working with 8 tracks simultaneously on pc

[Jaycay]

I have done some recording for about 3 years using a pc, beat up microphone mixer i got at a yard sale, and the built in sound card. It was just about as basic a computer setup you could find. However, after 3 years of working with recording single tracks to the pc, i have wanted to expand my knowledge a bit. For a school senior project i wanted to record anyone in my school who would like to be recorded perhaps including a rock band. It seems to me like for recording a band to the computer only a 8 channel recording interface would work. Some people have told me that the Aardvark Direct Pro Q10 audio interface is the perfect solution for it has 8 preamps built into it so you dont have to buy a mixer with preamps for it. Others say that i should get a mixer (either with 8 inserts or 8 direct outs) and then a 8 channel mixer without built in preamps. Another option I found was getting a mic pre amp or digital mixer with a ADAT out and a sound card with a ADAT in. What should I do? I'd really like to keep the cost of these things down below $1000. Im working this summer and thats just about all i can spend (need the rest for car insurence)

 

[DeadPoet]

Hi,

Well... there's a whole bunch of solutions out there, like you mentioned. A fairly general rule is: cheap equipment will most of the time sound cheap..

You worked out a budget, but would that include microphones, software, a set of monitors, cable,... ?? If not, you may have to take another look at it.

If it's $1k you can spend on a recording card or setup there's a number of options:

If you have a decent computer you could go the DAW-way: a Delta1010, 1010LT, Aardvark Q10, ST-Audio C-Port, ST-Audio M-Port, .. are a few cards mentioned a lot here which should be in your price range.

When going the mixer for pre's - soundcard way, you will surely have to spend more, and buying a cheap mixer means having cheap signal path, which you should try to avoid like banjo players

Don't overshoot with your first setup, but don't undershoot as well. Don't go the Soundblaster way... If it's 8 tracks you're after you already limited your choice of recordingcards which makes it easier for you.


Hope this helps,
Herwig

 

[Jaycay]

I guess the best bet for me right now is the Aardvark Q10 (which I probably could get off of Ebay for a slightly lower price) . About the other things I would need; Is there anything wrong with connecting my computer to my stereo instead of getting monitors? (this is what i have been doing) And the mics; I have a sm58 and a sm57. I think that I will buy a large diapram microphone and a small diaphram microphone. I really don't know the difference in all of the microphone types, but I have read what mics should be used for what. Anyway I figured for a recording set up:

*=equiptment i already have

mics:
*sm58: either vocals or percussion(bass drum or snare?)
*sm57: either for recording electric guitar
Large Diapram Condensor: piano or drum set or vocals (maybe I need two of these
small diaphram condensor: acoustic guitar
direct in: bass and maybe guitar
direct in: keyboard

software:
*Cakewalk

sound card:
Aardvark Q10

total cost:
Aardvark Q10- $700 - 850 (depending if i use ebay)
large diapram condensor - $70-300 (300 being the most im going to pay
small diapram condensor- 70-300

total= $840-1450

 

[DeadPoet]

read the big thread in the Microphone forum, it'll clear some microphone related things up for you and there's some nice guys in there that know which mics to buy. As for the rest: the Q10 is quite a complete package to start with.

The thing with monitors vs. HiFi speakers is that monitors are made to sound honest, a hifi is made to sound good. As a recording person you need to make decisions based on what you hear from the speakers, so having honest speakers is a plus. I can understand people on a budget using their HiFi for monitors, but try to listen to any made work on as many different soundsystems as possible. (and save up for a pair of Yorkvilles/Tannoy Reveals/M-Audio's/whatever sounds good to you).

BTW you might consider adding at least one headphone for monitoring while recording.


Herwig

 

[alfalfa]

The thing with monitors vs. HiFi speakers is that monitors are made to sound honest, a hifi is made to sound good.

A typical myth that you find floating around this forum. 'HiFi' and 'Monitor' are descriptions used to cover such a wide range of speakers. You can get good, accurate hifi speakers and crappy, inaccurate monitor speakers and vice versa. Abbey Road studios (probably the most well known studio in the world) uses B&W 'hifi' speakers as monitors so dont get caught up in stereotypes. An accurate speaker is an accurate speaker now matter what it is called.

Have a read of these articles:
http://www.sospubs.co.uk/sos/Jun02/articles/monitors.asp
http://www.sospubs.co.uk/sos/Jul02/articles/monitors2.asp