Setting up a live recording rig... Any suggestions?

Runners_Dial_0 · Post by **Runners_Dial_0** » Thu Mar 06, 2008 11:04 am

Hey all -

We're gearing up to do a live album with a band in the next few weeks, and we're just grabbing some equipment. We're planning on using three MOTU 8-pre's to bring roughly 22 tracks into a MacBook Pro.

Since we'll be recording both nights of the live show, as well as some day-time practices, we're thinking about external hard drives as an option to (possibly) record to directly. Would a standard 7200 RPM drive be able to handle this? Any suggestions for some other things that may come in handy, or any advice?

sdemott · Post by **sdemott** » Thu Mar 06, 2008 11:48 am

I'd grab an ExpressCard eSATA card and go with external eSATA drives. I buy mine from WiebeTech (www.wiebetech.com). Throughput on eSATA is 3Gbps vs. the 800 Mbps of FireWire 800. More than enough bandwidth for 14 tracks and keep the internal FW bus clear for the audio interfaces. And yes, 7200rpm will be fine.

I use Metric-Halo Mobile I/O (MIO) interfaces and I can set them up to push a 2-track mix out through their digital outs to a CD-burner. The beauty of it is that even if the MBP craps the bed the MIOs keep their setting and keep pushing the 2-track mix to the CD-burner.

HTH

therealbigd · Post by **therealbigd** » Mon Mar 10, 2008 6:14 am

we use a macbook pro, with 3 MOTU 828 Mk2's (daisy chained). this gives us 30 channels. that tends to be enough!

if you're using a mixing desk, you dont need the 8pres, as it will already have pre-amps in the desk.

if you want to be able to do a PA mix, and send direct outs to the motus, i would recommend you DONT use the direct outs, as they are Post-Fader.

Instead, get some patchbays, with half-normal capability, and plug the 828 inputs into the send half of the insert.

valleysound · Post by **valleysound** » Tue Mar 11, 2008 12:09 am

Are you going to use a split snake to get your inputs?

Macinbowl · Post by **Macinbowl** » Tue Mar 11, 2008 11:16 am

I make recording of this scale 5 night a week. Here's my setup:

- Yamaha DM-2000 -> It's a great board for this purpose. I can split all my input and make my recording sound and my live mix. I send all my reording channel on direct out to one ADAT card and one analogue card.

- Fireface 8000 -> It can handle 28 input through the Firewire 800 port. Firewire 400 can take 24 input at 24bit/48k in a single firewire port without any problem. Many Motu interface can replace the FireFace. I prefer the sound of the FireFace personaly.

- MacBook Pro with a Lacie triple interface drive 7200 RPM. I run it on a firewire 400 port and never had any problem in more than a 100 recording now.

I record 26 track for 2h30 straight every night and never I had a problem.

Today's digital console really make the art of Live Recording easier. Pres sound better and you don't need the extra snake with split transformer and all that stuff. Depending on your budget, you have the choice of using the converter of either the console (that are not that bad generaly) or your interface depending on the the output option you have on the desk.

Hope this can help.

Good luck!!

Mat

Runners_Dial_0 · Post by **Runners_Dial_0** » Wed Mar 12, 2008 4:58 am

Thanks for all of the help, folks! Much appreciated. I'll definitely look into some of the things you've mentioned.