Concert/Band Audio Recording

Smifis said:
You what you're saying is that a "hardwired" solution such as the Alesis HD24 will be more reliable and cheaper than a computer based solution?

If that is the case, are there any cheaper alternatives to Alesis's HD24. I am on a very small budget i'm afraid and would struggle to buy a HD24, but i'd be able to if i have to.
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An Alesis HD24 IS the cheapest solution to getting 24 tracks reliably recorded live. By the time you put together a PC-based system to do the same job, it will cost a lot more.

Don't forget, you've also yet to get 24 discrete line level signals from your PA desk to the recorder - whatever it is, and that's an additional cost.

Would daisy chaining about 4 4 channel firewire interfaces to a laptop be a bad idea?
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It's an entirely unecessary idea. ONE firewire interface is capable of delivering 24 channels. For example, my rig is based on a Focusrite Saffire Pro 26 which is capable of pushing 26 channels down a single firewire cable - 8 mics, 16 ADAT lightpipe and 2 SPDIF. I frontend the Saffire with a Soundcraft Digital 328 desk which outputs the 16 ADAT and 2 SPDIF.

Now, I've never used it live in this way and I'm not convinced it would be reliable enough to record all 26 tracks consistently on a live gig.

Bottom line - if you can't afford an HD24, then you can't afford to record 24 tracks. You'll be much better off as has been suggested earlier by coming out of the groups and record 8 tracks via a firewire interface to your PC plus a stereo ambience track on your wide camera. A mix of those ten tracks will be more than adequate for most purposes.
 
ceejay7777 said:
It's an entirely unecessary idea. ONE firewire interface is capable of delivering 24 channels. For example, my rig is based on a Focusrite Saffire Pro 26 which is capable of pushing 26 channels down a single firewire cable - 8 mics, 16 ADAT lightpipe and 2 SPDIF. I frontend the Saffire with a Soundcraft Digital 328 desk which outputs the 16 ADAT and 2 SPDIF.
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You've missunderstood what i meant.

e.g. liking up 3 of these http://www.dv247.com/computer-hardw...in-14-out-firewire-recording-interface--22278
 
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Smifis said:
You've missunderstood what i meant.
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Actually I did understand, I just don't believe it's necessary when one unit will do the job. Also, multiple units fighting for the same bandwidth is not a real good idea.

Like I said, I wouldn't trust a PC to handle all of that data reliably whether it's one unit or multiple units - the HD24 is still the best option unless you want to invest in a Pro Tools HD!!
 
You also cannot daisy chain most USb interfaces, for multiple reasons. And having a mac does not change anything. We have presented 2 options both of them are field tested and will work. For reliable audio there are no good shortcuts.
 
Every studio I know that does live recordings has a laptop-based setup. The hd recorders recommended above are a bit outdated. A Mac based laptop recording system is just as reliable and you go straight into ProTools which makes the work flow very convenient.

So basically, you'd go mics --> mixing desk --> direct outs --> Firewire interface --> MacBook Pro.
 
I have done live sound recording professionally and have worked in multiple protools studios. The issue in this case is that a 24 channel pro tools rig is a lot more than $3000, probably running you over $10,000. Also dedicated hardware recorders, like the HD24, are not outdated and you will see them used in my professional's kits because they just work, every time.

I personally use a laptop based system for my location gigs but I made my choice because I wanted to use the rig in a studio situation as well as a live one. I still recommend the Presonus rig that I posted earlier.
 
In which case is there something that will accept a line signal and not microphones as i already have preamps.
 
I totally disagree with anyone who downplays the HD24 as outdated. That puppy is rock solid, production ready, and highly portable for what it does. Just plug it in, connect all your lines into the direct outs of the soundboard, and your good to go with full confidence.
 
By the way ... dredging this thread up again ...

If anyone else thinks that dedicated hardware recorders are "obsolete", January's Sound On Sound magazine has a review of a new one - the JoeCo BlackBox Recorder.

The basic unit is twice the price of an HD24 though!!!!
 
The HD24 isn't exactly expensive for a big box of electronics - software seems cheaper but it assumes you have a suitable computer to hand. Factor in the cost of that and the HD24 is quite cheap.

I don't use mine much nowadays, BUT computers are just dangerous once they are installed with all the other software people put on them. A computer with a single piece of software rarely gives trouble - but who has a computer dedicated to one single item of software? My HD24 has never let me down, computers frequently do!
 
I have 3 computers, one is dedicated video editing, one is dedicated encoding and one is my mess around computer XD
 
What if you only need one or 2 channels but not tryning to wire t0 the camera. Jus need to record the beat that plays. And the rappers mic. the h4n work?
 
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