Mixing Tracks and steel for a finished CD?

[George Kimery]

I would like to mix some tracks and me playing so that I can have a few CD's available.

I have a mixer, a Zoom H-2 recorder, and an SM 57 mic.

I need some sort of recorder that I can record the tracks direct and the steel using the SM 57. Then be mix the two together and burn a CD master from the mix.

With what I have, the only way I can see doing what I want to do is to play the tracks and steel at the same time and set the H-2 recorder up and record both tracks and steel at the same time. This would be using the mic's built into the H-2 and would not allow me to mix the steel and the tracks together for a better blend or EQ.

ps: I knew I should never have sold my old ADAT.

[Tony Prior]

well George thats what we ALL want to do and thats why we spend $$$ like water down the drain to reach that goal!


You have an H2 which is a 2-track, excellent little device. What you need is 3 tracks but they don't make those so you gotta go to 4,or more...

A simple 4 or 8 track stand-alone recorder that can accept your wav or MP3 files from the H2 will do the trick. Many of us here like the Zoom products, reasonable priced and work well. OR grab a program like Audacity and put it on your PC, but you still need an interface to do what you want. The end result is still going to be the same.

then add youR Steel, then playback, mix and save the file. Take that WAV or MP3, move it to your PC and burn away !

There are standalone recorders that will burn a CD internally but my position is, do it on the PC where you have full file control, all the time.

[John Gould]

Have you thought about using a PC or Mac with Audacity it would allow for mixing and control of the tracks. It's a free download and very easy to use.

[Rick Campbell]

I agree with Tony. You can find a four track recorder on eBay for less than $100. Look for Tascam, Fostex, Zoom, Roland Boss, etc.... You would not need an interface with these stand-alone recorders/mixers. If you want to do the computer based recording, you need an interface. Look for Presonus Mobile, Presonus Audiobox, Focusrite, Motu, etc... You don't need more than one or two inputs because you'll only be recording one track at a time. I think I've read that you're a Mac guy...... Look at Garage Band. The learning curve might be faster with the stand-alone recorders. Most of them will get you up and running very fast. It's a lot of fun no matter how you approach it.


RC

[Bill Terry]

I think the H2 can be used as an audio interface.. check the manual. That and Audacity (or some other DAW) would get you there.

[Rick Schacter]

George,

If you can afford to spend $99, this is a pretty good deal,IMO:

http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/AudioBoxUSB

This interface comes with a copy of Studio One Artist version.
Studio One is really easy to use and you should be up and running in no time.

If it's true that you have a Mac, GarageBand should work just fine if you didn't like Studio One for whatever reason.

[Tony Prior]

Yes as Bill states above, The H2 can be used as a USB Interface with a DAW. I've never done it but here is a video showing that indeed it can be done ! I knew the option was there but never explored it. Pretty kool !

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CPHqJ28KyYY

[Rick Campbell]

George,

If you can afford to spend $99, this is a pretty good deal,IMO:

http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/AudioBoxUSB

This interface comes with a copy of Studio One Artist version.
Studio One is really easy to use and you should be up and running in no time.

If it's true that you have a Mac, GarageBand should work just fine if you didn't like Studio One for whatever reason.

That's what I'd do.

RC