multitrack in...
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Posted on Dec 12, 2006 04:04 am
unclemole
Member Since: Dec 12, 2006
so i use magix audio studio and will soon be investing in a mixer and a set of drum mics. when i record, i know theres a left and right out that go out of the mixer into the copmuter. but what i wanna know... is there a way that all the tracks of the drum can seperatly go into the computer... as opposed the just the L and R?
that way after i record and the files are in my computer... i can adjust the kick... cymbals... snare and toms...
anything helps!
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LokiCone PokerMember
Since: Apr 07, 2002
Dec 12, 2006 04:24 am there is a way yes, but it's going to require a bit more advanced of a setup. So, lets pretend you have a delta 44 soundcard by m-audio, and a mixer with 4 busses.
the delta 44 has 4 ins and 4 outs, so lets say that the first 2 outs are routed to your amp and speakers. The outputs from your mixer will be routed to the ins of the delta, bus 1 will be input 1, bus 2 input 2, etc. Follow me so far?
Now you will have the option to record 4 tracks at once. In your software (I don't know magix audio studio, so I hope this applies) you would create 4 audio tracks, and select the inputs as bus 1 through 4.
now lets say you mic up the kick, hi hat, snare, and cymbals for example. The kick will be routed on the mixer to go to bus 1, the hihat to bus 2, the snare to bus 3, and the cymbals to bus 4. Now when you record you will have 4 independant tracks to mix and play around with.
So yes, what you are asking is possible, but not right now with your current set up I don't think, sorry.
Dec 12, 2006 07:55 am ya, i agree, but like always, if there is cash, there is a way
u can get some pretty sophisticated interfaces for your computer that individually separate each track for you, but like i said it would cost u a heck of a lot of money.
pjkPrince CZAR-mingMember
Since: Apr 08, 2004
Dec 12, 2006 11:32 am delta 1010lt is 200$, and gives you 8 analog inputs. If you have a mixer with 8 preamp channels, you can tap signal from direct outs (if it has them) or from channel inserts. This will keep all 8 signals separate from each other. Like Loki said, set up your recording app to which channels to listen to, and it should work well.
There's other options, like the delta 44, and 66. There's presonus firepod, with 8 preamps built into the device, and attaches by firewire. Like mentioned, there's a bunch of different ways, but it will start costing you.
Dec 12, 2006 05:14 pm when you guys say cash flow... and costing me... what kinda money are you talking about? ill have around 500-1000 to get a mixer and whatever else i can use. my soundcard isn't great... its a sigmatel c major. there are only a few ways to record... i have 2 usb ports... and one mic jack (laptop). will a soundcard like this work for that setup?
someone also told me about midi boxes... whats that?
pjkPrince CZAR-mingMember
Since: Apr 08, 2004
Dec 13, 2006 11:01 am FIrst off, filling in your profile will help us know what you have already, so we can better get a start.
See my profile (link is below) for an example of my gear list.
Now, I'd assume you have a PC, and are running windows, because you have magix. I'll assume the PC is beefy enough to track multi drums.
* edit * just noticed the word laptop *
Microphones - you'll need some sort of assortment for the drums, maybe just three, or maybe 7. That's up to you, and your style, room, quality, etc. Figure 200$ to over 1000$. I'll assume 200$ for this.
Cables are assumed in all of this, so you can figure that part out. I make my own, as do a few others here. I'd use mogami second.
Preamps - these can be in a mixer, or in a device, like the presonus firepod, or a multi-mix device. Or they can be standalone. Mixer for 8 analog ins can start from 250$. I use a yamaha mg16/4, which has done well for me.
Audio interface - here's the sound card part of the equation. If you want separate tracks, then you'll need a multi-in soundcard, or audio interface. maudio delta 1010lt is a 8 analog in, for 200$. this gives spdif in/out, and midi in/out. Pretty stable card, and used alot. Delta 1010 (has a breakout box) and esp1010 can be had for 300$, then there's RME and MOTU, which get into the 700, 800 $ range.
THe first interfaces are PCI, which is fast and stable, but not portable. The RME and MOTU, plus the Firepod are firewire, or usb (on some things) so they're portable. The firepod has preamps built in, as does now the RME (or MOTU) 8pre (i think it's rme). So you'd get preamps and audio interface all in one.
* laptop angle * EMU has a 1616m which is pretty well regarded, audio wise, but hard to get going smoothly. There's the usb or firewire angle, which i kinda touched on above. If you had a firewire port, the firepod would be a pretty good option, having preamps, plus being a good audio interface. You'll need to research to see if you can find a device that will let you multitrack through the usb ports, or if you can add a firewire port (maybe in the pcmcia slot)
Now, to hear what's going on, you'll want monitors of some sort. These can start small, roland has some small ones, and go up to high end ADAM or Genelec. Figure starting at the bottom, 200$ or so, and price goes up with quality. Some mix with headphones, but the results can be skewed, throwing off the accurate stereo mix.
The room is a big factor in all this too. If your room is small and square, you'll want to treat the walls to keep mud and reflections from gnarling your tracks. Plus, your mix environment is something to consider, as if you hear the monitors in a skewed way, your mix will be skewed. You can learn your monitors, but it takes guessing skills, and lots of practice.
Hope this helps get you going some. Have fun.
Dec 13, 2006 02:06 pm yupyup and keep in mind, if you're not playin' live with a P.A. a mixing board isn't necessarily necessary. unless necessity dictates otherwise.
Dec 13, 2006 05:12 pm wow! thats a lot of great information, thank you. the mixer you named (yamaha mg16/4) its on my list to get! i read the details and looked for the things you listed... low line noise, buses.
As far as MICs go, i'm looking at the samson 8Kit Mic Kit
www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/8DrumMicKit/
For a compressor/Preamp im looking at the ART Tube Pac Microphone Preamp/Compressor
www.zzounds.com/item--ART131
do you think this can get me started? id like to get a multi-in sound card... but i dont know how to install those, or how much the comp shop will charge for that. also would the maudio delta 1010lt fit in a laptop? i dont know how different everything fits compared to a pc.
I updated my bio if you want to take a look!
pjkPrince CZAR-mingMember
Since: Apr 08, 2004
Dec 13, 2006 06:06 pm Yep, that 1010lt won't fit into the laptop, it's a PCI installed card.
The art tube pac unit looks to be good for using for vocals, but you won't be able to do all your drums, as it's a 1 input unit. Being tube, it's possible that you'll like the sound better than the mg preamps for vocals. Probably close though.
For your sound interface, if you want to plug in all those drum mics, then yes, you'll need a multi-in interface. The 1616 (and 1616m) from emu is connected with a pcmcia card, but it's finicky, like I mentioned. If you're debating on how to install something, i'm guessing your PC skills may not be fully matured. In that case, you may want to skip the EMU line. There are some USB mixer/interface devices, but I think they only send out two channels.
Actually, yamaha has the mw series, but again, i think they only output 2 channels, Left and Right, so that wouldn't work. I think helix phonic line has usb boards that output all incoming channels, but you'd have to research that to verify. This solution would give you basic preamps, the mixer, and the audio interface all in one package. If it works well, then it'd be the bee's knees.
There is the option of installing a pcmcia card to get firewire ports. (i just bought one myself, so I can connect my dv camcorder to my laptop). I don't know how great they'd be for tracking audio data, but it's worth a look. Maybe there's people that have tried it already. Google might be your friend here.
