I noticed that Electrical offers an 8 track live recording option. I am currently recording my own band on an Otari Mx5050 mkiii 1/2" 8 track recorder and could use some advice. Currently, I am recording kick, snare, Overhead Pair, Guitar 1, Guitar 2, bass, and room mic. We are playing in the same room, though recently have been placing amps in ajoining rooms with the doors open. From here we mix down stereo (unfortuantely to the computer) where we add vocals and additional instruments such as accordian, mandolin, vibrophone, keyboard, guitar. Can someone with experience in recording live bands offer a solution that opens up more tracks so I can capture more of the intrumentation, live to tape? How does Electrical set up for a multi-intrumental band recording live?

Also any advice on recording the Virbraphone? (mics, positioning)

Thanks for the help.

Steve

www.malmadrigal.com

p.s. the sound files on the website are not this current recording set up.

why not record the live basics to 2 tracks? it will take a few hours to get the balances right, but 6 additional tape tracks should be plenty for overdubs (which you could also do in a live fashion, say.. do the keyboard, mandolin, accordian, vibes to tracks 3 & 4). save the individual tracks for the most dynamic elements like vocals so you can still even them out later w/ compression or riding the faders.

I think you're doing a great job!

I once used a FET47 on a vibraphone hovering about half a meter above it.

I like the idea of recording two-track live. Any general tips on pans and eq adjustments?

thanks,
Steve

pan things the way they bleed in the room. a good starting point is setting up only the drum mics panned the way you want; record a take and listen to where the other instruments bleed into them. from there you can manipulate the bleed by moving the other instruments, say, getting guitar 1 mostly left and guitar 2 mostly right. i'd set up the bass amp in a separate room. keep in mind that you are going to get room sound and bleed no matter what, so a room mic may not be necessary.

other than that, just make the instruments sound good and take your time getting the setup right.