Hello,
I have to record drums on a mackie cr1604. I'm planning on using 4 mics
kick, snare, 2ovhds. The drums will be tracked with the mackies
preamps...The other istruments will be tracked using external preamps.
My question is what is the cleanest way to get the drums down to a
stereo track? would it be best to just use the stereo outs on the
mackie and send the drums to 2 tracks on my da38?..or use the alt 3/4?
or track then bounce. Also when If I would just use the stereo outs on
the mackie would it be kick and snare up the middle and hard pans on
the overheads? would that still give me control over the drums during
mixing? simple questions but I've really just recorded myself and
rarely used a full drum kit.
any help appreciated,
brian

Submixing prior to tape is one of those "Gee, I wish I'd done this
differently" situations. If you can't spare four tracks for the drums
then yes use the stereo outputs to the DA-38. Kick and snare up the
middle and the overheads hard left and right. Check and double check
the levels because you can't change the drum mix later.

yes it's a commitment but I am pressed for tracks. 2gts and bass and
then vocals and bkgrnd voxs . I'd like to keep the guitars seperate so
I can pan them...The mackie is a little difficult. The advice of
keeping the levels low is great. I've noticed that gain staging is very
crucial on a board like that because you run out of headoom really
quickly. It is what it is and I ain't fooling myself..but it's
workable. And as they say if 'you can't be with the one you love, love
the one you're with" I guess? Thanks for the tips.
Brian

You will also have to commit to eq'ing the mic inputs at the Mackie
because I doubt you'll find a "one eq fits all" for the finished stereo
tracks in remix.

In article . com writes:

I have to record drums on a mackie cr1604. I'm planning on using 4 mics
kick, snare, 2ovhds. The drums will be tracked with the mackies
preamps...

My question is what is the cleanest way to get the drums down to a
stereo track? would it be best to just use the stereo outs on the
mackie and send the drums to 2 tracks on my da38?..or use the alt 3/4?

Using the alt 3/4 outputs might be a little cleaner, but it probalby
makes little difference. I'd have to look at the service manual to be
know for sure if it actually bypasses any electronics. The thing that
will make the most difference is to keep the levels pretty low. Follow
the "Mackie Level Setting Procedures" (solo the chanel and set the
trim so the meter reads 0 on peaks) conservatively and keep the
channel levels low enough so that with the main fader (if you're using
the main outputs) set to the unity gain position, the meter rarely
goes above 0 on peaks.

If you're worried about your recording not being "hot enough" then
connect the Mackie outputs to the -10 dBV inputs (RCA jacks) on the
DA-38.


--
I'm really Mike Rivers )
However, until the spam goes away or Hell freezes over,
lots of IP addresses are blocked from this system. If
you e-mail me and it bounces, use your secret decoder ring
and reach me he double-m-eleven-double-zero at yahoo

thadjanus wrote:
Hello,
I have to record drums on a mackie cr1604. I'm planning on using 4 mics
kick, snare, 2ovhds. The drums will be tracked with the mackies
preamps...The other istruments will be tracked using external preamps.
My question is what is the cleanest way to get the drums down to a
stereo track? would it be best to just use the stereo outs on the
mackie and send the drums to 2 tracks on my da38?..or use the alt 3/4?
or track then bounce. Also when If I would just use the stereo outs on
the mackie would it be kick and snare up the middle and hard pans on
the overheads? would that still give me control over the drums during
mixing? simple questions but I've really just recorded myself and
rarely used a full drum kit.
any help appreciated,
brian


I use the Tascam system (DA88's) and you really should give four tracks to this. I did some tracking
about nine years ago and wish I had multi-tracked the kit instead of just mixing it to stereo.

You cannot undo stuff like this. Better to have to rent a second DA38 for mixdown than to wish you
had tracked the kit properly.

--fletch

"Fletch" wrote in message ...

thadjanus wrote:
Hello,
I have to record drums on a mackie cr1604. I'm planning on using 4 mics
kick, snare, 2ovhds. The drums will be tracked with the mackies
preamps...The other istruments will be tracked using external preamps.
My question is what is the cleanest way to get the drums down to a
stereo track? would it be best to just use the stereo outs on the
mackie and send the drums to 2 tracks on my da38?..or use the alt 3/4?
or track then bounce. Also when If I would just use the stereo outs on
the mackie would it be kick and snare up the middle and hard pans on
the overheads? would that still give me control over the drums during
mixing? simple questions but I've really just recorded myself and
rarely used a full drum kit.
any help appreciated,
brian


I use the Tascam system (DA88's) and you really should give four tracks
to this. I did some tracking about nine years ago and wish I had multi-tracked
the kit instead of just mixing it to stereo.

You cannot undo stuff like this. Better to have to rent a second DA38 for
mixdown than to wish you had tracked the kit properly.

--fletch

If there are more tracks available to record on, then I'd suggest Brian using
as many mics as he'd care to on the kit, and use the four subgroup outputs
to take a mix of the mics to 'tape'. I too, would really hate to go through what
I've been through so many times in the late 70s and early 80s, of being flat
out stuck with a stereo mix. Once things are layered on, it's almost always
necessary to readjust the levels and EQ of the kick and snare. I'd try really
hard to get the kick and snare on two tracks and a stereo submix of all the
toms and the overheads on two more. Using the four sub outs, one can take
their time in blending and shaping the submixed tracks before committing.

--
David Morgan (MAMS)
http://www.m-a-m-s DOT com
Morgan Audio Media Service
Dallas, Texas (214) 662-9901
_______________________________________
http://www.artisan-recordingstudio.com

well I think you all are right. Unfortunately I'm stuck with 8tracks.
But I am going to ask around and see if I can borrow another 38 to get
it done...If I can't I may have to figure out what works best.
Commiting to the stereo drums may not be the smartest place to save
tracks.Thanks for the replies.
Brian

In article . com writes:

Commiting to the stereo drums may not be the smartest place to save
tracks.Thanks for the replies.

Why not just put up two or three mics on the drums and tell the
drummer to make it sound good? If there are special things that the
drummer does that are important parts of the song - tom rolls, for
example, or little pretty percussion toys - you might be able to find
empty spaces on other tracks to overdub them later on.

If what you want is a good drum sound to keep rhythm, you don't need
to worry that you might need to EQ the snare a little differently
later on. It's nice if you can, but lots of good recordings were made
with fewer than 8 tracks.

--
I'm really Mike Rivers )
However, until the spam goes away or Hell freezes over,
lots of IP addresses are blocked from this system. If
you e-mail me and it bounces, use your secret decoder ring
and reach me he double-m-eleven-double-zero at yahoo

well submixing the overheads to mono? bad idea? or is it just smarter
to use a single overhead? I guess it will become apparent through
experimenting with the sounds If I can't get a hold of another da38 ..I
could get away with 3tracks for drums...why or when did 8tracks become
the standard or multiples of 8( 16, 24) etc. ?I always wondered that.
12tracks would be ideal.
thanks again fro the replies,
brian

In article writes:

I did some tracking
about nine years ago and wish I had multi-tracked the kit instead of just
mixing it to stereo.

You cannot undo stuff like this.

I did some tracking 30 years ago and recorded to only one track. It
was better mixed than a lot of stuff I've recorded multitrack.

It's all about knowing what you're going after when you record. If
most of the song is there (either playing in the studio or solidly in
your mind) you can make these mixing decisions on the spot and be
right enough to get to the end of the job.

Of course recording more tracks of drums allows you the luxury of
postponing mix decisions, but the person with the job needs to make
the decision - is it worth the money and trouble to rent a second
MDM? If this is a project that's going to drag on for months, that
might be a long rental.


--
I'm really Mike Rivers )
However, until the spam goes away or Hell freezes over,
lots of IP addresses are blocked from this system. If
you e-mail me and it bounces, use your secret decoder ring
and reach me he double-m-eleven-double-zero at yahoo