Actually,, how would you go about recording a concert properly

[protein]

The other thread got me thinking that I should really know how to get a half decent recording of a gig.

Since my most portable bit of gear is my Yamaha AW16G (8 inputs, 2 of which are xlr with phantom power) I was thinking that a pair of condensers mixed with a feed from the sound desk might be okay. Or should I think about it in terms of putting mics on stage too?

 

[bigwillz24]

The other thread got me thinking that I should really know how to get a half decent recording of a gig.

Since my most portable bit of gear is my Yamaha AW16G (8 inputs, 2 of which are xlr with phantom power) I was thinking that a pair of condensers mixed with a feed from the sound desk might be okay. Or should I think about it in terms of putting mics on stage too?

I'm intrigued as well as to how this is done....legally

 

[bennychico11]

i'd say just patch directly out of the live board that they're using. saves on mics and gives more room on stage. you can just take a copy from the direct outs (if they have 'em) or inserts (if any available). This way you can get a clear signal of each channel and mix it later. Then take a copy for the main outs too. with your new 002 you're getting, you can make things even easier by going straight to the 002 and then into pro tools.

 

[protein]

True, but I'd need a lap top for that. I reckon alot of the places I gig won't have a desk with direct outs and even if they did I don't think a) the sound guy would be too happy with me getting in the way and B) I don't think I'd have all that long to set my gear up.

It's worth thinking about though, it would be a much, much better recording in the end.

 

[Hard2Hear]

I have seen alot of big name acts that use a split snake that sends 1 to the main board and 1 to a set of Tascam DA88's. They usually have some kind of pre pack in there for how ever many channels they are using. All the mixing and editing is done post-concert.

H2H

 

[SuperSkyrocket]

Split snake is best but you'll need your own preamps and a channel for everything.

You can also tap out of FOH channels with the direct outs. Since these are post-trim, you're now at the mercy of the FOH engineer's trim skills. If his channel is clipping, you'll get the noise too. If no direct outs are available, halfway into the inserts might work. Any further and FOH loses the signal so don't mess with them during the show. And too bad if they are using an insert for compression or whatever. Maybe there's a free aux send to tap that channel.

If you are rather limited on input tracks and get along with people, you could ask the FOH guy to group something (preferably instruments not played at the same time) and you could take that group out to one channel of your multitrack. Of course you can't post-mix the elements in this group if they are on top of each other. You're stuck with what the FOH guy did live.

With the AW16G you could arrive with one end of an 8-channel trs snake already in it.
Then you'd just need to tap the FOH console and fire up the recorder. Shouldn't take long at all.
With 8 channels - kick, snare, other drum, guitar, bass, vocal, and two left for another instrument or vocal, stereo oh/guitar, ambience, etc. Whatever the case.

If you're not interested in post-mixing then you could just take a "program out" of FOH and use a condensor or two in the room to capture crowd/ambience. You could use 4 inputs and mix it live in stereo or 4 tracks and mix it later.

Lastly, you could just take what the condensors give you (like a high-quality bootleg)

 

[Chris Shaeffer]

Man, this is a complex question. Getting a good live recording is a challenge no matter how you slice it.

The 2 mic idea will work, but you have to be really, really patient and get the mics set up right. Even then, you will probably be disapointed with the quality.

A better bet is to get a small mixer with direct outs and a couple group outs and mic as much as you can. 8 tracks? Mic the drums as well as you can (kick, snare, and 2 overheads as a functional minimum) and assign them to 1 stereo bus on the mixer. that goes to ins 1 & 2 on your machine.

That leaves 6 for bass, guitars, vocals, and an audience mic or 2.

At least, that's one way to go about it if you have that mixer.