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How bad will quality be for recording drums 4track->computer?

CoffeeBass

CoffeeBass

Aug 20, 2007
298
0
San Juan Island, Wa
#1
OK. So I am working on a project with a drummer who lives in Seattle and I live in the San Juan Islands (about 4hrs with a ferry ride to boot) and his drum set is not near his computer. We need to be able to send tracks back and forth. I have a reasonably decent recording setup, plenty good for composing at least. I have suggested that the drummer get a zoom H2 or H4 to record with at his drums and then its an easy transfer to his computer. We are both on a tight budget so he wants to know if there is a way to do it with his old 4-track cassette recorder.

I know that technically this is possible. Plug into the line in on the computer and record in real time though audacity or something similar.
My question is how bad will the quality be going through the D/A -> A/D converters into his stock soundcard? I know that when I tried my bass like that it sounded like I was drunk and in a tin bathtub!:p

Also, are the zoom H2 and H4 good choices for this situation? I know that the H4 can act as a audio interface but can the H2 as well?

Any advice would be welcome.

CB
 
#3
You could do that and then swap all his drums with samples from BFD and it will sound great :)

Seriously though, something like an H2 would sound way better than an old 4 track, unless you're hooking up 4 nice mics and preamps to go with it. I think with either the H2 or H4 you can hook it up to a computer and dump the sound files, but I don't have one either. As for sound quality it's probably as good as you'll get unless you drop a couple grand on drum mics and all the other equipment you'd need to record it with. I've heard the mics on the zooms sound pretty good.
 
#4
I've used an old 4 track as mixer and fed a stereo track from there into the computer. As long as you get a good clean recording you can use the tools in your computer studio to make the drum tracks quite acceptable.

I use to do this with a Soundblaster16 when there were no other options. If done correctly you'd be surprised what you can get through this low end method. Before spending the money on a Zoom or Edirol, it's worth a try just to see how it comes out.
 
#5
Mic the bass and snare (most everything else will bleed through), run it into a Guitarport or Toneport. Link Removed is how I did this.

I had 2 more mics on the drums for a total of four but if you listen to the tracks the quality isn't horrible. My mixing is though :)

You can pick up a Guitarport used for around 40-50 dollars. PM me for details.
 
#6
Another idea... Have him record his drum parts on the 4 track then mail you the tape and recorder. You could hook it up to your computer and digitize it yourself. Then you'll get as good of quality as the 4 track is capable of. Plus, if he runs four drum tracks (kick, snare, stereo overheads) you'll have all four tracks to tweak when you mix.
 
#7
If he has a decent drum mic setup and a mixer, either one of the Zoom units can take a feed from a mixer and record direct. He can then transfer the wav file to his PC and either burn a cd and mail it to you or upload the file to zShare or another file host site and e-mail you a download link.

I do 'cyber' projects all the time. I get sent an audio file, import it into Acid Pro (my program of choice), record my part, do a mix of both and also keep a separate bass track and send both back through zShare.
 
#8
Another take on the whole thing would be do have 1 very good quality mic thru a decent mic pre.

For 'very good quality' read as much as he would be spending on 4 mics.

For mic pre read a decent channel strip.

I've had incredible success in studios with one good mic, to the point where that 1 mic (admittedly compressed to hell but I digress) has formed the backbone of the drum sound for an album.

Again in this case it was a U87 thru a very very nice compressor, but you can get incredible results with a PZM fixed directly on to the opposite wall in front of the kit - lower it for more kick, raise it for more cymbals/snare. Radioshack used to do a very reasonable quality PZM for £30.00.

Honestly, give it a go!

Since this is a writing tool rather than a final album its really worth considering.

Also a lot of mp3 players will allow you to record wavs these days (all be it with a crap internal mic) - that can sound 'interesting'
 

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