Topic: Recording a SBD feed with a PMD661

[ChadC]

I have not yet tried this but would like to have some info before I do.

Would it be best to connect using the XLR inputs or the 1/8" Line 2 input.

I also have a Edirol UA-5. Would it be possible to go SBD via RCA or XLR > UA-5 digital coax out > PMD661

[F.O.Bean]

Most serious SBD's have XLR & 1/4" OUTS. Some have RCA outs but not many. I would just go SBD>XLR>661 and be done with it You could also do SBD>XLR>UA5>Digi Coax>661 as well. Its really up to you. I like simplicity and its going to sound good either way as long as the SBD is decent and the Sound Engineer knows what hes doing

[justink]

Every sbd I have encountered has RCA outs most accessible. They may have other outs but they're usually taken. Just FYI.

[acidjack]

^ I see RCA and XLR most; 1/4" less so. You have to be prepared for anything.

Agree w Bean that with an SBD, I take a KISS (keep it simple, stupid) approach. Seems like a waste running it through a pre
Or other interface unless required.

[justink]

^ I see RCA and XLR most; 1/4" less so. You have to be prepared for anything.

Agree w Bean that with an SBD, I take a KISS (keep it simple, stupid) approach. Seems like a waste running it through a pre
Or other interface unless required.

I agree with all of this.

[DigiGal]

If your UA5 has a digimod then, yes you can go digital out of the UA5 directly to your PMD661 via S/PDIF.

Btw: You would not be limited to only take a soundboard feed with the UA5 as you can run a pair of your mics into the UA5 simultaneously and make an on-the-fly matrix recording combining sound board and mics.

[F.O.Bean]

Yeah, my local band has RCA outs, so I run mk21[onstage/NOS]>LB>M10 and SBD>RCA>M10. and syncing up in post is a breeze IMO!

[F.O.Bean]

If your UA5 has a digimod then, yes you can go digital out of the UA5 directly to your PMD661 via S/PDIF.

Btw: You would not be limited to only take a soundboard feed with the UA5 as you can run a pair of your mics into the UA5 simultaneously and make and on-the-fly matrix recording combining sound board and mics.

Great point too DG!

[Cheesecadet]

If your UA5 has a digimod then, yes you can go digital out of the UA5 directly to your PMD661 via S/PDIF.

Btw: You would not be limited to only take a soundboard feed with the UA5 as you can run a pair of your mics into the UA5 simultaneously and make an on-the-fly matrix recording combining sound board and mics.

I've seen others mention this on the fly matrix with a UA5 in the past...but how do you account for the mics delay?

[acidjack]

^^ you can't. And therefore, you are screwed unless you are up close.

[404 Not Found]

Have been using a PMD661 for a for some time now and have used both the 1/8 Line 2 Inputs as well as XLR without a problem.  Usually the Line 2 1/8" input was used when I had to use an RCA Tape Out from a board.  I always try and use the XLR In's on the 661 if I can, but now that I purchased a Sound Devices MixPre-D, I have only been running the AES out of the MixPre-D to the S/PDIF of the PMD 661 with amazing results! 

[fsulloway]

Most serious SBD's have XLR & 1/4" OUTS. Some have RCA outs but not many. I would just go SBD>XLR>661 and be done with it You could also do SBD>XLR>UA5>Digi Coax>661 as well. Its really up to you. I like simplicity and its going to sound good either way as long as the SBD is decent and the Sound Engineer knows what hes doing

not necessarily, especially in a small room. The sound guy will be mixing for the room not the recording. It's very possible that bass and guitar will be mostly left out of the mix if they fill the room without any help from the PA.

[404 Not Found]

Most serious SBD's have XLR & 1/4" OUTS. Some have RCA outs but not many. I would just go SBD>XLR>661 and be done with it You could also do SBD>XLR>UA5>Digi Coax>661 as well. Its really up to you. I like simplicity and its going to sound good either way as long as the SBD is decent and the Sound Engineer knows what hes doing

not necessarily, especially in a small room. The sound guy will be mixing for the room not the recording. It's very possible that bass and guitar will be mostly left out of the mix if they fill the room without any help from the PA.

Spot on in noting the "who is in and who is out" of the SBD mix, as this has happened to me many times forcing a mic'd recording when a 16+ member jazz big band has performed.  Some rooms and boards just do not have enough channels to mic everyone/everything and rely on the rooms acoustics. Happens often in Jazz with big horn sections having to share a few mic's on stage.

[DigiGal]

Most serious SBD's have XLR & 1/4" OUTS. Some have RCA outs but not many. I would just go SBD>XLR>661 and be done with it You could also do SBD>XLR>UA5>Digi Coax>661 as well. Its really up to you. I like simplicity and its going to sound good either way as long as the SBD is decent and the Sound Engineer knows what hes doing

not necessarily, especially in a small room. The sound guy will be mixing for the room not the recording. It's very possible that bass and guitar will be mostly left out of the mix if they fill the room without any help from the PA.

Spot on in noting the "who is in and who is out" of the SBD mix, as this has happened to me many times forcing a mic'd recording when a 16+ member jazz big band has performed.  Some rooms and boards just do not have enough channels to mic everyone/everything and rely on the rooms acoustics. Happens often in Jazz with big horn sections having to share a few mic's on stage.

A good justification for making a matrix recording instead of strictly a soundboard (provided that you can get your mics close enough to the stage so that the room delay is not objectionable).