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March 2006
Posts: 1634
Location: Chehalis, Washington | Hey guys & gals! Missed you all...been a long time, nuts with family & work, and all that fun stuff...
I'm really wanting to get into doing some light home recording, and not sure which is the best way to go. I've checked into some of the Tascam recorder/mixer units, something ideally 4-8 tracks, and that seems to be a very obvious logical option. However, there seem to be a lot of small USB interface systems that are less expensive and give you the option of doing your mixing via PC software. Does anyone have a strong opinion or experience using one type of mixing/recording system over the other?
I have a trio of nice vocal/instrument condenser mics, along with a fairly beefy laptop (PC), so working with a USB system is definitely an option.
For basic home tinkering, how necessary are monitors, or would a decent headset do the trick?
Thanks all, and good to see you again! |
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Posts: 9301
Location: south east Michigan | I like the Line 6 unit.
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I went through a couple models before I found one.
The problem I had was finding a "basic" recorder.
Some of them have so many bells & whistles that the basic functions seemed to be buried in the mix. |
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Posts: 4389
Location: Capital District, NY, USA Minor Outlying Islands | Another route to take, if you have legacy equipment, is to make your recording on a four track tascam tape recorder, then transfer it to a stand alone cd recorder from your casette deck player.
A nice monitor like a yamaha ms-101 lets you really hear the mix. For headphones, you have to spend at least 50 bucks, otherwise you get these consumer headphones that add bass, which is a no-no for recording. |
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Posts: 13303
Location: Latitude 39.56819, Longitude -105.080066 | Mixing on headphones isn't idea but for your purposes they should be perfectly acceptable. Normally to get a decent set of cans for mixing you are talking $200 and up.
However, these are highly recommended, I have listened to a pair and for the money I was really impressed! They are considered throwaways by the studios (cause of clients always stepping on cables and ripping them out of the headsets) but the reason they use them is that for the money they are outstanding!
MoreMe Deluxe Headphones |
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Joined:
February 2004
Posts: 34
Location: here | If you mix with headphones this is a good simple free VST plugin that helps correct the panning so it sounds like it would from monitors. Just add it as the last plugin in your master inserts.
http://refinedaudiometrics.com/products-hdphx.shtml
You would obviously have to use a PC prog that uses VST, but it's a good way to go anyway, and I think most daws use VST now.
Here's another one but it's $100, but comes in RTAS etc., and has an interface with adjustments...
http://www.112db.com/redline/monitor/ |
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Joined:
March 2006
Posts: 1634
Location: Chehalis, Washington | I've got a decent set of headphones that I bought a bit ago, so it's at least a start. The biggest question for me is whether to look at a simple 2-input USB interface, or go with a full digital recorder with either an onboard HD or SD memory.
Anyone have software preference? PreSonus, Cubase, ProTools? I'm using a PC, so Garage Band is not an option. |
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April 2004
Posts: 13303
Location: Latitude 39.56819, Longitude -105.080066 | I've used Cubase for years. Good program.
You might also give REAPER a go.
It's good and you can try it for free.
If you like it you pay like $60 for a full license. |
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Posts: 2491
Location: Copenhagen Denmark | Andrew , buy a decent recording machine , them programs fer computers are Rubbish , complicated to use , costing mucho money ( ye can buy yerself poor ), and are outdated in no-time , get a used KORG D888 ...
http://emusician.com/daw/emusic_korg_d888/
.. and yer in business ..
Vic |
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Posts: 11840
Location: closely held secret | Use your laptop. Get a reasonable multiple input USB audio interface. Try Reaper or Audacity. If you don't want to invest in monitors get a decent set of cans.
Most importantly, have fun with it. |
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Posts: 4081
Location: Utah | I use Guitar Tracks Pro 3 software on a fading Dell laptop. The software is quite powerful, good enough for great studio quality work. Cakewalk makes it, and they also have the upscale Sonar recording products which you could also consider.
There are two downsides. One is that the computer pretty much must have a configuration that disables most every other background process, especially anti-virus. Having a dedicated boot up or even a dedicated computer is nearly required. If you don't pare down the background processes you will find latency and other glitches that will be irritating. The second downside is that the learning curve is a bit steep unless you are familiar with insider jargon related to studio recording. Punch edits? Slip edits? Snap-to-grid? They are simple concepts but very poorly defined if at all in the documentation. They assume you already know the jargon.
Having said that, the digital audio workstation (DAW) is super powerful if you want to record multiple tracks. Plus you can drop in drum tracks, bass tracks, horn tracks, etc as acid loops. It is a lot of fun to mess around in the editor to make different versions of the mix.
My USB interface is the Lexicon Alpha. It works fine but has no phantom power. I use an Audio Buddy preamp with phantom power (there was one on the for sale section here a few days ago, not mine). The Line 6 POD stuff gets rave reviews, so definitely check it out too. |
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Posts: 1634
Location: Chehalis, Washington | That's good to hear some opinions about. I've been toying with the Lexicon Lambda model for a while now. Using that Alpha, do you find that you ever have need for more than just the one XLR input at a time? The next model up does have multiple inputs, as well as phantom power, which I would want for my mics.
The learning curve doesn't bother me too much. I've had to learn how to tinker with so many things like that over the years, I'm used to feeling in over my head. Just doesn't bother me as much anymore... |
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Posts: 11840
Location: closely held secret | You will want more than one input. |
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Posts: 4081
Location: Utah | Yes, I've wanted and used more than one XLR. There are several ways to go depending on your plans.
I use the Alpha with two channels. This limits me to two simultaneous tracks. Actually, the software will enable as many tracks as I want, but only two unique signals are available via the Alpha. This means I cannot record two mics plus two guitars at the same time with each of the four signals on it's own track. I use a little 6 channel mixer for those kinds of events, mixing down to 2 channels and then sending those through the Alpha. The mix has to be right in the mixer because it cannot be undone in the computer. Or, I can record two channels in one take and then two more in the next take.
Most of my recordings are done the latter way. I'll put down one or two tracks at a time, then go back and add tracks. For the individual this is fine. For me it is enjoyable to build a project one layer at a time, discovering the song along the way.
If you want to record a band live, you're stuck with the little mixer. Sara and Katie greatly prefer to work together live, so I have to use the little mixer with them.
The M-Audio Audio Buddy is a pretty nice 2 channel preamp with XLR and phantom power. I have used it to run two mics into the Alpha with good success.
Another option is what you mentioned, getting a device with more than 2 channels. By the time you buy an Alpha, an Audio Buddy, and a little 6 channel mixer the price adds up to more than a multi-channel device. You have to be careful in your research to be sure that the device sends individual channels to the computer. Some are mixers that send only two final channels to the computer.
The Lexicon Omega had some problems a few years ago. If you buy used, ask a lot of questions and be able to return it if it doesn't work properly for you.
Two mics in one room will give you a lot of crosstalk between channels unless you use directional pattern mics. Creative placement of mics will help reduce crosstalk but it is always there. Similarly, guitar will bleed into your vocal mic. Baffles between the mics is another answer. If you're using two mics on a guitar it isn't an issue. |
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Posts: 2491
Location: Copenhagen Denmark | How much does all that cost ? ..
Vic |
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April 2004
Posts: 13303
Location: Latitude 39.56819, Longitude -105.080066 | tree fiddy |
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Joined:
April 2004
Posts: 13303
Location: Latitude 39.56819, Longitude -105.080066 | I think some of the online shops like MF, Music123, ZZZounds, Sweetwater, etc offer up "recording kits" that contain all the "essential" items in various price ranges. |
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OT: Amateur Recording Hardware Advice
