How should I intergrate my practice & recording system.

[slap-a-da-bass]

Hey,

My band has recently started recording our practices using my Tascam US-1641. Here's what I have going in:

1. Lead Guitar
2. Rythm Guitar
3. Lead Vocal
4. Backing vocal
5. Bass
6. Kick
7. Snare
8. OH

From my 1641, I feed my studio monitors from 1/2 outputs & I currently use 3/4 (1/4" TRS) to phono plugs into my mixer (media in). I use the EQ & mixer on my recording software, and it works ok, but it would be much easier to use the live mixer for practice volume.

Is there a way to do this with out changing the input levels on the recording interface? I was thinking I could use the inserts out to feed the preamps on the interface, but then I'm introducing another gain stage. I imagine that would cause problems & noise. I don't know if the inserts are pre or post EQ.

Any ideas how to intergrate the two systems? or isn't this done?

Thanks,

 

[Wes Whitmore]

Inserts on mixers are usually post gain stage, pre everything else. A split snake would allow you to adjust each device separately without effecting the other. If you use the inserts of the live mixer to feed the Tascam, any adjustment to the live mixer's input gain will effect the volume of the Tascam input channel as well. A split snake is really the only way to keep them independant. If you know you wont be adjusting the input gain of the live mixer, then just use an 8ch TRS to TRS snake from your live mixer inserts to the tascam. If you do adjust them, buy a split snake.

-edit- You can't use aux feeds or sub outs because you probably don't have 8 of them and I assume you want to capture 8 separate tracks, and you want to capture them pre EQ and process each later. A sub out would be Post EQ, which you aren't looking for.
Wes

 

[slap-a-da-bass]

I'm thinking once the gain is set on the board, I wouldn't be changing it.

If I use the inserts, I should be looking for an 8ch TRS/XLR snake? sound right? Otherwise I should look for a 8ch split snake?

Seems it would just be better to use a split snake & avoid stacking the gain structure.

Will this work?

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I was looking at a snake splitter, and for my purpose it seems to be quite pricey. I don't need the box, just the XLR splitter. The snake at least $300, 8 Y splitters & the extra cables would get up there too...mabye $200. Again pretty pricey for my simple quest, in my basement.

Is there something I'm missing on the splitter, or do they not make what I'm looking for?

 

[Wes Whitmore]

After looking a little at that Tascam unit, you might be confined to the splitter idea just because that Tascam doesn't have inserts. Without it, I don't think you can return the audio signals back to the live mixer. What is your live mixer?

Wes

 

[duderasta]

why even go through the outboard mixer you have plenty of I/O you can send it back out to the PA after the interface, and why use 1/2 out for monitors and not monitor outs? adding the mixer into the signal chain is just going to be adding more noise and headaches, If you set up a session template in your DAW software with the channel levels set, and everything sounding how you want, it shouldn't require any further attention, just open the the template and you should be good.

 

[slap-a-da-bass]

I don't have a real need for the split snake, so I'm going to just keep working with my current set up.

I did have a question though, what is the difference between monitor outs & Line out 1 & 2? Does 1 & 2 ultilize the software EQ, inserts, etc. and the monitor right off the preamp? And why would I want one over the other? I'm really new at this.

Thanks

 

[duderasta]

I don't have a real need for the split snake, so I'm going to just keep working with my current set up.

I did have a question though, what is the difference between monitor outs & Line out 1 & 2? Does 1 & 2 ultilize the software EQ, inserts, etc. and the monitor right off the preamp? And why would I want one over the other? I'm really new at this.

Thanks

probably not much difference really, the monitors and main mix have different level controls, I don't really get the 4 mix out thing, unless you are gonna bounce to a four track tape machine lol, most stuff just used adat out these days

 

[slap-a-da-bass]

I use the 1st out for my studio monitors, while working on the mix, and send 3/4 to my live mixer for monitoring purposes during band practice...for live use.