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How do i record shows onto my laptop?


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Hi -

 

probably you have all already answered this before, but i'm new... I've got a new laptop coming (a PC, unfortunately for music related stuff). Anybody have any advice on how to record shows (my own) onto it (through soundboard, preferably, as I have no mics). What do i need to do this?

 

thanks a lot.

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yea, without mics, you'll have to use an out from the board.

 

your best bet is a dual RCA (tape out) to an 1/8" (line in). if you have to use a mic in, make sure your level is QUITE low from the board, otherwise it'll distort like crazy.

 

AS

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When you're looking to go with a mic setup, the cheapest solution would be to buy an AudioBuddy preamp, a USB interface (Edirol UA-1A is good), and 1 to 2 Behringer ECM8000 condensors. My band has used a stereo setup on 2 of these mics, with an AudioBuddy and laptop, and got great results.

 

The UA-1A is USB and will provide 2 inputs, and bypass your [most-likely] crappy laptop audio card. The AudioBuddy is also 2 channels and provides phantom power for the condensors.

 

 

AudioBuddy: $80

http://www.musiciansfriend.com/srs7/sid=030819082947063149249065075375/g=home/search/d=tp?q=audiobuddy

 

Edirol UA-1A: $70

http://www.musiciansfriend.com/srs7/sid=030819082947063149249065075375/g=live/search/d=tp?q=ua-1a

 

ECM8000: $40/ea.

http://www.musiciansfriend.com/srs7/sid=030819082947063149249065075375/g=bass/search/d=tp?q=ecm8000

 

Total (2 mics): ~$230

 

With this setup you will need a cable that has 2 1/4" plugs to RCAs, to connect the audiobuddy outputs (1/4") to the UA-1A inputs (RCA).

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Originally posted by jjp72

thanks a lot - i'll check that out.

also, will a direct out form the board sound a lot worse than if it were mic'd?


thanks.

 

 

Depends what's going into the board. If you've got a comprehensive mix of every vocal and instrument, you can get a pretty good recorded mix. If you only mic up the vocals and some of the other instruments, you obviously won't get much of the unmic'd instruments recorded. Additionally, without any distant mics you won't get much 'live' ambience beyond what the vox and close mic's pick up. This may be good or bad depending upon what you're after.

 

Might be worthwhile to add a cheap small 4-6 channel mixer and a pair of mics. You can run the lines from the board, plus the two mics and submix this into the 'puter. Then you can control how much 'live' you want added to the recorded mix.

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