I have some questions on recording a song(Multi-Track Recorders and Mixers)?

Question

1. Hello, my friend and I want to record some songs. Lets say we want to record Vocals, Guitar, Bass, Percussion; but we want to record them all seperately and then put them all together, what would we need, a Multi-Track Recorder or a mixer.

2. How does a Multi-Track Recorder work? do you put a microphone in it, and record something, and then something record something else(and so on) and then put it all together?


3. How does a mixer work?


4. What's the difference between a Multi-Track Recorder and a mixer?


Please, when you answer this question please number what question your answering(notice how i numbered the seperate queastion).

Thank You so Much

Answer 1

1. You would need a multi-track recorder
2. Yes, you record each track seperatly and you can overdub (record one track while listening to the others)
3. A mixer is a device used in the studio and live to basically put several microphones into one output signal. it MIXES them down
4. A multitrack recorder is a recording device, a mixer is a device to simplify live sound and recording

Answer 2

1) Depending on what percussion you are planning on, you may need both

2) In a multitrack recorder, you can put down the trakcs individually, then play back through headphones and record another track, etc. Or, depending on the recorder you may be able to record many tracks at once.

3) a mixer takes the input from many microphones, and blends them into 1 (mono) or 2 (stereo) tracks

4) As above, the mixer just blends tracks, it doesn't actually record anything. A multi track recorder may or may not have mixing capabilities.

If you plan on a full drum kit, you're going to need more than one mic, so you will need a mixer with up to 8 tracks, and 8 microphones.

I have a Tascam DP-01 which records two tracks simultaneously. It uses condensor mics, so each has it's own pre-amp. If you buy a mixer, be sure it has phantom power for the condensor mics, and preamps for the mics as well.