Multi track recording advice

[gkmusic]

A quick question for the tech heads, I'm currently using logic 9 and need a cheap (but decent) solution for recording a band my main worry being multi-tracking a drum kit. I was hoping to find a way of recording a session and having all the drum sounds going to different audio tracks e.g kick is recorded on track one, hi hat track two etc

Anyone know how to go about doing this? I've been looking at USB Audiointerface/Mixers but the information is vague and I dunno what they actually do and they don't state that they're mac compatible either,

these are what I've found so far

M-Audio Fast Track : http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/FastTrkUltra/

TASCAM 1641 : http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/US1641/

anyone used any of these?

[upstateface]

Get a mixer, and an interface, plug outs of mixer into interface.

[tavravlavish]

Get a mixer, and an interface, plug outs of mixer into interface.

Should you do this on get a mixer with a usb plug on it?

[upstateface]

Get a mixer, and an interface, plug outs of mixer into interface.

Should you do this on get a mixer with a usb plug on it?

I personally would rather have a seperate interface.

[gkmusic]

Get a mixer, and an interface, plug outs of mixer into interface.

Should you do this on get a mixer with a usb plug on it?

I personally would rather have a seperate interface.

yeah that's not very clear though, what kind of mixer and what kind of interface? Usb/firewire etc And i need to be able to multitrack each input into a separate track on logic whilst the session is going, so are there any interfaces that do that?

[upstateface]

Yeah, one with a lot of inputs, what's your budget?

[gkmusic]

Yeah, one with a lot of inputs, what's your budget?

300 max probably less if possible

[upstateface]

Yeah, one with a lot of inputs, what's your budget?

300 max probably less if possible

errrrr sorry man but it's not possible to record every instrument at once with a 300 max budget.

[gr0nt]

Yes, the Tascam US-1641 will do what you want it to do. I've been looking at snagging it for a while as a backup. The specs are listed at being able to record 10 simultaneous inputs. That's about the best you can do at this price.

Stupid question tho: You do have a separate mic for each different track you're trying to record? A mic on the kick, different one on the snare, etc.

[tavravlavish]

Get a mixer, and an interface, plug outs of mixer into interface.

Should you do this on get a mixer with a usb plug on it?

I personally would rather have a seperate interface.

why?

[upstateface]

So I can buy different mixers than the ones that come with usb/firewire, and more outs as most of the mixer/interface combos only have two channels returning.

[tavravlavish]

So I can buy different mixers than the ones that come with usb/firewire, and more outs as most of the mixer/interface combos only have two channels returning.

interesting, what is your mixer/interface set up like?

[upstateface]

So I can buy different mixers than the ones that come with usb/firewire, and more outs as most of the mixer/interface combos only have two channels returning.

interesting, what is your mixer/interface set up like?

Just a saffire 6 usb for an interface, random ass TOA rack mixer,and sometimes a mackie dfx 12, getting a mackie 24:4 soon.

[tavravlavish]

right on, I was just considering getting one of those cheap alesis multimix 8 channel mix/usb but I have no idea what I wanna get.. It's all expensive...

[upstateface]

right on, I was just considering getting one of those cheap alesis multimix 8 channel mix/usb but I have no idea what I wanna get.. It's all expensive...

Well what do you need and what's your budget?

[tavravlavish]

I don't really need anything, as far as budget goes I like cheap. In the next couple years I'd like to start recording my friends bands and I would also like to do live sets with using a mixer, making feedback loops and stuff like that. Also just stuff around my place, back beats on my er-1 then record them into my daw, and record various other instruments into my daw, record playing multiple instruments live and then having that live recording on my daw.

stuff like that.

[sackley]

@op: I have a tascam US-1641 I can use (not mine) and it can do what you want within your budget. If you're looking to get super clinical with the drums it should do for a basic start (kick, snare/hat, 2 toms, 2 overheads = 6) But, be aware, the 8 xlr inputs in front have 2 preamps split between them (1-4 on preamp A, 5-8 on preamp B) so if you have a condenser on the hat/snare, and overheads that's 1-3 with phantom power on and 5-8 off for dynamic mics on the toms and kick. You could also run the dynamics to the back with 1/4" inputs, but I don't know if thats taboo, and frankly I dont care.

If you want indie/experimental/grunginess then upstate's on the money. I run 3 mics to a mixer, out to cassette, then out to a portable recorder.

[gravity]

when it comes to recording, you really wanna be looking at spending a bit of cash.

300 quid aint gonna get you very far - it will probably only just cover an interface thats up to the job to be honest.

get saving!

the only other option i can think of is to look at some kind of portastudio thing.

[gkmusic]

@op: I have a tascam US-1641 I can use (not mine) and it can do what you want within your budget. If you're looking to get super clinical with the drums it should do for a basic start (kick, snare/hat, 2 toms, 2 overheads = 6) But, be aware, the 8 xlr inputs in front have 2 preamps split between them (1-4 on preamp A, 5-8 on preamp B) so if you have a condenser on the hat/snare, and overheads that's 1-3 with phantom power on and 5-8 off for dynamic mics on the toms and kick. You could also run the dynamics to the back with 1/4" inputs, but I don't know if thats taboo, and frankly I dont care.

If you want indie/experimental/grunginess then upstate's on the money. I run 3 mics to a mixer, out to cassette, then out to a portable recorder.

Yes, the Tascam US-1641 will do what you want it to do. I've been looking at snagging it for a while as a backup. The specs are listed at being able to record 10 simultaneous inputs. That's about the best you can do at this price.

Stupid question tho: You do have a separate mic for each different track you're trying to record? A mic on the kick, different one on the snare, etc.

awsome advice, yeah I wanna close mic the kick and snare, I only really need 4 inputs cos I use the Glyn John's mic thing alot so I don't need to do toms etc

And yeah I should save really but I need to record stuff pretty soon so i'm opting for the cheap route!

safe for the help everyone (Y)