I'm trying to get ready to record for the first time. All other things aside, it's becoming clear to me that I'll need an interface. I'm using windows 8 fyi.I need to be able to record drums using 4 mice, although I suppose I could deal with 3. From what I can tell I'll need 4 inputs with preamps. I also am trying to keep this pretty low budget, I'll be buying used whenever possible and don't want to go over $200 for an interface.
I can't speak to the stand alone unit like the one you linked.
but i'm assuming you'd have less editing and production ability - or at least it seems like it would be more cumbersome.
i personally own the two interfaces i have linked below.
both have worked quite well for me with Reaper.
they're priced right & are pretty easy to use.
TASCAM US-1641
this has 8 mic pres plus additional inputs for recording guitar direct among others plus midi & digital inputs.
TASCAM US-600
this has 4 mic pres plus midi & digital inputs.
Last edited by rightonthemark; 06-06-2014 at 10:30 PM.
I can't speak to the stand alone unit like the one you linked.
but i'm assuming you'd have less editing and production ability - or at least it seems like it would be more cumbersome.
i personally own the two interfaces i have linked below.
both have worked quite well for me with Reaper.
they're priced right & are pretty easy to use.
TASCAM US-1641
this has 8 mic pres plus additional inputs for recording guitar direct among others plus midi & digital inputs.
TASCAM US-600
this has 4 mic pres plus midi & digital inputs.
Wow, those both look great!
I think the 600 looks great for what I foresee myself needing. I'll probably pick that up or something similar. Thanks!
i know a lot of folks knock tascam.
but i have had good luck with them.
i think the sound comes out good - i suppose my mixing could be better.
but below is a local band i recorded with the tascam us-600.
plus i used a $20 analog to digital converter and ran a peavey pv6 mini mixer into the digital in giving me six total inputs.
i had guitar direct via the instrument in using amplitube.
bass direct with a di box using amplitube.
for james dean the kick, and two overhead mics were used.
for dreams the kick, snare and two overheads were used.
overheads were in the glynn johns position.
only vocals were overdubbed after the music was recorded with the band playing all together.
I think the 600 looks great for what I foresee myself needing. I'll probably pick that up or something similar. Thanks!
I have a 600, and for what you want to do, it's a great interface. The USB implementation on it isn't perfect, though, and it often has trouble waking up if your computer goes to sleep. The lack of a power switch is a minor pain, too, as that's how you get it running again if it does go "comatose."
Talked to the owner of the store in town, he seemed to be of the opinion that if I want 4 preamps and to record drums I should look at digital mixers instead of usb interfaces. Can anyone explain the difference and why I should chose one over the other?
If you're recording on your computer, you're still going to need an interface somewhere in the signal chain. Something has to convert the A into D so your computer can grok it.
Anyway, the mixer is exactly what it says it is. It's a mixing console with faders and channel strips and all that good stuff that blends the channel strips to a stereo output signal. Some mixers also double as an audio interface, but some only export the mains to digital rather than each channel strip. So depending on the mixer, you may or may not be able to record individual tracks.
If you're recording to PC, get a good interface that can handle the inputs you need, and mix in the box.
Even non-audio engineers know it takes at least 6 mice and a rat to record a good drum take..
The expensive mice, from the pet store, none of this 'from the walls' DIY stuff..
and let me guess...the store carries mixers but not usb audio interfaces...?...
for recording multitracks simultaneously as in a mic'd drum kit you will need an interface.
a stereo mixer means you'd be stuck with the premix from the mixer.
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on another note...
do you have mics and cables?
what kind of mics?
what kind of music you recording?
do you have a local band you're in and recording with or are you planning to do some online collaborating?
as a guitar player/song writer I'm always looking for a drummer.
so if you like 80s style hard rock then i might have some collabing for you once you're up and running.
I'd also add that if you are simply doing scratch or demo recordings, you can get great stereo drum recordings on two mics using the recorderman technique. Easy to set up, and doesn't burn up all your inputs.
If you're recording on your computer, you're still going to need an interface somewhere in the signal chain. Something has to convert the A into D so your computer can grok it.
Anyway, the mixer is exactly what it says it is. It's a mixing console with faders and channel strips and all that good stuff that blends the channel strips to a stereo output signal. Some mixers also double as an audio interface, but some only export the mains to digital rather than each channel strip. So depending on the mixer, you may or may not be able to record individual tracks.
If you're recording to PC, get a good interface that can handle the inputs you need, and mix in the box.
Thanks for your help, this clarified my fears about a mixer. I definitely want to be able to record individual tracks, and all along my play has been to mix in the box as you said.
Still trying to find the right interface for this though, proving to be dificult
P.S. I've been watching that video series a lot recently! I'm most likely going to end up using (or trying out, we'll see how it sounds) some variation of Recorderman/ Glynn Johns for this, with spot mics on the snare and/or kick just to fill in the gaps, and use the overheads to catch more of the cymbals and toms than they do in that video. Thanks again!
Thanks for your help, this clarified my fears about a mixer. I definitely want to be able to record individual tracks, and all along my play has been to mix in the box as you said.
Still trying to find the right interface for this though, proving to be dificult
P.S. I've been watching that video series a lot recently! I'm most likely going to end up using (or trying out, we'll see how it sounds) some variation of Recorderman/ Glynn Johns for this, with spot mics on the snare and/or kick just to fill in the gaps, and use the overheads to catch more of the cymbals and toms than they do in that video. Thanks again!
i highly recommend the tascam us-600.
if all you need is 4 preamp inputs it's a great value and works very well.
i'll also note that i have not had the "sleep" issue that jerome described.
as for the lack of an on/off switch - i plugged into a power strip and used that for the switch.
by the way...here's another good video on mic'ing drums...
this one is specifically about different overhead mic techniques.
they also have a video for close mic'ing & room mics.
Teach Me About Interfaces?
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