Topic: need help upgrading my setup for STEMS [ToraTapes]

[ToraTapes]

Hi all,

Over the past year and a bit, I’ve been recording some awesome shows from King Gizzard, Gong, and a few others in Australia, Europe and the US. You can check them out here on Archive.org and here on YouTube.

I’ve been using CA-14s with my Zoom F3, which have been working really well for me so far. I’ve also been doing SBD recordings mixed with a little Tascam DR-05 for matrices. Recently, I’ve recorded a few local gigs for this amazing band called Heath that I absolutely love. However, their soundboard mixing isn’t the greatest—the mix-out often has one or two instruments too loud (not noticeable in the room).

Because of this, they’ve asked if I could record stems of their shows. To my understanding, stems are separate recordings of each instrument. From what I know, their soundboard doesn’t allow for digital output via USB or similar (I think?), and my little Zoom F3 doesn’t have enough XLR ports to support all their instruments, let alone vocals. 😉 So, I believe I’d need an upgrade for that.

What would you recommend for stem recording upgrades? I’ve been getting more requests from local gigs, and I think I could start doing stem recordings more often.

Also, am I using the term “stems” correctly here? 🤔

Thanks in advance for the help!

[if_then_else]

Hi all,

Over the past year and a bit, I’ve been recording some awesome shows from King Gizzard, Gong, and a few others in Australia, Europe and the US. You can check them out here on Archive.org and here on YouTube.

I’ve been using CA-14s with my Zoom F3, which have been working really well for me so far. I’ve also been doing SBD recordings mixed with a little Tascam DR-05 for matrices. Recently, I’ve recorded a few local gigs for this amazing band called Heath that I absolutely love. However, their soundboard mixing isn’t the greatest—the mix-out often has one or two instruments too loud (not noticeable in the room).

Because of this, they’ve asked if I could record stems of their shows. To my understanding, stems are separate recordings of each instrument. From what I know, their soundboard doesn’t allow for digital output via USB or similar (I think?), and my little Zoom F3 doesn’t have enough XLR ports to support all their instruments, let alone vocals. 😉 So, I believe I’d need an upgrade for that.

What would you recommend for stem recording upgrades? I’ve been getting more requests from local gigs, and I think I could start doing stem recordings more often.

Also, am I using the term “stems” correctly here? 🤔

Thanks in advance for the help!

Does the soundboard support DANTE or MADI?

[goodcooker]

Mixing consoles are all different and require different strategies. Some of them are as easy as downloading a driver and connecting USB to a laptop then recording each separate track into a DAW (after assigning input routing) but it sounds like the desk they are using doesn't have USB connectivity.

If their console has enough outputs you can route them individually to get what you want and either record them with a multichannel dedicated recorder - like the SD Mixpre or Zoom F series - or an interface and laptop.

OR

If you are in tight with the band get there at soundcheck and create your own prefader mix and assign it to the stereo outputs you want to use then you can use the gear you have but you won't have separate stems to mix later.

What kind of console is the band using? Is this for big clubs and the band needs 16 or more inputs? Are they using house gear at different venues?
How much are you willing to invest and carry to a gig - and do you have permission, access and space to go larger? I carry 4 big bags and a small table to gigs to do what you are describing (and record up to 18 tracks at once) but you don't HAVE to.

EDIT - I listened to a few of their tracks on Bandcamp. Neat band. I like it. Has a 70s progressive art rock vibe to it.

Without knowing more I would look at getting an interface like the Audient EVO 16. It has 8 preamps with smart gain and ADAT expansion to add more channels later. This, a laptop and a handful of splitter cables will do the trick.