Need Help in setting up basic live recording...

[punchliners]

Hi,

I'm very new to live band recording. This is will be the 1st time i'm trying to set up a basic recording studio. I will be very grateful if anyone can share their expertise with me. Its just going to be for jamming practice, song composition and arrangements and demo recording. And i'm on a tight budget.

As it will be in a 5-rm HDB apt, was thinking of lining in all instruments to a mixer and headphones out to 4 or 5 people so that we wont be making so much noise. At the same time would like to record whatever we are playing to a PC.

Currently, i have all these equipments ready:

2x electric guitars
1x bass guitars
1x digi drums
1x mic for vocals

I'm using P4 2.6GHz, 120GB Harddisk, 768MB of RAM on a MSI 845PE Neo series(MS-6580 v5.X ATX Mainboard with integrated audio.

Is the integrated audio enough or do i need to get a better sound card?

I need to get a mixer. What mixer should i get to line in the instruments mention above? Also with line out for headphones and to the PC. Budget around $500 and below.

Do i still need anymore things?

Please help. Thanx. Happy new Year to evryone too!

cheers!



What software can i use to record and edit and balance the overall tracks?

 

[mikemann]

Hi,

With your budget, the best way I can think of is a stripped bare recording setup.

I am assuming the following, you already have the 2 guitar amps and bass amp. I suggest that you find one more whatever amp (bass/git/keyboard) to use it as a overall MONITOR instead of using headphones, less messy and better ambience control. Hopefully your e.drums already have a MONITOR which you can use instead.

Since you are in a HDB, you will be playing door closed, to a maximum of hifi music level at the max, never at jamming (studio) level. So the following is a bare guideline.

Buy a Yamaha MG12/4 mixer (list $350 luther), with 6 mic input. Reccomend that you get the MG12/4FX model (list $490) instead, so you can add efx to your vocals.
Buy a Behringer XM1800 (3Xpcs dynamic mics) set, about $60 or less, the rest of the money you spend to buy the mic cables, connecting cables....etc.

So you got a mixer, 3 mics, and cables to add to your existing stuffs, which will already blow you budget totally already.

Mixer connections:
2 mics to the 2 guitar amps
connect the line out of your bass amp to your mixer
connect the edrum to your mixer
2 mics for your vocals

The extra MONITOR, connect to the aux send 1 of your mixer (output). You mix in your vocals, e.drums on this aux channel for your general monitoring. So the volume you set on the MONITOR is the guideline for the guitar amps and bass amp to set as for jamming level. (loud to the limit)

You can get a long cable to plug to the mixer headphone socket to check overall recording output level and adjustments. Long cable as in pull to another room so you can monitor more accurately, not disturb by the ambience sound. So you need to run back and forth to adjust, or intercom to your band mate the adjustment to make.

The main out, connect to your PC soundcard (line-in). Use a free software eg. audicity, to do simple recording and editiing.

So this is the simpliest way to do home 'live' recording. Actually the PC can be replaced by a MD recorder or other recording device. I think should be able to get decent adjustable quality from this setup, as opposed to just put a mic in the center of the room and record. :wink:

 

[punchliners]

Generous of your reply.....mikemann

Hi mikemann,

Thank you for the generous views. Really appreciate it very much.

ps: Buy a Behringer XM1800 (3Xpcs dynamic mics) set, about $60 or less...

Is the price for 3 or for one? Do they sell them at luther too?

 

[soft]

one suggestion would be http://www.presonus.com/firebox.html

you can connect the digital drum via MIDI whereby you can edit the playing later in the software.

the workflow could be

Record the Drums(MIDI) + BASS(Instrument IN) + Vocal (Mic IN) first.
Then Record Electric Guitar(Instrument IN) + Electric Guitar(Instrument IN).

For monitoring while recording, can use the Headphone output. If you need more control over the monitoring, you can route the Line Out to an spare guitar amp that has CD In and headphone out. (wow, cant believe i said that!! really getting creative with budget recording these days)



2x electric guitars
1x bass guitars
1x digi drums
1x mic for vocals

 

[LuZeR]

Hey soft!

You seem to be "promoting" Presonus alot on the boards lol.
You have any idea where to get one? Alot of people mentioned Hung Bros, but are there any other distributors?

Thanks

 

[soft]

i am 'promoting' Presonus because it has a good package and the price is not too expensive. there are other brands and models available too. can check out http://www.sweetwater.com/shop/computer-audio/audio_interfaces/

Can get Presonus from
Broadcast Professional Pte Ltd.
289 Outram Road
169071 SINGAPORE
Tel : +65 62255115
Fax : +65 62255005
Gary TEO
Email : Gary_Teo@studer.com.sg
Web Site : www.studer.com.sg

 

[mikemann]

Yes, the Behringer package come with 3mics. I uses these value for money mics as they are very rugged, decent output. Although they say it's optimised for mid (vocal) range, I find the bass response to be a bit higher than the mid-high range. But it's ok, you just adjust your eq accordingly. Well, for the price, they are sweet.

The problem with these hardware to computer interface is that the budgeted ones are only 2 channels max simultaneous recording only. So 'Live' recording is still not feasible without the help of a seperate mixer board for inputs of 3 or more. You could be just as well off with a portable recording device like those ZOOM memory card recorders, also 2 inputs max simultaneous recording.

Alternative is to purchase used products, which have like eg. 8 analogue inputs interface. Which could still be within your budget.

 

[punchliners]

presonus firebox

Hi James,

Thanks for sharing the priceless info. Really appreciate it very much.

Btw how much is the presonus firebox? Is it user friendly? And can it be found only at Broadcast Professional?

Anyway I really thank evryone for sharing your experiences and expertise with me. I will be starting the set up very soon and will share the results with fellow softies. Thanks.

Cheers!

 

[shawn040]

Hi

I am using Omega Studio Lexicon to act as interface and can be recorded into pc if u want to have home recording studio. As James mentioned u can go Broadcast Pro to find out abt this product too. Can be purchased there or simlim square. It cost less than your budget. They also provide a software CuBase allow u to mix,add in effect and record etc. This product gives u 2 mic i/p, 4 trs i/p, 2 midi in/out, 2 master o/p and 1 headphone o/p. It can record 4 tracks at one time becos it uses usb connection to connect into your pc.

U can use pc speaker plug into the headphone o/p for monitoring when recording. Then u can use your bass amp and other guitar amp plug into master o/pto act as musician monitor speaker. Volume level thus can be control easily and not to worry u wil not disturb your neighbour.

For easy usage u have to use not more than 7m mono cable for mic and instruments. There is not a need for DI box if cable no longer than 7m. I think 7m is more than enough for u all musician to move freely.

Enjoy and let me know if u r in doubt.


Shawn

 

[punchliners]

Omega Studio - Shawn040

hey Shawn040,

Thanks for sharing. Will definitely check out the Omega Studio Lexicon.