Where to go from here.

[sweetshoes18]

Alright.

Here is My Set Up For The Moment :

Mackie MS1202 Mixer
A New High Octane Guitar Tube Amp (Self Built)
2 Cheap Mic Just to screw around (Instrumental and Vocal, Very Cheap)
Lots of cables and adapters
Set Of Very Nice Altec Lansing Speakers (use for monitors)
Custom Dynaco Stereo System (Using Tape Deck for Recording)

__

Ok this stuff is good and all to record just me on guitar and vocals but I have a 6 peice ska band and I am planing on recording soon seeing as we have worked the kinks out of all our songs. I planed on making a demo disc and giving it to some concert theaters so we can get some underground proformances and then after we rack up some $ go and get a pro recording.

So, where do I go from here to reach my goal? I got about 200$ bucks *availible at the moment* to spend.

 

[sweetshoes18]

Hmmmm. Anyone?

 

[sweetshoes18]

By the way. Is that mixer suitable for recording drums? I know it is a very very nice mixer (the reason I bought it) for its price and size but I dont exactly know what it can handle.

 

[Chibi Nappa]

Well, here's your problem....

You're much more than $200 away from making multi-track recordings. Your best shot might be to buy the best mic you can get for $200 and just make a recording through the air onto your tape deck. Either that or use the $200 at a local studio to crank a demo out (if you're good enough to get it done in $200 worth of time).

If I were you I'd go the pro studio route for the demo and then build up a home studio later (if you have an interest in recording).

When building a home studio, I'd buy the stuff in this order:

1. Multitrack recorder/mixing board
2. real monitors (and everything that goes with a monitoring system such as the amp and room treatment)
3. instruments (if needed)
4. mics
5. effects/processing/plugins

Good luck with the demo.

 

[crosstudio]

or, if you have a decent PC or laptop with a firewire interface, go get an edirol fa-101. its got 8 inputs which can be fed by your mixer and you can then use your computer as a recording interface... oh, but you need recording software... like ntracks (i've never used), or cakewalk sonar (which i use).

once you pick those things up you are on the slippery slope toward spending all your spare cash on studio gear... come on in the water's fine.

OR

you can look for one of those standalone 8-track recording units if you don't already have a decent computer laying around.

a regular stereo isn't going to work, because the tape speed isn't fast enough and the signal-to-noise ratio isn't as good as pro-analog or semi-pro-digital.

 

[Bulls Hit]

You can also get a M-Audio delta1010LT pci card for $220. This will take 8 inputs out of your Mackie and let you record the whole band. You'd also need a few more mics. What you have now might let you record 1 instrument at a time so if $200 is all you got to record the whole band you'll need to keep working on those kinks while you collect more wedge

 

[sweetshoes18]

Well, notice how I said I have 200$ *at the moment*. Well that will soon change.

Just to tell you guys, this is not somthing I plan in doing over night. I am ganna spred everything out over a long time and by the items when needed so money is not as much as an issue. Not to mention my backup guitarist is leaving so it is going to take time to find a replacement that is good enough to play the sick riff's were are writing.

I have plenty of time to buy this stuff and I plan on keeping it for a big hobbie of mine.

So what do you think I should buy first (priorities)?




(PS) I am not planing on getting a demo done in a studio for the fact that I dont feel like wasting money on an EP that wont last long (till we make a full cd) and that I have done some recording before and I know how it all goes.

 

[sweetshoes18]

.........?

 

[Ibrow]

To start out, you should decide now, before you by anything expensive, if you want to record on PC, MAC, outboard analog or digital.

Once you've made that decision, it gets easier and easier to recommend "what you need next".

I know I'd hate to recommed buying a good soundcard, only to have you decide you like the sound of analog or something. For my money, the best investment is a good PC-based DAW. There is just so much you can do on the computer, and it really costs so little.

So, get a good computer. If you have that, your "next" investment would be a "good" soundcard. More importantly, a soundcard that addresses your band's needs. Always look ahead. Never buy inferior gear because you are thinking of the "now". If you are planning on micing the drumkit, you are going to need a bunch of soundcard inputs.

Once you have a soundcard, you'll obviously need some software. There are inexpensive tracking programs, if you are going to mainly track audio, or more expensive sequencing software if you plan on incorporating MIDI into your mixes. I will Second Sonar that was mentioned above for sequencing software. Sonar IS a recording studio in your computer. You just have to get the sounds in. But, if you aren't going to use MIDI at all, there is tracking software out there(n-track as mentioned, or others) that will work well for a lot less money.

Every step after that for your home recording studio becomes pretty obvious. It all comes down to how much you want to spend. Always remember, "Buy crap, buy twice." A lot of times it's better to SAVE for a more expensive piece of the puzzle.

For a "decent" setup, once you have the above-mentioned in place, you will basically only need some good mics, good pre-amps, and some studio monitors, and you'll be all set to record your demo/demos. Then comes room treatment for your mixing station.

It's a journey, and this BBS is a GODSEND for learning what, and more importantly, what NOT to buy on your journey toward a "good" home studio.

I hope that helps.