Seeking laptop recording advice...

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I'd like basic information about the least expensive way to record a
jazz/rock ensemble with my laptop. I'd like to record multiple tracks
live in the "studio" (such as it is) and then layer and mix afterwards.
Any suggestions?

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> <walkingbird@insightbb.com> wrote in message
> news:1112066975.421851.15840@f14g2000cwb.googlegroups.com
>
> > I'd like basic information about the least expensive way to record a
> > jazz/rock ensemble with my laptop. I'd like to record multiple
> tracks live in the "studio" (such as it is) and then layer and mix
> > afterwards. Any suggestions?

Okay, a few questions:

*Do you mean recording multiple inputs at once, as from separate mics?
Or each player separately, as in a booth? How is the group structured?

*How fast is your laptop? For that kind of task, you need plenty of CPU
overhead and a fairly hefty hard drive to hold the goods. Some don't
have that kind of juice onboard, so you might be looking at an outboard
hard disk for heftier work.

I can also foresee that you MIGHT be limited in the number of takes per
song you could have onboard before you start having to shuffle things to
other places (like a CD-R) to use the laptop more fully again.
Foreseeing logistics like that are make-or-break deals at times.

*Audacity works fine, but you might also want to check out ProTools Free
or a sequencer that's below the $800-type-level. They might have more
amenities like effects and plug-in options that would serve you better
over time. Cheap can be good, but cheapest isn't always best.

--

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The SubGenius MUST HAVE LAPSES!!!!

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when you're lying stoned in the gutter?"
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I might like to mix 4 drum mics into one input while using three other
for bass, guitar, and vocals. All at once, live in the studio -- with
overdubbing/mixing later. The laptop should be fast enough with a big
enough hard drive.
I'm looking at n-Track studio. Do you think the MobilePre
USB Bus-Powered Preamp would be useful to me with that?

Archived from groups: rec.audio.marketplace,rec.audio.tech,rec.audio.pro,rec.audio.misc,rec.music.makers.synth (More info?)

In article <1112075646.851529.79470@g14g2000cwa.googlegroups.com> walkingbird@insightbb.com writes:

> I'm looking at n-Track studio. Do you think the MobilePre USB
> USB Bus-Powered Preamp would be useful to me with tha?

That's a reasonable program. The MobilePre will allow you to record
only two tracks in a pass (because it has only two inputs and two
outputs to the computer). If this is how you want to record, and it's
convenient for you to get this combination, then it'll be OK.

If you want to set up 8 mics on the band and record them as 8 tracks,
then add more to it, you'll need an audio interface with 8 inputs.

If you want to set up a bunch of mics, mix them to 2 tracks, and
record those two tracks, then a device like the MobilePre will do, but
you'll also need a mixer.


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