i-bands.net [READ ONLY MODE] :: View topic - I recorded my own band, with a presonus firepod (PIX added!)

junior84 · Posted: Thu Nov 15, 2007 6:59 pm Post subject:

Im no pro, but i did make some audible stuff!

hi, go to http://www.myspace.com/theeleanorshotgunaffair
to listen to 'When Stars and Satellites Collide' recently recorded, its a rough mix, and may be re-recorded.

I will provide some steps on how i came about this recording. Maybe some pictures will be posted up later on,

but I have some info I'd like to share with you, to save time and some cash for yourselves, you may find it useful as it was a nightmare for me at first!

my DAW (Digital Audio Workstation) -

Is just a common PC loaded with a Pentium 4, 2.66 GHZ, Normal Graphic Card, 1GB of RAM (This is good enuff)

Softwares -
CakeWalk Home Studio 4(I used this as a beginner- very easy to understand), SonarSonar 6 Producer Edition, Ahead Nero (For Burning your master copy)

I dont use the cubase LE that came free with the firepod, because i cant record 6 channels simutaneous for drums (cubase LE only let a maximum of 4 channels)

Hardwares
a. Sound Card -Audio Interface

Because i needed to RECORD DRUMS, and Edit every part of the Drums in Sonar afterwards I had a choice between an ESI 1010 or a Presonus Firepod,
there is no other choice otherwise unless I had a bigger budget.
So I chose the Presonus firepod because it has 8 inputs with 8 pre-amps, and its firwire! unlike the ESI 1010 which has 8 inputs but 2 pre amps and is only for PCI, the price difference is Firepod RM2,300.00, and ESI 1010 RM1300.00. Even if i did buy the ESI 1010, I'd have to buy another 6 pre amps, all in all, Id end up spending more with an ESI 1010 than just buying a fire pod. There are a lot of other pro and cons between ESI 1010 and a Firpod, but they're both good! They both have phantom power for overheads at least! but the fire pod has 8 XLR pahntom power ports!

Audio interfaces and softwares
Everything does not nessesarily match!
Certain Multitracking softwares do not recognise Certain audio interfaces -The software may not recognise the ASIO inputs, so you may have to adapt with other softwares suited for the audio interface that you have . That is why prior research is VERY important in these cases, that is determining the compatibility of the interface with whatever Software of your preference. But whatever softwares you may have to use, in case you cant use the one you like, the fundamentals are still the same.

My firepod works just fine with sonar as it recognises all the XLR, TRS, Midi inputs and outputs. It works with other softwares such as cubase, Adobe, Garange Band and so on. Except for PRO TOOLS , i think this is because pro tools only recognises Digi Design audio interfaces only.

The similar concept can be applied between PCI firewire ports and audio interfaces, a lot of firwire interface users I know have recomended Texas Instruments to me, but I stuck to the cheap RM 30.00 one (I donno the brand), thank god I saved money and it still works anyway.

Microphones :
DRUMS
I was really on a budget so I got myself a set of 7 'Superlux' drum mics at JALAN PASAR KL, which had mics for Kicks, Toms and Overheads (Condensor), its good enough for budget, quite clear as well. I got the whole set for RM 500.00, I added another RM100.00 for 3 samson drum clips to clip the mics on the Toms (so that I dont need to by 3 other mic stands) and the sales man gave me 2 free 10 metre XLR cables for free! (RM25.oo each)

For Snare drums I used a Shure Beta 58a which I already had, retail shelf price before discount is RM 900.00 but you can use a shure SM58 or SM57 that retails for RM 350.00. (Even cheaper if you can get them second hand.)

Vocals
I dont have my own condensor Microphone yet but my Bandmate had an Audio Technica AT 4033 which is maybe worth around RM1500.00 or more for this recording, but I will get either a behringer B2 for RM 500.00, or a MY MIC.. these are the two condensor mics that I think are up to par and healthy for the wallet. They both come with Shock Mounts!
As for POP filters at jalan pasar they cost cheapest around RM90.00 or so, but I made my own, using an old drum skin rim and some cloth. (you can use pantiehose as well), which is equally efficient as a factory pop filter. I mounted the pop filter with a broken Mic Clip and a broken mic stand infront of the condensor Mic which is also Mounted on another Mic stand!.

Instruments
For instruments, because I didnt have a soundproof room, I used direct input in the Firepod, (It has 2 direct input for 1/4 cables) that has +30db pre amp, but I didnt use the 1/4 input, instead, I used an external tube pre amp (Behringer MIC100- RM270.00 Jalan Pasar) and put it in the XLR inputs of the firepod at line level (0db), This is to make the sound "Warmer", has better presence, the pro's will explain to you lah! I cant describe it, it just Sounds better!

I used the Tube Pre-Amp for all instruments (except from drums) and for Vocals! - get one!

Monitor
I just used my RM 20.00 multimedia speaker and dirt cheap headphones (haha) but I am checking out the Behringer MS-40 (20 watts a side) which retails for about 790.00 or so. Not that critical at the moment for mixing (for me).

Accessories
you'll need quite a bit of accesories,
1 .buy 3 or 4 mic stands, at jalan pasar the cheapest mic stand is RM18.00 excluding mic clip around RM 4.00each.

2. Cables!
1. You'll need around 7 XLR cables for mics, the more the better! RM 25.00 each

2. You'll need 1/4 jacks for your guitar / bass / keyboard (RM13.00)

3. This is quite complicated to find but I found some in ss2 - PJ, Stereo RCA to Female mini 1/4", to connect the fire pod main out to my PC speaker. (RM8.00) but if you have the Stereo RCA to Male 1/4'" is ok as well, I also had a female to female 1/4" custom made for RM 15.00. If your really good at soldering then make your own, there are loads of mini 1/4" inputs out there anyway. After that, get also a RCA to 1/4 input male convertors fot the 2 male (white and red) RCA plugs. Another different option is to us a Double Mono 1/4 cable that connects to a stereo female mini 1/4 or just normal 1/4. But thats even harder to find.

4. Headphones is a must, get a few - maybe 3. Cheap expensive doenst really matter.

Estimated Budget for quite a good rig! (assuming you already have a decent PC and Instruments)

1. Presonus Firepod Fire wire audio interface : RM 2,300.00
2. Drum mics and Mic Clips : RM600.00
3. Behringer Tube Pre Amp Mic 100 : RM 270.00
4. Shure SM 57 or SM 58 : RM 350.00
5. 4 mic stands @ RM 18 each : RM 72.00
6. 7' (10 metre) XLR cables @ RM25.00 each : RM175.00
7. 1 behringer B2 condensor : RM 500.00
8. 2 x (Stereo RCA to female 1/4) @ RM 8.00 each : RM16.00
9. 3 x Dirt Cheap headphones @ RM 15 each : RM 45.00
8 : Maintainence toolkit + Soldering Iron and Cable Holder : RM 60.00
9. PCI firewire Slot for for firepod : RM 30.00
10. 4 Mic Clips @ RM 4.00 : 16.00

Total : 4434.00 Sahaja!

there are good resources as well,

www.presonus.com (for recording hardware info on presonus stuff)
www.soundonsound.com (Gives overall picture of the recording world)
www.diyaudio.com (to make your own audio stuff!)
www.musiciansfriend.com (read the product reviews and get estimate of costs - remember to add 25% for govt electronics import tax and 30% local retail markup after USD conversion)

PLS PM me if you want to know discriptively of which outlets I obtained these stuff from. I have my reasons. hehe

Do take note that theres a lot of trial an error, things are not nessesarilty plug and play! take your time and practice a lot of patience, and dont buy on impulse without having prior understanding of what your buying! and go direct to the distributor of these goods! its cheaper!
I'd be happy to share more of what I know from trial and error, later on... share some pics and edit this thread... hope it was informative

AZIM - The Eleanor Shotgun Affair / Fallacy Records[/b]

Pix!

Tom mic and Clip

Beta 58a on Snare

Stereo RCA (with 1/4 converter) to Female Mini 1/4" (1/8 as some call it) to connect to PC speaker or Headphones

DIY Pop Filter on broken mic clip / Holder

Overheads capture entire set, not just cymbals!

Positioning the kick drum Mic

Guitar connected to tube amp bypass firepod mic pre, same thing for Vocal mics!

Firepod and temporary "Monitor" connected thru the RCA to Female 1/8'

PCI Firewire port

6 channels for drums

The bigger view

Old faithful!