Help, Help, Help : I need to know what you use to record turntables!

Ok, I've recently started recording hip-hop bands, and I have no idea what to do when I record Turntables. I use all ADATs and Reel-to-Reels, and I have no computer interfaces. So, I've got some questions, and I'd like yer opinions :

1. Stereo or Mono?

2. Do you use some sort of DI, Mixer outs, or do you Mic an Amp? I know, different sounds, different feel, but I'm no good at scratching, so I can't experiment.

3. Do you use a different needle to record, than when you play live?

4. When recording a live Jam (In studio), do you plug groove or beat boxes into the DJ Mixer as well?

Thanks - John

I'm not an authority, so don't take my word as such, but I can offer you what I know from my own experience.

1. Stereo would be my first guess, but since you're recording a whole group, not just a DJ, my advice would be to use your best judgement. I figure, you can always convert stereo to mono in the mixdown process, but you can't convert mono to true stereo, as you're well aware.

2. Most mixers have multiple outputs, and assuming there is a DJ behind the turntables, in order to hear what they're really doing you'll need to hear how they are mixing, thus, I'd say use the mixers outputs, and just experiment with the levels before you really start recording.

3. For your needles, (in relation to recording) it just depends on what frequency range you're going to need. Different needles offer different ranges. My advice would be to try looking at several, and narrow it down to a few that offer the range you're looking for, then approach your DJ with those choices and see what their preference is. You can find websites for most of the major manafacturers, shure, stanton, and ortofon would be my top 3 - in no particular order.

4. You can certainly plug those other toys into the mixer, and again, that will depend on the DJs preference. I'm sure it would be nice to have them available just in case. Of course, they should also work equally well straight into the console. Just a matter of preference.

Ultimately, there is no right way to do this stuff. It's all about what works for you. If this is something you plan on doing for a long time, it won't hurt you at all to invest in all of the above, so that way in the future you'll already have it available to use or not.

I thought I'd mention, as an afterthought, that when I record mixes at home, I just run RCA cables directly from my mixer to a minidisc recorder, and then once recording is done, I run the minidisc into my computer and do my post mixing and mastering there. Hope I've been of some help.

Don't record them off of an amp or cabinet like a guitar. Get a straight signal from the mixer.

Have you got it figured out yet?