Looking at a live sound package, how could i record live??

  • Thread starter Thread starter C.Greco
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I don't believe that a di box is an option. There are some great mixers you can use live which have firmwire so you can record to your laptop. Like the onyx by mackie. I'm sure there are more like it.
 
Thanks ill look into the onyx by mackie, so all id need is an interface? i was trying to find a cheaper solution, most interfaces are expensive but if i couldn't record without an interface i may look into it
 
no there is no need for an interface with the onyx there is a firewire out on the board to connect directly to the laptop. However you may have a cheaper solution by connecting the rca out on the behringer to the line in on the laptop if it has one.
 
Well, there may be no need for an interface with the Onyx, but it is waaay off from a cheap option. After the sticker price of an onyx sets in, you will be happy to buy an interface, which is basically a $100-$300 option. Even the 8 X2 version of the Onyx is a $500 mixer, and it goes up from there. In general, with an interface. you will only be able to record 2 channels- left and right, and you will only get what's coming off the board. So- unless *every* instrument is going through the board, it won't work, and the mix has to be perfect, because you can't change it afterward. If *everything* isn't going through the board, you'd be better off just getting a portable stereo recorder, such as:

http://www.8thstreet.com/product.asp?ProductCode=43457&Category=Recorders

or

http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/H2/

Good luck-Richie
 
Yeah, some mixers have an "interface" built in, like the Mackie mentioned above. There are several of those units as an option.

Also, there are mixers with direct outs (which that Behringer doesnt have), that you could connect each channels direct out to an interface and record that way. The Soundcraft M series and the Allen and Heath stuff would be good options for that.

Personally, I'd shop around before you commit $1k+ to that Behringer setup.
 
Using the setup that you posted....

Get yourself an audio interface, get yourself some Insert to Direct Out cables, use the inserts on the channels you want to record and run them to the inputs on the interface.

You can find some fairly cheap used audio interfaces ($150-$300).


That's a very simplified answer. You'll have to determine to use Firewire or USB. Does you laptop have firewire? If so, is it compatable with the audio interface? Just some things to think about.:)
 
I have a Behringer 1832-FX 18-Input 3/2-Bus Mixer. I will sell it for 200 bucks......comes with the UCA 202 audio interface. Everything you will need. I bought it for home recording and then realized its better suited for live recording. Its Brand new, i still have the box and everything.



here is a link if your interested.

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B000J5YZ9I...e=asn&creative=380341&creativeASIN=B000J5YZ9I


Alot of people knock on Behringer, but i have done a lot of live shows in my early days with different mixers, and the Behringer would hold up to all of the other mixers i have ever used.
 
I appreciate everyones feedback, its all helpful. Im getting a macbook pro so i would need something compatible with that, i dont think it mattrs if it connects usb or through firewire, i know theres both inputs on a mac.

Ill Check out that Behringer on Amazon, that may be something i may want, could you set up a PA with that mixer?
 
the 1/4"-USB cable is an option, but i would warn you chances are you're going to get a terrible sound. That cables is going to have to do an A/D conversion, something that people spend thousands on interfaces to get done right. It is an option if you are not worried about the quality of the recorded material, but if you are going to, for instance, put the recorded material on CDs and distribute them, i would probably not jump on that 1/4" to USB cable. You're going to be much better off with a cheap little two channel interface, it should do the A/D conversion much better. Just pan the right and left the whole way to the right and left on the recorded track.

If i could steer you in another direction, you may be a prime candidate for a digial mixer of some sort. Lots of digital mixers are capible of multitracking all of their tracks to a computer using USB or Firewire connections, and also hold many many effects that you can use inside of the board. The only problem with this would be a.) the board won't be powered, so you would need power amps for your speakers and b.) digial boards are significantly more expensive than analog ones.

I ordered the Zoom R16, which is essentially a primitive digial board that records the information track by track to an SD card or onto a computer using build in USB compatibility. This is excellent for both studio and live situations, if you are using less than 16 tracks (you can hook two of them together), as it can multitrack all of the tracks you are recording, while adding effects, EQ, ext, and also play it back through a 1/4" left and right out. A great solution for lots of people if you ask me. BTW, the $400 is an amazing price for it.

Anyway, good luck on building live recording situations, i bet you wish you had all of the money by 10,000 person church has to record their live stuff :).
 
The Behringer has the UCA 202 wich is an audio interface or Digital analog converter. You use the tape outs from the mixer to the Tape ins on the Audio interface, from there it will go to your computer through the USB cable. This would be a really good way for you to learn. Or at least start out recording live. It would allow you to get all of the basics down, and when you are ready you could buy a rackmount Audio Interface that you could take to your shows, or record you band etc... The mixer also has Direct outs, an Alt 3/4 bus, main outs,,,,etc etc etc.


here is a link to the UCA 202


http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0..._m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_r=0VYYVJ0507DP3RXSZKYA


Its definetly not top of the line, but the mixer and the uca 202 go hand in hand together, its EXTREMELY easy to use, and was a hell of a learning experience for me.
 
and you can defenitly set up a PA with the Behringer mixer. I have two peavy PR 15's and two peavy Pr 10's that easily hooked up to this mixer.
 
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