Recording mixes

[skitz000]

Hey guys using a pair of turntables connected to my computer via mixer connected to sound card and wanting to record mixes onto computer,
Im using Audacity at the moment to record however im finding that the only way to record this way is using a mono format which reduces the quality of sound greatly any ideas of software to use?

By the way anyone know of different software to cut the live mixes i do into indivual tracks?


Cheers guys

[Fergus]

soundforge

its generally the best for that

[soundmind]

Audacity only records in mono by default. You can change the channel settings to stereo (in Mac via Preferences > Audio I/O).

[littlebrains69]

Be a bit more specific with your set up. Are you using RCA's to plug directly into a high quality sound card, or are you going 3.5mm jack? Also info about your mixer might be good.

My mixer (numark 5000fx) has master and booth outputs with individual volume controls. So I run an RCA -> 3.5mm jack from the mixer to the soundcard, adjust the volumes on the mixer so output is good and record in soundforge and I get fairly good quality audio.

[Garthyboy]

Don't most mixers now days have a REC out?

I'd be using this myself

[skitz000]

using a basic behringer dx100 plugged into basic sound card via 3.5 mm jack

Hey sound by mind yeh i can record in stereo mode, didnt realise that i can change options, although sound quality is still meh...

[soundmind]

If you're exporting as mp3 then you prob. need to up the bit rate recording to 256 or 320 (and blow out the file size). Otherwise, you really shouldn't have any problem with the sound quality, unless your mixer or sound card is particularly crap. Oh wait, you have a Behringer, a crappy brand of mixers that will most likely impact sound quality.

[DannyDazzler]

Don't most mixers now days have a REC out?

I'd be using this myself

My DJM400 doesn't which I don't like but it's only a basic 2 channel mixer. It does however have a second master out, but there isn't a separate volume control for it.

[Skerik]

using a basic behringer dx100 plugged into basic sound card via 3.5 mm jack

Hey sound by mind yeh i can record in stereo mode, didnt realise that i can change options, although sound quality is still meh...


the onboard soundcard? its the cheapest thing the pc manufacturer can jam in there to make the windows noises.

get yourself an Edirol UA1EX (http://www.rolandcorp.com.au/default.aspx?prd=701) and the output will be mucho betterer :thumb:

[cheekyage]

Sorry if this may be off topic but was just wondering what most guys were doing when recording live at a gig?

I know there is a Belkin TuneTalk available for the iPod which has a line input to plug straight into and record.

There is also the Gemini iKey Plus but not sure if many guys here in oz are using this.

Cheers

[oliosky]

A cheap HiMd minidisc is what i use to record all my mixes in the uncompressed PCM format. About 2 hrs of recording time on a 1 gig minidisc. $100.

http://www.minidisc.com.au/sony-mznh600-himd-himd-bundle-pack-clearance-sale-p-461.html?ezppc=google&ezcamp=minidisc

[FH_Jimbob]

^^^ minidisc! :lol: I havent used mine since about... gosh... 2001? *blows off dust


If your mixer has a rec out make sure you use that (EDIT: as mentioned by garthyboy) - I have a djm600 and recording out of the master/booth is a big nono - always comes out crap. No idea why - I am sure somone will chime in and clarify.

[oliosky]

^^^ minidisc! :lol: I havent used mine since about... gosh... 2001? *blows off dust


If your mixer has a rec out make sure you use that (EDIT: as mentioned by garthyboy) - I have a djm600 and recording out of the master/booth is a big nono - always comes out crap. No idea why - I am sure somone will chime in and clarify.

You may scoff. But I payed $69 with shipping on ebay and got a free Delta Goodrem CD. So, whos laughing now ;)

It really does work well though.

[noiser]

is it possible to easily cut a mix up into individual tracks with audacity?

[soundmind]

^Yes. Cut and paste.

[voodoo people]

get a recording box like an m-box and use protools. it's a bit overkill as far as inputs and stuff go for dj mixes but the sound quality and tops and with protools is super easy to track break your mix or break it up into smaller file parts.

[badbwoy]

I have a djm600 and recording out of the master/booth is a big nono - always comes out crap. No idea why - I am sure somone will chime in and clarify.


I record out of booth to a soundcard no probs. Im sure you've done this, but maybe you need to adjust the output level. It can be a bit touchy and distort easily if you crank it.

[littlebrains69]

I record out of booth to a soundcard no probs. Im sure you've done this, but maybe you need to adjust the output level. It can be a bit touchy and distort easily if you crank it.


Thats why I used the booth out because if I use the record out its too loud and distorts nearly blowing my soundcard.

[FH_Jimbob]

^^^ well then you are recording too loud in the first place (plus you cant use your monitor if you use one at home or are in club).

- AFAIK the difference between the 3 in recording terms is the booth and master out are 0dBV - whereas the rec out comes out at a set -10dBV (better for recording?)

I dunno - perhaps one can clarify on the whole rec out thing...

[soundmind]

^Agreed. Output level is important. I adjust the master and channel levels so output is no more than between 0 - +2db. May become distorted if any louder (but I do own a crappy mixer).

[Funkedub]

A cheap HiMd minidisc is what i use to record all my mixes in the uncompressed PCM format. About 2 hrs of recording time on a 1 gig minidisc. $100.

http://www.minidisc.com.au/sony-mznh600-himd-himd-bundle-pack-clearance-sale-p-461.html?ezppc=google&ezcamp=minidisc



seconded.

all my mixes started on my NetMD

No one's ever told me the CDs i've made form them sound like shit

oh yer ... that's the exact MD i have too ;D

[jimrocks]

Audacity only records in mono by default. You can change the channel settings to stereo (in Mac via Preferences > Audio I/O).

Thanks! :thumb:

[Dunpo_Rob]

I record using Ableton + Line in on my pc.... via a record out on my ol' school Sansui 881 receiver (thanks dad) but yeh eheh works for me, Audio quality it pretty schmick though.. I remember once recording to my creative mp3 player using a mic... sounded like crap.

[Buey]

Does anyone know where I can see that old ITM article explaining how to record a mix? I think it was phunk or mungo that wrote it.. had a search but cant find it..

[plan-b]

Hey guys using a pair of turntables connected to my computer via mixer connected to sound card and wanting to record mixes onto computer,
Im using Audacity at the moment to record however im finding that the only way to record this way is using a mono format which reduces the quality of sound greatly any ideas of software to use?

http://www.nch.com.au/wavepad/ Grab the free version :thumb: even comes with a batch convert for converting wav to mp3

By the way anyone know of different software to cut the live mixes i do into indivual tracks?


Cheers guys

Viral (I think) wrote a cue file gen but I can't seem to find it...

[skitz000]

Thanks,

When outputting though is it best to keep it as WAV format or MP3 for best sound quality and splitting tracks without pauses at the end and start of track?

[plan-b]

Thanks,

When outputting though is it best to keep it as WAV format or MP3 for best sound quality and splitting tracks without pauses at the end and start of track?
I normally output as WAV and convert to mp3 (keeping the Wav as well) when I'm done... WAV for CDs, MP3 if I wanna upload...

If you use the Cue files, you won't have 2 secs pauses...

[FH_Jimbob]

^^^ or (if in nero) just tick the box "no pause between tracks" :P

[phunkdust]

Does anyone know where I can see that old ITM article explaining how to record a mix? I think it was phunk or mungo that wrote it.. had a search but cant find it..

Check the Useful Threads & Links stickies :thumb:

[Buey]

This is kind of hard to explain so ill split it into 2 parts:

1.

I have another question.. I recorded a mix last night and it went really well but i was devoed to discover the sound was slightly distorted. Its not really bad at all but its bad enough to piss my neurotic ass off. So i want to know the cause of the distortion so i dont do another bomb mix and have it f*ck up.

So i figure its either one of two problems. Either my gain on my dj mixer was too high, which i figure is unlikely. I have a numark dxm06 and I kept it on 0db (green) pretty much the whole time with the top light (yellow) only flickering occassionally.

So therefore i guess it must be that my recording volume for my line in on my windows mixer was set too high. Is this likely to be the problem?

2.

I guess what i want to know is, if you get a distorted sound, is it always going to be because the windows mixer recording volume is set too high? I.e. even if my dj mixer is in the red (yellow for me), as long as my windows mixer recording volume is low (thus meaning that the visual sound level i can see in my Goldwave program is in the green) will the sound never sound distorted?

Or in the alternative, even if you have your windows mixer really low, but your dj mixer is maxing out, will it still distort?

Should I mix further down in the green (below 0db on my dj mixer) in the future just to be safe?

Thanks in advance ;)

[Funkedub]

best way of avoiding this disappointment of having a mix fuct over by incorrect line levels is to record 5 minutes or so and listen back to it. drive your mixer as hard as you will when mixing and make sure that it records fine. Nail it at this stage and avoid a bucket load of annoyance 60-90minutes later when you listen back to your BEST MIX EVAAHH !!!!

don't run your mixer at max ... It's always better to leave plenty of headroom rather than try and get the maximum volume on a mix. You can boost a mix with some EQ/compression and clean up the white noise with a filter ... but you can't un-distort a recording.

oh yea ... the line out reading on your mixer will be the MASTER out ... if you have a seperate line for a booth or recording out you are using to record the mix... check the level on that. It's not the same as the master and the LED on your mixer won't give you an idea what it's putting out to this channel.

[Buey]

oh yea ... the line out reading on your mixer will be the MASTER out ... if you have a seperate line for a booth or recording out you are using to record the mix... check the level on that. It's not the same as the master and the LED on your mixer won't give you an idea what it's putting out to this channel.

Sorry dude i didnt really get this part.. can u pls explain again?

I have a separate record out on my mixer, which is what I use to record:

http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c265/Buey/Numark_DXM06_2.jpg

I run my behringer truths through the big black 'balanced' outputs on the far left. I have noticed though that the record out is not effected by the master volume control. Im pretty sure its only effected by the gain controls.

[Funkedub]

I'd tend to agree your record outputs should be a constant level (not affected by the master output)... but read your the manual to check :thumb:

check your prefade levels too. even if you reign in the master so it's still green, If the gain on the channel is too high, that will affect the record output.

[Buey]

I'd tend to agree your record outputs should be a constant level (not affected by the master output)... but read your the manual to check :thumb:


Numark the stingy pricks only give u a 4 page quickstart manual that is of little use. But i did find this:


6. Record Output: This RCA output is for connecting a
recording device such as a tape deck or CD recorder.
The level of the record output is based upon premaster
levels.

7. Master Output (RCA): This output is for connecting
an external monitoring device such as a PA system,
powered monitors or a home stereo. The level of the
master stereo output signal is controlled by the
master fader.


what does it mean by 'record output is based upon premaster levels'? Is that just the gain levels?


check your prefade levels too. even if you reign in the master so it's still green, If the gain on the channel is too high, that will affect the record output.


What do u mean check your prefade levels? Reign in the master so its still green?are the terms 'prefade levels' and 'premaster levels' synonymous?

Thanks for your help mate sorry im such a techno noob haha :thumb:

[littlebrains69]

When I had this mixer I had a similar probelm. I think it might be that the record out is just too high for a souncard on a computer to handle.... no matter how low i set the levels on the computer for the imput it was still distorted, especially with lots of bass. So I when RCA from the master out into the computer and adjusted the levels on the mixer so it sounded fine on the computer which ment my monitor was REALLY low, so i just crankey up the volume on it. So I went out of both master outs. Now I have a 5000fx and record out of the booth out and monitor from the master out which is good because you can control those levels seperatly.

[phunkdust]

Gotta remember when reading the levels off your DJ mixer, is that it's showing an AVERAGE level, and that peaks can be up to 10 times that.

Read up on gain structure, good info to know for this situations.

[Funkedub]

what does it mean by 'record output is based upon premaster levels'? Is that just the gain levels?



What do u mean check your prefade levels? Reign in the master so its still green?are the terms 'prefade levels' and 'premaster levels' synonymous?

Thanks for your help mate sorry im such a techno noob haha :thumb:


pre fade levels (PFL) are affected by the gain (the knob at the top usually) on the channel ... and yes, i'd dare say they are one in the same as the "premaster" levels they are talking about

[Nick Vidal]

for recording my sets out i use an iRiver

it records straight to mp3

[dj_rogue]

i record my sets on audacity, i have the master volume set just below mid, if im mixing a phat set i put the gain below mid aswell, if its not as hard.. gain can be set to mid. The recording volume on Audacity is set to the lowest level possible (any higher and it is totally distorted) If I want to crank up the volume i just turn my AMP up right up and get the house shaking that way. Im using a DJM-400 mixer and it does not have a seperate volume control for recording out.
Once its recorded save the project...then export as WAV into Itunes.. The quality is great and noone has ever said any different. From reading back looks like this is pretty much what a few others are doing aswell..

Nick Vidal hows it go recording out live on the iriver? Whats the recording time?

[Olz F]

for recording my sets out i use an iRiver

it records straight to mp3

Yeah same, i own a iRiver T20 1Gb and can get about 6hrs of recording @ 320 kbps

Do you find yours sometimes jumps at the start?

[spandexxx]

used audacity till recently and never had any probs, as long as you adjust your volume correctly its good quality... now using garage band so i can add effect and edit the mix!

[andreas]

I use the Xitel Innport and it works really well for someone that has a crappy on board sound
card in my dell laptop.. + comes with its own recording software.

[twistedbydesign]

how do you edit mixes in garage band spandexxx?