Topic: Patching in to the soundboard

[ukj69]

I am going to be taping a show and have permission to patch my Hi-MD recorder to the SDB.  Is this the cable I need to do that?

http://www.radioshack.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2110469&cp=

[cleantone]

Welcome to the forum. You will find the search function very helpful. We would need more information. The type of input your recorder has and the make and model of the console. You most likely have an 1/8" input. The console will have either RCA, 1/4", or XLR outputs. RCA to 1/8" stereo mini jack is one cable you will want. Then you can either buy 1/4" male to RCA female adapters or another cable that is two 1/4" to an 1/8" stereo mini jack.

[ukj69]

Thank you for the info and yes, I have a 1/8" jack on the MD recorder, so then the link for the cable above would be the proper calbe, correct?

[willndmb]

http://taperssection.com/index.php/topic,34254.0.html

you can get everything for less then that cable you linked if you go with a different brand

[stantheman1976]

Do those RCA>XLR adapters work well?  Are there any issues with noise or anything?

[ukj69]

Thanks, and where can I purchase that cable?

[Brian Skalinder]

Thanks, and where can I purchase that cable?

I don't recall where I got mine.  Google will reveal lots of options.  Keywords like...

3.5mm rca cable
rca 1/4 adapter
rca xlr adapter

...will do the trick.

Alternatively, I know it was a little tricky knowing exactly what to look for and where to find it when I started out, so here are specific options at Markertek:

3.5mm stereo | 2 x RCA-male mono cable - only need one of these;  recommend 10' since you might not always be able to have your gear close to the soundboard
RCA-female mono | 1/4"-male mono adapter - you'll need two of these
RCA-female mono | XLR-female mono adapter - you'll need two of these

Other vendors may have better prices, different manufacturers, etc., but the above should do the trick.

Even though you already have permission from the band / sound engineer to patch, make sure you politely share with the sound engineer what you'd like to do / have permission for.  Only plug in the cables yourselves if he tells you to do so (highly unlikely), otherwise show him the cable / adapters and let him plug everything in (very likely).

[rokpunk]

Do those RCA>XLR adapters work well?  Are there any issues with noise or anything?

yes.
no.

[MSTaper]

I recently got a soundboard pull (the Fiddleworms from Muscle Shoals) and the engineer was very gracious. It helped that I knew him, but he had a 1/4 out and I had an adapted. He plugged in and I did my thing and stayed out of his way. It was a mono pull, but all instruments and vocals were crisp and clear in his mix. It sounds wonderful and when people complement me, I tell them it was the sound man. All I did was plug in and set the levels.

I did feel like I wasn't really taping in a way. I could have set up mics in a safe place dfc, but I wanted to try the soundboard pull since I don't get many around here. Not enough bands using boards in the bars and other times I just want to play with my mics and location.

But yeah, having the right cables/adapters is a must. I'm still amassing a collection.

MSTaper

[ukj69]

Thank you for the info. I appreciate all the help.

[intpseeker]

Thanks, and where can I purchase that cable?

I don't recall where I got mine.  Google will reveal lots of options.  Keywords like...

3.5mm rca cable
rca 1/4 adapter
rca xlr adapter

...will do the trick.

Alternatively, I know it was a little tricky knowing exactly what to look for and where to find it when I started out, so here are specific options at Markertek:

3.5mm stereo | 2 x RCA-male mono cable - only need one of these;  recommend 10' since you might not always be able to have your gear close to the soundboard
RCA-female mono | 1/4"-male mono adapter - you'll need two of these
RCA-female mono | XLR-female mono adapter - you'll need two of these

Other vendors may have better prices, different manufacturers, etc., but the above should do the trick.

Even though you already have permission from the band / sound engineer to patch, make sure you politely share with the sound engineer what you'd like to do / have permission for.  Only plug in the cables yourselves if he tells you to do so (highly unlikely), otherwise show him the cable / adapters and let him plug everything in (very likely).

Are most sbds female? I have the 3.5 to rca males and a 1/4 male adapter, and I was going to get 2 rca female to xlr male adaptors, thinking all the connections on the board are female.

[BradM]

Thanks, and where can I purchase that cable?

I don't recall where I got mine.  Google will reveal lots of options.  Keywords like...

3.5mm rca cable
rca 1/4 adapter
rca xlr adapter

...will do the trick.

Alternatively, I know it was a little tricky knowing exactly what to look for and where to find it when I started out, so here are specific options at Markertek:

3.5mm stereo | 2 x RCA-male mono cable - only need one of these;  recommend 10' since you might not always be able to have your gear close to the soundboard
RCA-female mono | 1/4"-male mono adapter - you'll need two of these
RCA-female mono | XLR-female mono adapter - you'll need two of these

Other vendors may have better prices, different manufacturers, etc., but the above should do the trick.

Even though you already have permission from the band / sound engineer to patch, make sure you politely share with the sound engineer what you'd like to do / have permission for.  Only plug in the cables yourselves if he tells you to do so (highly unlikely), otherwise show him the cable / adapters and let him plug everything in (very likely).

Are most sbds female? I have the 3.5 to rca males and a 1/4 male adapter, and I was going to get 2 rca female to xlr male adaptors, thinking all the connections on the board are female.

I think soundboard inputs are female, while their outputs are male. From what I've seen with XLR, producers of signal (like microphones and soundboard outputs) are male (go figure...) while consumers of signal (like pre-amp or soundboards inputs) are female.

Aloha,
Brad

[rokpunk]

inputs to a console are always female, outputs are always male.

[Brian Skalinder]

inputs to a console are always female, outputs are always male.

This definitely holds true for XLR connections.  But 1/4" mono and RCA?  I don't think I've ever seen a 1/4" mono male output, or an RCA male output.  But I have limited experience with soundboards.

[rokpunk]

inputs to a console are always female, outputs are always male.

This definitely holds true for XLR connections.  But 1/4" mono and RCA?  I don't think I've ever seen a 1/4" mono male output, or an RCA male output.  But I have limited experience with soundboards.

good point.
unless you are patching out of a POS Mackie/Behringer, etc..., chances are the outputs will be xlr's, but low end gear does still use 1/4" and occasionally RCA outputs for record out or monitor outs. even the crappiest of the crap use xlr's as main outs.

i always remond people to bring a sp/dif and an aes/ebu cable with them for board patches too. digital boards are here to stay, and popping up all over the place.