Recording Rehearsals

[guitarnut86]

Cage
Present gear includes a Mackie 1604VLZ Pro mixer. No other recording items exept for a standard audio Tape Deck which has been used to record for reviewing.

What we would like to do is be able to isolate individual tracks (eg Lead guitar, Base Guitar, Rhythm Guitar, electric organ etc ... like to be able to cater to 8 tracks); As we have access to a PC, we have toyed with the idea of routing the individual tracks through the Mackie and into a multitrack sound card and record to PC hard drive.

The Delta 1010 sound recording system comes to mind. There is the Motu 828 Firewire; the newer Edirol FA-101.

What are your thoughts on a home-recording setup utilizing the above mixer for the purposes of basically recording good quality output? AT this stage we want to record, and review product, make changes and see how we can improve our playing and our mixing. We may graduate to demo quality ... who knows!!!

[cage77]

Great question man!

Ok.....here we go. Look on the back (or top depending on how you have the patch bay oreintated) and you will see a group of 8 outputs labeled "Direct Out". These direct outs correspond to the first 8 channel inputs. These 8 outputs are at the very end of the channel path: post-Trim, post-EQ, post Low Cut, post Fader and post Mute. (Copied from the Mackie website.) Now, using headphones, dial in the sound you want to go to tape from each of the 8 channels.

As far as connections go, using a standard 1/4" to 1/4" cable (aka guitar cable), connect each out to an input on your sound card.

For more info on hookup diagrams for your borad, check out the site at

www.mackie.com

For a PDF of the manual for you board, go to :

www.mackie.com/pdf/1604vlzpro_om.pdf


All of this aside, getting a good input device like you mentioned can actually move you into the demo and more world. You have two obstacles in front of you. Mic technique and learning your software. To help you on your way with mic technique, d/l this little program. It will give you some great help on learning how to position mics. Get it here :

www.studiobuddy.com

I hope this helps. And as always, if you have any questions, just give a holler.....errr....I mean post....lol...

Good luck man and keep us updated on your progress....

Brandon

[guitarnut86]

Cage
Tks for your comments and advice. That Studiobuddy is an awesome site - great piece of work and lots of useful advice.

Is setting up with the likes of Delta 1010 or Edirol FA-101 or the Echo Layla sound capture systems a bit of an overkill for the sort of things we'd like to do? And any suggestions on using input cards at a slightly lower end (read 'cheaper'!) that will help us achieve respectable / similar results?

We're still keen on simultaneous recording of more than 4 tracks .... more like 8 tracks!!!
Tks and have a good day!!

PS ..... Hey folks, I'm addressing these to Cage77 (he seems to be the MAN on this subject) - but feel free to have your say ... Cheers

[cage77]

Guitarnut -

I have learned that in the home recording arena, nothing is overkill. Well, maybe I should re-phrase that.....lol. If that were the case, I'd have 2 Neve loaded consoles sitting here....the reason for 2???In case one goes bad.....lol.

Seriously tho, by spending the little extra money now for more than you need, you'll end up having room to grow and expand before needing to buy more gear.

The ability to track 8 tracks at once is a must for recording a bnad. Maybe you will only start by doing simple demos, but believe me, once the recording bug bites, you will be stuck with a serious case of G.A.S. You will be glad you spent the little extra on a better unit with better AD/DA converters and the like.

No prob on the Studio Buddy program. The link was sent my way a few years ago and I like to pass it onto everyone I can. I get nothing for it mind you. But, it is very useful and has helped me learn a few things.

BRandon

[spacecowboy]

I think anyone of your choices would suit you just fine! make sure you have a firewire port on the computer if you go with the motu or edirol!... but you probably already knew that... if I were to pick I 'd get the MOTU but I wouldn't hesitate getting the 1010 either... They are $500 all day long on EBAY... great deal.. I personally like the MOTU because of how powerful and versatile it is! Like cage said, it all comes down to technique... understanding how far you can push your software and how much your computer can really handle... there are lots of factors and options, but done right, can sound better than demo quality...

[guitarnut86]

Hi folks
Thanks for all this wonderful advice: its all being noted / digested / and filed away and I've someone making enquiries re the sound cards.

Will post as and when we get that part underway .... the good cards are a bit pricey (the Edirol FA-101 isn't out yet ... I think) but I'm sure they will be worth the wait. So, in the meantime, the old cassette player is pretty useful for listening to your work!!

Cheers

[guitarnut86]

Well folks .... its been a while (too much work not enough playtime .... usual crap!!)

Anyway, have looked seriously at Edirol FA101, Presonus Firepod and Motu 828 Mk II - the Delta 1010 was considered but passed up as it uses PCI card. I like the Firewire option.

Have been reading a lot on the above and came to the conclusion that the MOTU wins hands down: users of the Edirol FA101 have reported problems; the Firepod seems to have been put in production in a hurry. The Motu has been around for a while now and seems to be rock solid. (I guess when you're looking at Edirol FA101 ~ $500; Firepod ~ $600 ... then the $750 for Motu doesn't seem that much more for all the features offered.

So the Motu it will be - eagerly awaiting its arrival!!

[guitarnut86]

Well folks, the MOTU 828 MkII is here!!! And its a beauty - built like a tank.
Had a quick play - connected to new Laptop (1GB RAM, 3.2 GHz Prescott Pentium 4). Will post results , impressions etc soonest.
Cheers

[guitarnut86]

Hi All,
Keeping it simple: Laptop -->MOTU-->MIDI Keyboard and having a lot of fun. Recorded CD track and then connected guitar to MOTU and recorded lead on separate channel; all sounding good.

Have discovered one thing: whenever powering up the gear, you must check all the settings - on Windows fro audio & midi in/out and to get it all poiting to the 828. Have an ancient Technics KN400 keyboard which needs to have setting checked at powerup: the midi channels matched to laptop s/w remain same but need to set the parameters for multitracks and external clock.

So, .... a learning curve here but huge potential. Haven't placed the Mackie in the loop as yet.

Cheers