Ok I searched this out already so this isn't just me being lazy and not checking to see if this was already answered...

What is the best (and cheapest way) to record a live set not straight to a recorder but so that you get the best live sound (eg can hear the soundsystem of the club, crowd etc)?

If anybody can help it could possibly save me A LOT of $, since right now I've heard that the best way is using a DAT recorder which is about 800 bucks +. Thanks.

You could go the MD route for something a bit more cheaper but it doesnt have the highest sound resolution

You'll also have to consider the purchase of a pair of cardioid mics ( pair = stereo ... but that's not a necessity when the sound isn't going to be perfect to begin with due to the live recording idea you have in mind ) .... you're looking at around 200 for a good mic

Thanks Jay. Sorry to bug you more but will most minidisc-walkman recorders do? And if so do I just hook up a good mic to one? Thanks again man...

quote:

Originally posted by Nou use a pair of mic's on either side of the stage facing the audience (or even better if you can work it, get them just infront of the stage) and then also record off the mixers record out too, then mix them down later (going to have to make sure you get them in sync to, as the mics most likely will have the sound delayed some). Then mix in either source where desired.

this is the best way imo. that way if the sound quality is horrible in places you can just turn up the direct recording. while still getting the crowd response to that exact part, and still capturing some of the atmospheric tones to the mix

razzi.

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just rent a dat recorder for the night.

quote:

Originally posted by Zombie0729 just rent a dat recorder for the night.

Really? Where can you rent one?

crowd noise gets picked up from the stylus..... i have countless recordings of me and you can hear the crowd.

Or alternatively get a mic, plug it in to the mic channel and leave it on but hidden all night (watch the level so it doesnt feed back)

quote:

Originally posted by djsizeup Thanks Jay. Sorry to bug you more but will most minidisc-walkman recorders do? And if so do I just hook up a good mic to one? Thanks again man...

Well you'll obviously have to get one that's record capable ( there are some that are playback only capable )
Now in regards to specific models no can do. I suggest you read up on the subject of MD's at http://www.minidisc.org/ and http://www.t-station.net/ they'll recommend models etc

quote:

Originally posted by Nou use a pair of mic's on either side of the stage facing the audience (or even better if you can work it, get them just infront of the stage) and then also record off the mixers record out too, then mix them down later (going to have to make sure you get them in sync to, as the mics most likely will have the sound delayed some). Then mix in either source where desired.

I'm not sure how you plan on doing this?
Have two MD recorders one direct from source and another crowd?

Because the other way would be to have a "pocket" mixing table ( a real one not a dj one ) and have the source and crowd mixes plugged into that. Unfortunately it's all mixed live and editing isn't really possible afterwards because you're doing a stereo recording and not a say 4 Multitrack ....

Even a little baby mixer like this would do

quote:

Originally posted by djsizeup Really? Where can you rent one?

Look in your yellow pages, there are a lot of companies that do just rentals of equipment, you could also consider asking your local music equipment shops.



But the reality of it is.... if you don't have the DAT's the mixer the high end mixes and such .... you're going to have a hard time achieving something usable ..... RADIO1 live sets are done by pros and look at the results they get when they try to get that whole live crowd vibe going :/

quote:

Originally posted by Freak Or alternatively get a mic, plug it in to the mic channel and leave it on but hidden all night (watch the level so it doesnt feed back)

That could work but can be very tricky especially if you're working with more then one dj cause people will be messing with levels etc :/
Now if you could assign the Mix input on the dj mixer to say an AUX in a way you would on a conventional sound mixer it could work ...

Thanks a lot everyone esp jay ur the man - I think I'm going with md and a mic that claims to handle sound as loud as it can get. I'll test it out first and if it sucks what the hell I'll settle for the lin in method. I wish I could do some of the other stuff you guys suggested but WAY too high tec for me... THANKS

quote:

Originally posted by Nou two MD's or recording devices would work, that or a laptop with a multi in external sound card and use Cool Edit or another multitrack recorder to get both. Wouldnt be that hard. I mean if he seriously wants to do it. Feeding in the mic channel is a good idea to in a pinch, but feed back and overpowering the recording might cause you trouble.

Yeah multitracking with a laptop heck even a regular computer ( you can get a multitrack PCI card for minimum 150 200 bucks these days I think ) would be one of the most convenient ways to go

Here's a little side story:
I knew this guy who did multitrack recordings of all the nights at this club in Pittsburgh that used to have a lot of headliners etc ... he had the whole line in + mic installation ... massive Apple laptop setup external SCSI hard drives even had some DI box and preamp and a nice mac laptop .... his kit must have cost around 3 or 4 grand at the time ... and all of it was archived so he's got years of sets that well NO ONE ELSE will ever hear!

myself, I would use a computer. I'd use a decent soundboard with hardware mixing that supports multiple record sources at once. some do, some dont.

Connect a feed from the mixer/soundsystem to the soundboards line in. Activate the linein and adjust its level accordingly.
Hook up a mic to the soundboards mic in. Activate this input also and adjust its level accordingly.

Or.. Use an old cheapie mixer with a mic input. hook up the DJs mixer to a channel of the cheapie mixer, hook up a mic to the cheapie mixer, and hook up the cheapie's main out to the recording device... adjust the mic and line levels for proper balance.

or, to be even more ghetto, one could use a Y-cable on the recorders input to connect both a line in source (the DJ mixer) and a microphone preamp and adjust the preamp such that the levels are proper.

regardless of what the recording device is you need a way to mix the mic's signal into the recording, one way or another.