, and then back into the guitar. I can hear it because the headphones are plugged into the pedal. Then we only had 1 mic for the drums plugged into the other input on the tascam. Then the bass track is recorded while he listens to the recorded track on the tascam. Ok, now this way is very stressfull and annoying and all that, so we are all young and new in the recording world, so we need some help. We know we need a mixer. Thats all we know. Not sure what mixer, and what features we need on it. We would obviously like to spend the least amount possible, but if you guys could list whatever we need to make an album. Dont leave anything out. EVERYTHING!!!

Thanks so much, and we greatly appriciate your help. We need it very bad.

-Nick
 
I am the guitarist. I have a Tascam dp-01 fx...but we are thinking about using a computer with all the software we need and stuff..to replace this recorder...smart idea or not? :confused:

matt :cool:
 
Ahh, ok, so I read on the Tweaks guide, and it was helpful, but I dont understand the differance between a regular mixer, and a computer mixer. And why do you need a keyboard? And my guitarist says I only need 3 mics for my kit, but I say 7+. Argh, I have so many questions, im so lost :confused: :confused: :confused:
 
You only need 4 mics for drums. Kick, snare, and overheads(these are small diaphram condensers). Ok When recording on a computer, do you want to be able to mix each track separately? If so you could go with something like the Delta 44 here for $140, and a behringer ub1622fx-pro here for $154. To set this up you will want to have kick on channel 1 panned hard left, and snare on channel 2 panned hard right with the main button on, overhead left on channel 3 panned hard left and overhead right on channel 4 panned hard right with the sub button on. Connect the mixer to the computer with main out left to channel one on delta 44, main out right to channel 2, sub 1 to channel 3 and sub 2 to channel 4. This will allow you to record four separate tracks onto your computer. You will have to record the drums separate from all other instruments with this method.
 
Ask in the mic forum for 4 drum mic setup. And they will help you chose the best mics for your budget.
 
You could instead get the Alesis Multimix 8 firewire mixer here for $400(with free headphones)which also comes with Cubase LE. I think it allows you to record 4 mic inputs and 4 jack inputs so could record all instruments at once.
 
Wow, thanks pandamonk, that was helpfull. We want to record all tracks at once. It would be much easier. So is that all I would need to make some demos for my band, but still with good quality? Whats up with all the keyboards in everyones studio? Is it necessary? Thanks..
 
im planing on doing the same thing in my bassment but only for vocals any tips
 
For Vocals..you should have a different room where the vocals record...but thats just what i see when i look at studios...so i dont know.
 
Either a different room, or a vocal booth, ask in the studio building forum about that.

Yes, i think that should be all you need. Obviously good mics, cabling, acoustical treatment, and monitors as well.
 
Keyboards? Emm, that's probably for Midi. meaning that one person can do every part of the record on that one keyboard. That's what's mainly used in pop music.
 
pandamonk said:
Keyboards? Emm, that's probably for Midi. meaning that one person can do every part of the record on that one keyboard. That's what's mainly used in pop music.
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We dont plan on doing any pop, so can we pass on buying the midi?
 
We are looking at this mixer. How is it?
MIXER

So if we get that mixer, we also need drum mics, and a mic for guitar and bass and then cables and all that... is that all we need? Oh, and software. Anything else we're missing??
 
For a good vocal microphone, you will probably want a large diaphram condenser. A good one is the Studio Projects B1, here for $95. I think your best choice would be the, alesis 8 firewire mixer, the studio projects B1 mic, SM57 here for snare, you could get another B1 for overheads, and Shure Beta 58 here for kick. You will want to make bass traps for the corners of the room. The easiest/cheapest way to do this is a pine frame, with rigid fiberglass inside with the whole thing covered with cloth(search/ask in the studio building forum). You can use these round the singer to give dry vocals. This seems a little extreme for a demo, BUT i think with this equipment and enough experience, you could record a good sounding(maybe even professional)album and could charge other bands to record.
 
I'm sure it's a good mixer, but you have to think of how it will connect to thew computer. If i were you I'd go with the alesis multimix firewire. It lets you control each track seperately.
 
Pearl SMX said:
So if we get that mixer, we also need drum mics, and a mic for guitar and bass and then cables and all that... is that all we need? Oh, and software. Anything else we're missing??
Click to expand...
Mic for guitar. The shure sm57 will be ok for that, if you record all instrument separately. If not you could plug straight from the guitarists effects pedal, if they have 1. The bass can be pluged straight into the desk, or the amp miked with the beta 58.
The alesis comes with Cubase LE. You will need cables and mic stands. And probably a shockmount for the studio projects B1 mic. A good pc, which i'm guess you probably have.
 
I'd suggest recording all separate with drums first, drummer listening to a click track, and possibly guitarist(though not recording)if they're going to forget the songs. This means that you're not all going to stop if one of the band members make a mistake. Next, probably bassist, no click but listening to drummer, and possibly guitarist(maybe recorded at the same time if comfortable), and last vocals listening to all instruments.
 
Also, how are you going to fund this? Ashame you never did it before xmas ehh? lol
 
D-Wub said:
im planing on doing the same thing in my bassment but only for vocals any tips
Click to expand...
Just get an interface with 2 mic ins like this , a good mic like the studio projects B1, good monitors, and possibly room treatment(quite important) like i suggested to others(in corners for mixing, round singer for recording)
 
pandamonk said:
I'm sure it's a good mixer, but you have to think of how it will connect to thew computer. If i were you I'd go with the alesis multimix firewire. It lets you control each track seperately.
Click to expand...


Well the cheapest one (399) only has 4 mic inputs. We want to record everything at the same time, so at least 8 inputs.
 
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