Multi track recorder or PC with interface?

Ant1981 · #1 03-05-2006, 03:17 PM

Well, want to do some home recording, so multi track recorder or PC with interface?

Pros and cons for both.

ibanezcollector · #2 03-05-2006, 03:47 PM

well I prefer computer based its easier for me personally to do it all. From editing, mixing, looping etc etc its just easier.

In my personal opinion PC is killing the multi track business one by one, with all the features, addons(ie, amp simulators, synth addons etc etc) just check out all the plugins available and you will see what I mean.

But thats me.. and my 2 cents

Ant1981 · #3 03-05-2006, 06:05 PM

What sort of interface will i need to get XLR's and the usual stuff that a multi track has?

Ant1981 · #4 03-09-2006, 06:23 AM

Not many people seem to know here anyway.

I aquired cubase SX 3, yes, aquired

So I guess I'll get myself a little mixer with XLR's and stuff to go into the sound card. I know i'll only be able to do one track at a time, unless I got a firewire mixer, but thats probably all I need at the moment.

Schutzfaktor12 · #5 03-09-2006, 08:01 AM

Either the mixer, or just get a decent PCI soundcard, if you want to record one instrument at a time anyway.

A good and inexpensive card would be this one:

http://www.esi-pro.com/viewProduct.php?pid=43&page=1

Also has balanced inputs, so with a TRS->XLR adapter cable you´re ready to go...
reviews were quite convincing. I should have bought this one instead of my Mackie USB-thing...

I think any PC interface will give you more options for the future in case you want to upgrade.

Cheers

Carsten

Ant1981 · #6 03-09-2006, 08:44 AM

I might have to have another think, as when I play guitar near a CRT monitor, the guitar picks up noise from the monitor. So would have to either go for the multi track or just get a firewire mxing desk and use it with my laptop. Shouldn't think the laptop will make noise through the guitar, I'll try it and see.

Schutzfaktor12 · #7 03-09-2006, 08:57 AM

No, you´re right, that´s a CRT problem. I had the same problem and it vanished when I got my TFT display.

Ant1981 · #8 03-09-2006, 09:35 AM

Alesis do a real neat 8 channel firewire mixer, with firewire, EVERY channel will come up on cubase as a seperate track, how neat is that! Then I can go into my laptop which is obviously TFT

rgr · #9 03-09-2006, 01:48 PM

Edirol (Roland) makes some nice interfaces, PCI and Firewire. As far as EVERY channel showing up, that's how they are supposed to work, welcome to the digital age

Drew · #10 03-09-2006, 01:52 PM

+1 for PC-based. I'm running a M-Audio Firewire410 into my computer which gives me two tracks at a time (enough for working in my bedroom) with great results.

As for that hum, it's high time for a flatscreen monitor, son.

Drew · #11 03-09-2006, 01:57 PM

Oh, since I didn't really speak to your question on pros/cons...

PC's DESTROY every all-in-one multitracker I've worked on for mixing and processing flexibility. I don't even know where to begin... You can automate nearly infinite paramaters within your mix with most multitrack programs, and while all multitrack standalones have some sort of FX capabilities, I have yet to find one that can top the combination of a good program and a good audio editor for sheer FX processing power. Also, you can generally only use one or two FX programs while mixing down on a multitracker, but on a PC system the number of plugins you can use in mixdown is limited only by your computer's processing power.

It's a little bit of a learning curve, but well worth the payoff.

Ant1981 · #12 03-09-2006, 02:20 PM

With that 8 channel Alesis firewire mixer, it comes with cubase le and since its an 8 channel, i can do 8 tracks at a time

As for the effects, might put a bit of reverb on drums and vocals, but the guitarists, including me, will only use the effects we want from our pedals or racks! I'm gonna buy that mixer when I hit the streets again!

Drew · #13 03-10-2006, 12:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ant1981

As for the effects, might put a bit of reverb on drums and vocals, but the guitarists, including me, will only use the effects we want from our pedals or racks! I'm gonna buy that mixer when I hit the streets again!

Honestly, just wait till you get started before saying that.

Adding effects in the mix as opposed to at the source gives you a LOT more flexibility in terms of varying rates and levels after the fact, tempo timing, playing with stereo delays/reverbs, etc. Also, in my experience (I'm a delay junkie, by the way), if you want a light delay on a lead for ambience, it'll sound a LOT clearer in the mix if you run it out through a seperate bus, pan it to a slightly different place in the mix (either via a stereo ping-pong delay, or simply panning it a bit to one side - whichever sounds better in the context of the mix), and then EQ'ing it differently to help differentiate it from your dry signal. None of this can be done with a delay pedal (an Eventide, maybe...), and it does make rather a large difference.

Some effects DO sound better driving the amp - the rule of thumb is anything that can change the gain structures (or rather, that you WANT to change the gain structures - a good example is a chorus on a semi-distorted tone that gives it that "chewy" texture as it's sweep effects the way the amp overdrives) should be applied to the source signal and not added later on in the mix. However, anything else, you're better off recording dry and adding effects later on. If you REALLY need to use your pedals or rack gear, you can always try re-amping it - sending your track out through one of your interface's outputs, through your pedal or rack, and then back in through an input to a second track, so you can have your original dry signal as well as a seperate track with the effect printed on it (although be aware you may need to correct for latency so you don't have phasing issues).

However, remember there's a world of difference between using effects to create a great guitar tone, and using effects to create a great mix. They're two totally different beasts.

Also, there's a lot more FX work to a mix than you're probably expecting there to be - ever tried to record and mix a drum kit? You're going to at the VERY least want to be running a gate on your kick, snare, and toms to cut down on bleed, compression to various degrees on the different components, various EQ curves on the different components to keep the mix clear and leave space for both other drum components and other instruments (and again, to take the edge off bleed - odds are you won't be able to gate your overheads, so rolling off below 1k or so can help with bleed from the rest of the kit), and then reverb over the whole thing (but again, most likely in varying amounts for the kick, snare, hats, crashes, etc).

Sure, you may prefer to have the effects on your guitars printed to the track as you record, and there's a good chance nothing I can say will convince you otherwise, and hey, as your own producer that's your right. But trust me when I say that you'll be using your multitrack program's FX capabilities for WAY more than you currently expect to, if you want to dial up a truely pro-sounding mix.

Don't say I didn't warn you.

Ant1981 · #14 03-10-2006, 02:03 PM

Yea definatly I'd use the effects on the mixer for drums and vocals, but for the guitar I'd use the rack as I'm too a delay junkie and play for the 'feel' of the delay, so i would want to have a delay in the effects send and return loop and have that go out to the desk with a mic infront of the cab.

jaken777 · #15 03-10-2006, 02:14 PM

Thanx for your wise insight Drew, you have fixed many problems i'm having here with my home recording! this stuff you posted here is Great stuff!

Thanx for taking the time to put it up on Jemsite, this Info has been most helpful to me- Keep it coming bro!

Cheers-Jake