Equipping a venue for better recordings?

[easydiamond]

Hey guys, I'm not new to here, just don't post much. I'm a young engineer, going to a startup program at the local college. Most of what I've learned is from the internet, but I had a gig fall in my lap about a month ago and I've been running with it ever since.

I'm the "music director" of a cafe here in Southeast Texas. It's an 150 person cafe/venue thats been in place for around 13 years. We have a live pa system with an A&H MixWizard 16:2 w/ fx, rackryder graphic eq, dbxAFS224 Feedback suppressor, crown amps, jbl mains, a monitor run, a 12 channel snake, 2xsm58s, 2xpg81s, several pg-series drum and vocal mics, D112, and for recording we we have an Aardvark Aark24, 8x8 pci-card interface, taking the direct-outs and mixing to an aux off the A&H.

Since I've been here I've been doing inventory and figuring the place out. Brought in another 58, snagged another Aark24 off ebay for $50, found a RNC, ran a second monitor run, it's been slow getting up. We're doing a fundraiser for the cafe to raise money and I'm getting my tuition refund so I'M LOOKING TO INVEST .

With the second interface I have a possible total of 20 simultaneous if I use the s/pdif inputs? 8IO + 2s/pdif x 2 = 20?

If so, I need another snake, mixing board, and effects units to replace the ones on the A&H (live purposes only). Any suggestions?

I'm wanting to either buy 4-6 better dynamics, or a couple dynamics and a really nice condensor. I was thinking 214, 414, Neuma.... ok, quality vs. quantity?

 

[stevieb]

The sound man at Eddie's Attic in Decatur, GA (a famous place) has produced some very nice CD's recorded on a 2-track CDR, from just the mix he does for concerts. THAT is what you should aspire to.

 

[LDS]

The sound man at Eddie's Attic in Decatur, GA (a famous place) has produced some very nice CD's recorded on a 2-track CDR, from just the mix he does for concerts. THAT is what you should aspire to.

The problem with doing that in a small venue is that the vocals usually come out way too hot from the console. The amplified instruments, as well as the drums normally do a large proportion of "pushing the house," leaving them underrepresented in the PA mix. The vocals, getting all of their amplification from the PA, almost always come out way too loud.

 

[moresound]

The problem with doing that in a small venue is that the vocals usually come out way too hot from the console. The amplified instruments, as well as the drums normally do a large proportion of "pushing the house," leaving them underrepresented in the PA mix. The vocals, getting all of their amplification from the PA, almost always come out way too loud.

In this case I pan all the vocals left and instrument right and lower the vocals in the recording mix accordingly.

 

[Racherik]

On my budget, this is how I do it. I use the Phonic Helix 16 Universal. But I would suggest the 24 model in your case. My signal chain would look like this.

Mics>Snake>Phonic>Insert Jacks to Compressors>Back into Phonic>Mains Bus routed to 32 band EQ>Limiter>Power Amps.

For the bands floor monitors I would use the AUX1/AUX2 busses sent to 2 channels of a power mixer. Or better yet, if your guest bands are willing to use ear buds, route aux1/aux2 into 2 FM radio transmitters. And then have the band use portable MP3 players that have built in FM receivers.

I would also use the built in Sound Card of a PC to send a signal to plug into channels 15/16 for house music.

This is my reasoning behind the equipment.
1) I like things simple and only add when necessary.
2) Compressors for Vocalists who have no mic technique.
3) Limiter for the people who plug and unplug equipment with the channel on, and sound men who can't keep volume under the allowed maximum. It's also a safety thing like in case someone knocks over a mic.

As for mics just buy a 8 pack bundle of dynamics and be done with it. If your guest bands are that picky then they will have their own.

The biggest issue I have to a good recording of a live performance is volume wars. This happens when recording acoustic drums and electric guitar players who think your sabotaging their tone if you try it get them to play quieter. If you have the authority, make them use electronic drums, and Line 6 X3 live pods.

Racherik