Topic: Can someone suggest good way to record from soundboard to laptop

[shoestringconcerts]

I do alot of permission filming in and around hollywood.  alot of small bands.  i use multiple cameras and an external mic plug in for the 'stage' cam and it records decent aud sound.  I know most boards will not give me great sound but i wll allow me options. 

I have a small sony vaio laptop and it has mic, firewire and usb inputs.

i know i will need an XLR> mic wire to the laptop
what software should i use

is there anything i should put between the board and laptop?

is there an inexpensive portable recording device i could use for this.  i dont want to spend $200 on an edirol or something like that

i am looking for a solution under $100 for now. 

Thanks

[Church-Audio]

I do alot of permission filming in and around hollywood.  alot of small bands.  i use multiple cameras and an external mic plug in for the 'stage' cam and it records decent aud sound.  I know most boards will not give me great sound but i wll allow me options. 

I have a small sony vaio laptop and it has mic, firewire and usb inputs.

i know i will need an XLR> mic wire to the laptop
what software should i use

is there anything i should put between the board and laptop?

is there an inexpensive portable recording device i could use for this.  i dont want to spend $200 on an edirol or something like that

i am looking for a solution under $100 for now. 

Thanks

If your laptop has pcmcia slot try and find a  used digigram vx pocket if you can find one used they go for about $100 used. They have XLR inputs and are line in level inputs. You can make adapters to go to 1/4 and xlr for soundboards that have 1/4 outputs.

[earmonger]

The problem with a soundboard in a club is that it may not have all the band going through the PA--particularly the drums, but also possibly the bass and guitar. You'll get a recording with the singer WAY UP FRONT.

There is free stereo recording software, Audacity, for laptops. It's stereo, and will record from your laptop.

The mic input on your laptop is almost guaranteed to be mono. Stereo is probably better.

I don't know anything about the gadget recommended by Chris Church, but he's a serious audio guy, so it's worth checking out.  A gadget I have used is the Griffin iMic, about $25-30, an external soundcard that has stereo inputs and connects to USB. Despite the i-prefix, it works with Windows too.  You'd connect it via USB, go into Audacity settings to recognize it, and you'd get clear two-channel recordings. It has a 1/8" mic plug, no XLR.

[shoestringconcerts]

Thank you for the info
for the money the Digigram vxpocket 440 looks like the way to go its available new on ebay for $165. 
and from what i read it looks like i could record up to 4 individual tracks. 
my main laptop does have the right pcmcia but the small one i just bought it appears to be damaged or not have it. 

you have given me ideas and a starting point, again thanks!

[JoeRay]

I also do a lot of filming with my Canon 5DMKII and I use SOUND FORGE PRO 10 by Sony.  It's a 2 channel mastering software that works great live especially if you can get a digital out into firewire or USB.  Hope this is of help.  JoeRay

[akram]

well i do not think so that Sony vaio has this board plug in slaut...you should have to use some other device available in the market/

[ryang]

Any usb recording interface should suit your purposes just fine as well.  I paid $100 for a used Lexicon Lambda awhile back for semi-portable use.

[steve1234]

i think u better try to search for it from google  .... u will get the best idea from there i believe

[runonce]

$79.00

http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/USBDualPre/

USB Preamp/Interface with 2 x XLR/TRS Inputs, 2 x TRS Outputs, Phantom Power, Monitor, Mix, and Level Controls

[sunjan]

+1 on the Art Pre, cheap and simple.
Depending on how new the Vaio is, it probably won't have a PC-Card slot, otherwise it's also an option.