Buying and Using a Multitrack Recorder - And Hi :)

Posted: Thu Mar 06, 2008 1:01 pm

Hi All,

I'm new to the forums, there seems to be a while wealth on information here which is why I decided to join.

Hope I'm here for a while, hehe Smile

Anyway, my question is about Multitrack recording. Firstly, pros and cons?

I don't have big £££ to shell out for a PC System, which is why I'm looking for a Multitrack Hard disc recorder with CDRW built in, or even a USB link to my computer?

I play Piano and Guitar and want to start recording some tracks that I've made.

I'm new to the whole recording business, so any advice/pointers would be appreciated.

If you have any questions to help me out better, please feel free to ask me Smile

Thanks in advance,
Amnesia

Posted: Thu Mar 06, 2008 4:23 pm

Amnesia,

Welcome to RO!

There are ALL kinds of recorders and ways to record and mix. (as you are no doubt finding)

Pro's and con's of multi-tracking? OOOF... there are volumes we can discuss as a community.

I guess the biggest pro to multitracking is that you have the ability to more precisely edit the sonic character of each recorded track. You also have the ability to add more instrumentation at different times to make a more complex musical piece in the end.

The biggest con to multitracking is that you have the ability to more precisely edit the sonic character of each recorded track. You also have the ability to add more instrumentation at different times to make a more complex musical piece in the end.

What I'm getting at is that multitracking opens the world of possibilities, but with it comes the necessity to deal with it. Make sense?

You mention that you don't quite have a budget for a PC System.... You might be suprised... but before going there, briefly about how much gear have you already got?

It'll help everyone offer meaningful suggestions as to where you might want to go with your adventures.

Posted: Thu Mar 06, 2008 4:32 pm

Okay, thanks for your inpoute mate.

My Equipment:
Behringer EuroRack 802 (Mixer)
Roland RD-300-SX (Digital Piano)
Epiphone Sheraton II (Semi-Acoustic Guitar)
Creative Extigy External Soundcard.

Acer Interl Core 2 Duo 1.66 Ghz with 1GB Ram and 120GB HDD. (Laptop)

I don't have anything more than that, apart from a controller keyboard which I connect to my digital piano sometimes to double up on sounds or add backing.

Hope this helps Smile

Posted: Thu Mar 06, 2008 6:59 pm

Word of warning: Behringer = crap.

Does your laptop have a firewire port?

You could get a decent interface for the laptop based on firewire or USB (generally cheaper but with less channels).

Also as MadMax asked, what's the aim here? To record a band, to record farting noises, to make your own tunes using the keyboard's synths?

Posted: Fri Mar 07, 2008 2:25 am

My Behringer hasn't caused me any problems yet. I only got it so I could run my digital piano, vocals and tracks from laptop (to play along with) and I could listen to it ALL through my set of head phones (because my DP doesn't have a line in).

I want to record my home music and some songs I have written. The majority will be piano/synth with me strumming some guitar over it.

I can't play the drums, so I need something where I can also put drums tracks over it fairly simply. I don't know if my laptop has firewire... I don't think it has.

Overall, I just want to be able to record my music (in audio, not really midi) and put it to the HDD. It would be nice to have the option to put it onto my comptuer for final editing, and just so I have backups, but it is not essential.

Posted: Fri Mar 07, 2008 4:41 am

hi Amnesia

I do not use any computer based gear, I have a stand alone Yamaha AW1600, it is a 16 track ( although four are paired) and serves me very well and it is well documented how good the sound is on these.

I record rock songs, and have recently just finished an acoustic based guitar/piano song and everyone who I subject my music to said how good the sound was.

There are a lot of onboard effects, EQ, limiters, compression etc to play with, and a built in CD burner. There is even a sampler onboard as well. I had a Korg D8 before and this is a major step up for the price, I dont know where in the world you are but i paid around £500 in the UK and I think now after using it for 6 months what a brilliant piece of kit it is.

It can be linked by USB to your computer and you can externally mix your work on the computer. Of course it also has MIDI capabilities if required.

It also has eight inputs so if you and your mates want to record an impromptu jam, you can once you get your head around the instruction booklet !

Hope this helps

Best of luck

Posted: Fri Mar 07, 2008 6:02 am

Thanks Ghost,

I am from the UK and £500 is my budget! So that sounds like quite a good piece of kit.

I think the USB is what will sell it for me, I like beign able to do the final edit on the computer, or if I just want a section of something I recorded, I could easily crop it on the computer.

Anyway, what is the drum machine like? Are you able to program a drum pattern/bass pattern or does it have them built in?

I saw a Zoom MTR (can't remember the model number) and it had touch sensitive pads for recording drums (as well as pre-set drum patterns).

Posted: Fri Mar 07, 2008 7:07 am

OK, sorry Amnesia. I lean towards computer recording cause I'm a PC nerd...tends to rub off.

The thing about Behringer is that if you can avoid it arriving broken, it has good odds of failing within a year. If it lasts longer than that, great. Just the experience of 75% of people here.

Posted: Fri Mar 07, 2008 10:15 am

Codemonkey, I'm still open to using a computer recording system, but I just need some advice and points in the direction with what sort of equipment to look out for etc.

Thanks,
Amnesia

Posted: Fri Mar 07, 2008 10:27 am

Well if you want to use a HDD recorder then you just need to find one which you like (try getting a product demo somewhere) and which has enough inputs/functionality to be useful, and which fits your budget.

If you want a computer route, you need an audio interface. Most of these come with Cubase or some sort of recording software and you can use that with them. If you have a firewire port, something like a Presonus Firestudio or Firebox or Firesomething which has enough inputs to meet your needs.

The good thing about the computer route is that you can use the software to mix/add effects etc. much more easily. HDD recorders are more portable though.
There are more pros/cons for each of course.

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