Mixing Board through Computor

Might be better off to suggest a table top recorder. Folks who don't like computers and don't use them are not going to get any joy from using one to record... it just won't happen.

I have a friend who recorded an entire album by himself, with guitars, bass, drums, keyboard, vocals, and misc. percussion, with a Roland 8-track hard disc recorder, built-in CD burner. It sounds better than anything I've ever recorded with my computer rig, and I bet it never crashed in the middle of a take or editing session.

Unless his board has a USB or FireWire port he will have to buy an interface.

Mike

I haven't used any of the interfaces geared toward laptops, but there are lots of options available. The most serious options use PC/Express cards with or without breakout cables/boxes, or Firewire. If he's using an interface, he should get something with the right kind of analog audio inputs and good A/D/A conversion. The alternative is to use a digital audio connection into the interface, but that's best done when a clock connection can be made between the board and the interface to synch their clocks -- hence the simpler approach of the former option; everything has analog.

Depending on the processing power of his laptop probably a firewire device of some sort will be the most versatile option. though having said tha there are some good USB options too.

Things to consider.
1. Budget always set this first.
2. Number of simultaneous audio inputs needed. Are you recording 1 mic at a time or gutiar etc et c or do you need enough inputs to record a live drum kit. You get the idea.
3. Do you need mic pre-amps - he has a mixer so that shouldn't be necessary as he can take a line or several out from the mixer.
4. MIDI IO - does he need to have this provision There are distinct advantages to having it all in one box. ie MIDI and Audio IO. Saves on space and power connectors etc.
5. Does it all need to be portable.
6. think about where you might be 1 year from now. Good to think about it now so you can at least try to future proof the money you spend on equipment.
7. Software. If you're all shariing files then you should all have the same software as an ideal. At least make sure that whatever you all use can import and export each others broadcast .wavs