Topic: Recording from the soundboard - what do I need to know?

[drvinestein]

Hi, everyone!

I came here a few months back for some advice for a tape I was going to make and I was delighted with all the help I got and the wealth of knowledge that I found here.

Now, I have a new question....

I plan on going to a show at the Electric Factory on Halloween, and the band there gives out board patches.  Once again, same as last time, I expect to be the only taper, and I'd like to get a board patch for history's sake.  I don't have the world's best mic or the most fantastic deck, but what I do have is a handheld voice/tape recorder with an inlet for a mic or other wire (the regular headphone size hole).  So, what I'd like to know is what do I need to buy/bring to be able to get a patch from the board and record it onto my cassette recorder.  Don't make me use my condensor mic, it's just awful!!!

I want to share the audio with everyone, so look for it on etree.

Any help would be appreciated...  Thanks!!

-Don-

PS - so I don't get asked fifty times, the band is GWAR

[Sanjay]

most likely the band if they have a patchbox will have three things, rca, 1/4", and xlr outs.  If they don't have a patchbay they might only have xlr outs.  So you might want to email them and ask them directly what type of cord to bring so you dont buy alot.  But most times you'll just need a dual rca > 1/8" stereo plug cord which is about $5 from radio shack.  This is the easiest and cheapest way to go.

[bigears]

Hi, everyone!

I came here a few months back for some advice for a tape I was going to make and I was delighted with all the help I got and the wealth of knowledge that I found here.

Now, I have a new question....

I plan on going to a show at the Electric Factory on Halloween, and the band there gives out board patches.  Once again, same as last time, I expect to be the only taper, and I'd like to get a board patch for history's sake.  I don't have the world's best mic or the most fantastic deck, but what I do have is a handheld voice/tape recorder with an inlet for a mic or other wire (the regular headphone size hole).  So, what I'd like to know is what do I need to buy/bring to be able to get a patch from the board and record it onto my cassette recorder.  Don't make me use my condensor mic, it's just awful!!!

I want to share the audio with everyone, so look for it on etree.

Any help would be appreciated...  Thanks!!

-Don-

PS - so I don't get asked fifty times, the band is GWAR

Gwar is taperfriendly 

[drvinestein]

bigears-
They sure are!
http://db.etree.org/lookup_show.php?shows_key=213850
http://db.etree.org/lookup_show.php?shows_key=214066
http://db.etree.org/lookup_show.php?shows_key=214049
I've got the policy right here in case I've got to prove myself

[bl6216@yahoo.com]

Can you bring in a stand and all that cool shit or is just hand held.

[joeshambro]

just a quick item of interest, you'll want to get an attenuator cable if you're going into the mic in of an analog deck.  if not, the line level that the board gives out will overload your input.  an attenuator cable will take the signal and drop it down to a more manageable level. 

good luck!

[bigears]

bigears-
They sure are!
http://db.etree.org/lookup_show.php?shows_key=213850
http://db.etree.org/lookup_show.php?shows_key=214066
http://db.etree.org/lookup_show.php?shows_key=214049
I've got the policy right here in case I've got to prove myself

no big deal - I don't listen to them anyway

[SPLASTiK]

I was thinking about taping GWAR in November when they come here.
But I was too afraid that my gear would get splattered in fake blood as everyone says it goes everywhere....

Who'd you e-mail for permission for a monitor mix?

[pfife]

I'd do an advanced search on soundboard recording- we've discussed this in a bunch of threads in the "Ask The Tapers" forum.

[drvinestein]

Thanks for the advice, joeshambro and pfife!

The fella that got me the policy was a guy named Scott (fatty@gwar.net), and it is venue-dependant.  They don't care as long as it's cool with the venue.  Anyway, another great long conversation I had about this (with the written policy included) is here in the etree forums (I practically had to write it for the guy, though):
http://forums.etree.org/viewtopic.php?t=3896

Also, if you go to tape them, just hang by the soundboard.  They really don't shoot much towards it (I think they fried a board at a show once).  And why wouldja go and bring in your expensive mics when you can plug into the board and drape some plastic over your deck?

I taped them twice in May (Philly & Sayreville, NJ) and I seeded the one on bt.etree.org with this shoddy mini condensor mic, but I B.S.-ed ewith the board operators both nights and they seemed cool.  If I had the right wires/knowhow they would have let me plug in, and I'd have a pair of bad-ass recordings instead of two crappy ones....