Starting out and need some advise

[Mick@itc]

Hi all

I am just in the process of putting a location recording rig together for live band recordings. It will be baseed around a pair of HD24XRs. I believe 24 channels will be adequate but will use one as main Recorder and one as back-up. Have been using the HD24XR for a while in the studio environment and am very happy with it.

I don't have any experience with recording anything live. Have run live desks a fair few times so am familiar with the environment. The biggest concern I currently have regards getting the signals into the HD24XRs. I'm looking for guidance from those of you who have experience in live gig recording. Before asking the question here are some assumptions...
- The band will want to have all the seperate channels recorded not just the main right/left and these will require a further mix down.
- The mixer will not be a line type and will not have a in-line type and have anything as handy as a channel direct out (eg TOFT ATB Direct Output)
- it will be up to me to get the signal into the recorders.

So I am concerned with how I will do that. Anyone help me here...??

My assumed answer (needs checking by you...bigtime). Have some kind of multicore splitter that splits the mic signals just before they go into the back of the mixing desk. Same kind of thing for the DIs coming off the stage.

Looking forward to ANY feedback you can give me.

Regards
Mick

[Karl Jackson]

The HD24s are a good choice. I'm happy w/ mine. You'll need a preamp between the mics and the +4 inputs on the HD24, so a simple splitter won't quite do it. There are some pretty inexpensive options to do this though. The newer Mackie boards, like the Onyx 24.4 for example, have inserts as well as direct outs (on DB25 no less) for roughly the same cost as a Whirlwind SB series splitter.

Best,

kj

[Mick@itc]

Originally Posted by Karl Jackson

The HD24s are a good choice. I'm happy w/ mine. You'll need a preamp between the mics and the +4 inputs on the HD24, so a simple splitter won't quite do it. There are some pretty inexpensive options to do this though. The newer Mackie boards, like the Onyx 24.4 for example, have inserts as well as direct outs (on DB25 no less) for roughly the same cost as a Whirlwind SB series splitter.

Best,

kj

Hi Karl

Yes I was thinking of putting in a rack of 24 pres, like 3 ot the JLM tmp-8. I have not thought of a mixer...but yes, that could work!

The question I still have is even with a mixer/rackofpres how do I split off the signals from (before?) the band/house mixer to go into the recording Mixer/rackofpres? This is the bit I can't figure out.

Mick

[Karl Jackson]

Hi Mick,

Originally Posted by Mick@itc

Hi Karl
The question I still have is even with a mixer/rackofpres how do I split off the signals from (before?) the band/house mixer to go into the recording Mixer/rackofpres? This is the bit I can't figure out.

Oh - so you're splitting the mic level signal prior to the preamps. There are two common ways to do this. First is the way you mentioned, with a direct split. This is basically a Y cable for each microphone, but implemented with multipair cable and multipin connectors. One problem with this involves possible interaction between the record preamp and the reinforcement preamp. The other common way to split is with a transformer. Here is a resource that talks more about this method. Here is another.

Here is a resource that is more general in scope.

Best,

kj

[Mick@itc]

Hi Karl

Thanks for the links, I now understand a lot more. I have concluded that the Iso Transformer (passive) is the way for me to go. I see a few posts on DIY but I think I might just buy some second hand splitters here if I can find them.

Thansk for the replys Karl, much appreciated.

Regards
Mick

[staudio]

Mic splitters: 1 in 3 three out (hopefully all with transformer isolation and ground lifts)

The splitters feed:
Front of House console
Stage Monitor console
Your pre amps

The pre amps feed the recorders so you need to use another set of line splitters or y cables if the pre amps don't have dual outputs.

Line mixers to do a mix off the recorders for confidence monitoring

Headphone amp and nice headphones for monitoring (speakers too if possible)

microphones, stands, cables, gaff tape, road cases, folding tables/chairs, food/snacks/water, truck/van rental/own, snakes, more of everything listed and some other stuff I'm not thinking of.

Bill for mix time as well if you are doing the mix.

[Mick@itc]

Great info...have found some really great stuff on the forum...lots of what to take lists...which is of great help.

Regards
Mick

[Remoteness]

Mick,

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