Equipment For A Cheap Jam Session?

[ffutterman]

I'm gonna be honest: I didn't do a search.

My brother, my sister, and I have tossed around the idea of making a band and doing a few songs. Since there's a chance we might all be together at Christmas, I think it'd be cool to just have a little jam session at my apartment. Basically, I think I'm looking for something where I can have some mics and an amp or two plug into something that then plugs into the computer, which will most likely be recording in Audacity.

So, what am I going to need to do that?

 

[Cip]

Try a XENYX 802 mixer!

 

[ffutterman]

Thanks! It looks like that's exactly what I'm looking for!

 

[bronsonelliott]

We're using one to record our band. Seems to work ok. I'm actually wishing we got one with more channels but that's not the mixers fault.

 

[N. Kentucky Bass]

When you're jamming in an apartment, it's likely instruments and cabs will be facing every which way. The simplest way to get a good recording of everyone in that setting is to use a "Blumlein Pair" of condenser mics. The photo shows how they should be hung with two mic stands, placed about four feet high in the center of the musicians and gear. The upside down, off-set positioning of this mic pair will create a perfect stereo sonic image of the entire room. I've used this technique with great success.

Details are here:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blumlein_Pair

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http://www.emusician.com/techniques/0768/blumlein-pair-stereo-miking/134302