Beginner advice needed for Multi-Track recording with Garageband

[sgh]

Looking for some advice please. I've just started to dabble in Garageband on my own creating some tracks but I also jam with some friends of mine & so I'm looking for a multitrack recording device that would enable me to see the seperate tracks in Garageband. Looking for something fairly cheap to start with, maybe something like this ?

[url="http://www.nevadamusic.co.uk/Computer_Music/Sound_Cards/sc1567/p8189.aspx"]http://www.nevadamusic.co.uk/Computer_Musi...1567/p8189.aspx[/url]

Thanks
Steve

Edited November 3, 2009 by sgh

[sgh]

Anyone ?

[cheddatom]

I didn't see this yesterday.

Don't rush into anything. Portable multi track recorders can be good, but as far as I know they tend to lack mic inputs. the one you linked says "8 input jacks" well if they're all just jack sockets I doubt they will make good mic inputs.

So, are you going to be recording microphones? How many at the same time? Are any of them mics which need phantom power? Do you have a decent computer? Could you transport your computer to your recording space? If you can answer those i'm sure I/others could give some decent advice tomorrow.

[sgh]

[quote name='cheddatom' post='645489' date='Nov 4 2009, 05:24 PM']I didn't see this yesterday.

Don't rush into anything. Portable multi track recorders can be good, but as far as I know they tend to lack mic inputs. the one you linked says "8 input jacks" well if they're all just jack sockets I doubt they will make good mic inputs.

So, are you going to be recording microphones? How many at the same time? Are any of them mics which need phantom power? Do you have a decent computer? Could you transport your computer to your recording space? If you can answer those i'm sure I/others could give some decent advice tomorrow.[/quote]

Thanks for the pointers. Would be recording Bass, Electronic Drums & guitars to start with but wouldn't mind some mic inputs to 'future proof' (for want of a better phrase) in case we use them in the future. I have my iMAC in the recording space so no worries there.

Cheers
Steve

[stingrayfan]

You need a USB (or Firewire) interface with several inputs on it or an ADAT unit.

Would be interested in hearing the answer - I'd like to do the same thing.

[oddjob]

[quote name='sgh' post='645568' date='Nov 4 2009, 06:46 PM']Thanks for the pointers. Would be recording Bass, Electronic Drums & guitars to start with but wouldn't mind some mic inputs to 'future proof' (for want of a better phrase) in case we use them in the future. I have my iMAC in the recording space so no worries there.

Cheers
Steve[/quote]

Just to let you know that actually looks like it does have mic inputs so would work ok, never used it so couldn't comment on how good it is.

[cheddatom]

that multi track recorded is quite expensive considering you already have a computer which can handle half the job. What you need is an audio interface with a couple of mic inputs built in. Then when you want to record more than a couple, you will have to invest in some pre-amps to get the mic signals to line level for the other inputs on your interface. There are loads of usb and firewire interfaces around. I have PCI cards but I don't know what's available for macs. All you need from the interface is enough inputs to record as many DIs as you need, plus as many pre-amps and you need for now.

Depending on how much cash you want to spend there are some interfaces with 8 built in mic pre-amps.

[sgh]

How about one of these ?

[url="http://www.dv247.com/computer-hardware/m-audio-firewire-1814-mobile-18-in-14-out-firewire-recording-interface--22278"]http://www.dv247.com/computer-hardware/m-a...nterface--22278[/url]

or

[url="http://www.htfr.com/more-info/MR217978"]http://www.htfr.com/more-info/MR217978[/url]

Thanks
Steve

Edited November 6, 2009 by sgh

[cheddatom]

They both give you the ability to immediately record 8 simultaneous tracks into your computer. The Alesis has 4 Mic pre-amps which means you can record 4 mics simultaneously straight away. The M-Audio only has 2 mic pre-amps but features ADAT which I beleive means you could add extra channels later....? For that reason i'd go with the m-audio but it might not be right.

[slaphappygarry]

That M audio has 2 mic pre amps, 6 line ins, adat in for another 8 and 2 s/pdif giving up to 18 inputs.

I have had 2. They both died and M-Audio shafted me on warranty and repairs which took months and came back still dead. If you are looking for that many inputs you can get better for about the same. If you are looking for tools then Digi gear is solid as in my experience (full time recording engineer doing this professionally).

G

[cheddatom]

^That's worrying. My soundcards are all M-Audio!

[sgh]

[quote name='slaphappygarry' post='647226' date='Nov 6 2009, 01:38 PM']That M audio has 2 mic pre amps, 6 line ins, adat in for another 8 and 2 s/pdif giving up to 18 inputs.

I have had 2. They both died and M-Audio shafted me on warranty and repairs which took months and came back still dead. If you are looking for that many inputs you can get better for about the same. If you are looking for tools then Digi gear is solid as in my experience (full time recording engineer doing this professionally).

G[/quote]

Hmm, just Google'd some Digi gear stuff and it seems a bit out of my price range !

Thanks
Steve

[cheddatom]

what about presonus? There are lots of options.

[oddjob]

There are so many options now with multi track recorders, you really need to come up with a list of needs, e.g:
What you want to do with it?
How many inputs will you be happy with?
Do you want the ability to expand and add more inputs (eg via ADAT) or go cheaper and buy bigger later to just replace?
Do you want portability?
Are your electric drums just stereo output, or will you want direct outs for each drum pad?
Do you have a desk to use the mic preamps for the bass, and guitars? if not you'll need an interface with enough mic preamps for each instrument, if you do and have direct outs or enough aux outputs on the desk you just need line inputs on the interface.
Will you ever be in a place where you want to record without the computer? In which case something like the zoom you looked at first would be what you want.
What sort of quality do you want from it, just for getting down ideas or good enough to record tracks for demos or will you be wanting to put together your own eps for a while?
Are you happy to buy second hand or does is have to be new?
Then more importantly, what's your budget? Whats the maximum you can afford to spend? What price would you be more happy to pay?
If you answer a few of those questions you start narrowing down the search.

[slaphappygarry]

[quote name='cheddatom' post='647302' date='Nov 6 2009, 03:01 PM']what about presonus? There are lots of options.[/quote]

I used their new D8 mic amps recently and was very very pleasantly surprised by the results for such a cheap unit. On an a/b with my Focusrite Octopre the D8 was very clearly the winner.

[quote]^That's worrying. My soundcards are all M-Audio![/quote]

Functionally they were good although I didn't like the mic amps (subjective decision here). I don't know if I got some dodgy ones (2x1814's and 1x410) but I still have my 'fixed' 1814 sitting gathering dust whilst my 003 has been going without fault for nearly 2 years now.

G

[teej]

[quote name='cheddatom' post='647302' date='Nov 6 2009, 03:01 PM']what about presonus? There are lots of options.[/quote]
I'm halfway through recording a second cd (our third) on a Presonus Firepod: 8 xlr inputs, phantom power, good mic preamps, a variety of outputs, but no fancy, unnecessary features. Very pleased with the quality we're getting. Vocals, upright bass (mic'ed), guitar (mic'ed cab), small kit simultaneously recorded.

It's discontinued now and replaced with something else. I'll see if I can find it... [url="http://www.dv247.com/computer-hardware/presonus-firestudio-project-24-bit-96k-professional-recording-system--47523"]here[/url].

[sgh]

Ok, added some answers to oddjobs post to try to narrow things down a bit.

Cheers
Steve

There are so many options now with multi track recorders, you really need to come up with a list of needs, e.g:
What you want to do with it?
[i]Make some demos[/i]
How many inputs will you be happy with?
[i]I guess 4 would be ok[/i]
Do you want the ability to expand and add more inputs (eg via ADAT) or go cheaper and buy bigger later to just replace?
[i]Go cheaper/depends on the price[/i]
Do you want portability?
[i]No[/i]
Are your electric drums just stereo output, or will you want direct outs for each drum pad?
[i]Stereo output[/i]
Do you have a desk to use the mic preamps for the bass, and guitars? if not you'll need an interface with enough mic preamps for each instrument, if you do and have direct outs or enough aux outputs on the desk you just need line inputs on the interface.
[i]I don't have a desk just 1 bass, 2 guitars, drums and amps[/i]
Will you ever be in a place where you want to record without the computer? In which case something like the zoom you looked at first would be what you want.
[i]No[/i]
What sort of quality do you want from it, just for getting down ideas or good enough to record tracks for demos or will you be wanting to put together your own eps for a while?
[i]Tracks for demos[/i]
Are you happy to buy second hand or does is have to be new?
[i]2nd hand is fine[/i]
Then more importantly, what's your budget? Whats the maximum you can afford to spend? What price would you be more happy to pay?
[i]£400[/i]
If you answer a few of those questions you start narrowing down the search.

[oddjob]

In the £400 price range for pretty decent quality you can easily get 8 channels of mic inputs.
I really like the Presonus, and MOTU range.

the Presonus D8 as G said is pretty darn good for £270
[url="http://www.dv247.com/studio-equipment/presonus-digimax-d8-8-channel-mic-preamp--48499"]http://www.dv247.com/studio-equipment/pres...c-preamp--48499[/url]

Heard good things about the MOTU 8Pre
[url="http://www.dv247.com/computer-hardware/motu-8pre-firewire-audio-interface-with-8-mic-preamps--36152"]http://www.dv247.com/computer-hardware/mot...-preamps--36152[/url]

If you want to got with a mixer option like that Alesis you found, i've not tried it but am always impressed with Allen & Heath mixers, and this would work as a recording interface in your budget.
[url="http://www.dv247.com/studio-equipment/allen-and-heath-zed-14-live-recording-mixer--48358"]http://www.dv247.com/studio-equipment/alle...ng-mixer--48358[/url]

[sgh]

[quote name='oddjob' post='647941' date='Nov 7 2009, 11:09 AM']In the £400 price range for pretty decent quality you can easily get 8 channels of mic inputs.
I really like the Presonus, and MOTU range.

the Presonus D8 as G said is pretty darn good for £270
[url="http://www.dv247.com/studio-equipment/presonus-digimax-d8-8-channel-mic-preamp--48499"]http://www.dv247.com/studio-equipment/pres...c-preamp--48499[/url]

Heard good things about the MOTU 8Pre
[url="http://www.dv247.com/computer-hardware/motu-8pre-firewire-audio-interface-with-8-mic-preamps--36152"]http://www.dv247.com/computer-hardware/mot...-preamps--36152[/url]

If you want to got with a mixer option like that Alesis you found, i've not tried it but am always impressed with Allen & Heath mixers, and this would work as a recording interface in your budget.
[url="http://www.dv247.com/studio-equipment/allen-and-heath-zed-14-live-recording-mixer--48358"]http://www.dv247.com/studio-equipment/alle...ng-mixer--48358[/url][/quote]

Thanks for the reply oddjob, will give theses a good Google !

Steve

[P-T-P]

I use a MOTU 828 Mkii Firewire Interface.

Has 2 mic inputs (XLR/Jack combi) plus an additional 8 jack inputs for a total of 10 analogue inputs. Also has 2 x SPDIF and ADAT I/O which means you can add something like the MOTU 8Pre on top to get a total of 20 inputs (10 with mic input).

It also has loads of analogue outs as well so can either use them to through-put the sound (if you were recording live for instance) or configure them in pairs to get 4 seperate monitor mixes etc.

I'm far from experienced in these things but it's very easy to get to grips with.

You can pick them up on second hand on eBay for about £250 to £300.

Careful however as there is also some USB versions knocking about and the new price on those is/was only about £300-£350 so make sure you pay accordingly.

Love mine though, dead easy and has enough to record loads of tracks in one hit, especially if your iMac is one of the more recent ones with lots of oomph under the bonnet.

[Rimskidog]

I helped a friend set up a little home studio and after a bit of research I believed the motu 8pre to be the best bang for buck and the nice thing if you are a mac user is it's really just plug and play.