What's your chain and how does it work?

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nickd123

nickd123

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How do all of you guys record?

For example, do you go everything into a mixer and then directly into a computer, editing everything as one track?

Or do you go directly into an interface and then mix each individual track separately?

Basically, what's your chain and how does everything work in your setup? I'm trying to get some ideas.

Thanks
nickd123
 
I record mostly acoustic guitar, sometimes electric guitar too. Usually one or 2 tracks at a time.

My signal chain is:

Guitar -> Microphone -> DMP3 Preamp -> M-Audio 2496 soundcard.

Although I just got an EMU 1212M as a gift, so once I get the right cables I'll probably swap the 2496 with the EMU.

I'm getting a headphone amp and going to use it to power my crappy speakers and headphones for monitoring/mixing.
 
Almost no matter what:

Source >> Whatever it needs to get the signal where it needs to be (if that's a microphone and a preamp, or a direct box or what not) >> Converter & interface.

As little as possible. No EQ, certainly no compression (unless it's there specifically for the sound - almost never to control dynamics), nothing that isn't needed.
 
My chain is like this:

Guitar (or whatever source), via Behringer C2 or CAD m179 mics, to Presonus Firebox, to Guitar Tracks Pro 3. I have M-Audio BX5 monitors.

Still haven't successfully recorded a sound I like. But my room is pretty shit and I don't treat it and usually I start off with a rough copy take of guitar then I say stuff it, this is it.
 
I think the OP might be asking about multitrack recording process rather than signal chain.
 
All audio into a computer (Sonar 6) thru a pair of Delta 1010's. Normally use either an a Focusrite Voicemaster or a Presonus MP20 for a preamp. Currently use a Mackie 32 channel board to monitor and 2 track mix to DAT.

During 2007 I plan to do more editing/mixing in the computer and eventually with loss the DAT and mix direct to CD within the computer.
 
my source(s) go into a mixer which has induvidual outputs which goes to my delta 1010lt into my PC,

I too try to keep the tracks as raw as possible when feding in.

and as for outputs I have 1 and 2 for left and right of all the tracks,
the track I'm working on goes thrue channel 3 and 4 thrue a veriaty of devices (EQ and such) then into another mixer which send the audio into the main playback mix and also records onto a diffrent track.
 
mic to mixer, mixer to patch bay, interface to patch bay (normalled), CD burner & external devices to patch bay.

basically mic to preamp to mixer, mixer channels to interface's channels, interface back into mixer, to powered speakers.
 
nickd123 said:
How do all of you guys record?

For example, do you go everything into a mixer and then directly into a computer, editing everything as one track?

Or do you go directly into an interface and then mix each individual track separately?

Basically, what's your chain and how does everything work in your setup? I'm trying to get some ideas.

Thanks
nickd123
Click to expand...

Nick,

I have an RME Fireface800 with an Octamic which is replacing two Aardvark Q10's next week. But, the basic set up is the same with either set up.

I have microphones which I plug into either the sound card (the Q10 which have 8 built in preamps each, or the Fireface which has 4 on the 800 and another 8 preamps on the Octamic) and each of those mics is recorded (in Sonar) directly to hard disk.

There is one other way I get sound into the sound card. That is through outboard Preamps. I have a few FMR RNP units. They are higher quality preamps than the ones build into my sound cards, so I use them for the most important things that I am tracking. In this case, I plug the mic into the preamp, then take a balanced 1/4" to 1/4" patch and plug the preamp out into the soundcard input (for the Q10 it is right in the same plug for the mics, on the RME it is on the back of the unit.) This lets me bypass the preamps in the sound card and just use the sound card converters.

In this situation sometimes I also make use of the insert point on the back of my FMR RNP's. I take a stereo or TRS 1/4" that splits into two TS or mono 1/4" plugs and use it to make a loop from the preamp through a compressor (like an RNC or RNLA) and then back into the preamp, then to the computer sound card. This lets me lightly compress the signal as I am tracking. I typically only use this for drums as a limiter at the very top end to control any digital overs. A lot of guys do this for color or other artistic reasons, but I am still a bit too new and just use my compressors as a tracking safety net. The one exception would be lead vocals which I do sometimes use the RNLA for some effect on the voice.

So basically I can record 16 mono tracks at one time then take and edit, erase, amend those tracks during mixing. I can also take things like a scratch vocal track put down during band tracking and throw it out and do a new lead vocal track. I also can put reverbs and eq's on each track at that time too.

While I am still kinda new at this, I have been very happy with my results:

This project was done for a friend. Everything tracked all at one time except the vocals which were overdubbed.
http://www.cduniverse.com/search/xx/music/pid/6815624/a/Your+Final+Ride.htm

These two are rough mixes of my own project.
http://www.soundclick.com/util/getplayer.m3u?id=1088943&q=hi
http://www.soundclick.com/util/getplayer.m3u?id=1089375&q=hi

Hope this helps. Feel free to ask any other questions if you think I can help.

Good luck.

Jim
 
Option 1)
Mic->cable->Alesis DMP3 (2 channels) -> layla 24/96 -> Cubase
2)
Mic-> soundcraft M4 mixer preamp ->layla -> cubase

3)
mic -> focusrite penta platnium -> layla -> cubase
All tracking is done to mono tracks, even stereo sources generally go to two mono tracks. I *can* do up to 7 tracks at a time, but I don't really need that very often. Most drumset recording is 4 tracks- 2 OH, snare and kick.

monitoring is:
cubase -> Layla out (8 outs, so submixes are possible) -> stero in on the SC M4 -> Wharfedale 8.1As

Headphone monitoring during tracking via layla headphone jack or the M4 dependaing on what i am doing at the moment and whether i am alone or recording with someone.

mixing done via software mixer in cubase.

daav
 
Mic--> Xenyx 1622---> Delta 44 and Ap 24/96 ----> Protools----> Xenyx 1622 (for efx and mixing with analog)---> Protools for final mixdown.
 
Source > Preamp > Interface

all effects, compression and eq are done in the mixdown stage after ive recorded everything, usually VSTs sometimes i route shit externally to my hardware rack but then the chain only runs through what i need it to and no unnessicary/unused gear gets plugged into it.

-Cyanide
 
Mic, or instrument (DI) -> Inspire (which has pres) -> Computer (Cubase) So far, I have recorded everything one mono track at a time, except for audio from an electronic keyboard, which was one stereo track. I adjust instrument tracks first, then mix them together into one instrument stereo track. Then I adjust the vocal tracks and mix them into one stereo track. Then, I adjust those stereo tracks and mix them into one final stereo track. Apply mastering effects to the final mix. Export the whole thing to a 16/44 .wav file and burn to CD, or mp3, or put it on Soundclick.
 
Source> preamp > Lynx2A soundcard > Sonar4PE.

Monitor chain is:

Lynx2A out > Mackie 1402 > Carver PM 120 amp > Klipsch 2.2's or direct from the mixer to Event Tria powered monitors.

Acoustic guitars and amps get mic'd. Bass and keys are run through instrument amps to line level.

Works great. ASIO drivers for the Lynx are topnotch.

My 12-y.o. is getting into the act too, so I'm getting him an Alesis 8-channel firewire mixer/soundcard combo. I'm curious to see how it runs. I read one guy claiming he was down to 1.3ms latency with the Alesis @ 24bit/48k.

Fidelity is no issue as far as hardware/software goes. It's taken me about 7 years to get to this point. This is my 3rd DAW setup and by far the best.

Now my playing is a whole other matter entirely.......... :D
 
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Tracking
Mic > Portico 5012 > (Maybe a Portico 5043 depending on the source > LynxIIA > Sonar

Mixbuss
Sonar > LynxIIA > Portico 5012 with Silk switch on > 5043
 
In:
Mic(s) -> cables in the wall -> behrigner (I know. ugh) mixer -> snake -> delta 66

Out:
delta 66 -> monitor mixer -> audio receiver -> 'monitor' speakers
delta 66 -> monitor mixer -> snake -> headphone amp
delta 66 -> monitor mixer -> snake -> mixer -> pa amp

Works great for everything, I always do each instrument separate and latency is never a problem.

The two most useful pieces in my setup are my monitor mixer (http://www.zzounds.com/a--2676837/item--BEHMON800) and control surface (http://www.zzounds.com/a--2676837/item--BEHBCF2000)


-jeffrey
 
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