Live location recording help

[Audiophile]

Hi guys,

I'm having trouble getting things straigt for a live recording. Here's what's up:

I'm going to record a full band (drums, bas, gtr, brass, keys etc.) this week on a venue. I'm going to use an iMac, three interfaces and lots of cables. The mics and all that will be put in place by the live sound guys.
I wanted to split the signals using splitters but couldn't get any. The only solution was using the direct outs from the mixer. Luckily the mixer they use has a dir. out switch for pre and post EQ so that's nice.
Here's the thing. I have three different interfaces which need to be synced and then go into the iMac. I have a MOTU 896, 828 and a Behringer ADA8000. If necessary (and better) I also have an apogee ensemble to use but has only 4 ins and I need 24 channels to be safe.

So, how do I do this best?
This is how far I came: All channels from the mixer go from direct out with balanced jack to XLR into the 24 inputs of the 3 interfaces.
One will be master and will be connected by firewire to the mac (have to figure out which one will master best). The others will be connected using BNC 75 Ohm cables from word clock out (master) to word clock in on the next one and then from that unit word clock out to word clock in into the last one. Though this one has to be terminated (don't know which one can do that.. need to rtfm! )
Then I connect the optical adat cable from the second unit from adat out to the master interface adat in. And the third one goes also from adat out to adat in into the first (master) interface.
Though how do I do this last part? There is only one optical adat in and out on the unit but also one adat sync (using RS422 adat cable). Do I use this connector for the last 8 channels?

Please let me know if I do this right and if not what I otherwise should do?

Thanks!

[DannyL]

You will have to create an aggregate device in Core Audio (AudioMidi Setup) Make 1 device the master, distribute word clock from that device to all the others. Do NOT daisy chain the wc signal. Use T connectors and terminate the last one in the chain. It is better to use a WC distribution Amp.

You do not mention how you plan on bringing the signals into your IMac:
Firewire should only be used for 1 device at a time.

You do not mention on what drive you are recording:
You should use an external drive with its own power supply.

You should use a UPS. Be sure to use one that has a true sinusoidal output.

What DAW are you using?

The ADAT synch is for locking up an ADAT machine. It does not pass Audio.

Not to be blunt here but it sounds like you are not really equipped to do this. ( I count 16 inputs, you say you need 24.) If this is just for fun, go for it. If the client is paying you for your services, you need to think about what you are going to do if this should not work properly.

Whatever configuration you arrange, be sure to test it before going to the gig.

Best;
Danny

Originally Posted by Audiophile

Hi guys,

I'm having trouble getting things straigt for a live recording. Here's what's up:

I'm going to record a full band (drums, bas, gtr, brass, keys etc.) this week on a venue. I'm going to use an iMac, three interfaces and lots of cables. The mics and all that will be put in place by the live sound guys.
I wanted to split the signals using splitters but couldn't get any. The only solution was using the direct outs from the mixer. Luckily the mixer they use has a dir. out switch for pre and post EQ so that's nice.
Here's the thing. I have three different interfaces which need to be synced and then go into the iMac. I have a MOTU 896, 828 and a Behringer ADA8000. If necessary (and better) I also have an apogee ensemble to use but has only 4 ins and I need 24 channels to be safe.

So, how do I do this best?
This is how far I came: All channels from the mixer go from direct out with balanced jack to XLR into the 24 inputs of the 3 interfaces.
One will be master and will be connected by firewire to the mac (have to figure out which one will master best). The others will be connected using BNC 75 Ohm cables from word clock out (master) to word clock in on the next one and then from that unit word clock out to word clock in into the last one. Though this one has to be terminated (don't know which one can do that.. need to rtfm! )
Then I connect the optical adat cable from the second unit from adat out to the master interface adat in. And the third one goes also from adat out to adat in into the first (master) interface.
Though how do I do this last part? There is only one optical adat in and out on the unit but also one adat sync (using RS422 adat cable). Do I use this connector for the last 8 channels?

Please let me know if I do this right and if not what I otherwise should do?

Thanks!

[777Artin]

Hey man,

using the MOTUs (and the ADA8000) and you iMac is simple.

- connect the 896 to you iMac via firewire
- connect the 828 to the 896 via firewire
- connect the ADA8000 via ADAT in AND out to 896 OR 828 and put sync via ADAT
- put the 896 as "internal" in MOTU Audio Set-Up and the 828 as "896 sync".

The 828 will sync to the 896 via firewire and the ADA8000 via ADAT......simple as that.

Record on external USB HD and have fun.

PS : have you thought about a back-up system?

777artin

[Audiophile]

Thanks for the replies! Don't worry, this recording is a school assignment. I'm supposed to learn from this. It's the first time I'm doing a location recording (I'm a studio guy) so the approach is new for me. No harm is done when things pan out wrong.

Tomorrow I'm going to get some T connectors and a terminator. Just to make sure:
- bnc cable into WC out on master
- other end BNC into T
- T into second slave WC In
- Other end T another BNC cable
- other end of BNC into another T
- T in third slave WC In
- finally the terminator in the other side of T

Is this the way to go?


777Artin, connect the ADA8000 via ADAT in AND out to 896 OR 828 and put sync via ADAT --> you mean I should connect both ADAT optical cables on both sides of the units? This way I can get 24 tracks into the iMac?
Sorry if this is a stupid question. I'm trying to grasp this whole converter connection thing..

Regarding the questions: I'm using Logic Pro as my DAW and take an extra laptop, extra external HD's with power supplies and extra cable's with me to cover my ass. Should be fine I guess

[pkautzsch]

Originally Posted by Audiophile

I have three different interfaces which need to be synced and then go into the iMac. I have a MOTU 896, 828 and a Behringer ADA8000. If necessary (and better) I also have an apogee ensemble to use but has only 4 ins and I need 24 channels to be safe.

I'm not 777artin, but still think I can help you.

You need to:

1. connect the ADA8000's ADAT out to the 896's ADAT in.
2. connect the 828's Firewire to the 896's firewire.
3. connect the 896's other Firewire to your computer.
These are all connections you need to make 24 analogue inputs available to your DAW. ADAT and Firewire can transport a clock signal, so you don't need a separate clock cable as long as you're not using a second ADA8000 connected to the 828's ADAT in. If you have more than one device outputting ADAT to your MOTUs, you'd need to get the external devices to run by the same clock.

4. set the ADA8000 to the desired sampling frequency (44.1 or 48 kHz, probably - if it's for CD, keep it 44.1 throughout the workflow)
5. start your computer and DAW, and go into your hardware config. The MOTU hardware config should give you different Clock Source options: select "896: ADAT optical".
This way the ADA8000 will be the master clock to which the 896 will lock. As daisychained MOTU interfaces will be perfectly synced via Firewire, you don't need an extra sync connection here.

5. Set up your session I/O and tracks. The ADA8000 channels will be listed as "896: ADAT 1" through "896: ADAT 8".