Recording to computer

[cgchoate]

Sorry to keep bugging you w/ questions, but I've decided to record our services to computer. I think that combined w/ also recording to cd will give us ample backup, while also moving forward technologically. Question is how best to setup the computer.

We have a Mackie soundboard mixer and a marantz tape deck / cd recorder. Would it be best to record straight from soundboard to computer or from another source?

Here is my computer info. I will be using Audacity to record and edit. Not sure what kind of sound card I have, though.

Dell Optiplex GX240
Pentium 4
1.7 GHz processor
40Gb hard drive
512 ram
Microsoft XP Professional
NERO disc burning software
Roxio CD Creator

Thanks again,

[frokey]

What kind of audio inputs do you have on the computer? If it's basic, you're likely going to have to convert from 1/4" (or xlr) to a 3.5mm mini plug. If you've got a line out to spare on the mixer, I'd go straight from there. That would give you flexibility with adjustments without affecting anything else.

[daver2]

Ideally you would want to use an AUX out from the mixer desk if you have one spare. This would give you the benefit of being able to setup a separate mix for recording rather than piggy-back off a foldback or the main outputs.

Make sure you have a "decent" sound card in your PC. The number of times I have heard of poor sound quality, distortion or ground loops forming when people have connected up PC's is too many to count...

Audacity is a good start (i.e. it is free and does what it says on the tin).

We have recently moved over to "multitrack" recording and audacity is terrible for this. Audacity seems OK though for mono or stereo. For our 8 channel multitrack recording we are planning to use Reaper. This is a commercial package - but has a charity licence option which is quite reasonable.

Dave

[stevegoad]

Really, for most church's CD ministry, pulling a simple "house mix" works best. Instead of an Aux mix (which means you have to remix for recording) try coming off one of the sub mixes (if you have drums or other instruments not currently going through the house, you can put a mic on them and direct them ONLY through the sub mix so as not to change your house sound).

To avoid a ground loop, go from the board through a direct box before going into the computer. (I know, that means adding an adapter from XLR to 1/8" plug, but trust me, it works wonders for the sound).

Since you are using Audacity, this sort of thing will work pretty good.

[HKDJ]

Originally Posted by daver2

Ideally you would want to use an AUX out from the mixer desk if you have one spare. This would give you the benefit of being able to setup a separate mix for recording rather than piggy-back off a foldback or the main outputs.

Make sure you have a "decent" sound card in your PC. The number of times I have heard of poor sound quality, distortion or ground loops forming when people have connected up PC's is too many to count...

Audacity is a good start (i.e. it is free and does what it says on the tin).

We have recently moved over to "multitrack" recording and audacity is terrible for this. Audacity seems OK though for mono or stereo. For our 8 channel multitrack recording we are planning to use Reaper. This is a commercial package - but has a charity licence option which is quite reasonable.

Dave

Hello Dave,I done an hour 15 minute Service recording yesterday with Windows 7 Laptop using Audacity 7 Beta 1.3-12. After the Service was finished I clicked the Stop button and that was it. Could not playback,could not save the project file. Needless to say I lost it all. Had to Start the Task manager and end the program. Also I was running Easy Worship at the same time. However the Laptop has plenty of Ram and a seperate Graphics card with 2GB memory on it. Any suggestions has this lock up occurred with you?

[daver2]

Sorry to hear you are having problems.

We have used Audacity for about two years now on a homebuilt PC with Windows/XP SP3 and have never had it fail on us to my knowledge. We have some fun after midday as the virus scanner kicks in and we have limited RAM and a single processor so things grind to a bit of a halt unless we kill the scanner.

I would also be a bit careful about using Beta releases of software. I would have personally gone for the 'stable' release - although a friend of mine who sits at the next desk to me has just said that there is no stable release of audacity for Windows 7 (does than tell me something about this combination?) - I haven't checked his statement out for myself though so it may be rubbish.

My recommendation on other threads has been not to use the same PC for audio recording and video projection. We use Presentation Manager on our video PC and this is not the most stable of software - the video guys experience the odd crash now and then. Using a separate PC isolates us from each other.

I assume you have tried your audio recording setup off-line before using it live for a service? When you have used it at other times does it work reliably or not?

Dave

[HKDJ]

Originally Posted by daver2

Sorry to hear you are having problems.

We have used Audacity for about two years now on a homebuilt PC with Windows/XP SP3 and have never had it fail on us to my knowledge. We have some fun after midday as the virus scanner kicks in and we have limited RAM and a single processor so things grind to a bit of a halt unless we kill the scanner.

I would also be a bit careful about using Beta releases of software. I would have personally gone for the 'stable' release - although a friend of mine who sits at the next desk to me has just said that there is no stable release of audacity for Windows 7 (does than tell me something about this combination?) - I haven't checked his statement out for myself though so it may be rubbish.

My recommendation on other threads has been not to use the same PC for audio recording and video projection. We use Presentation Manager on our video PC and this is not the most stable of software - the video guys experience the odd crash now and then. Using a separate PC isolates us from each other.

I assume you have tried your audio recording setup off-line before using it live for a service? When you have used it at other times does it work reliably or not?

Dave

Thanks for the reply Dave, I haven't been able to duplicate the lock up scenario again. I may have done something wrong. I had a terrible sounding recording like there was a re verb. Had to go into the Realtec sound card and turn of noise suppression feature. You would think you would want that on. However that fixed the bad recording. Also I had to turn off the internal Microphone. I will do another 70 minute recording This Sunday.
At the end of the service I hit stop and Audacity started writing temporary files to the Hard drive. This took control away from Easy Worship for about 1 minute. I disabled that feature will see how it goes Sunday. Thanks again. Don