[timvass]

Hi

I want to start recording our band at rehersals .

We want analize our preformance and maybe if we like a take keep it to make a live CD of us to play to our fans.... errr well fan ........ok my mum wants a copy ! any hoo

After talking to some people I want to try mixing a feed from the desk (we will D.I. everthing into the desk and create a mix just for recording,and also a live recording from the room using two seperate or a stereo mic.

I would like to take these "4 track recordings" and mix them at home so that I can play them back the following week to prove I was right err .....I mean improve our preformance .


Questions

what is best value for money (cheap) mic or mics for "live" recording

Same question for usb sound card or interface needs to cope wiith 4tracks

Could I use existing stereo sound plus USB mike to capture 4 seperate tracks on Reaper softaware (it would save a bit of cash ...can you see a pattern forming I am not cheap just broke)

We have a perminant paractice room with our gear set up when not pacticing so we could tweak the set up untill we are happy then just turn it on at the start of a rehearsale and sort it out later.

Am I asking too much? is this set up possible?will we get usable results? how did we get here? who am I is ther anybody out there ?.........???

[Tekker]

Do you have an idea of how much you'd like to spend in total? Having a price range makes it easier to recommend gear because there is a LOT of stuff out there.

What mixer do you have (brand and model)?
How many instruments are you going to be recording?

We'll start there and then it'll be easier to recommend gear.

Am I asking too much?

No.

is this set up possible?

Yes.

will we get usable results?

Depends on how good the band is.

how did we get here?

You see, when a man loves a woman....

who am I

According to your screen name, you are timvass. But I can't be sure that is your "real" name...

is ther anybody out there ?.........???

At the moment just OldG and myself.

-tkr

[krissovo]

To record our band we use a boss micro br with a decent sony stereo microphone. The recording quality is actually very good and is a great tool. We have recorded gigs with a couple of devices, boss micro br and the Zoom h4 and with them placed in different areas and mixed it. it sounded very good and was good enough to make a cd.

what is best value for money (cheap) mic or mics for "live" recording Easy, boss micro br or the zoom h4!

Same question for usb sound card or interface needs to cope wiith 4tracks For "Studio" recording we a Alesis firewire interface. Its a sound card and has 12 channels, its also quite cheap and the whole band can record at once. All channels are sent to your recording software independently. Great value for a band on a budget

Could I use existing stereo sound plus USB mike to capture 4 seperate tracks on Reaper softaware (it would save a bit of cash ...can you see a pattern forming I am not cheap just broke) No idea


Am I asking too much? is this set up possible?will we get usable results? how did we get here? who am I is ther anybody out there ?.........???
No problem, you would be fairly pleased with the boss or zoom h4 IMO

[OldG]

Cheapest option first:

The desk will probably have 'rec out' which will send a line level signal directly to to 'line in on your computer soundcard using an RCA to 3.5mm stereo jack lead ( the bundled aux lead from a digital camera works fine).

Then if you mix and pan to your satisfaction at the desk and monitor the stereo recording track in reaper to make sure you are good to go - you should be able to get a good live sound stereo recording that you can master in reaper, etc.

Multitracking will require money, unfortunately.... I found an ex-demo Tascam 8 channel firewire interface at my local music store for just a little more than I could get a 2 channel USB new. Search and barter - it's a buyers market in these 'credit crunch' times...

As for mic's... Thomann's T-bone range are well regarded and very nicely priced.

Edit: Chris mentioned the zoom H4 - I use a Zoom H2 for 'field recording' great quality sound out of the desk or the built in mic's

HTH

Mick

[timvass]

Hi thanks for the advice ....quick update

I have aquired a Fostex 380s cassette based multi track recorder.I am frankly amased at the quality of the recordings on tape! It runs tape a higher speed and uses something called Dolby S (I have no Idea what that is ...was)

Any hoo the result is a hiss free and good quality recording,with a suble "warmth" that I reall like .

The unit has 12 channels ,4 of which can be sent to 4 cassette tracks and also to 4 outputs so I can play with my tracks individually onmy PC before mastering it up.

The main main 4 channels have parametric equalisation , 2 Aux send and returns,and trim(gain I think?) controls.

Ok so I copied some of this out of manual but I do understand some of it The thing is it was only 20 pounds!!!

I told the wife I found it in the loft.....forgot I had it ..... this old thing sshhhh .Ok I have buying habit but I can handle it honest ....just a plectrum man its just a plectrum you got any strings .

At the moment I record tracks to my PC 2 at a time is ther a sound card that will accept all four at once ,maybe with RCA din inputs mmmmm?