I want to record live shows which usually mainly includes 1 or 2 guitars and vocals. I have a Scarlett 2i2 audio interface and the mixer is a Hybrid SM802MS. What would be the best way of doing this? Any help will be appreciated.
2 Answers
There are several ways to accomplish your goal.
Here is what I would try first. Connect the SM802MS to the Scarlett 2i2 audio interface using a 1/4 inch male TRS to Dual Male RCA Cable like the one pictured here:
Connect the RCA pins to the RCA output jacks on the top right of your mixer. Be sure to use the output vs. the input. Plug the TRS plug into either one of the Neutrik Combo Insert Sockets on the Scarlett 2i2. Set the LINE/INST switch next to the socket to LINE to tell the 2i2 that you are using a TRS balanced plug vs. a standard TS instrument cable.
After you have connected the mixer to the interface, set your gain control on the 2i2 to prevent clipping. Now you should be all set to record the signal from your mixer into your DAW on the computer you connect via USB to the 2i2 interface.
Another option would be to use the headphone out on the mixer to connect to the 2i2 interface using a TRS male to TRS male connector. Everything related to the 2i2 interface is the same. The only difference is how you connect the other end of the cable to the mixer. Be sure to set the headphone volume at no more than half way.
The third option - if you aren't using your control room out sockets on the mixer for sending the signal to stage monitors or a control room, is to use a cable like the one pictured below to connect to your interface via the control room out sockets:
EDIT: It is not common to attempt to create a stereo image in a live mix since only the audience sitting between the two mains stacks or speakers would benefit and the audience to the left and right of center would miss part of the sound on stage. But if you are using stereo effects in your live mix and you want to capture those effects in your recording, you could use a Dual Male RCA Cable to Dual Male 1/4 inch TS cable (pictured below) and plug one 1/4 inch TS plug into each of the two input sockets on the interface.
answered Dec 18, 2015 at 21:48
-
What are you trying to achieve by connecting the stereo output (both L and R) of the mixer to one single input in the interface? Why not connect output 1 of the mixer to input 1 of the interface, and output 2 of the mixer to input 2 of the interface (using a dual RCA cable with two TS converters)? Balanced and stereo are not the same thing. Or what am I missing? Commented Dec 21, 2015 at 11:40
-
@JCPedroza The 2 inputs on the interface are not left/right stereo channels but rather two separate channels to allow for inputting 2 sources simultaneously. If you were outputting a stereo signal from the mixer you could send the left channel to one of the two channels on the interface and right to the other. But OP stated he is mixing two guitars and vocal. Neither guitar or vocal mic will have a left right stereo input as would a keyboard or electronic drum module or mp3 or CD player. Also - goal is to record live show. Not going to pan guitars to left or right in a live setting. Commented Dec 21, 2015 at 17:51
-
Guitars and vocal are not stereo in the input, but they might at the output. Maybe through panning, maybe through effects. That's why you want to capture both L and R separately. Keep it flexible, live mixes are often stereo. Commented Dec 21, 2015 at 19:13
-
@JCPedroza if the input is mono, then there's no reason to have an L and R channels. You can easily pan and add effects on one channel and if you really wanted to have two separate mixes for effects or anything else you can handle it from the mixer. The presonus board I use can split an input into two channels software wise, but even in a simple mixer you could link it pre effects or panning and at that point it's really two diffrent instruments not L and R. At that point why stop at two when you can have 11?– Dom ♦Commented Dec 22, 2015 at 0:38
-
@Dom You have 3 mono inputs, but the mix is stereo. What the asker wants to capture is the mix. For that you need to capture both L and R separately. If you record using the first suggestion you merge L and R, losing the stereo image. There's all the reason in the world to have L and R channels, you can't just "unmerge" it later. Commented Dec 22, 2015 at 1:46
The best way in my experience is to setup a stereo mic in a good sounding place in the room and record the sound. You will get the sound as the audience hears it, and a bit of the audience reaction as well. I would start high, possibly hanging from the roof and say 3 to 7 meters in front of stage. Not close to any wall or loudspeakers.
Catching the output from the PA mixer in my experience sounds simple does not give anything pleasant.
There are special stereo mics, or you could use on of the standard setups using two microphones. You record Left and Right signal.
The most used setup, and often a good start, is to use two cardiod condenser microphones. You point the business end of the mics towards the stage and put them a bit apart. A typical starting point may be the ORTF setup (named after the french state radio). It specifies 17 cm between the business ends (where the sound enters) and 110 degrees between the direction. It looks sort of weird the first time, but actually works. But you could be further apart with the mics, aiming for a say 30cm of a foot and a bit less angle. Google for DIN microphone setup.
Or simply try it out.
