Topic: Soundboard interface without having to be there everytime - road setup?

[rvman]

First of all, thx to everyone who's given me great advice here...

I am going to be speaking with the sound guy of a band who has offered to allow me to tape their live show(s) in a couple weeks.  It was made known to me that I might be able to get a series of shows on the tour, but I can't be at all of them due to logistics & money. 

Here is my question - provided the band backs me up & the sound guy is friendly to the idea, is there a way you recommend that I could get a SBD copy of the shows I can't be at without him having to do too much extra work?  I am talking about running an extra DAT tape or even buying a portable DAT recorder or a cheap(er) digital recorder or mixer if necessary, & having him mail me the tapes/other media when the shows are done.  Mainly I'm looking for a way to get a copy of the show without too much $/effort.

What should I ask for (within reason) without sounding like an idiot?

Thx!

[rvman]

Hmmm - hope I didn't offend anyone's sensibilities with the idea that I wouldn't be there for all the shows.   Just trying to figure out what to do if I do have the option -

thx for any input...

[Steve J]

Here's what I've experienced...

Even if you have a FOH/sound engineer who is very amenable to what you want to do, that person's job first and foremost will be the live sound for the band. What that means is that he/she will get busy and there will be the inevitable situation where he/she has to choose between making sure the tape rolls or making sure the live sound is right.

Venues that have a DAT deck already hooked to the system (and actually working), you're likely to have no problems. Other times, the sound engineer has to rummage around to find a connection, set up the recording device and work to make sure the levels are correct. Unless it's important to the band that tape roll for the show, it will be one of the sound engineer's lowest priorities.

Now, after I've written all that, let me say that I have met some terrific FOH guys who will bend over backwards to record the band they're working with...even if it means hanging a couple of SM57's off the front of the board to get a recording.

One option you might consider is if you were able to get the itinerary of the band and then try to arrange to have people in other areas cover the shows for you. You work out the logistics for the recordist (access to the show, who to contact, phone numbers as needed, blank media and possibly a deck, etc) and they record the shows for you. I think you might find more than a few people at TS.com who would be happy to do that for you...especially if you can smooth the way for them.

[Steve J]

Forgot the other part. If you can get the sound engineer to do the recording, sending along a D8 and an assorment of cables & connectors will no doubt do the trick. Wouldn't get you the best results; but it would be easy to set up and you'd have your tape.

[rvman]

Thx for that - makes alot of sense everything you mentioned - Thinking about a call to the tapers section for local tapers... as a plan B.

 Sony D8 DAT you mean?  Would the D7 work as well, then?

[Steve J]

I would imagine. I think others can speak to that better than I could, as I've never had a D7 in my hands (as far as I can remember, anyway  ). Seems to me I remembers seeing some one doing analog in on a D7 from a SBD.

[rvman]

I was thinking for best sound to get a SBD mix and an audience mix matrix, so that would mean 2 decks - the reason I'd want to go with D7 is cheaper right now...