Hints and Tips when Recording:
If you are recording as a solo performer on a budget, you can avoid the expense of buying a separate amp to create a headphone mix. Plug your headphones into the console’s headphone connector and use its monitor mix for your foldback. Alter channel fader levels as you wish to achieve optimum headphone levels for your performance.
If your console is not large enough to cope with every multitrack send and return, connect only as many Direct Outs as you need per take. For example, if you are recording solo you will only be recording one instrument at a time anyway, so a maximum of only two direct outs will be required for stereo instruments, and one for mono ones. The same channel direct outs may then be repatched to adjacent multitrack tape ins to record new tracks. This should leave enough channels free to monitor all your recorded tracks.
If you run out of tape tracks, group instruments together. For example a fully mic’d up drumkit can be recorded in stereo to two tape tracks via a pair of groups, or if you are really stretched you could do this with the entire rhythm section, including bass and rhythm guitar. However, it is then essential to mix the balance between the instruments accurately as, once recorded, they can never be individually altered again.
If you have only one effects unit and you need it to create a variety of different sounds, it may be neccessary to record the instrument with effects included. Again, remember that once you have done this there is no going back, so wherever possible it is best to record “dry” and buy a second effects unit if you can. If you must record “wet”, look at your mixer’s block diagram and use outputs coming after the effects return for this purpose.
Do not record in the same room in which you are playing unless your monitor speakers are muted. At the very least, your recorded track will pick up the mix from the monitor speakers, but more likely howl-round and feedback will occur which will damage your equipment. If you a recording a band, it is best to put them in an entirely different room altogether.
Setting recording levels - for the best results, as it is important to set the highest record levels you can on your multitrack without getting overload or distortion. If you set levels too low, you will end up with a weak signal and background hiss. All multitrack recorders allow you to set record levels before a take. Consult the recorder’s manual as to how best to achieve this.
Simple Multitrack Mixdown
The diagram below shows how a simple set-up will look for the mixdown process. Some repatching has occured to free up the input channels which were used as mutitrack tape sends. Tape returns can then be plugged into the mixer in sequence from channel 1 upwards, leaving any spare inputs for sequenced MIDI instruments. Effects, amps and speakers may be left as before.
NB: Mixdown hints and tips may be found in “Creating a Mix” at the end of this section.