Help me out with a recording question...

[B2D]

My classic-rock band is currently recording a demo.

Our current recording process is that we mic everything up, get decent tone on record, and then record a live take of drums, bass, and one guitar to use as a guide track.

We then use the guide tracks as templates to overdub on, and then we take extra time with the overdubs to get it to sound just right.

Currently our setup is a Mackie 8-channel mixer, and we run the stereo output on it to the stereo input on a Mac with Garage Band. The sound results are pretty good, but here's the thing...

We want to be able to record multiple channels/tracks at once, but get everything on its own track. For instace, we have 8 tracks worth of drums that we have to blend into a single stereo mix for recording... we can't record each individual drum on its own track. So we have to spend a LOT of time getting the mix down right off the bat and once its down we can do compression, eq, reverb, overall level etc but not much.

Like i said the setup is an analog Mackie 16-ch board with the stereo outs feeding the stereo in on a Mac Powerbook with Garage Band.

What do we need to get for this setup to make it do what i just described?

 

[Marinblues]

Re: Help me out with a recording question...

If you want to record 10 tracks at once (8 for drums,1 bass and 1 guitar) at a quality level, you will need some serious bandwidth. Although modern (firewire) soundcards might be able to handle it, I think that an ordinary laptop/PC cannot, especially on the bus/hard disk side. I could be wrong though.

 

[Robert S.]

Re: Help me out with a recording question...

If you want to record 16 tracks simu with seperation you need to spend a bunch of money. Even 8 will cost you dear.

You need to get an interface that will handle 8 inputs to your computer. A Digi 002 rack will cost yoy $1200, the regular Digi 002 will cost you $2200 ballpark.

Even the Digi 002 rack only has 4 preamped channels and 4 more line inputs so you'll need 4 channels from the Mackie to feed the line inputs.

Doing it that way, you can record a scratch vocal track and guitar track to a click and then record the drums on to 8 channels and get your isolation there. You'll then have to re-record the guitars and bass in overdubs.

For 16 channels simul, you'll need a Digi 002 rack and a Digi Control|24. Ballpark price for that is $10k but you get 16 mic preamps and a firewire input to the Mac. For that much torque, you'll want a G5 dual 2.7 gig machine so you don't bog down. I think they come with 8 gig of ram so you'll run smooth. Add another $3k to the price tag.

Since we're doing it right, we'll need a few solid tube preamps, a couple serious vocal mics and the Waves 4.0 Platinium bundle.

Woohoo, we're at $20k and we ain't even started on the room yet!

Get the Digi 002 rack or simular and make due with overdubs or work on mic placement and record live, dubbing vocals on the backside. Track isolation is hard on a budget. Currently I am working with a drummer and a set of V-Drums recording the drums both digitally and in midi. That way I can shoot the midi back out and re-work the drum balance in post if nessessary. It's a compromise but I don't have $20k either.

 

[AmirH]

Re: Help me out with a recording question...

Or if you're on a budget, there's always a/dat. I don't know what type of soundcards are available for macs but you should be able to get one with a/dat capability for 2-300 bucks. Get a firepod or the behringer alternative(which won't kill your sound quaility unless you're going for absolute pro quality) and all of your drum ins will be taken care of. You'll still have the other ins on the card for bass and guitar, granted you'll need two more preamps.

 

[Metalman_666]

Re: Help me out with a recording question...

lol wow.. this stuff is way above my band... we're recording with 3 mics... one for drums, one for guitars/bass, one for vocals all into a mixer and out in one channel to a laptop

 

[vinterland]

Re: Help me out with a recording question...

If you want to record 16 tracks simu with seperation you need to spend a bunch of money. Even 8 will cost you dear.

You need to get an interface that will handle 8 inputs to your computer. A Digi 002 rack will cost yoy $1200, the regular Digi 002 will cost you $2200 ballpark.

Even the Digi 002 rack only has 4 preamped channels and 4 more line inputs so you'll need 4 channels from the Mackie to feed the line inputs.

Doing it that way, you can record a scratch vocal track and guitar track to a click and then record the drums on to 8 channels and get your isolation there. You'll then have to re-record the guitars and bass in overdubs.

For 16 channels simul, you'll need a Digi 002 rack and a Digi Control|24. Ballpark price for that is $10k but you get 16 mic preamps and a firewire input to the Mac. For that much torque, you'll want a G5 dual 2.7 gig machine so you don't bog down. I think they come with 8 gig of ram so you'll run smooth. Add another $3k to the price tag.

Since we're doing it right, we'll need a few solid tube preamps, a couple serious vocal mics and the Waves 4.0 Platinium bundle.

Woohoo, we're at $20k and we ain't even started on the room yet!

Get the Digi 002 rack or simular and make due with overdubs or work on mic placement and record live, dubbing vocals on the backside. Track isolation is hard on a budget. Currently I am working with a drummer and a set of V-Drums recording the drums both digitally and in midi. That way I can shoot the midi back out and re-work the drum balance in post if nessessary. It's a compromise but I don't have $20k either.

Which is why I would recommend a firepod, or a mackie onyx, or a tascam interface. The 002 is good but if we're shooting for cheap the items I listed are around half the price. If I was really wanting to do it right though I'd get a motu 828 mkII and add a some mic pre's.

 

[DeadSkinSlayer3]

Re: Help me out with a recording question...

Yeah, if you want pro quality, the Motu stuff CANNOT be beat!

On a budget, the Firepod and Mackie Onyx are what I've heard to work the best.

 

[B2D]

Re: Help me out with a recording question...

Noted and logged. Thanks, guys.

Do the Firepod and the Onyx come with their own software or can i just plug in and go?

Thanks for all the help, I'm really new to this kind of recording technology. I mean I know its there, i just dont know how to use it.

 

[B2D]

Re: Help me out with a recording question...

Noted and logged. Thanks, guys.

Do the Firepod and the Onyx come with their own software or can i just plug in and go?

Thanks for all the help, I'm really new to this kind of recording technology. I mean I know its there, i just dont know how to use it.

Looks like the Firepod comes with software and can be used by itself but it looks like the Mackie Onyx needs some additional accessories to do what I'd need.