If I was to plug a digital voice recorder into a normal mixing board, what sort of connection or output jack is the most common. Will the recorder be able to get a decent recording or would it be better to use an external mike to capture a better recording of a gig. I am going to a concert and a guy I know will be mixing and I have never tried a direct recording from a desk.

You want the "line out" output on the mixing desk. Common sockets are xlr, 6.5mm or 1/4" phone, & some even have good old RCA's.

You then have to connect to your recorder. DO NOT plug into your "microphone in", the signal from the desk is too high for this & will cause distortion. You need a "line in" input on your recorder, if you don't have one you need some sort of "input attenuator" (getting a bit tricky here) which will lower the signal to match your recorder.

You're also going to have to watch the input levels on your recorder to make sure the signal is not to hot (high). In the old days of analogue tape recording you could let the signal just touch the red, & if you were using chrome tapes the recommendation was to be just in the red constantly. Digital recording is unforgiving. If you go into the red, it will distort.

Sounds like I need a couple of practice runs to get it right, I need to know what sort of board they will be using, that should help, I haven't got the recorder yet, I don't want to spend more than about $150 au, I wont be using it that much, any suggestions, I would like a decent built in microphone but I am leaning towards getting a set of binaurals to plug in.

I'd really check out the Zoom range. I've got the H4n, but it's overkill for what I need. I've seen the H1 in action & they're brilliant, I see Cranbourne Music has it for $139 with free delivery in Oz

[www.cranbournemusic.com.au]

Is this for 25th or 29th?

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strettonbull
Is this for 25th or 29th?

Plugging into the Stones desk? If only....Shows how brilliant the Dead were for allowing their fans to do just that.

If your mates the sound engineer then he'll know how to set it up for you.

It's a guy I know, not a mate but he should let me do it, its actually for a Living End gig, those in Australia will know who they are, they have a great guitar player called Chris Cheney.

Email me if you need detailed info.. drake@hatfieldmedia.com