Signal chain....I know this is probably a stupid question.

[Blue Bongo]

Happy New Year Gearslutz,
I have just recently caught the bug. I have experience playing in bar bands (about 20 years).....but, those days are gone. First, I got married. Second, I had a couple kids (age 2 and 5). Third, I sold all my guitars and gear when all this happened. Evidently, I couldn't get it out of my system. For the last 18 months, I have been building a retreat in the basement, a cave to retreat, an oasis without leaving the house. I have slowly accumulated an acoustic guitar, an electric guitar, a bass, a set of drums, various percussion instruments, a Korg 16 track digital recorder, a collection of mic's, and processing tools. Which, by the way leads me to my question. I have a dual tube preamp, a dual compressor/limiter, a dual 15 band equalizer, and a multi-effect proccesor. I will be getting a small mixer (mostly for drum use). I will probably only be recording at most 2 tracks at a time (since I will be playing by myself), guitar and vocals, or 2 mic's on guitar or vocals, and pre-mixing the drums.
WHAT ORDER DO YOU RUN THESE OUTBOARD PROCESSORS? (The signal chain)
Obviously the preamp comes first, but after that, I'm lost and confused.
I'm getting my last pieces this week.
Andy
P.S. This microphone thing has been particularly addicting.
So far..........
Okatava MK-319
Rode NT1-A
Audix D-6
Shure Beta 56
Sennheiser e825, e835, and e845
and for fun.....
Shure 55s, and Ev 664 (I really like the way they look, kind of inspires one)
Any advice greatly appreciated.

[uncle duncan]

Preamp into compressor into recorder. Forget about the equalizer and the affects. Or use the EQ with a power amp to run your monitors, and possibly patch the affect unit into the recorder during mixdown. But the recorder probably already has internal affects. (You'll have to read the manual to figure that out.) Think about another preamp, maybe a pair of Rane MS1b's ($150 each) for drum overheads, and a pair of small diaphram condensors to put up there, and record at least 4 tracks for drums, (OH left and right, kick, snare). If you're track-challenged, you can always submix your drums down to 2 tracks after you record them. Submixing while you're recording - and playing at the same time - is not likely to come out sounding very good. And don't forget to visit your family now and then.

[Blue Bongo]

Thanks Uncle Dunkan,
Any suggestions on the Over Heads? My wife is about ready to commit me as it is, but I keep telling her I'm at the finish line on all this. I guess I am trying to come up with cool signals at the entry point to the recorder, and use the in house processors to put the final touches on. For instance, running my gretsch junior jet bass with nylon strings through a tube preamp, an eq, a compressor, and an effect before it reaches the recorder. I guess I was just wondering should the eq or the compressor, or the the effects come first? You shed some light.
Thanks,
Andy

[Blue Bongo]

Heck,
The whole idea of this operation is, I never actually have to leave the family.
Well figuratively speaking.
Andy

[soundawg]

Originally Posted by Blue Bongo

Thanks Uncle Dunkan,
Any suggestions on the Over Heads? My wife is about ready to commit me as it is, but I keep telling her I'm at the finish line on all this. I guess I am trying to come up with cool signals at the entry point to the recorder, and use the in house processors to put the final touches on. For instance, running my gretsch junior jet bass with nylon strings through a tube preamp, an eq, a compressor, and an effect before it reaches the recorder. I guess I was just wondering should the eq or the compressor, or the the effects come first? You shed some light.
Thanks,
Andy

First thing is first, repeat after me...

- - - > I am not near the finish line on this... the obsession has just begun... it is best to let myself and my wife know the truth now... There is no track... no organized route to start or end on... I will never be anywhere near the finish line... even if I eventually own every single piece on the market, a new esential piece will be released the next day... and if no new piece is released - everybody knows I need a stereo pair of everything I already own anyway. < - - -


Now, the only thing you need to realise is this... remember when you got so into your instruments tone that you kept experimenting till you found what you though was the ultimate? Remember that this was your opinion alone, and NOT what all others thought was "the best" or "the worst"?

Gearslutism is the same.

You will buy pieces of gear, fall in love with them, falll out of love, hate them, sell them, realise you should never have sold them because you need them for this one thing, buy them back and promise them you will never betray them again.

As for how to embark on this journey?

It's all opinion man, but mine is simple...

A good bet is (as in any market) if I can find and afford what I need by way of accepted tried and true quality companies, I will not always find what I am looking for - but I can rest assured that these pieces will retain some value. I always try to remember things like digital stuff always looks shiny and new but almost never looks old grimy and used (like an old 1176) - uh - because it isn't being used any more.


As for the sounds you are looking for. - If you are recording 24 bit, you don't require anything other than a good mic and pre, watch your levels, and use your ears not your eyes, and the sounds you seek - well - remember when you got so into your instruments tone that you kept experimenting till you found what you though was the ultimate? GO!

Oh yeah - repeat after me...

- - - > I am not near the finish line on this... the obsession has just begun... it is best to let myself and my wife know the truth now... There is no track... no organized route to start or end on... I will never be anywhere near the finish line... even if I eventually own every single piece on the market, a new esential piece will be released the next day... and if no new piece is released - everybody knows I need a stereo pair of everything I already own anyway. < - - -

Have fun!

Soundawg

[Acoustic Cloud]

Originally Posted by soundawg

First thing is first, repeat after me...

- - - > I am not at the beginning of this... the obsession has just begun... it is best to let myself and my wife know the truth now... There is no track... no organized route to start or end on... I will never be anywhere near the finish line... even if I eventually own every single piece on the market, a new esential piece will be released the next day... and if no new piece is released - everybody knows I need a stereo pair of everything I already own anyway. < - - -

Have fun!

Soundawg

Well if that isnt the quote of the year!!!

I think we all need recovery meetings!

GAS is also like contractions, but we arent pregnant. It comes in waves. My biggest waves are when I am broke, figure THAT out?!