Advertisement
If you have a new account but are having problems posting or verifying your account, please email us on hello@boards.ie for help. Thanks :)
Hello all! Please ensure that you are posting a new thread or question in the appropriate forum. The Feedback forum is overwhelmed with questions that are having to be moved elsewhere. If you need help to verify your account contact hello@boards.ie
Hi there,
There is an issue with role permissions that is being worked on at the moment.
If you are having trouble with access or permissions on regional forums please post here to get access: https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058365403/you-do-not-have-permission-for-that#latest

Recording device

  • 03-11-2005 7:14pm
    #1
    pbsuxok1znja4r
    Closed Accounts Posts: 1,312 ✭✭✭


    Okay, so me and the lads I jam with are looking for some relatively simple piece of equipment to record onto, preferrably digital.
    I've looked at just one 8-track, it's a "Tamascon", or something, and it's 550 euro, with 2 guitar/mic inouts, and a USB out.
    Basically, 6-7 years into my guitar-playing career, I'm still clueless about all this kind of stuff; gear is not my speciality.

    So, if anyone could give me advice on buying/operating an 8-track or similar recording device, I'd really appreciate it!
    Cheers


Comments

  • #2
    Seany
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 462 ✭✭Seany


    Hey,

    Are you actually looking to buy a unit or looking for the use of one? There are a couple of studios out there that would cater for a live recording (at a rehearsal room). That way you are getting a person who knows what they are doing using good equipment (professional mics, etc).

    If you are looking to buy something yourself, I would suggest something a little bigger than an 8 track (depending on your set up). On most digital 8 tracks, the unit only allows you to record 2 inputs at the same time.

    To get a decent sound from your drums (if applicable) you would be talking at least 3 mic inputs straight away. In my opinion, an 8 track device with 2 inputs would be more suited to singer songwriters (unless you are very experienced in recording) looking to demo their material.

    Again without knowing what type of set up you are looking to record, if there are a couple of people involved...I would recommend a 12 or 16 track. Not because they hold more tracks (you can bounce 6 tracks on to 2 stereo tracks to free up space) - its because they allow you to record more simultaneous inputs.

    Most of them are fairly easy to follow. I have one of these myself and I find it quite good.

    They are that dear anymore either. If you are looking at 550 for an 8 track...try ebay an you will see a couple of (second hand) 16 tracks for around the 700 mark. Check out something like this

    Anyway, my two cents... Hope that makes sense.

    Cheers,
    Seany


  • #3
    Paladin
    Closed Accounts Posts: 2,313 ✭✭✭Paladin


    I agree with everything Seany says (I think ;)) but would add that as regards home recording of a band then you gotta decide what quality you want. If you want to do really good album quality that you could sell at gigs then you will need to spend about a grand anyway.

    If however you simply want demo quality, and something to record and structure songs, maybe in your own bedroom then Id highly recommend a zoom Ps-02 (one on ebay http://cgi.ebay.com/ZOOM-PS-02-DIGITAL-MULTITRACK-RECORDER_W0QQitemZ7361987159QQcategoryZ15199QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem)

    Drums are one of the toughest things to record, but you can kind of comprimise if you have a mixer. If you cant afford a multi-input recorder then if you very carefully set up the drum sound through a mixer then you can get an ok demo out of it.
    Really though, you want 4 or 5 mics for *proper* drum recordings. This means more money for mics too and you begin to see the spiraling cost of good recording :)

    Anyway, I just say all this so that you wont be dissappointed when your 8-track fails to produce studio standard recording. Until you can afford serious equipment you wont get much better than decent demo quality. The step up to real quality just costs so goddamn much, for quality mics, recorders, amps, maybe a POD then, after that pro-tools etc. Spiraling costs all the time :)


Advertisement