Multitrack Recording

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Hey guys.

I've started up a mini Recording Studio In my home, however I seem to
have hit a small snag in the fact that when recording drums, I want to
be able to have each drum/cymbals on a seperate track, but I have no
idea what I'm supposed to be looking for.

I'm looking for some hardware/software that I'd be able to use to
record about 6-8 tracks at once (for example drums), but keep them
seperate, so I can EQ/compress/etc. each tom/cymbals seperatly. I am
also looking to only spend about £200 on the equipment.

Have you got any suggestions on what I should be shooting for? I was
thinking something like a firewire mixer, but again, don't know what
to look for >_<.

Any answers would be much apprecated.

cheers.

[Danny T]

On Aug 11, 9:10 am, wrote:
> Hey guys.
>
> I've started up a mini Recording Studio In my home, however I seem to
> have hit a small snag in the fact that when recording drums, I want to
> be able to have each drum/cymbals on a seperate track, but I have no
> idea what I'm supposed to be looking for.

First off, your drum "set" is one instrument and you don't really need
each drum on a track by itself. What you need it a good stereo or 3
way mic setup and maybe a mic on all the drums if there is a reason to
push a hit now and again. Look for a good drum sound through your
stereo mic set.
>
> I'm looking for some hardware/software that I'd be able to use to
> record about 6-8 tracks at once (for example drums), but keep them
> seperate, so I can EQ/compress/etc. each tom/cymbals seperatly. I am
> also looking to only spend about £200 on the equipment.
I think you should spend the cash and get your learn on first. You'd
do better that way. This isn't something you can just by a program and
do no matter what the ads say.
>
> Have you got any suggestions on what I should be shooting for? I was
> thinking something like a firewire mixer, but again, don't know what
> to look for >_<.
>
> Any answers would be much apprecated.
>
> cheers.

You don't buy a guitar and become a rockstar. If you have no idea what
you are looking for, think about things and you might see it from the
outside like everyone else will. You need to learn before you push
record.

There is nothing wrong with learning and all pros learned first so you
are in good company but really, software does not the master make!

Any cheap software will record. Any mic will let you do it too.Your
best bet to record some demos is probably one of those prosonic
firebox into a cheap version of cubase but your best bet for making
good music is to go to a real studio and record there. You will learn
a lot from just being there.

[In_The_Name_of_Kane]

It's not so much the learning first, at the moment I use Cakewalk 9,so
theres the basic recording software,
I'm looking more to take it up to the next level with the recording.

[Arny Krueger]

> wrote in message
ups.com
> Hey guys.
>
> I've started up a mini Recording Studio In my home,
> however I seem to have hit a small snag in the fact that
> when recording drums, I want to be able to have each
> drum/cymbals on a seperate track, but I have no idea what
> I'm supposed to be looking for.
>
> I'm looking for some hardware/software that I'd be able
> to use to record about 6-8 tracks at once (for example
> drums), but keep them seperate, so I can EQ/compress/etc.
> each tom/cymbals seperatly. I am also looking to only
> spend about £200 on the equipment.

The cheapest interface with 8 channels that is worthy of consideration would
be the M-Audio Delta 1010LT.

> Have you got any suggestions on what I should be shooting
> for? I was thinking something like a firewire mixer, but
> again, don't know what to look for >_<.

I don't know if you can find 8 channels on firewire for as little as £200.
PCI generally runs less money for a given level of audio performance. BTW,
that doesn't include mic preamps.

[Mike Rivers]

On Aug 11, 12:10 pm, wrote:

> I've started up a mini Recording Studio In my home, however I seem to
> have hit a small snag in the fact that when recording drums, I want to
> be able to have each drum/cymbals on a seperate track, but I have no
> idea what I'm supposed to be looking for.

> I'm looking for some hardware/software that I'd be able to use to
> record about 6-8 tracks at once (for example drums), but keep them
> seperate, so I can EQ/compress/etc. each tom/cymbals seperatly. I am
> also looking to only spend about £200 on the equipment.

There are many programs that you can use, and they aren't very
expensive. However the hardware can easily blow your budget.

First, you'll need a mic for each drum you want to record. You can
easily spend £200 on just one mic. And you'll probably get a better
drum recording from one £200 mic than from six £30 mics. And don't
forget stands and cables.

Second, you'll need an audio interface for your computer that has
eight mic inputs. That will easily exceed your budget. An Alesis iO26
would do the job nicely, but it's $400. It's about the least expensive
of those devices.

Finally, you'll need reasonable acoustic treatment in your room so
that you can get even minimal separation of the drums on the tracks.
Just because you HAVE one mic pres drum doesn't mean it won't "hear"
other drums in the kit.

Sorry, but you can't do what you want for what you're able to spend.

[John L Rice]

>I've started up a mini Recording Studio In my home, however I seem to
>have hit a small snag in the fact that when recording drums, I want to
>be able to have each drum/cymbals on a seperate track, but I have no
>idea what I'm supposed to be looking for.

What equipment do you currently have???

--
John L Rice

[DC]

Arny Krueger wrote:

> The cheapest interface with 8 channels that is worthy of consideration would
> be the M-Audio Delta 1010LT.

I got excited for a second, until I realized that it's a PCI card. What
would you recommend that's firewire?

[Laurence Payne]

On Sat, 11 Aug 2007 20:58:54 -0400, DC > wrote:

>Arny Krueger wrote:
>
>> The cheapest interface with 8 channels that is worthy of consideration would
>> be the M-Audio Delta 1010LT.
>
>I got excited for a second, until I realized that it's a PCI card. What
>would you recommend that's firewire?

What computer do you have?

Just what will you be recording? Everyone's assuming you're looking
to multi-mic a live drum kit. I'm not so sure. Tell us?

[DC]

Laurence Payne wrote:

> Just what will you be recording? Everyone's assuming you're looking
> to multi-mic a live drum kit. I'm not so sure. Tell us?

8 in / 8 out firewire is my need. Line in only, no pres needed. I'm only
transferring some old 1/2" analog eight track stuff.

Any new recording I do is one man band stuff, so I'm OK there.

[DC]

>> Just what will you be recording? Everyone's assuming you're looking
>> to multi-mic a live drum kit. I'm not so sure. Tell us?
>
>
> 8 in / 8 out firewire is my need. Line in only, no pres needed. I'm only
> transferring some old 1/2" analog eight track stuff.
>
> Any new recording I do is one man band stuff, so I'm OK there.


Addendum:

I've been looking at MOTU stuff on eBay. My intention is to buy it, do
the transfers, and sell it again. I'm also willing to barter, as in,
I've got lots of stuff I want to sell, specifically, 421's and ECM77B's,
keyboards, guitars, PA gear, etc.

Once I transfer this stuff, I'll get rid of the Tascam 38, the 1/2 tape,
and gain the space it's taking up.

I was thinking I'd get in a newbie loop there, and I'm too old to be a
newbie.

[Laurence Payne]

On Sun, 12 Aug 2007 17:51:17 -0400, DC > wrote:

>Laurence Payne wrote:
>
>> Just what will you be recording? Everyone's assuming you're looking
>> to multi-mic a live drum kit. I'm not so sure. Tell us?
>
>8 in / 8 out firewire is my need. Line in only, no pres needed. I'm only
>transferring some old 1/2" analog eight track stuff.
>
>Any new recording I do is one man band stuff, so I'm OK there.

I use a RME Fireface 800. Highly recommended.

[DC]

Laurence Payne wrote:

> I use a RME Fireface 800. Highly recommended.


Thank you. That's probably overkill for this purpose.

People say that the first MOTU 828 sucked. I'll hope it sucks a little
less than the source material.

Also, I was a Midiman/MAudio dealer, so I'll have to refamiliarize
myself with their products.