Band room
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From: Vancouver
Originally posted by Mindcore
Guys, you're gonna give me a big head!!
I've been doing this since I was a kid, the only time I truely get away from things is when I'm playing guitar. More so then the S2K if you can believe it.
I should mention, as well, if you are looking at the best quality recording for a home studio, reel to reel is the best way to go. I have an 8 track system, that I have used quite a bit. The sound quality is excellent. I've flirted with selling it many times, infact listed it on ebay once, but back out. Its wonderfull, but now, I work out the songs on computer, and then go to a real studio to lay everything down.
You can't beat $80k worth of ADAT's and outboard effects.
I forgot to mention more about the isolation booth.
If you have the room, make one. A small room, fully sound insualted from the rest of the area. When you go track by track you need to hear what you allready did, having things like drums, or amps blaring when you are trying to listen is madening.
and with vocals its a given, Someone should be watching levels, while the vocalist is doing the track in a sound proof room, with headphones. Most obviously because the mic will pic up any ambient noise as well as the vocal track. You will solo the vocal track, and wonder, why can I hear the whole song???
Makes final mixing a real pain in the ass, and gives the whole song a washed out feel, with no impact at all.
and I say again, DO NOT take that link as a referance
Mike
Also, I feel the need to mention that the webpage is not the best representation of my music, but it gives you a good idea what you can do, entierly with Cakewalk, POD, and a keyboard.
Guys, you're gonna give me a big head!!
I've been doing this since I was a kid, the only time I truely get away from things is when I'm playing guitar. More so then the S2K if you can believe it.
I should mention, as well, if you are looking at the best quality recording for a home studio, reel to reel is the best way to go. I have an 8 track system, that I have used quite a bit. The sound quality is excellent. I've flirted with selling it many times, infact listed it on ebay once, but back out. Its wonderfull, but now, I work out the songs on computer, and then go to a real studio to lay everything down.
You can't beat $80k worth of ADAT's and outboard effects.
I forgot to mention more about the isolation booth.
If you have the room, make one. A small room, fully sound insualted from the rest of the area. When you go track by track you need to hear what you allready did, having things like drums, or amps blaring when you are trying to listen is madening.
and with vocals its a given, Someone should be watching levels, while the vocalist is doing the track in a sound proof room, with headphones. Most obviously because the mic will pic up any ambient noise as well as the vocal track. You will solo the vocal track, and wonder, why can I hear the whole song???
Makes final mixing a real pain in the ass, and gives the whole song a washed out feel, with no impact at all.
and I say again, DO NOT take that link as a referance
Mike
Also, I feel the need to mention that the webpage is not the best representation of my music, but it gives you a good idea what you can do, entierly with Cakewalk, POD, and a keyboard.
I think i will be able to make a small room (my dad's TV room, about 10ft (w) X 12ft (L)), is it too small for a band room? i need to put all the equipments inside the room, like drums, computer (small), 5 speakers/amp (does an amp for home theatre works for me in this case?),
I always wonder if the sound will be too loud in such a small room.
thanks mike
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From: Erock is da shizzle
OK Dokie, First, steps 1-2-3 are all correct.
Don't use a surround system, just use (2) quality speakers, use them in stereo.
Leading me answer 2 of your questions.
use the regular line in on the card.
The only way to take advantage of the digital in / outs are to have a digital mixer. Minimum $3k cdn. They are very sweet, but gotta be realistic. Secondly the only benifit to using 5 speakers in a surround mode would be to again use a digital mixer. Otherwise you have no way of telling it where you want the sound to go. make sense? think of it like I can't take the reverb from my guitar and MAKE it go to the rear speaker. not unless you go all digital.
The best musicains in the world are still recording in stereo, purists belive its the only way.
The signal chain should be as follows.
Istruments -> mixer -> soundcard in -> out to stereo-> to 2 speakers in front of the listening area.
keep the speakers with the tweeters at ear level, wether you are sitting or standing.
As for cakewalk, show what I know, seems that Home Studio 2002 has replaced Pro Audio. I'll do some reading and see how it compares.
The mixer you linked, is that CDN $? if so its a great deal, and it would more then suit your needs.
Also pace yourself a little and get into it a bit, before buying 6 or 7 mics. Off the top of my head, they are around $150 or so, so it can add up.
no reason you can't start out with a 2-3 for the drums on stands to get yourself going. and add more later.
To mic drums, idealy you want 1 for the snare, 1 for the two toms, 1 for the bass drum, 1 for the highhat, 2 for the symbols, 1 for the ride, and one for the low tom, so whats that? 7 total, but I say again this is the ideal, you can get away with much less.
Your room size sounds more then fine, just don't trip over all the cables
And while I've been yapping about all this cool gear, I neglected to mention the most basic rule of home recording. Do it for the music, not the toys. It does't take much to put down a good song of the worst of the best equipment. No matter how much you spend, getting the results of a pro studio is very hard. the techs years of experience are what make the best parts of the music come out.
A good example is, Liz Phair. My favourite artist of all time, and IMO more talent then anyone I can imagine.
When she was 16 she recorded 23 songs dubbed the girly sounds demo. Done all in her bedroom with cassette tape 4 track. Raw, noise, hissing, tape pops, her parent yelling to keep it down in the background. Yet this stuff is some of the best work she has ever done. Simply becuase the songs were great. nothing to do with wether it sounded like a brittney Spears mega million dollar project.
use the recording as a tool to help you write better songs, is amzing how you realize a part you loved really sucks after you listen to it in the car with your friends.
Shit.. I'm missing Buffy., I'll be back!
Mike
Don't use a surround system, just use (2) quality speakers, use them in stereo.
Leading me answer 2 of your questions.
use the regular line in on the card.
The only way to take advantage of the digital in / outs are to have a digital mixer. Minimum $3k cdn. They are very sweet, but gotta be realistic. Secondly the only benifit to using 5 speakers in a surround mode would be to again use a digital mixer. Otherwise you have no way of telling it where you want the sound to go. make sense? think of it like I can't take the reverb from my guitar and MAKE it go to the rear speaker. not unless you go all digital.
The best musicains in the world are still recording in stereo, purists belive its the only way.
The signal chain should be as follows.
Istruments -> mixer -> soundcard in -> out to stereo-> to 2 speakers in front of the listening area.
keep the speakers with the tweeters at ear level, wether you are sitting or standing.
As for cakewalk, show what I know, seems that Home Studio 2002 has replaced Pro Audio. I'll do some reading and see how it compares.
The mixer you linked, is that CDN $? if so its a great deal, and it would more then suit your needs.
Also pace yourself a little and get into it a bit, before buying 6 or 7 mics. Off the top of my head, they are around $150 or so, so it can add up.
no reason you can't start out with a 2-3 for the drums on stands to get yourself going. and add more later.
To mic drums, idealy you want 1 for the snare, 1 for the two toms, 1 for the bass drum, 1 for the highhat, 2 for the symbols, 1 for the ride, and one for the low tom, so whats that? 7 total, but I say again this is the ideal, you can get away with much less.
Your room size sounds more then fine, just don't trip over all the cables
And while I've been yapping about all this cool gear, I neglected to mention the most basic rule of home recording. Do it for the music, not the toys. It does't take much to put down a good song of the worst of the best equipment. No matter how much you spend, getting the results of a pro studio is very hard. the techs years of experience are what make the best parts of the music come out.
A good example is, Liz Phair. My favourite artist of all time, and IMO more talent then anyone I can imagine.
When she was 16 she recorded 23 songs dubbed the girly sounds demo. Done all in her bedroom with cassette tape 4 track. Raw, noise, hissing, tape pops, her parent yelling to keep it down in the background. Yet this stuff is some of the best work she has ever done. Simply becuase the songs were great. nothing to do with wether it sounded like a brittney Spears mega million dollar project.
use the recording as a tool to help you write better songs, is amzing how you realize a part you loved really sucks after you listen to it in the car with your friends.
Shit.. I'm missing Buffy., I'll be back!
Mike
Thread Starter
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Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 962
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From: Vancouver
very good mike!!!
very well explained~
now I got the difference btw analog and digital mixers, I will keep the 2 standing speakers (L and R, about 4 ft tall, not ears level yet, should I also keep the centre speaker?) and forget about the rest, do I keep the sub? or just forget about it?
ok then, I will probably buy 2-3 mics for the drums,
I totally agree with what you said about enjoying music I'm so excited about setting up the band room!
keep an eye on me, I will need your help anytime mike! thanks alot!
very well explained~
now I got the difference btw analog and digital mixers, I will keep the 2 standing speakers (L and R, about 4 ft tall, not ears level yet, should I also keep the centre speaker?) and forget about the rest, do I keep the sub? or just forget about it?
ok then, I will probably buy 2-3 mics for the drums,
I totally agree with what you said about enjoying music
I'm so excited about setting up the band room!keep an eye on me, I will need your help anytime mike! thanks alot!
Former Moderator
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 16,175
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From: Erock is da shizzle
Nope lose the center, and the sub. use only Left and Right.
Reason being is when the time comes to mix the final version, it will never sound good, unless you play it back on that system. The beautiful thing about stereo is that it sounds pretty much the same, regardless of the system.
Reason being is when the time comes to mix the final version, it will never sound good, unless you play it back on that system. The beautiful thing about stereo is that it sounds pretty much the same, regardless of the system.
Thread Starter
Registered User
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 962
Likes: 2
From: Vancouver
mike!
i've got a question in choosing the mixers,
there are 2 models different by only 10 dollar,
which one should I pick?
http://www.mackie.com/Products/CFX_Series/CFX12.asp
http://www.mackie.com/Products/VLZ_PRO_Ser.../1402VLZPRO.asp
thank you!
i've got a question in choosing the mixers,
there are 2 models different by only 10 dollar,
which one should I pick?
http://www.mackie.com/Products/CFX_Series/CFX12.asp
http://www.mackie.com/Products/VLZ_PRO_Ser.../1402VLZPRO.asp
thank you!
Thread Starter
Registered User
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 962
Likes: 2
From: Vancouver
mike is this the POD line 6 u talk about?
http://www.musiciansfriend.com/srs7/sid=02...l/base_id/43610
http://www.musiciansfriend.com/srs7/sid=02...l/base_id/43610
Former Moderator
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 16,175
Likes: 0
From: Erock is da shizzle
AHHH, First off I made a mistake on the mic part numbers. You should get Shure SM57's for micing things, and SM58's for vocals. Sorry.
The CFX 12 mixer is more suited to Reel to reel, or adats then for basic computer recording.
The 1401 would be much easier to use, and a better fit. But if you are thinking of ever moving to the next level, you might be better with the CFX 12, and for 10 bucks, you might as well.
The Pod link doesn't seem to bw working for me, but here is the Line 6 website.
POD
The CFX 12 mixer is more suited to Reel to reel, or adats then for basic computer recording.
The 1401 would be much easier to use, and a better fit. But if you are thinking of ever moving to the next level, you might be better with the CFX 12, and for 10 bucks, you might as well.
The Pod link doesn't seem to bw working for me, but here is the Line 6 website.
POD
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