Live "off-the-floor" session....

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koma
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2012/09/02 16:45:45 (permalink)

Live "off-the-floor" session....

Good afternoon boys and girls! Hope everyone is enjoying the long weekend! I'm doing my first remote "live-off-the-floor" session next weekend and I just want to pick your brains to make sure I'm thinking this right. We'll have stereo keys, 2 guitars and 3 voices. My interface is a Presonus FP10 and then we're going to the house PA. For maximum flexibility, I was going to go into the interface to separate tracks in SONAR (X1d), send each track to its own bus, take the individual bus outs to separate outs of the interface, then take those outs to individual channels of the house sub-mixer. I'll be connected to my ACER laptop, running Windows 7, via firewire. Is this do-able? Is there anything I'm missing? Will there be any big latency issues? My interface is in for repairs right now so I can't set things up yet. They have promised me that either it'll be fixed on time or they'll loan me a like unit. Any and all help/thoughts/comments are welcome!! Thanks! Dave

Ciao, Dave
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    Jeff Evans
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    Re:Live "off-the-floor" session.... 2012/09/02 17:13:40 (permalink)
    Hi Dave. The way you are intending to go about it could cause some issues and if anything goes wrong with the computer setup it will effect the PA out front. Sounds like the latency of the computer may be also be involved which is not a good thing either.

    The ultimate way to do it is to have mic splitters with two outputs for each input and feed two separate mixers or the PA mixer and the FP10 at the same time. (A second mixer can be used for recording alone as long as it has individual outs for each input for recording purposes) The stereo keys should go into a twin/stereo DI first then connect the 600 ohm balanced output to the splitter or PA. Record the keys in stereo if you can. Many synths offer nice stereo imaging and sometimes the patch is worth recording in stereo.

    The next best method is to connect all your input sources to the PA mixer (first) and try and find a way to get each input channel of the PA mixer out separately to your recording setup or interface. This may be easy or hard depending on the PA mixer. Does it have direct outs on the back for each channel.  (you will be using the line inputs on your FP10 now not the Mic Pres)  Aux sends are a way of getting individual input signals out to a recording as long as you are not using them for what they are intended of course. But you need a few to do this.

    Another option is if the PA mixer has insert points for each channel then it is possible to make leads that when inserted into those insert points still allow the signal to flow on in the input channel but also feed a signal out to your recording setup. (line inputs on your FP10 in this situation as well) The only issue here is that the signal being sent from the insert points may be effected by things you do on the PA mixer. Certainly the mic pres in the PA mixer will effect the signal being sent but also the channel fader and EQ may effect the signal being sent as well. (depending on where the insert points are in relation to the signal flow)

    A good idea is to find out the exact brand and model of the PA mixer and go to their website and download the manual. It will show the block diagram and signal flow and you will be more prepared when you get there.

    Other obvious things are keep the foldback levels (and FOH) down to a point where they are still good but not causing too much spill in the recording. Recording with a PA involved is OK as long as you take care.
    post edited by Jeff Evans - 2012/09/02 19:04:24

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    koma
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    Re:Live "off-the-floor" session.... 2012/09/02 19:51:07 (permalink)
    Hey Jeff, thanks for the reply. Unfortunately I don't have access to a splitter, nor does my local music store, but I do have a balanced patchbay (Behringer Ultrapatch Pro) that I can configure as a splitter. I would need to pick up a couple of XLR to TRS adapters. Would that do? None of the mixers that we have access to have direct outs. The closest is my Mackie with channel inserts, but that opens another can-o'-worms (like you mentioned). I am very familiar with the sub mixer going to the FOH system 'cause I have been there before and used the system. No inserts, no direct outs - 24 X 2 with 2 aux/mon sends. We won't have to worry about monitors 'cause we'll be pretty close together while we're performing. I am bringing an assistant, my son, to help with monitoring levels and pushing buttons. He's done some of this stuff before with me on live gigs. Ciao, Dave

    Ciao, Dave
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