Multiple audio sources recorded at same time...

[andkiich]

... what do I need?

A friend of mine is wanting to create a process for capturing voices from a barbershop quartet.

He wants to have each person microphoned separately, recording them all at the same time, but saved as their own separate channel or file. This way he can play them all together or isolate each one and play only their part.

this will be used as a learning tool for those who want to learn the songs the troop is singing, but may need to isolate a specific performer.

He would like to use his PC if possible, so what hardware/software would be able to perform this functon?

Thanks in advance.

[dphirschler]

A four-track recorder could do it. But he could also use two seperate stereo recorders. I would recommend DAT (digital audio tape) since the timing is likely to stay consistant. Hit record on both recorders, then clap your hands or something to give you a mark for synching. Then have them start singing. It'd be better if they were in seperate rooms with headphones, so they can still hear each other singing but only their own voice would come through the mic.

You would later bring the audio into the PC and seperate the stereo tracks to individual mono tracks. Then use something like Cool Edit to adjust the mix. I am not sure what format you would make the final sound file though. I suppose you want to make a 5.1 audio track?


Darryl

[housepig]

you want hardware that will handle more than two lines of audio, discreetly, simultaneously.

I have an Echo Audio Layla interface, it gives me 8 discreet inputs and 10 outputs. They have other models with fewer ins and outs - if you're doing a four-piece simultaneously, you'll want at least four inputs.

Any of their units should come with either CoolEdit Pro, Cubasis or an equivalent multi-track recording software.

most hardware of this nature take a line-level signal, so you will also need a mixer to bring the signal from the microphones to an appropriate level. Mackie makes really good home-studio gear, Behringer is not quite as good but is dirt cheap and usable.

[andkiich]

Excellent! I will pass this info off to my friend.

Thanks for all the help.