multi track suggestions please

foxy · 28th October 2009

hey guys,

i'm a tv location sound recordist and i'd like your advice on putting together a multitrack music recording package for a tv show.

first off this is a low budget show (think low and then divide that by low again). the part of the show that i'm concerned with recording are young bands playing in front of a live audience.
i was thinking if i could tell you the pieces of equipment i already have and the budget then someone might be able to advice me on what best to do.

The venue can provide all the microphones so everything will be miced (i know i will also need to place some audience mics). also there is a splitter to the monitor desk (which won't be used) so i can tap into any mics that are going to the front of house.

equipment that i have; an allen and heath gl2400 (i think that's what its called, its the old 24 channel live desk with direct outs on the channels). i also have a sound devices 788t and a pro tools digi 002. the music will be mixed afterwards in protools.
Basically i'm looking for suggestions on the best way to record 24 tracks for mixing in protools afterwards. i have a budget of about 4 to 5,000 euro.
i would like to add to my 002 but i realise that you can only record 18tracks at one time with pro tools le (

r...).
so could someone suggest other other possibilities and anything i should be looking out for. i know there are many different ways of doing this, looking for the best way to throw my hard earned cash away

as always much obliged for any input,
hugh.

bishopthomas · 28th October 2009

Use the monitor split into your console, rent or buy a pair of Alesis HD24's. Go from the direct outs into one of the HD24 and from the insert points into the second HD24 (for backup). I think the DO's are set to post fader by default so put your faders to unity and don't worry about creating a mixdown.

You won't be able to monitor your HD24's with this setup but it is the simplest and most cost efficient way of doing it. If you can swing it in the budget, rent 24 channels of preamps, plug the tails into them, then out to the HD24. I like using 8 channel preamps with ADAT and analog outs; one set goes to the primary HD24 and the other goes to the backup unit. Now your mixer will be free to handle monitoring duties and if you need to create a rough mix then you can do that from there as well.

My only real concern would be the quality of the house snake/splitter system. If you can test it before the show day it could save you a lot of grief if a channel is bad.

foxy · 29th October 2009

Bishopthomas,

i'm much obliged for the reply. I'm amazed that the alesis is still the way to go for live recording (would have thought laptop based) but I guess it's because of it's stableness.
I've been unable to find an alesis to hire but I have gotten the new joeco blackbox which should be interesting. We're doing a test run today I'll let you know what the little machine is like.
The company i'm hiring the blackbox off would naturally like to sell me one but we're looking at more than 2,000 euro whereas I can see a 2nd hand alesis for about 650. With the change left over i could buy a good bit of preamp! Is this joeco really that much better I wonder?
Thanks again.

28th October 2009	#1
foxy Gear interested Joined: Feb 2006 Posts: 22 Thread Starter	multi track suggestions please hey guys, i'm a tv location sound recordist and i'd like your advice on putting together a multitrack music recording package for a tv show. first off this is a low budget show (think low and then divide that by low again). the part of the show that i'm concerned with recording are young bands playing in front of a live audience. i was thinking if i could tell you the pieces of equipment i already have and the budget then someone might be able to advice me on what best to do. The venue can provide all the microphones so everything will be miced (i know i will also need to place some audience mics). also there is a splitter to the monitor desk (which won't be used) so i can tap into any mics that are going to the front of house. equipment that i have; an allen and heath gl2400 (i think that's what its called, its the old 24 channel live desk with direct outs on the channels). i also have a sound devices 788t and a pro tools digi 002. the music will be mixed afterwards in protools. Basically i'm looking for suggestions on the best way to record 24 tracks for mixing in protools afterwards. i have a budget of about 4 to 5,000 euro. i would like to add to my 002 but i realise that you can only record 18tracks at one time with pro tools le (r...). so could someone suggest other other possibilities and anything i should be looking out for. i know there are many different ways of doing this, looking for the best way to throw my hard earned cash away as always much obliged for any input, hugh.

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28th October 2009	#2
bishopthomas Lives for gear Joined: Oct 2006 Location: New Jersey Posts: 1,565	Use the monitor split into your console, rent or buy a pair of Alesis HD24's. Go from the direct outs into one of the HD24 and from the insert points into the second HD24 (for backup). I think the DO's are set to post fader by default so put your faders to unity and don't worry about creating a mixdown. You won't be able to monitor your HD24's with this setup but it is the simplest and most cost efficient way of doing it. If you can swing it in the budget, rent 24 channels of preamps, plug the tails into them, then out to the HD24. I like using 8 channel preamps with ADAT and analog outs; one set goes to the primary HD24 and the other goes to the backup unit. Now your mixer will be free to handle monitoring duties and if you need to create a rough mix then you can do that from there as well. My only real concern would be the quality of the house snake/splitter system. If you can test it before the show day it could save you a lot of grief if a channel is bad.

29th October 2009	#3
foxy Gear interested Joined: Feb 2006 Posts: 22 Thread Starter	Bishopthomas, i'm much obliged for the reply. I'm amazed that the alesis is still the way to go for live recording (would have thought laptop based) but I guess it's because of it's stableness. I've been unable to find an alesis to hire but I have gotten the new joeco blackbox which should be interesting. We're doing a test run today I'll let you know what the little machine is like. The company i'm hiring the blackbox off would naturally like to sell me one but we're looking at more than 2,000 euro whereas I can see a 2nd hand alesis for about 650. With the change left over i could buy a good bit of preamp! Is this joeco really that much better I wonder? Thanks again.