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Stoner/Doom Bassists Thread, Part 90: Maxed Out
- Thread starter Korladis
- Start date
I'm trying to figure out what what's the best solution to record our first demo... What would you recommend with a low budget?
I have read this guide (The 9 Home Recording Studio Essentials for Beginners)
but I dunno... Seems overkill to me, for a demo. From the explanation seems like we need at least 3 mics for the drums only (I read a long time ago a basic guide to record drums and it said 4 mics...), plus 2 for my amps... It's a lot of money, and it's the mics only.
Any other solution with decent result? Would an omnidirectional mic really suck? It's a demo, not a "final" release..
I have read this guide (The 9 Home Recording Studio Essentials for Beginners)
but I dunno... Seems overkill to me, for a demo. From the explanation seems like we need at least 3 mics for the drums only (I read a long time ago a basic guide to record drums and it said 4 mics...), plus 2 for my amps... It's a lot of money, and it's the mics only.
Any other solution with decent result? Would an omnidirectional mic really suck? It's a demo, not a "final" release..
we have done quite a few demos with a couple of mics in the middle of the room. When we put a mic on the guitar cab and mine and 2 for drums we get better results but with careful placement and volume restraint you can get a decent recording with not much.
Yeah, the more mics you can throw at a drum set, the more options you have to get a nice, large sound. However, I've done 2 mic setups in the right room that sounded good - not great, but acceptable. The setup I've liked the most on our recordings has been: one mic for the rack toms, one on each floor tom, kick, high hat, and top and bottom snare heads, then one or two room mics for the cymbals.
I decided to grab an Ampeg PF-20T today. Mostly for home recording, but who knows, if it actually has enough power through the 2x15 cab, I might not tote around the SB300 anymore. Unlikely, I know, but the SB300 is only running 4 of 6 tubes, and I still don't turn it up much past 2.
Also, had my first practice with the That's No Moon this week. The TS clone cuts the bass pretty heavily, so you can't really use it on its own. However, the RAT and muff on it pump a hell of a lot of bass, and it's easy to hit either of them and the TS clone together, so it's going to live on the board for awhile.
I decided to grab an Ampeg PF-20T today. Mostly for home recording, but who knows, if it actually has enough power through the 2x15 cab, I might not tote around the SB300 anymore. Unlikely, I know, but the SB300 is only running 4 of 6 tubes, and I still don't turn it up much past 2.
Also, had my first practice with the That's No Moon this week. The TS clone cuts the bass pretty heavily, so you can't really use it on its own. However, the RAT and muff on it pump a hell of a lot of bass, and it's easy to hit either of them and the TS clone together, so it's going to live on the board for awhile.
I see they sell microphones sets for drums, and they are cheaper than buying each microphone separately. Maybe we could afford that (plus the ones for the bass)...
If we buy all that stuff tho, It would make sense to record the final release by ourselves. There's no point buying all that crap to use it ONCE. I'm undecided
If we buy all that stuff tho, It would make sense to record the final release by ourselves. There's no point buying all that crap to use it ONCE. I'm undecided
What mics do you have access to currently?I see they sell microphones sets for drums, and they are cheaper than buying each microphone separately. Maybe we could afford that (plus the ones for the bass)...
If we buy all that stuff tho, It would make sense to record the final release by ourselves. There's no point buying all that crap to use it ONCE. I'm undecided
I agree.
One thing that is not clear whether you have decided or not, is where the microphone signals are going to. I would prefer to not record through usb for example. I recommend you check this guy's content about multitrack recording:
What is the best software to record audio with?
How to bounce, loop, trim and sequence on the Zoom R8
Zoom R8 detailed track sequencer view, and notes about manuals
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Amusing things are in the works...
I have a similar multitrack recorder, a Tascam DP008EX, it has 8 tracks (you can only record two at the same time), but I thought handling things via computer would be easier for a beginner...
None
We have always recorded with our phones or the built in mics of the Tascam recorder. We didn't need better quality to record reharsals...
I have a similar multitrack recorder, a Tascam DP008EX, it has 8 tracks (you can only record two at the same time), but I thought handling things via computer would be easier for a beginner...
None
We have always recorded with our phones or the built in mics of the Tascam recorder. We didn't need better quality to record reharsals...
For what it's worth, Louie Louie was recorded live with a single mic IIRC. Not saying the quality is amazing, but you could get by with a pair of mics in stereo for drums.
I'm no recording engineer, but I think the biggest question is whether you want to record live or with a scratch and dubs. If live and you wanted a mic for you and multiple for the drums, you could use a mixer to mix down the drum mics into 1 input track and then you on the other...that could work with your recorder. You wouldn't be able to compress the individual drums differently, but you could at least control their levels.
That's what has been keeping me from really pulling a trigger on one. I'd probably borrow or rent one to try at stage volume with my effects to see if it would work or not.
Absolutely, for editing and mixing. I'm refering to the recording part, because you'd have to deal with latency
I didn't know about latency, thanks.
I'm not sure how the Tascam handles the multitrack file format when exporting to PC. Maybe it will make separate .wav files and I'll be able to import and align them in a DAW. Tomorrow I'll try some experiments.
Anyways I have found an ooooold Boss 6 channels mixer for a ridiculous price... if we decide to have the drums all mic'd we will need one. 35€ seems a great price
I have a digital tascam [dont remember the model#], and it does separate wav files for each trackI didn't know about latency, thanks.
I'm not sure how the Tascam handles the multitrack file format when exporting to PC. Maybe it will make separate .wav files and I'll be able to import and align them in a DAW. Tomorrow I'll try some experiments.
Anyways I have found an ooooold Boss 6 channels mixer for a ridiculous price... if we decide to have the drums all mic'd we will need one. 35€ seems a great price
@oZZma for what its worth, the 2nd track was recorded with 4 SM57s. 1 on the guitar cab, another on the bass and 2 on the drums. the drum mics were positioned about 3/4 of a meter away from the kick drum at 45° angles. the mics were just above the kick drum in terms of the hieght.
personally i think that's fine for a demo.
personally i think that's fine for a demo.
Yeah sounds good!!
I'd like to limit the expense and keep it manageable (I'm no sound engineer after all), I think 2 mics sound fine from what I hear, although the classic 4 mics setup appeals me a lot, a little more control without getting things too complicated.
