The easiest and cheapest option is to run an rca from your mixer's master out into the line in on your computer. Download "Audacity", which lets you tweak the bitrate and all that good stuff. If you have a MAC, I recommend Audio Hijack Pro for 30 bucks.

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Audacity also runs on the Mac, and it's free I use sound studio pro on the Mac, which isn't free but it's very nice indeedy.

Make sure your laptop has a "line" input and not a "mic" input. A mic input has a pre-amp, and will sound awful (and you COULD potentially damage the input).

For an external recorder, look into something like the Samson Zoom H2 (which is what I have). Costs $199, and let's me record up to 6 hours in CD quality onto an SD card (and many more in MP3). Most MP3 players I've seen that can record aren't very good at it.

quote:

Originally posted by miamitranceman The easiest and cheapest option is to run an rca from your mixer's master out into the line in on your computer. Download "Audacity", which lets you tweak the bitrate and all that good stuff. If you have a MAC, I recommend Audio Hijack Pro for 30 bucks.

Cool guys, thanks for the advice! Ill get a laptop with a line out socket then!

Line-IN socket

There are also some cheap USB interfaces you can get if you need to.

quote:

Originally posted by Zombikiller Cool guys, thanks for the advice! Ill get a laptop with a line out socket then!

If your laptop only has a mic input you can use an "L-Pad" resistive attenuator circuit to knock down the line-level output from the mixer by about 40 to 50 db. You might need to build your own L-Pad as they're not very common these days.

I used a L-Pad to record from a rock band performance - their mixer to L-Pad to my video camcorder mic-input - worked nice - I made them a music video with better sound than you get from a microphone.

The audio inputs on most laptops will not give high quality results but might be good enough. External sound card will be better - like an Echo Indigo IO or a USB or Firewire card.

Guys,

Heres the spec for the laptop im after, i take it its has a line-in socket?

General

Platform Technology Intel Centrino Duo
System Type Notebook
Built-in Devices Stereo speakers, wireless LAN aerial
Width 35.8 cm
Depth 26.9 cm
Height 3.6 cm
Weight 2.9 kg
Localisation United Kingdom

Processor

Processor Intel Core Duo T2350
Multi-Core Technology Dual-Core
Data Bus Speed 667 MHz
Chipset Type Mobile Intel 945PM Express
Cache Memory
Type L2 Cache
Installed Size 2 MB

RAM

Installed Size 2 GB / 4 GB (max)
Technology DDR II SDRAM
Configuration Features 2 x 1 GB
Storage Controller
Type Serial ATA
Serial ATA Interface Serial ATA-150
Storage
Hard Drive 160 GB - Serial ATA-150
Optical Storage
Type DVD±RW (+R double layer) / DVD-RAM - integrated
Card Reader
Type 5 in 1 card reader

Display

Display Type 15.4" TFT active matrix
Max Resolution 1280 x 800 ( WXGA )
Widescreen Display Yes
Colour support 24-bit (16.7 million colours)
Features CrystalBrite

Video

Graphics Processor / Vendor NVIDIA GeForce Go 7300 TurboCache supporting 256MB - PCI Express
Video Memory GDDR2 SDRAM - 64 MB
Max Allocated RAM Size 192 MB

Audio

Audio Output Sound card
Compliant Standards Sound Blaster Pro, High Definition Audio
Audio Input Microphone
Input Device(s)
Type Keyboard, touchpad, 4-way scroll button

Telecom

Modem Fax / modem
Max Transfer Rate 56 Kbps
Protocols & Specifications ITU V.92
Features Wake on Ring

Networking

Networking Network adapter
Wireless LAN Supported Yes
Wireless NIC Intel PRO/Wireless 3945ABG
Data Link Protocol Ethernet, Fast Ethernet, IEEE 802.11b, IEEE 802.11a, IEEE 802.11g
Remote Management Protocol DMI 2.0
Features Acer SignalUp
Compliant Standards IEEE 802.11b, IEEE 802.11a, IEEE 802.11g, Wi-Fi CERTIFIED

Expansion / Connectivity

Expansion Slots Total (Free) 2 ( 0 ) x memory ¦ 1 ( 1 ) x PC Card - type II
Interfaces 4 x Hi-Speed USB - 4 PIN USB Type A ¦ 1 x display / video - VGA - 15 pin HD D-Sub (HD-15) ¦ 1 x modem - phone line - RJ-11 ¦ 1 x network - Ethernet 10Base-T/100Base-TX - RJ-45 ¦ 1 x audio - SPDIF output/headphones/line-out - mini-phone stereo 3.5 mm ¦ 1 x microphone - input - mini-phone 3.5mm ¦ 1 x audio - line-In - mini-phone 3.5mm

Miscellaneous

Features Security lock slot (cable lock sold separately), administrator password, system password, wake on LAN
Compliant Standards ACPI 2.0

Power

Power Device External
Voltage Required AC 120/230 V ( 50/60 Hz )

Battery

Technology 6-cell Lithium Ion
Installed Qty 1
Run Time (Up To) 2.5 hour(s)
Operating System / Software
OS Provided Microsoft Windows Vista Home Premium
Software Adobe Acrobat Reader, Norton AntiVirus, Acer Launch Manager, NTI CD-Maker, CyberLink PowerProducer, Acer GridVista, Acer Arcade, Acer Empowering Technology

Thanks!

Yes, it has a line-in (according to the specs you listed).

Has anyone actually used Audacity under Vista?

Also, from my experience, the Acer Empowering stuff that it comes with is a pain in the ass and completely superfluous. I'll just leave it at that and mention that Vista and I don't get along.

Ill be loading XP onto it, dont like Vista in the slightest

quote:

Originally posted by Zombikiller Ill be loading XP onto it, dont like Vista in the slightest

+1

I wouldn't get Vista until SP1 comes out, and even then...

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quote:

Originally posted by Dojomaster26 +1 I wouldn't get Vista until SP1 comes out, and even then...

I unfortunitely have Vista. It works for a few days or hours and then it either blue screens or just freezes, so I have to restart my computer manually. Not all of my hardware is completely Vista ready, so that my be the problem.but not all the manufactures have new drivers. I took a chance getting it with my new computer because I already had a computer with XP (which is now my dads) so I didn't really want to have to repurchase it (essentially) and new games use DX10. They probably will run better on DX9, but my video card was made for DX10. Just waiting for SP1...hopefully it will fix the compatibility issues and the freezing.

To the thread starter, I have a Nomad Jukebox 3 that works very well for recording. It does WAV, MP3 and WMA....good sound quality. I also have a Zen V Plus and it works fine but only does 128/160 kbps MP3s. It actually sounds decent. You don't have to normalize the tracks like you do on the 5 year old Nomad. Both are by Creative.