Church with 3000 budget for a live recording setup

[Dwssoundz]

I know thats not a lot of dough but we need to get an adequate remote setup for our recording room. My original has been centered around an HD24 and tascam dm24's. We have a split snake that gives us 32 channels. We're only using 20 and at the most we would use 24. Just debating on what route to go. We have and older G5 and an intel Imac so going the software route is an option. I would love to do an HD option but that's still about 1500 above the budget even on ebay. So I need some help thanks.

[bishopthomas]

What do you not like about the HD24?

[memphisindie]

Are you saying you HAVE an HD24?
If you do, get a presonus firestudio lightpipe, 24 channels of adat in/out in a 1 rackspace unit, bring all 24 live into your existing daw from your HD24 $499. You can elect to mix in or out of the box using your daw as dynamics processing on the channels.
Happy?

[Dwssoundz]

No I don't have anything as of yet. My first thought was to get an HD24 and a nice analog board. But with all the software options wasn't sure as to which route to go. I need stability that's the biggest thing

[memphisindie]

I'm going the route I mentioned above for my studio and it should all be in next week. The HD24 is stable. You'll need "HD24 tools" software and an external firewire/USB2 drive caddy "enclosure" (so you won't need the firewire thing they provide, which is great when it works), You can use the HD24 as 24 live inputs via firewire with the lightpipe bridge, Maudio makes one too. I'll be using mine with Logic, I used the HD24tools to get tracks off the HD24 drives into protools, but, I'm performing a major upgrade to my computer system too so I had to go more film/video oriented without losing Music oriented function.
I do a fair amount of live stuff too so I would like to do more than just hook up the HD24, which has worked extremely well.
Radar is too expensive for your budget, I don't trust tascam, or Mackie, Id say get an HD24xt and the lightbridge of your choice and be able to do as much overdubbing as you wish and have a disc backup of the tracks as they go down. You can mix in or out of the box that way, maximum flexibility. If you get the Maudio interface, you get Protools ability too. That way you get to stay current with industry norms.

I'm not sure if there is one now, but, sometimes you can find an old soundcraft spirit on ebay that has been modded for $1k, you might be able to get all of the above in your budget.