Digital Recording

[trackman]

Brothers (and sisters),

I'm looking for some type of recording gizmo that will allow me to plug into the board at church as well as take abroad and do some recording. The reason I need this is because I am now handling some of my church's web site resposibilities. I want to be able to post some sermons to the web site.

Eventually, I want to start posting video to the site as well, so if you have any suggestions in that direction I would gladly accept that as well.

This is for software and hardware...

[under13]

Why not just start with video? Its 2010, people would rather see a video than listen to audio.

[trackman]

I wanted to go straight to video, but the powers that be would like to have audio first. I just follow orders, but I've been working with Windows Movie Maker to see if it would be an easy thing to edit and place on the web site. If it's just as easy for video, I'll go straight to video...

[jlynnb1]

I wanted to go straight to video, but the powers that be would like to have audio first. I just follow orders, but I've been working with Windows Movie Maker to see if it would be an easy thing to edit and place on the web site. If it's just as easy for video, I'll go straight to video...

It's a shame you don't have a Mac, iMovie and Garageband are great starter apps for what you want to do.

So you need an interface and the program? Are you needing to do the actual recordings at church or are you transferring recordings to your comp?a

[JayP5150]

Just a heads-up. If you're running straight off the board to just a stereo device, the FOH mix will most likely NOT sound like what you need to go to tape (shut up... I still call it tape lol).

What I've seen done in the past, depending on your setup, is if you have a free aux send, use it as your output to your recording device, and then you can use that aux send on each channel to have  abetter mix going to your device.

If your board has montor sends, you can do that instead, but it's the same thing, basically.

You just need to be able to adjust the levels independently of the house mix.

It's very rare that you can pull straight from the mix and sound good (unless everyone is playing direct, with no stage-volume-producing amps, etc).

[JayP5150]

Just a heads-up. If you're running straight off the board to just a stereo device, the FOH mix will most likely NOT sound like what you need to go to tape (shut up... I still call it tape lol).

What I've seen done in the past, depending on your setup, is if you have a free aux send, use it as your output to your recording device, and then you can use that aux send on each channel to have  abetter mix going to your device.

If your board has montor sends, you can do that instead, but it's the same thing, basically.

You just need to be able to adjust the levels independently of the house mix.

It's very rare that you can pull straight from the mix and sound good (unless everyone is playing direct, with no stage-volume-producing amps, etc).

Let me clarify: if the board has monitor sends that aren't being used already.

You knew what I meant

[trackman]

Right now all I have is a laptop to do the editing with. I still need software (unless the packages that came with Vista are sufficient) and whatever hardware I'll need to get it produced right.

I want to be able to record live during service and pull from premade audio and video sources...

[elio]

Something I've done in the past and has worked well:
- hook up your laptop to an AUX send of your mixer, and make sure you get the right mix
- use http://audacity.sourceforge.net/ (free - great package) to record. You can export to pretty much any format
Shout if you've got questions

[trackman]

Okay, I appreciate all the input I've gotten so far, but does anyone have anysuggeastions as far as my video concerns? Eventually, I'll want to move into the video realm.

[JayP5150]

Most of your basic DAWs allow you to import video and sync up audio, but you need a separate device for video capture.

I usually just use windows movie maker to tack my finished audio to the video, though.

[trackman]

Most of your basic DAWs allow you to import video and sync up audio, but you need a separate device for video capture.

I usually just use windows movie maker to tack my finished audio to the video, though.

I've been messing with Movie Maker and it seems to be pretty decent for the level I am at now...

Thanks Guys!!!

[docjohn]

Jay,is it better to use aux out if you have a tape out?

[JayP5150]

Using an aux send just gives you the option to tailor the mix going to the recording without affecting the front of house mix. If you get an acceptable mix through the tape out, I'd say do it, as it IS simpler (since you wont have to set a secondary mix).

[phbrown]

Something I've done in the past and has worked well:
- hook up your laptop to an AUX send of your mixer, and make sure you get the right mix
- use http://audacity.sourceforge.net/ (free - great package) to record. You can export to pretty much any format
Shout if you've got questions

mmmMMmmm I love audacity!

In fact I do all the recording for my church through audacity using the tape out send. Sadly It doesn't get everything like me (the bass guitar) playing cause i'm not going direct oh well