cheap device to hook into boards?

[tim in jersey]

And bring your own cables, you moochers..

My pal Timmy always has stereo XLR tails waiting, but I still always bring my own shit. It's a respect thing. 

I will *never* go to a show and expect FOH crew to have the cables I need. 

Taper 101 or so I thunk...

[nulldogmas]

I typically bring XLRs, RCAs, and a FAT32 data stick when seeking a soundboard feed, and still about half the time something goes awry:

• Sound engineer fails to set up audio outs on the digital board's scene for the headlining band, so I get the opener fine but dead air afterwards
• Sound engineer records fine to the data stick, but as an mp3
• Sound engineer doesn't show up until 15 minutes before show, goes to look at the board, comes back, shakes head, says "too complicated"

It seems like things have only gotten dodgier with the introduction of digital boards, though maybe it's just that there's a learning curve that soundpeople have yet to catch up to. Either way, it's definitely good to be prepared for any contingency, including the possibility that you'll do everything right and still come away with no SBD recording.

[nulldogmas]

Oh, and add an attenuator cable to things you may as well stick in your gear bag, because who knows what levels you'll be given...

[Datfly]

Fuck those usb sticks, too many FOH people don't know how to properly start or finalize a recording

Been burned by the "0 file length" error too many times

Always insist on a firm XLR board connection and record it yourself for mission-critical outings

Saves your hair from being pulled out every time



And bring your own cables, you moochers..

If they don't hit stop & pull the USB stick without finalizing & you get the dreaded "0" file you can still easily recover it. I've done it dozens of times.