home recording

johnfinizio · 21st January 2008, 03:47 PM

I recently recorded a live three piece band with a boss br-1180. I panned two sm58 vocal mics to the left channel on a yamaha 16 channel mixer, line out of the left side to a crown amp and sent the signal to a jbl cabinet with a 15" speaker and horn with a built in crossover. I placed a mic in front of the drums and one between the bass amp, guitar amp and the jbl cabinet. Not bad sound but the vocals are'nt very clear. I was wondering if I could split the vocal signal with a y jack and send one signal to the jbl cabinet and the other to a channel on the boss while the other channel of the boss would be recieving the other two mic signals from the yamaha that is panned to the right.

Thee Alex · 21st January 2008, 04:00 PM

Run the vocal line out of the Boss into the PA using the headphone out, make sure the rest of the band isn't being monitored.

johnfinizio · 21st January 2008, 04:32 PM

Could you please explain how running the headphone out of the boss into the pa is going to remedy my problem. The vocal mics are running to the yamaha 16 and panned to the left. The left "Main" out goes to the power amp. What imput on the mixer do you suggest I run the headphone output to? Isn't this going to make a loop? Please explain.

njw · 21st January 2008, 04:47 PM

I believe he means running the 2 vocals directly into the multitrack, then routing to the headphone output -> power amp for monitoring. This way you get a dry direct vocal feed... However, I believe the BR1180 only has two mic pre's right? So you won't be able to record the rest of the band this way.

njw · 21st January 2008, 04:48 PM

P.S. Your original solution to the problem should give you something to work with, yes.

Thee Alex · 21st January 2008, 05:16 PM

This from an article I wrote back in the mists of time should work for you

Quote:

8. Record a whole band with stereo drums and 2 vocals WITHOUT bouncing down!

Some other tips from my 4 track past here

Thee Alex · 21st January 2008, 05:22 PM

Does the 16 channel mixer allow you to pan left and right? And the Boss take a Left/Right input that records onto two tracks at the same time?

If so I'd recommend the following set up -

Mic on bass drum
Two mics overhead on the kit, left and right
One mic on each amp
Vocal mic

Put the bass mic in the middle of the stereo image, pan the other drum mics hard left and right, should cover enough of the kit to get a natural sound.

Run the vocal mic into the mixer, but run a headphone out to the singer if you can. You need to avoid the vocals being picked up by the other mics. If the band can play without having to hear the singer then you should consider adding the vocals afterwards (that's what I'd always do). If you take the vocals out of the equation for the initial recording then it's a dead easy job - just run through a song, record it, listen back to work out what levels need changing on the mixer, then go for it.

Personally I'd put a guitar left and right, the bass and bass drum up the middle and the stereo mics for the drums hard left and right.

Another option is to get hold of a stereo mic, set the band up so that it sounds good in headphones from the mic and record that way. Simple can sometimes be better.

johnfinizio · 21st January 2008, 06:13 PM

How about sending two vocal channels panned hard left to the boss (line in) and send line out from the boss to the power amp for monitoring because I could then position two mics to record the drums, bass and guitar and pan hard right, send right "Main out" to the right line in on the boss. Will this work? I really need to be able to eq the vocals seperately.

Thee Alex · 21st January 2008, 06:17 PM

If you need to separately eq the vocals I would very strongly urge you to record them after you've got the instrumental backing tracks down.

I'm assuming this is for a demo? Or is it essential that the vocals be recorded at the same time as the rest?

johnfinizio · 21st January 2008, 06:32 PM

can I send a signal from the recorder directly to the power amp?

Thee Alex · 21st January 2008, 06:37 PM

Should be able to.

johnfinizio · 21st January 2008, 06:48 PM

Thanks. I'm going to try wednesday. I'll let you know. Could you please advise me on how the BEST way to record a three piece band with two singers with what I have: Yamaha 16 channel mixer (yes I can pan with it), Boss br-1180, two Shure sm 58's, Roland mic and a lesser quality shure, crown 300 watt power amp and a JBL PA cabinet ( 15" speaker with horn with crossover). I also have a fostex vf08 (digital 8 track work-station) but I'm not sure how to synchronize the boss tracks with the fostex. I've never done this before. Hope you know some way. Move and paste. But there must be a better way.

Thee Alex · 21st January 2008, 07:12 PM

Hang on, I'll do a wee drawing as to how I'd do it.....

Thee Alex · 21st January 2008, 07:31 PM

johnfinizio · 21st January 2008, 08:26 PM

I have an mxl 990 large diaphram mic but it is super sensitve. It picks up everythig. Could I use this for a live recording if I drop the imput level to an acceptable range? or should I just use the other mics I spoke of?

21st January 2008, 03:47 PM	#1 (permalink)
johnfinizio Registered User Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 12 Band: -	home recording I recently recorded a live three piece band with a boss br-1180. I panned two sm58 vocal mics to the left channel on a yamaha 16 channel mixer, line out of the left side to a crown amp and sent the signal to a jbl cabinet with a 15" speaker and horn with a built in crossover. I placed a mic in front of the drums and one between the bass amp, guitar amp and the jbl cabinet. Not bad sound but the vocals are'nt very clear. I was wondering if I could split the vocal signal with a y jack and send one signal to the jbl cabinet and the other to a channel on the boss while the other channel of the boss would be recieving the other two mic signals from the yamaha that is panned to the right.

21st January 2008, 04:32 PM	#3 (permalink)
johnfinizio Registered User Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 12 Band: -	I don't understand Could you please explain how running the headphone out of the boss into the pa is going to remedy my problem. The vocal mics are running to the yamaha 16 and panned to the left. The left "Main" out goes to the power amp. What imput on the mixer do you suggest I run the headphone output to? Isn't this going to make a loop? Please explain.

21st January 2008, 04:47 PM	#4 (permalink)
njw Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: DD1 Posts: 8,090	I believe he means running the 2 vocals directly into the multitrack, then routing to the headphone output -> power amp for monitoring. This way you get a dry direct vocal feed... However, I believe the BR1180 only has two mic pre's right? So you won't be able to record the rest of the band this way. __________________ You can put a cat in the oven, but that doesn't make it a biscuit.

21st January 2008, 04:48 PM	#5 (permalink)
njw Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: DD1 Posts: 8,090	P.S. Your original solution to the problem should give you something to work with, yes. __________________ You can put a cat in the oven, but that doesn't make it a biscuit.

21st January 2008, 06:48 PM	#12 (permalink)
johnfinizio Registered User Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 12 Band: -	Should be able to Thanks. I'm going to try wednesday. I'll let you know. Could you please advise me on how the BEST way to record a three piece band with two singers with what I have: Yamaha 16 channel mixer (yes I can pan with it), Boss br-1180, two Shure sm 58's, Roland mic and a lesser quality shure, crown 300 watt power amp and a JBL PA cabinet ( 15" speaker with horn with crossover). I also have a fostex vf08 (digital 8 track work-station) but I'm not sure how to synchronize the boss tracks with the fostex. I've never done this before. Hope you know some way. Move and paste. But there must be a better way. Last edited by johnfinizio : 21st January 2008 at 07:01 PM.

21st January 2008, 04:00 PM	#2 (permalink)
Thee Alex UGS Assassin Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Solihull, West Midlands Posts: 3,969 Band: Wülfstabber, Catface, DJ Wrong Homer, Wings & Claws, Señor Citizen, WRRRMS	Run the vocal line out of the Boss into the PA using the headphone out, make sure the rest of the band isn't being monitored.

21st January 2008, 05:22 PM	#7 (permalink)
Thee Alex UGS Assassin Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Solihull, West Midlands Posts: 3,969 Band: Wülfstabber, Catface, DJ Wrong Homer, Wings & Claws, Señor Citizen, WRRRMS	Does the 16 channel mixer allow you to pan left and right? And the Boss take a Left/Right input that records onto two tracks at the same time? If so I'd recommend the following set up - Mic on bass drum Two mics overhead on the kit, left and right One mic on each amp Vocal mic Put the bass mic in the middle of the stereo image, pan the other drum mics hard left and right, should cover enough of the kit to get a natural sound. Run the vocal mic into the mixer, but run a headphone out to the singer if you can. You need to avoid the vocals being picked up by the other mics. If the band can play without having to hear the singer then you should consider adding the vocals afterwards (that's what I'd always do). If you take the vocals out of the equation for the initial recording then it's a dead easy job - just run through a song, record it, listen back to work out what levels need changing on the mixer, then go for it. Personally I'd put a guitar left and right, the bass and bass drum up the middle and the stereo mics for the drums hard left and right. Another option is to get hold of a stereo mic, set the band up so that it sounds good in headphones from the mic and record that way. Simple can sometimes be better.

21st January 2008, 06:13 PM	#8 (permalink)
johnfinizio Registered User Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 12 Band: -	How about sending two vocal channels panned hard left to the boss (line in) and send line out from the boss to the power amp for monitoring because I could then position two mics to record the drums, bass and guitar and pan hard right, send right "Main out" to the right line in on the boss. Will this work? I really need to be able to eq the vocals seperately.

21st January 2008, 06:17 PM	#9 (permalink)
Thee Alex UGS Assassin Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Solihull, West Midlands Posts: 3,969 Band: Wülfstabber, Catface, DJ Wrong Homer, Wings & Claws, Señor Citizen, WRRRMS	If you need to separately eq the vocals I would very strongly urge you to record them after you've got the instrumental backing tracks down. I'm assuming this is for a demo? Or is it essential that the vocals be recorded at the same time as the rest?

21st January 2008, 06:32 PM	#10 (permalink)
johnfinizio Registered User Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 12 Band: -	can I send a signal from the recorder directly to the power amp?

21st January 2008, 06:37 PM	#11 (permalink)
Thee Alex UGS Assassin Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Solihull, West Midlands Posts: 3,969 Band: Wülfstabber, Catface, DJ Wrong Homer, Wings & Claws, Señor Citizen, WRRRMS	Should be able to.

21st January 2008, 07:12 PM	#13 (permalink)
Thee Alex UGS Assassin Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Solihull, West Midlands Posts: 3,969 Band: Wülfstabber, Catface, DJ Wrong Homer, Wings & Claws, Señor Citizen, WRRRMS	Hang on, I'll do a wee drawing as to how I'd do it.....

21st January 2008, 07:31 PM	#14 (permalink)
Thee Alex UGS Assassin Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Solihull, West Midlands Posts: 3,969 Band: Wülfstabber, Catface, DJ Wrong Homer, Wings & Claws, Señor Citizen, WRRRMS

21st January 2008, 08:26 PM	#15 (permalink)
johnfinizio Registered User Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 12 Band: -	I have an mxl 990 large diaphram mic but it is super sensitve. It picks up everythig. Could I use this for a live recording if I drop the imput level to an acceptable range? or should I just use the other mics I spoke of?