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Member Since: Apr 09, 2004

My friends band cut a 4 song demo on a tascam unit that they rented for about a million dollars per hour. Since then, only a matter of weeks have past and they have another four songs ready to record.... these ones blow away their last ones :)

Their songs can be heard at www.the-hang.com

Anyways I'm a webmaster, with experience in sound limited to sequencing and some soundforge work. Chris, vocals, has recording experience in ProTools and the Tascam unit that he rented, so we have enough tech know how to do the work.

What I would like to know is if it would be worthwhile setting up shop in their jam hall with my system (high spec) even though it uses a cheapo SB Live! card. Would we get as good a recording as the Tascam unit? Personally I think having our own setup and all the time in the world would benefit the guys. Paying daily rates for the Tascam was annoying.

Also, should we just run the guitars via the mixing board? I saw the 5150-II has a PreAmp out but reluctant to throw that into the lini-in on the SBLive incase it's not what I think it is :P

Any pointers would be cool.

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Administrator
Since: Apr 03, 2002

Apr 09, 2004 08:49 am

If you have gear I would use it, time and comfort are of the essence. Your SB is limiting, esspecially when you are recording drums, but it could do the job, you just have to do an instrument at a time. I would mic the guitar considering the situation. the 5150 would loose some of it's character going direct I believe.

The fat one always watches us.
Member
Since: Nov 08, 2002

Apr 09, 2004 09:21 am

Some of the poorer of us here do use SBlive cards. some even worse cards than that. Check out the FLAME's specs (in his profile) www.homerecordingconnection.com/profile.php?id=100 and listen to one of his songs on his website. He manages to get great results. I also have gotten lucky sometimes. members.cox.net/tonyd1970 give a listen. you will only be able to record one track at a time- (Can be as many insturments as your mixer will handle) but best results come from recording 1 thing at a time. Works great for me as im a one man gig.
if nothing else, working with your stuff will hone the band so you would have to rent equipment for less time. I think youll find though, the more you do it the better it will get and you wont want to rent anymore.

Member
Since: Apr 09, 2004

Apr 09, 2004 10:37 am

Yeah the drums will be done by Chris again, his miking during the Tascam demos was awsome, and we might just rent the Tascam to do the drums only next time.

The 5150-II would lose character, that's what I was afraid of. So of I take the mikes and have maybe two in front and one out in the room or something.

Was also thinking about having the guys put everything thru the mixer.

My orig idea is to record a live track with everything, then have this burned to CD so that each could play their instrument along with it while I record them play.... something like that.

Anyways thanks for the help so far, those demo's sounded pretty damned good if you as me, much better than three days with the Tascam unit did for us :P

Anyhoos, thx.

Banned


Apr 09, 2004 05:52 pm

Kev-
your not giving us too much detail here. What kind of mixer are you using? Software? Depending on the cabinet and mics you are planning to use for the 5150 II... you may get a better sound going from the pre amp to the mixer. Give us a little more info about the gear you are using and a better solution we will attempt to provide..
Using 3 mics for a single guitar track is not always the best idea. Ive found by taking time to find sweet spots on speakers using a single mic not only provides a more solid pre eqd guitar tone, but its a hell of alot easier to mix. my opinion tho.

ALSO what do you mean about "playing the cd while you record them...something like that" i think that will .. not work? then again im not sure of the method your speaking of?

Member
Since: Apr 09, 2004

Apr 09, 2004 06:21 pm

Recording a live performance that the band are happy with temp-wise, this can be played back via the cd deck and through headphones while each guy plays to a track one at a time. Just to give him something to go by. I know Quinn likes click tracks and stuff but the drum's are Chris's baby, he did a good job last time.

Anyways I have no clue what type of mixer they have, all I know is that it works, and has line-outs that I can hook into.

I just played around with my practice amp here, it only has headphones out and has a lot of noise on the line, however I was able to get a crisp clear recording via SoundForge.

Fact is I think this box is capable of the job, now to find the time to do the work :P

p.s. I WILL post the results if there are any, in the meantime check out www.THE-HANG.com and have a gander at these guys, only four months together, four songs recorded, another four ready for recording. I'm pretty sure these guys have what it takes to win.

Czar of Midi
Administrator
Since: Apr 04, 2002

Apr 12, 2004 10:29 pm

Kev C, Welcome to HRC. Stopped by and checked out The Hang, good solid stuff. Like dB said, give it a shot and see what happens. Many peeps here have done tons of great stuff with little bits of gear. So we know it can be done. It is just a matter of taking more care and time to get the sound just right.

Hope to hear what you come up with soon.

By the way, I added the hang into our links page under bands and music. If you would like you may link to HRC as well from your sites.

Noize

Member
Since: Apr 09, 2004

Apr 13, 2004 02:08 am

Awsome, will do as soon as I've finished the many other pages the guys want (wiping sweat from forehead :)

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