Mutitrack recording

[bluishbob]

Hi all,
Just been thinking.

Not exactly disco related but i know you chaps know your stuff and there will be someone around who can help.

What is the best way of getting mutitrack inputs into a computer. I know EMU are meant to do good sound cards, but they only seem to have 2 xlr inputs, when the rest are made up of midi inputs.

I want to just get about 8 xlr (or jack at a push) inputs into a computer, so i can get them on audacity (or a fancy expensive equivalent like cubase).

WHat is the most cost effective/ cheapest way???

[funkymike]

whats it for?

or just use cooledits and overlay each bit of music

does that make sense?

[bluishbob]

I think so, but i want to be able to have these 8 or so inputs running simultaneously. SO in effect in one 'take' i could record each seperate instrument in a band.

[BeerFunk]

I can't see this coming to less than £1000, and that would be a budget solution. Wouldn't you be better hiring a studio for the day, if you're recording a demo?

[bluishbob]

Well, there wasn't any specific band/group i wanted to record, just thought it would be a bit of fun. SO it gets expensive then???? I have seen cards that advertise as up to 4 jack inputs, are eah of these seperate inputs/ overlays running simultaneously on a program????

[funkymike]

what about a mackie band mixer they have firewire in them so you could have a many inputs as the mixer

[Tom]

how about this. it has 8 inputs and 8 outputs. the inputs are 1/4 jack but these are ment to be used with a mixer with direct outs. all you need is a program like cubase, logic ect to record the channels.

also you can more of these side by side so just buy 2 systems and you can have 16 channels input into a computer. the connection into the pc is via pci slot

http://www.m-audio.com/products/en_us/Delta1010-main.html

you can buy these over hear (studiospares)

[bluishbob]

Yeah, similar to this ...... http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/M-Audio-Delta-44-Sound-Card_W0QQitemZ110183463388QQihZ001QQcategoryZ3701Q QssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem but more expensive. Was thinkin maybe about a mixer like this..... http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=180169293307&ssPageName=STRK:MEWA:IT&ih=008 Depends how much it goes for, before long it will get really expensive.....have to stop myself from dreaming.

[Tom]

the first link is the same but just smaller really. the alesis mixer is a good idea but im not to sure on the quality really. you got 12 mono channels all runnning though 1 usb. might sound a bit n@ff imo

[bluishbob]

yeah, maybe. Might be ok for ameture recording thought. I really want to strike a balance. I would like a mixer with about 20 xlr inputs, that i can use for live sound, but i would like the seperate digital connection to a computer like these have on about 8 channels. I suppose that asking for too much, am better to get something like a Mackie 22:8 and something like the above aswell.
Shame !!!

[Tom]

it all depends on your budget.

how much do you have for everything including mics, outboard if you dont have it already.

[bluishbob]

I have a few bits and pieces, to be honest i don't have a budged to speak of. I know it will be expensive but i want to build it over the next few years.

[Tom]

well why not have a look around on a few pro touring SR sites and find out what they use and maby this can help you. but you want to spend the most money on the speaker and amps as these are what give the final sound the audience.

[DJWayne]

Not 100% certain but my gigaport has 8 rca connectors and i am sure it can be used for 4 stereo lines in or out or 8 mono in either direction will have to check though :)

[mr rusty]

I do a bit of recording. This topic is a minefield. A few suggestions:

The decision is really about whether you want PCI, USB or Firewire interface. Just go on a website like digital village and look at all the options - any of the big names is going to work OK, especially if you are starting out. I must say I like the look of this (http://www.alesis.com/product.php?id=96)

At the moment I can record 6 tracks simultaneously into a ...wait for it...... creative audigy platinum pro. (at 16bit/48kHz its good enough for me). Cheap way to go if you can be bothered to work out how to do it (documentation is very poor)

Go to soundonsound's website www.soundonsound.com and search reviews for anything you are interested in. Also try their forum, but be prepared to get 50 different suggestions from 50 different people.

Finally, for a *very* fully featured multitrack DAW package try out reaper www.reaper.fm It really has *everything* you could possibly need to start out in multitrack recording (the guy behind it, Justin Frankel was the man responsible for both winamp and gnutella). Best thing is, its uncrippled, unexpiring shareware that only costs £25 if you choose to register it (as you should if you use it)

best bit of advice for starting out:- you get 80-90+% of the performance of the top gear for 30% or less of the price, but so called "experts" will almost never recommend the budget gear. Don't rush out and buy stuff you don't really need.

<EDIT> I'll add a bit more. The reason I like the alesis is the individual gain controls and level meters - you need to get those signals going in to the PC nice and hot so some means of adjusting the gain outboard is essential. Coupled with some cheapish mics from behringer/thomman etc and reaper you will be able to make very acceptable recordings for low £100's. You don't even need a powerful PC if you aren't using VST instruments or effects live - I just about got 6 tracks into a 1.4 athlon, and my athlon64 single core eats 6 tracks no problem </EDIT>