Need some advice on multitrack recording of concert

[JPeters86]

Hi guys,

I need some advice with recording multiple bands live. It's a show in a local theatre with three bands. First some acoustic guys, next a rock band an finally a blues band. I really want to record everything (multitrack) because these musicians are great and I need some new stuff to mix. I have enough mics and everything, that's not a problem. I was happy to see that the FOH mixer has ADAT out which could have made things very easy, but it's only 8 channels ofcourse, which isn't enough if I want everything multitracked. So, i have two MOTU 8pres and I can borrow two RME Octamics. I was thinking about putting the recording gear next to the stage (room enough), and to have everything running through the recording gear first, and then to FOH. This way I don't have to mess with the stage - FOH connection which the theatre guys wouldn't like. So, mics go into the two Octamics, and the individual analog outs go into the stageblock to FOH. I then connect the ADAT of the first RME to the first 8pre and the second RME to the second 8pre. I firewire daisychain the 8pres to my macbook pro and voila, multitrack recording.

The big question: am I overlooking something??

And: is there some other way besides connecting every RME output (TRS) to the stageblock (XLR) with different cables? Multicable or something? Never worked with them.

Input will be very appreciated!

Thanks!

[bishopthomas]

It sounds like a solid enough plan. However, you need to add a mic splitter between your rig and the house system. The FOH guy won't like taking line level signals off your mic pres. Simple Y cables would probably be good enough, but it's neater to have it built into a rackmount system. Ground lifts are nice to have in there too.

[Gilli C]

+1 for doing it proper with a splitter with ground lifts.

Otherwise, when you have to change input gain as you are recording this will change the output level thats been sent to the FOH engineer , and, if they are doing monitors from FOH it will mess with levels dialed into the foldback. And mess with the FOH mix balance.

ie an upward gain change on a say a vocal channel could result in unexpected feedback in the foldback, depending on how much vocal might be already dialed in.

And any grounding issues might be tricky to resolve.

G

[JPeters86]

Thanks for the replies guys. Guess Im gonna have to find a splitter somewhere. Why doesnt the FOH desk just have two ADAT outs (as in 16 tracks)

[bishopthomas]

Because they weren't thinking of you when they bought it....? What's the console? Chances are it has expansion ports, in which case you can buy another 8 or 16 channel ADAT card, plug it in, assign everything and be rocking with two cables connecting your worlds. Assuming they haven't filled the other slot...

[mixedupsteve]

J
I have one of these and have been very happy with it.
It's a direct split (like y cables in a box) and has no ground lifts but It has worked fine.

[therecordinghous]

splitters are a more universal option. you will always encounter xlr mic cables, however, not every FOH desk is digital and can support adat cards.

the ART S8 is decent, and only about $250 for 8 channels.

how big is the venue? is EVERYTHING mic'd? i find, for smaller venues, i usually only need to split 8 channels. 8 is all that is going to the PA. then i set my own mics for other stuff and go straight to my pres.

[JPeters86]

Thanks for the replies.

The venue is really large enough to require everything miked. We've tried other stuff before but turns out this works best. I'm thinking about grouping some stuff on the FOH desk and just using the ADAT anyway...

[Gilli C]

How many possible outputs from the console - can you do 8 adat, and some analgoue and still have enough for fx & monitors etc?

G

[JPeters86]

It's this thing:

01V96VCM | Mixers | Products | Yamaha Pro Audio

[Gilli C]

any expansion card installed on the console?

other idea.... you could set up at FOH and get the 8 optical outputs and y cable the rest...?

G

[JPeters86]

Originally Posted by Gilli C

any expansion card installed on the console?

other idea.... you could set up at FOH and get the 8 optical outputs and y cable the rest...?

G

Hm I'll try that, thanks.

Seems that a studio down the road has a splitter I can borrow. Guess it's going to be fine