School Me On 8-Track Recorders

[Lucid_Lunatic]

I am thinking of buying one so I can start recording and posting some of my riffs. I found a Fostex at the pawnshop the other day that has the CD recorder to burn discs. I like this idea. It looks new and they are asking $150 for it, don't know if it's worth it or not.

I have been looking on MF, and to be honest it is quite confusing with all the different types and options. I have never used one and don't have a clue about them, so I need any and all advice you guys can give. I would like something somewhat simple to use. I'd like to be able to lay down a rythm track, then maybe double the leads or even just do 2 different leads, a bass track and I would have to use some kind of drum machine for the drum tracks.

Something I was wondering, when you're recording, let's say you have laid all your bass and rythm tracks, then move to your lead stuff. If you screw up, can you just start the lead over, or do you have to go back and redo all the tracks? Like I say, I'm completely in the dark on this stuff.

 

[Lucid_Lunatic]

Re: School Me On 8-Track Recorders

Something else I was wondering, Will it be better to mic cabs or use a line out on my amps to the recorder. If I want to use my smaller practice amp for say a rythm then use the DSL for leads, will the huge volume difference make a big diff, on the recording, or can you level it out? I plan on using both amps, the Lead 15 with a multi unit and the DSL with a couple of regular pedals.

 

[millsart]

Re: School Me On 8-Track Recorders

Is there any reason you'd prefer not to just record using your computer ? Theres tons of excellent recording software and plugins out there, many free or very low cost even, that are going to give you so much more versatility in recording and editing parts, looping beats, mixing down tracks

 

[Lucid_Lunatic]

Re: School Me On 8-Track Recorders

Is there any reason you'd prefer not to just record using your computer ? Theres tons of excellent recording software and plugins out there, many free or very low cost even, that are going to give you so much more versatility in recording and editing parts, looping beats, mixing down tracks

My comp gets weird too often to think about trying to use it.

 

[supernosher]

Re: School Me On 8-Track Recorders

Hey,

I'll field the elementary questions... You can go back and re-record anything you want - Each track is seperate and individual. This is where your timing becomes really important. And direct outs are more consistent but don't sound as good as a good mic/mic amp setup. And you'll be amazed at how different your guitar sounds on your recordings than in real life. Mic'ing a small amp can sound huge if done properly, just as a full stack could potentially sound tiny. All the levels are controllable in post, and you just set a good signal to noise ratio while tracking. Noise can either be from too low a level into the converters or too high into the converters.

 

[Hellion]

Re: School Me On 8-Track Recorders

I'd say for $150, the Fostex isn't a bad option. I'm not terribly impressed with Fostex since they started marketing digital equipment, but this sounds like it would be a good starter machine for you. You can probably also find Tascam or Roland units for a comparable amount if you look around.

 

[Lucid_Lunatic]

Re: School Me On 8-Track Recorders

Hey,

I'll field the elementary questions... You can go back and re-record anything you want - Each track is seperate and individual. This is where your timing becomes really important. And direct outs are more consistent but don't sound as good as a good mic/mic amp setup. And you'll be amazed at how different your guitar sounds on your recordings than in real life. Mic'ing a small amp can sound huge if done properly, just as a full stack could potentially sound tiny. All the levels are controllable in post, and you just set a good signal to noise ratio while tracking. Noise can either be from too low a level into the converters or too high into the converters.

Thanks for the info.

I was talking to Jolly and he told me I should go for a 16 track so I have plenty to record stereo if I want, which seems like a good idea. I want one with the built in CD burner also.

Another question, if they don't sound the same recorded as real life, how do I go about doing something like an amp or guitar demo and it sound true?

One other thing, If I lay the rythym down first, are you able to play it back for doing the other tracks so you stay in time? When recording lead, can you skip to different parts to put in different lead licks? Say you are recording a 5 minute song with 3 or 4 short lead passages, You do the rythym track, then go over it with the lead, can you re-record just the 3rd solo or do you have to go back and redo the whole track?

 

[Chickenwings]

Re: School Me On 8-Track Recorders

i have a fostex. it was given to me by a fella who decided to just use his computer. I did the same thing after twiddling with it for a while. I gave it to a friend who decided after using it that he didnt like the sound. He uses his computer now also.
A nice audio interface and cubase or pro tools is a better option.

 

[DankStar]

Re: School Me On 8-Track Recorders

I use a fostex mr-8 for all my stuff. The one you speak of is even better. It's good for laying down the guitars, but it's a bit easier/better to do mixing in the computer. 8 tracks is ok if you bounce once. nothing wrong with bouncing. but when you interface the recorder with your computer, it really opens up a whole new world. fostex units have the ability to communicate data back and forth with a PC. then you use a simple program to further mix everything.

as far as direct or mic'ed...personal choice. I like to mic when it's really serious, but I don't mind behringer's ultra-g cab sim coming out the line out for getting ideas out or to do direct cleans that are later run through computer-based amp sims (there's a ton of cool free ones now).

as far as keeping all in line...the recording should start with drums or a click, that everything follows. you'd load or record that into the fostex first, and it's the foundation for all the other stuff.

how far are you from kennesaw, ga man? I'd love to do a road trip some time; I could show you some tricks of the trade with recording, mixing, and mastering if you show me how to fish!

 

[NecroPolo]

Re: School Me On 8-Track Recorders

My comp gets weird too often to think about trying to use it.

Change your computer then. With a little web-search, you can assemble a dmn reliable computer of dmn reliable parts. That doens't have to be the newest stuff, with scanning info you can pick the most reliabel stuff. You'll get far more options and better sound with modern software sequencers.

 

[Karmadog777]

Re: School Me On 8-Track Recorders

dude for the money get yourself a toneport, it is a soundcard and interface you have amps/cabs/ stompboxes i run mine with a cheap used poweramp and a couple monitors and half the time I play thru it instead of my amp, if you want to record your own rig ,mic it up thru the interface
really
do it

 

[J Moose]

Re: School Me On 8-Track Recorders

Another question, if they don't sound the same recorded as real life, how do I go about doing something like an amp or guitar demo and it sound true?

That's the million dollar question... quite literally. Don't expect anything to sound like a Metallica record for a while and record all you can... eventually they'll start getting better as you get better at the process.

One other thing, If I lay the rythym down first, are you able to play it back for doing the other tracks so you stay in time? When recording lead, can you skip to different parts to put in different lead licks? Say you are recording a 5 minute song with 3 or 4 short lead passages, You do the rythym track, then go over it with the lead, can you re-record just the 3rd solo or do you have to go back and redo the whole track?

Yes yes yes & yes... thats called punching in... you can fix just a bar, or a lick or part of a lick... if you get REALLY good you can even punch in a single line or word of a vocal.

Anyway... man, for $150 that Fostex 8-track with a built-in CD burner would probably do you well for a long while. You can always upgrade to more tracks & a hipper unit after you get the basics together... and the basics of recording hold true on anything. Doesn't matter if its a home 8-track or an $8 million dollar studio. In the beginning it won't be the recording device holding you back... and you could still cut a band to 8-tracks if you get creative.

Computer rigs are great but ultimately fairly complex to get running... especially in the beginning. Hell man, all my gear and I still write with a drum machine and a cassette 4-track... like I did when I was 15. So much easier to play when I'm not thinking about making that stuff work...

 

[super rad stuff]

Re: School Me On 8-Track Recorders

dude for the money get yourself a toneport, it is a soundcard and interface you have amps/cabs/ stompboxes i run mine with a cheap used poweramp and a couple monitors and half the time I play thru it instead of my amp, if you want to record your own rig ,mic it up thru the interface
really
do it

honestly, i was thinking the same thing. plus, it comes with free 4-track software that converts your stuff into WAV. then, if you download audacity(free), which is 16 track software, it has the ability to mix WAV files. so altogether you have 64 track recording!(at least, i do:laughing not to mention that the toneport actually has halfway decent guitar amp/bass amp/preamp modeling.

 

[Lucid_Lunatic]

Re: School Me On 8-Track Recorders

This sounds kind of cool, and $50 bucks cheaper than the Fostex. Can you guys throw me some opinions on it?

Thanks

http://huntsville.craigslist.org/msg/1121218106.html

 

[SlyFoxx]

Re: School Me On 8-Track Recorders

The Moose hath spoken and his words are true.

 

[DankStar]

Re: School Me On 8-Track Recorders

This sounds kind of cool, and $50 bucks cheaper than the Fostex. Can you guys throw me some opinions on it?

Thanks

http://huntsville.craigslist.org/msg/1121218106.html

the boss doesn't record in WAV format, but a lossy format I believe, and it's not an intuitive unit, but it would work for scratch stuff. the whole mixing-down-to-get-to-64 is just bouncing tracks - any unit can do that. you could bounce until your face goes blue if you wanted to.