Location Recording Alternatives..

bedbugs

Hey,

I'm getting fed up using a laptop in recording situations. Especially with a firewire interface and two 8-Channel preamp strips linked by ADAT. It's just so messy and the potential for stuff to go wrong / out of sync / drinks spilled near etc is just giving me the fear in a big way.

What's the simplest way of multitracking live? I'd need 24 tracks on some kind of hard disk thingy. I don't care about it going directly into a sequencer as that can be done later.

Are there HD Recorders with digital options so that preamps / comps / limiters can be utilised before the audio goes to tape ? By tape, I mean 1s and 0s.

Thanks in advance.

Colin

madtheory

The simplest way is an Alesis HD24 with the 96K converters running at 44.1KHz/ 24 bit. Set peak level at -18dBFS so there's no need for limiter/ compressor when recording. Do it in the mix later with a plugin like Waves L1/2.Get the fireport firewire drive bay with it, it's the best way to transfer audio for mixing afterwards. Actually, the Alesis has the most straightforward transfer method of all the stand alone boxes. Really good sounding converters also, can be used as extra/ better inputs with an ADAT equipped interface.

Do you use a split multi, or direct outs?

bedbugs

madtheory wrote: »

The simplest way is an Alesis HD24 with the 96K converters running at 44.1KHz/ 24 bit. Set peak level at -18dBFS so there's no need for limiter/ compressor when recording. Get the fireport firewire drive bay with it, it's the best way to transfer audio for mixing afterwards. Actually, the Alesis has the most straightforward transfer method of all the stand alone boxes. Really good sounding converters also, can be used as extra/ better inputs with an ADAT equipped interface.

Do you use a split multi, or direct outs?

Cheers for the reply T.

I use direct outs, into the PA, so the recorded audio isn't going through some mingin' desk.

So the Alesis HD24 would be the best option in yr opinion then?

madtheory

Yes, I've used the Alesis a few times, and it's great. Seems to be the standard box in Munster at least. I know where there is a used one for sale, PM if interested. It was only ever used for classical location recording, so it's mint.

bedbugs wrote: »

I use direct outs, into the PA, so the recorded audio isn't going through some mingin' desk.

Run that by me again... you take direct outs from FOH desk? Or you have a rack of mic pres and pass that on to FOH?

bedbugs

madtheory wrote: »

Yes, I've used the Alesis a few times, and it's great. Seems to be the standard box in Munster at least. I know where there is a used one for sale, PM if interested. It was only ever used for classical location recording, so it's mint.


Run that by me again... you take direct outs from FOH desk? Or you have a rack of mic pres and pass that on to FOH?

It'll be a few weeks before I can make the purchase, but thanks.

Yeah, out of the mic pres into the desk. Has worked well so far.

madtheory

Probably much cleaner than a splitter. But assumes that the FOH engineer is OK with it! Do you send out balanced or unbalanced, and mic or line level?

bedbugs

Well it's for a TV show, so the PA is actually just a monitoring tool for the bands. No FOH dudes to worry about.

Aridstarling

I'll second the HD24, perfect for what you need.

iMADEtheBBC

I've been using the Alesis and a set of mic splitters (managed to get some in a liquidation sale on ebay a few years ago). Works very well, keeps me onside with whoever is doing the live sound. Had to do some research to find a simple set of line mixers for monitoring that would fit in a rack.

Lifting & carrying the bloody multicore is probably the hardest part of the setup :-)

The biggest problem is finding somewhere to setup where I can monitor the recorder without being drowned out by the PA system.

madtheory

Funny nickname imadetheBBC! Yes, being remote from the PA is a challenge. Just did a broadcast gig where I had a video feed and walkie talkie for stage, Canford for video dudes. 100m of multi, so very far away (like in Fr. Ted). Walkie talkies were useless once the PA was in full swing. Some hairy moments! Fun though

Pa the Blah

mmmm want one

http://www.joeco.co.uk/main/BBR1_Summary.php

godfrey

the Alesis is a good machine no doubt, and available cheaply on eBay etc, but keep in mind it doesn't record .wav files, but instead it's own format. it does record linear files though, probably a .wav with a slightly different 'header', so quality is not the issue, but rather compatibility with DAW's. I'm sure they're easily converted though.

I'd love a look at the JoeCo units. .wav files, and they record to an external USB drive - couldn't be handier in my opinion.

I'm still using 2 Mackie HDR24/96 machines in my mobile studio, and love them. they come up occasionally on eBay (be sure they have the right i/o cards to suit you). on-screen editing which is not on the Alesis, .wav files, AND... it makes a new file for each track every 15mins, so on a live gig if everything fails, you won't have lost more then 15mins of the gig, as opposed to everything up to point of failure on some other systems. this rig has saved the day for HD rigs more then once, when the HD 'A' rig has fallen over and the Mackies kept rolling.

for bigger gigs, give me a shout? I have a 48tk mobile unit.

g

Pa the Blah

madtheory wrote: »

Probably much cleaner than a splitter. But assumes that the FOH engineer is OK with it!

9/10 times dealing with a pro foh, and you ask to take directs outs of a board you will be sent packing, they don't like throwing unnecessary links in the chain that could potentially cause problems and slowdown the sound check and workflow of an already pressured environment.

at some point You need to get an active splitter, can be expensive but as pointed out they come up on eBay, Multicore's are heavy! a Pain! but necessary! look into MADI interfaces there's a lot of development going on...its the future of multicores.

gl

madtheory

godfrey wrote: »

the Alesis is a good machine no doubt, and available cheaply on eBay etc, but keep in mind it doesn't record .wav files, but instead it's own format.

They come with a firewire drive bay, and a little Alesis program for your Mac/ PC. Conversion is as fast as copying WAVs from one drive to another.

Interesting about how the Mackie writes a new file every 15 mins. I'll do a test on the Alesis sometime and see what happens when there's a powercut during record.

studiorat

Otari Radar?

I use a full protools rig for recording live. Mix in the box and monitor through a headphone amp. I have a big stick for to keep the punters at bay.

I prefer using splitters most of the time.

Recorded in the Button factory last week, easy as pie. One digi link cable from the desk into the back of the PT rig and off we went. Simples.

FOH guys using digital seem to go at low very levels I've noticed.

Pa the Blah

studiorat wrote: »

FOH guys using digital seem to go at very levels I've noticed.

wha?

studiorat

Pa the Blah wrote: »

wha?

Oops! Typo, low levels. Compared to how they would drive an anlogue board.

madtheory

This is good. Red lights are not cool.

pistonsvox

I do FOH sound and recording for some low budget tv show too.

Im just hiring an Alesis HD24, split stage box, and two veam multis.

Would be handy if I had my own:pac:

pistonsvox

I have no mixer between the split box and the HD24...any gain control on the HD??

madtheory

No gain controls on the Alesis. Some splitters have gain controls, but the standard approach is to have a mixer.

pistonsvox

crappppppp.....name me a handy mixer I can rent for cheap??:pac:

pistonsvox

Meh...just gonna do this show as if its live again. Gonna be stressful but all we can afford:pac: