I'm about to spend money, plase help

[ahh]

I have a small group of musicians, including myself, without much multitrack recording experience. This has usually been been done for us in the past. However, we would like to simaltanously record as many tracks as possible from live preformances. I have read about audio/sound cards for computers with 10 in and 10 out, but they seemed to be only XLR and RCA for some strange reason. They go for about 200 bucks.

Also, at Musicians Friend I saw the TASCAM US-1641 USB Audio Interface. It boasts 16 inputs, 8 XLR 4 balanced line ins (1/4?) and midi. It is pretty awesome, for 300 bucks, cause it is external, portable and can hook up to a laptop, but only one problem.

Can it record 16 tracks simaltanously? That is 8 instruments in stereo? All through the usb? I didn't think that was possible, but the ad alludes to the fact that it does.

Any ideas? Looking for a cheap way to record everybody on seperate tracks. How many people can record on this unit simaltanously? Does it mixdown to one track that goes to your computer? That would be horrible. Please let me know.

[RicD]

I have recorded 14 mics and midi at the same time with the 1641. How you get those lines in from your board while playing live is another story. I would suggest you first look at how you are going to get the lines to the interface. See what type of cord it needs ( xlr or 1/4 ) then let that determine what interface you get. Yes, the balanced lines they are talking about is 1/4. You can also use unbalanced ( 1/4 as well ) just make sure you select the -10 switch for the 4 lines in the back.

[Husky Band]

I love to spend other peoples money

This link will take you to the TASCAM site. They claim it does fine with USB 2.0. They even claim it is better than FireWire. I can't imagine TASCAM claiming a produce will deliver something it can't.
TASCAM

[ahh]

Thanks for the interest.

Ok, so I know nothing about recording, which is why this is a problem. I do know that I want to record as many tracks as possible, all at once, 16 if I can. That means 16 different tracks recording all at once in Cakewalk, Cubase, or Audition. So, after the preformance we can adjust volume levels and pan for better listening.

I know that USB 2.0 is slightly better than Firewire, according to the internet, but can it deliver 16 tracks to my computer's recording program, at the same time.

As for what I am connecting:

One Roland Paino, with usb out for midi and Stereo out.

Two guitars with amplifiers (and a peddle with midi).

One bass with amplifier.

Drum kit (electric with stereo out, and acoustic with 8 mics)

Two vocalists.

Live recording all these instruments on different tracks traditional has them mixed down into a single track, but with a great soundcard someone can record up to 10 (for each soundcard) tracks at a time.

Can a USB connection transfer all 16 tracks to the computer, all as different tracks. Or does it transfer 8, or 4, or 1?

I know what it says, but can it?

If it can, this technology is too good to be true, as other options seem to cost thousands or tens of thousands for this sort of complex recording scheme.

[Husky Band]

TASCAM says it can. To record a live show (16 channel) I'd get 2 8 channel 1/4 to 1/4 Hosa short snakes ($35 I think). You wanna steal the dry signal from each channel of the FOH mixer and send it to a channel on the TASCAM. Each dry signal will have its own channel on the TASCAM. Most FOH boards will have a 1/4" insert for each channel. Plugging 1 channel of the snake 1/4" into to just the 1st click of the channel insert will tap the dry signal but not shut down the channel to the rest of the board. Plug the other end of that snake channel into a channel of the TASCAM. Do this with all the channels you want to record. This will get the signals into the interface. The rest is up to the computer and software. Make sure the include Cubase LE4 will record more that 8 channels at once. The older version of LE I have will only record 8. This may have changed as I don't use Cubase (I use Reaper). You will need someone who really knows the software and hardware running the recording rig during the show. Don't put this on the soundman, he has enough to do without running a recording rig too.

Note: Some channels on the FOH may be using the inserts (compression etc.) in these cases use a splitter.

Also, this method works well for live shows NOT for studio work.
What FOH mixer are you using for live shows?

[newkid]

Originally Posted by ahh

..... but they seemed to be only XLR and RCA for some strange reason. They go for about 200 bucks.

Also, at Musicians Friend I saw the TASCAM US-1641 USB Audio Interface. It boasts 16 inputs, 8 XLR 4 balanced line ins (1/4?) and midi. .....

Can it record 16 tracks simaltanously? That is 8 instruments in stereo? All through the usb? I didn't think that was possible, but the ad alludes to the fact that it does.

Any ideas? Looking for a cheap way to record everybody on seperate tracks. How many people can record on this unit simaltanously? Does it mixdown to one track that goes to your computer? That would be horrible. Please let me know.

I like RCA connectors and phosphate detergent.

Lots of gear makes lots of wild claims and boasts.
Some of them are outright lies.

You need to download the user manual and read it carefully.

Why don't you think usb can do 16 channels ?
Sounds like mac disinformation.

How many tracks do you really need at once?

RTFMs and see waht they say and not waht the ads claim.

[ahh]

FOH? Sorry I am a newb. That is like a mixer?

Do I need one? I am a total newb. I use digital mixers now, for my four tracks, as I record now, to my computer.

[ahh]

Sorry, I am not allowed to edit posts. So, prolly some repeating information here.

I know usb can handle tracks mixed down, but wasn't sure about seperate tracks, I use PC's myself, but I believed that you needed a different usb slot for each track but that may just be my ineptatude, and inexperience. I didn't think it was capable of handle 16 24 bit tracks down that single peice of wire all at once without a mixdown.

Also, we don't really use mixer's live, everyone knows what level they'll need to be at, we are very low tech, each song with effect is all rehersed so the levels are alright live, but not great, however, a solution to this would be expensive and we don't each have the knowhow to get it workin so we'd notice any audible difference in qaulity. We thought maybe running the sound through a virtual mixer on the PC and out onto house sound systems would help a little.

Mainly though, it is to record shows and evaluate performance, and seek improvement by identifying trouble spots.

This is an ineffective way of recording at home? We hardly have studio quality equipment, but for demos and the alike, we usually record track a time. However, I thought that this device could be used to record at home as well, albiet, one instrument at a time.

Being able to capture midi, stereo and line in sound, along with a mic, would really help for a single instrument, as midi provides translation into sheet music easily, stereo and mono for comparision and the mic for ambient.

If you have any suggestions, I would have them kindly, as we are all very new to recording / mixing.

[newkid]

Originally Posted by ahh

FOH? Sorry I am a newb. That is like a mixer?

Do I need one? I am a total newb. I use digital mixers now, for my four tracks, as I record now, to my computer.

You do not need a mixer. Recordign live for real , not in your garage, you might want one.

FOh = front of house.
slang.

I would expect a mixer there feeding the sound reinforcment system and/or going to a recording set up.

Our mixer is at the BOH.
Have not seen a glossary with a full explanation but it seems to refer to where the sound originates that you are handling not where you are when you diddle it.

But our "house" is small. A big house would have too much cable so the mixer would have to be near the front somewhere. Maybe backstage as I don't recall seeing any up front in the places I go.

[Husky Band]

Originally Posted by ahh

Sorry, I am not allowed to edit posts. So, prolly some repeating information here.

I know usb can handle tracks mixed down, but wasn't sure about seperate tracks, I use PC's myself, but I believed that you needed a different usb slot for each track but that may just be my ineptatude, and inexperience. I didn't think it was capable of handle 16 24 bit tracks down that single peice of wire all at once without a mixdown.

Also, we don't really use mixer's live, everyone knows what level they'll need to be at, we are very low tech, each song with effect is all rehersed so the levels are alright live, but not great, however, a solution to this would be expensive and we don't each have the knowhow to get it workin so we'd notice any audible difference in qaulity. We thought maybe running the sound through a virtual mixer on the PC and out onto house sound systems would help a little.

Mainly though, it is to record shows and evaluate performance, and seek improvement by identifying trouble spots.

This is an ineffective way of recording at home? We hardly have studio quality equipment, but for demos and the alike, we usually record track a time. However, I thought that this device could be used to record at home as well, albiet, one instrument at a time.

Being able to capture midi, stereo and line in sound, along with a mic, would really help for a single instrument, as midi provides translation into sheet music easily, stereo and mono for comparision and the mic for ambient.

If you have any suggestions, I would have them kindly, as we are all very new to recording / mixing.

Sorry for my assumptions.
When you play live, what do you run through the sound system?
Do you furnish the PA (Public Address) or do you have a sound company do it for you?
If you are running the PA from stage and are only using mic's for the singers then you might be ahead to use a recorder like a Zoom H2. Recording 16 tracks from a live show isn't really a good place to start your recording training. Start small and grow into it.