noob question # ???? HELP !

Dustin Rigsby · Post by **Dustin Rigsby** » 13 Dec 2009 4:32 am

Ok, so I'm a noob to home recording,so here goes. I want to record my stuff and/or my band here at the house and go to a studio to put the finishing touches on it. Here is my question. I have an I mac that I bought last year. From what I read on the internet,the USB mixers (behringer,peavey,alesis) will only let you record 2 tracks at once. Is this correct ? I will be using the garage band software to start,and the info I have found says you can record up to 8 tracks simultaniously in this program. I need about 8 channels of input so I can record live drums,and am open to suggestion.What kind of interface/mixer do I need ? Can I use an outboard mixer as a control surface ? HELP ?

John Roche · Post by **John Roche** » 13 Dec 2009 6:36 am

Dustin, with the alesis you can record as many tracks as the mixer has inputs, they will record to seperate tracks.
http://www.alesis.com/multimix8usb20

Rick Campbell · Post by **Rick Campbell** » 13 Dec 2009 1:27 pm

You have to have an audio interface To support the number so simultanious tracks you want to record, and some recording software. Something like Presonus Studio Project, and Presonus Studio One. There's lots of choices. I recommend Sweetater Sound, talk to Brad Lyons.

You mentioned taking your trackes to a pro studio to do more work with them. In that case, you'll want to find out what format they can use. Pro Tools is the most popular. However, with Pro Tools they force you to use their hradware in a lot of cases, and that can get expensive.

John Macy · Post by **John Macy** » 13 Dec 2009 1:57 pm

Although it's very easy to export zero start .wav files that will fly into any system--though we are Pro Tools based,we work all the times with clients that are using Logic, Digital Performer, Cubase etc. As long as they are zero start, it works perfectly....

Clete Ritta · Post by **Clete Ritta** » 14 Dec 2009 3:25 am

I use a MOTU 828 firewire interface. It has two XLR inputs and eight 1/4" inputs.
You'll need something like this (and a mixer if you need more than two XLR inputs).
Clete

Bryan Daste · Post by **Bryan Daste** » 14 Dec 2009 5:04 am

In my experience as a recording engineer, most home recorders do just the opposite - record the basic tracks (including drums, which typically use up a lot of channels) at a studio with a nice room, good mics, etc., then do the overdubs of vocals and other instruments at home. Then they'll either mix it themselves or bring it back to the studio to mix.

Dustin Rigsby · Post by **Dustin Rigsby** » 14 Dec 2009 1:26 pm

Yeah Bryan I know that's how most folks do it. The options in the digital realm are really limitless. I'm connected as far as mics and pre-amps go.If you don't have a sound you don't like...it can be sound replaced. I have a pretty big room to track live drums in(tall cealings and non paralell walls) if need be. I like to experiment and get the best bang for the buck.

John, thats what my friends have been telling me...zero point starts.

John,can you use that Alesis as a controll surface to,or is it just as an interface in the digital realm ?