Let's say you're recording with a computer-based setup and wanted to put ten mics on a drum kit and record each to a separate track at the same time. What kind of hardware would you use for the A>D stage? Most of the stuff I've seen can only do two tracks at one time, maybe because of the resources needed to process is too great for a standard PC?
The Layla and Firepod seem to be popular choices around here but there are many. If you're not going to be using a mixer, something with mic preamps on every channel would be ideal. The firepod has 8 preamps. 2 more channels on the digital input. I think the reason you don't see more many channel interfaces is more about the maket and price point, not so much about pc limitations. I know MOTU interfaces can be cascaded using one pci card that can handle 96 channels.
AFAIK, most sound cards / interfaces max out at 8 analog inputs. You can stack a couple of 8 channel interfaces for 16 inputs. The Mackie Onyx mixers look real interesting. A 1644 (?) with firewire can record 16 analog channels at once. Looks like a pretty nice set up.
Yeah, the Tascam DM24 can do this as well through Firewire with the new Firewire card. In fact, I think you can run 24 straight in if you also get the extra analog card for the mixer! Cool stuff. --Tom
I've cascaded two MOTU interfaces to get 24 simultaneous channels several times, but I used my mixer's mic preamps.
Thanks for the good advice. This is all just fantasy for a while til I can make a li'l home studio. I'm trying to figure out how to do the whole thing... pro tools? Analog 16-track? PC-based. Anyway, MOTU sounds like a good option, maybe some cash will fall from the sky!
I have a console for such events. It gives me the preamps I need, but I would mix it there and bus it down. Right now I'm using 8 in/ 8 out and probably won't increase the amounts anytime soon. I would also say (just my opinion) that 10 mics for any drum set that doesn't belong to Mike Portnoy is overkill.
I generally use 8 for the drums. A pair of those are a pair of PZM's on the walls for some ambience to dial in later, the other six are on the kit in various places, depending on the drummer (kick and snare for sure, and then I go from there). Gives some close micing flexiblity on mixdown as well. So I need to track more than 8 tracks at once, because I generally do a scratch guitar and vocal while doing the drums first for everyone else to sync off of later (and the drummer to sync off of then!). --Tom
>>What a pain and expensive too.<< And great sounding if you have a good one. >>I generally use 8 for the drums.<< I use half that many. >>I would also say (just my opinion) that 10 mics for any drum set that doesn't belong to Mike Portnoy is overkill<< Same with 8 mics, but everyone's different.
I routinely use 12 mics on a 5-piece drum kit - i dont always end up using all 12 tracks in the mix, but i like options
