Topic: So I am pulling from the Soundboard for the first time

[Morris]

And I am absolutely clueless to how I can do this. I've searched for topics and they've been helpful but I really need step by step for this because I've only dealt in Stealth Recording before. I am doing this for a friends band. I'm not so sure that the venue he's having me record at will have the drums mic so I will be stealth recording it as well and putting it all together.

Basically the gear I have at my disposal are CA-11 microphones, ST-9100 preamp, an iRiver iHP-120 w/ RockBox and an Edriol R-09HR.

Naturally I will be using some of this to stealth record but what else do I need (I'm getting my friend to find out what cable the soundboard takes).

My Edirol I've lent to a friend for the moment so I don't have it to look at but I'm assuming I can go straight into it without a preamp before hand and go through the input jack? What do I then press? Just record and it does it all itself?

Sorry for the not so technical speak, I don't talk taping all that often. If I've left any vital information out please tell me.

[Belexes]

Most board feeds I have taken have been L/R Female XLR > 1/8" stereo mini > Input on the deck.  No pre.  For your case, set the HR at around 40 (unity) and have the sound man adjust the faders so that you peak around -12 to -6 dB, 24 bit.

Other outputs on boards can be RCA and 1/4" jacks. 

Sometimes the signal from the board can be very hot and then attenuators need to be used.

[Morris]

But basically it's as easy as I think it is? Thanks for your help.

[trustthex]

pretty much, set it and forget it at that point. 

[Morris]

DERP.

I took the XLR to Mini cable I had and it turns out the board was RCA. Noob mistake. Thanks for your help anyways guys.

[Belexes]

Bring all your cables you have for board patching...never know what you'll need sometimes.

[dgale]

Basically the necessary sbd patch kit when you don't know the specifics of the board are XLR>your recorder, plus RCA>your recorder and also bring two  1/4" mono>RCA adapters in case the feed is 1/4" instead of RCA.  As far as running a small recorder with an 1/8" stero mini input off a balanced (XLR) feed...you need to make sure you get the sound person to turn the feed way down or you will brickwall the recording - I don't know the specifics of the smaller portable HD recorders but the rule of thumb with the Sony D8 and similar small DAT decks was your levels should be set >=5 on the level knob - anything lower than that needed to get the levels where you want them and you should have the sbd feed turned down to avoid clipping.  Of course the best bet is a recorder with a balanced input.

[Brian Skalinder]

Check the Cables forum for more details on the various cables/connectors/adapters you need in a soundboard patch "kit".