Multitracking a live band

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onmoris

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I'm going to be recording a band live in a few weeks. I have a Macbook, Logic Pro, and a MOTU 8 channel interface.

Their vocals and guitars will be coming out of a PA but their drums won't be miked.

I want to multitrack everything so I can mix it later. Obviously I'll record the drum mics direct, but I need to get direct feeds of the other mics and guitars out of their mixer. I'm not sure what type of mixer they have, but i've read that if a mixer has individual channel inserts then I can stick a guitar cable sort of halfway into the insert and that will function as a direct out that I can then record as an individual track. Is this true?
 
The 'insert point as direct out' thing is true of many small mixers these days, but not all.

Unless you specifically need something that only a mixer can provide --- like EQ or bussing --- you'd probably do better plugging the microphones straight into the interface and setting the levels in software.

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i hear ya, but i'm recording a live performance so the soundboard gets priority over me, and to be honest if i was in a band i would want someone at a mixer controlling levels as opposed to from a computer.
 
my interface also has 8 outputs, so im' thinking what i might do is run their mics into the MOTU so i can record, and since i have 8 busses, i can run each mic out of its own bus to the mixer for the live mix.
 
Sending him your outputs is just asking for trouble.

If you have enough mics just mic the cabs yourself. Otherwise you need to talk the soundguy into working with you and sometimes the board won't accomodate the extra outputs all that well. They may also be in use for outboard gear and monitors.

The pro way to do it is to use XLR splitters but the good ones aren't cheap. You can rent them at most pro audio rental shops.
 
If the insert trick doesn't work on the mixer (for example, he might be using them to run a compressor on the vocals), he might have enough aux sends to spare to get you the vocals and maybe a mix of the guitars. Or the mixer might have direct outs. Otherwise, run your own mics.

If I was running sound, there is no way I would let a recording dude control my levels, subject to his computer crashing. In the past, I've fed a separate stereo mix out to tapers, which I don't mind, but generally my inserts were taken.

Now I run an HD24 in my rig, so no tapers are necessary :)
 
onmoris said:
I'm going to be recording a band live in a few weeks. I have a Macbook, Logic Pro, and a MOTU 8 channel interface.

Their vocals and guitars will be coming out of a PA but their drums won't be miked.

I want to multitrack everything so I can mix it later. Obviously I'll record the drum mics direct, but I need to get direct feeds of the other mics and guitars out of their mixer. I'm not sure what type of mixer they have, but i've read that if a mixer has individual channel inserts then I can stick a guitar cable sort of halfway into the insert and that will function as a direct out that I can then record as an individual track. Is this true?
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Yes, that is true but there is one BIG problem. Tapping signal from an insert jack will interrupt the signal flow to the rest of the mixer channel. In other words, 100% of the signal goes out the insert jack and it must be returned to the same channel (insert jack) in order to continue further through the mixer. i.e., your house PA will have no vocals and guits. Not to mention that your sound guy may be using some of those insert jacks already.

Another practical way to do this is by splitting each mic line into a "Y" so-to-speak, so they can feed two devices. The cheapest mic splitters I have found are these. Click Here Note; you will also need extra mic cables to make this work.

You could get maybe two of these and have enough splits for 8 channels.

Good luck,
RawDepth
 
Don't take anything from the mixer

In my experience using any signals from the mixer/PA at a live show will result in a shitty end result. You are going to get all the volume changes and such that you don't want. The way to go is to split the mic signal so it goes to both your interface and the mixer/PA, or to just do a live stereo recording of the actual sound in the room. Forget about using lines from the mixer, trust me.

It would be a good idea (if you have enough tracks) to do some room micing in stereo,

and also:

mic the drums, split the vocal signal to your interface, mic the guitar cabs, and then just direct the bass out of the amp or split the signal.

That way you can use the stereo recording of the room as a base to then add the individual instruments tracks as needed to add more presence.

Don't forget to make sure this band knows you need their cooperation and a lot of setup time if they want a good product.
 
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