Need Advice for Live Recording

[Diction]

Hi guys,

I'm doing some Live recordings these days and only have got the Echo Audiofire 12 Interface. (For those who don't know: 12 Line ins/outs).

I use the Pre Fader/EQ Direct-outs of the FOH Console as long as they exist.

What I need now is to record more than 12 Channels. I thought about buying another of those interfaces, but honestly, I don't think the sound of the echo is worth the money and it does not have Preamps.

Now I think about selling the interface and getting a Splitter, preamps and a new interface, to pickup the Microphone Signal before even getting to the FOH console. I want to have 16 to 24 Channels.

Can anyone give me a hint on what to buy?

Thanks so much,

Tim

Edit: What I forgot: I record with a MacBook Pro

[Clueless]

My advice is to post in the correct forum: Remote possibilities. You'll get a much better answer to the question "what's a good high-end remote setup" over there than you will over here. They can especially address your question of whether to be in front of the FOH console or after it in the signal flow.

[gareth.h.rees]

Indeed, the Remote forum is awesome.

Be sure to use the tags at the top to search around before you ask - You'll find out loads of info before even asking. Then you can ask a more informed question and it will be much more help

Gareth

[Diction]

Thanks for your advice, I did search the forum, but I did not find too much, most likely, because i was under the wrong category...

I'll give it a try in the right forum, sorry!

Tim

[Diction]

Hi guys,

I'm doing some Live recordings these days and only have got the Echo Audiofire 12 Interface. (For those who don't know: 12 Line ins/outs).

I use the Pre Fader/EQ Direct-outs of the FOH Console as long as they exist.

What I need now is to record more than 12 Channels. I thought about buying another of those interfaces, but honestly, I don't think the sound of the echo is worth the money and it does not have Preamps.

Now I think about selling the interface and getting a Splitter, preamps and a new interface, to pickup the Microphone Signal before they even reach the FOH console. I need to have 16 to 24 Input Channels.

Can anyone give me a hint on what Splitter/Preamp and Interface to buy?

Thanks so much,

Tim

[mixedupsteve]

What's the budget?

[gareth.h.rees]

Like I said in the other forum... use the tags

[domokunrox]

Originally Posted by Diction

Hi guys,

I'm doing some Live recordings these days and only have got the Echo Audiofire 12 Interface. (For those who don't know: 12 Line ins/outs).

I use the Pre Fader/EQ Direct-outs of the FOH Console as long as they exist.

What I need now is to record more than 12 Channels. I thought about buying another of those interfaces, but honestly, I don't think the sound of the echo is worth the money and it does not have Preamps.

Now I think about selling the interface and getting a Splitter, preamps and a new interface, to pickup the Microphone Signal before they even reach the FOH console. I need to have 16 to 24 Input Channels.

Can anyone give me a hint on what Splitter/Preamp and Interface to buy?

Thanks so much,

Tim

You've got a really loaded question.

What is your budget like? I mean, it really depends on how kick ass you want your recordings to be. I wouldn't count on finding a 8+ ch interface that sounds good to save your life and not for cheap, either. You'll mostly find that the good sound quality interfaces are really heavy on the sample rates and pointless the for mobile recorder with a laptop. Unless you bring a full fledged desktop computer?

In either case. You have 2 routes, my friend.

Buy the Pres you want, use outboard converters, and use a digital I/O like the ProFire Lightbridge for example.

Or do anything else

Either way.

A good split would be the Whirlwind SPC82, buy as much as you need. I recently bought 3, They're great. Be prepared to spend about $1500.

Many would say that the several API lunchbox's packed with 512c pres are great for portability and sound. To some people out there, they don't lose any value and are highly desirable pres. Be prepared to drop ~$5K for each box filled with pres

ADCs and/or Interface. Really, I'd go with whatever you can afford at this point. There are plenty of choices out there and there isn't a single answer for any situation.

Hope I helped.

[Diction]

Depends on, what is necessary

It does not have to keep in the low budget area. It should just make sense!

I think super high-end equipment does not make to much sense for live recordings, but crappy equipment doesn't either!

I took a look at the RME Pres, but I wouldn't mind if the price is a little bit lower...

Thanks for your reply!

P.S. gareth.h.rees, what do you mean with tags? I don't get it. Do i have to choose Tags, before I make my posting? - Sorry! :-/

[gareth.h.rees]

No worries!

On the main page of the Remote forum, there's a big list of words before all the threads.

These are "tags", which can be clicked on to automatically search for threads which are "tagged" with that heading.

So if you click on the "splitter" tag, you get all the threads relating to splitters

Its a great system, try it out

[mixedupsteve]

If I were buying a system today and had the money I would get:

4x Sytek Audio Systems - MPX-4Aii Four-Channel Microphone Preamplifier

4X Mercenary Audio - API 3124+ 4 Channel Mic Preamp

2 X Mercenary Audio - Apogee AD-16x Demo Unit

I would build my own splitter with good transformers and ground lifts but there are tons availablr to purchase.

You'll also need a redundant recorder so cover that in your splitter too!

[Diction]

wow, your choice looks nice!

But that's really a lot of money!

When I was looking, I thought of the RME Fireface 800 and one or two RME Octamic II Preamps.

Maybe this would work fine with the Whirlwind SB16P1G.

For the 4 free Line Inputs I could still use 4 other preamps for special applications, such as main vocals or a Bassdrum or anything else...

Any further opinions?

Thx!

[androne]

Since you are on a Mac,

Go with 2 Metric Halo 2882s and you are fully set !

[Diction]

Hi andron,

as I chose the wrong forum, the discussion continues in the right one, here

Thx for your advice. Are there 8 Microphone inputs on the Backside? only 4 of them as XLR?

[Allen Rowand]

To answer the question you asked androne in your other thread, the 2882 has 8 mic pres with phantom power; 4 on XLR and 4 on 1/4".

Best,
Allen

[Diction]

ah, thanks for your reply!

What do you think about the RME solution? I heared only the best about them and the 2882 is even more expensive! :(