Recording some songs -- need some technical help

oniman7 · #1 08-15-2011, 12:46 AM

Hey, all, we've been recording some rough stuff in our band's practice room and I need some help with a couple of things that have given us trouble lately.

What kind of system can give us the capability to record multiple tracks at once before combining them into a final mix? We've been using a couple (not nearly enough) drum mics into a mixer into my PC, and it's worked fine, but we've had to EQ each individual mic into the mix, record a snippet, and repeat because we only have one input, and therefore only one recorded track, so we can't mix very well after recording. I'd like to not spend very much, since we still need things like actual drum mics.

In addition, we had a lot of trouble recording my singer. When he sings, he gets up to a very loud belt. Our practice room is big and wide, with flat walls and not a lot to stop the echo. In addition, it's upstairs, the staircase is wide open, and there's no door. So, there's no way to isolate the room or even soundproof the whole thing (nor are we allowed to do any real modification). We've considered other rooms in the house, but it's a very tall house, and every room is either wide open, or has lots of blank wall space and very high ceilings. When we record my singer, we get echos and reverb to the point that it muddies the whole recording.

Anyways, if you could recommend some simple solutions to these, we'll get along much faster with the recording.

silky smoove · #2 08-15-2011, 02:10 PM

You need a recording interface that's compatible with your computer, and your DAW. There's lots of great options out there (Mackie, Apogee, PreSonus, TC, MOTU, etc.) that are surprisingly cheap these days.

For deadening an echo heavy room, you can do any number of things. There are plenty of great plans online for building a small vocal booth using PVC pipe, pipe clamps, and heavy mover's blankets. I built one as a sample project for under $100, and it only took me about 2 hours.

EDIT: It might be more helpful if you tell us what type of computer you're using, what its specs are (i.e. processor type and speed, RAM, USB inputs, FireWire inputs, etc.), and how many tracks you'd like to get into the system at once.

oniman7 · #3 08-16-2011, 12:00 AM

I'll check more later, but we use my Dell XPS custom laptop. Two USB Inputs, no FIrewire, I believe it's got 2GB RAM, it's an Intel Core Duo processor, but I don't remember any specifics beyond that. I was thinking more of a multitrack external recorder, but if there's an interface I can use for cheaper, I'm all for it.

Is your vocal booth easily broken down? We were considering doing something similar, but weren't quite sure how we were going to do it. It would be great if it's something we could build, and then tear down/set up in 10 or 15 minutes. The room we practice and record in is used for other things, and we can't have a permanent fixture. I'm interested in hearing more about the one you built.

paganjack · #4 08-16-2011, 12:04 AM

Without a firewire it's hard. There are not a lot of USB interfaces, and the few that there are are like 2 inputs (like the presonus audiobox). Kind of a bummer, I'm in a similar situation but most of the stuff I do is OK with 2 inputs.

oniman7 · #5 08-16-2011, 12:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by paganjack

Without a firewire it's hard. There are not a lot of USB interfaces, and the few that there are are like 2 inputs (like the presonus audiobox). Kind of a bummer, I'm in a similar situation but most of the stuff I do is OK with 2 inputs.

We never need more than one at a time, until we want to record the drummer. We've been really half arsing it lately with a couple vocal mics, but anymore than 2 is difficult, and anymore than 3 is incredibly complicated, because we have to try different EQ settings on each one, then record snippets to see how it sounds. If one has a problem, we have to test to find that one, isolate it, and then fix the problem, then try to mix it into the overall EQ. Took us about 30 minutes to get 3 at a decent quality last time. Would be so much easier if I could create a sub mix and EQ each one after it was recorded.

Are there any low priced multi-track recorders that we could record drums on and then move them over to the computer? At that rate, we may just use the recorder for everything.

silky smoove · #6 08-16-2011, 01:41 PM

If you're going to record to an external recorded, and want to stay low-cost, just search your local Craigslist and find one that will transfer via USB, can handle a minimum of 8 inputs at once, and allows for 24-bit recording. Stay away from 16-bit stuff. 8 inputs is what I consider the minimum for adequately mic'ing a modest drum kit (kick, snare, hi-hat, rack tom, floor tom, ride cymbal, and two crash cymbals which get covered by overhead left, and overhead right).

As for the vocal booth: There are plans online that allow for one that breaks down/sets up quickly, but they're less than ideal. I built mine such that it can stay setup all the time, and is an actual enclosed booth rather than the majority of plans I've seen where it forms more of a "wall" than an enclosure. Google vocal booth, and pvc vocal booth for lots of different examples and plans.

oniman7 · #7 08-16-2011, 09:57 PM

I found one on an instructables that's essentially a mobile cardboard box with sound insulating foam around it, that you close around the singer. We'll probably end up spending $20 on materials. If that doesn't work, then we'll go to more expensive solutions.

Now I just have to research some multi-track recorders for the drums! Thanks for the help, guys. Any recorders you recommend on the cheaper side?