Alternatives to software recording

If you have a Mac you can use AudioHijack Pro

audacity?

Tape!
http://www.reloop.com/reloop-tape

Daryl Northrop, post: 40139, member: 2350 wrote: You should be able to use audacity. Run your audio out from your mixing board into your microphone in jack. Then, in audacity, set your audio source to microphone (line in) and you should be able to do it.

Not a big fan of offering line level signals on microphone inputs. Usually leads to redlining. The sound circuit in laptops (specially the mic inputs) are usually sub-par in quality and signal handling. So, I’d strongly recommend against that. Also it means running a real time recording application (that needs to talk to the soundcard too) at the same time as you are trying to run a processor and soundcard driver heavy application like dj software. So we have both the extra computer load and the less-than-optimal sound quality of a laptop mic input. Not a good mix in my opinion.

You could go the professional way and get a Zoom (H4N for example) in the 250 euro price range. The Zoom has two microphones so you can record high quality audio anywhere you are too, but of course it has combo XLR/6.3mm Jack inputs too, you can run balanced signal in there if you need it :-).

The Reloop Tape is a nice little gizmo at under a 100 euros, definitely worth it for the price and it does feature a through output, so you can just hook it up between your master out and your PA.

Big difference between the two is that the Reloop only does MP3, the Zoom allows you to record in WAV format. If you don’t want to edit afterwards, MP3 is fine (just stick with 320kbps). If you want to run your mix through some “mastering” before you release it (which I would, since a recording on youtube or something requires a different EQ, compression and such than what comes out of your controller), then a WAV file is much more preferable.

I am no big fan of taking my nice XLR master outputs, converting them to a 3.5mm mini-jack and then take a 3.5mm mini-jack to XLR connector to go to your PA. For one, you have just lossed your balanced signal and you are now trying to get all that high quality sound through a connector made for headphones. Very vulnerable cable too.

Your N4 has booth out though. If you don’t use it for booth (or use the through function of the Reloop, for booth the quality is much less an issue and since you keep your booth speakers close, so is balanced cable), then hooking up your recording device to the booth output is the smartest thing. It gives you the following advantages:

1. You can set your recording level independent of your master level. If you adjust your master level during the night, it doesn’t affect your recording level. Just dial in your booth to give you a 0dB input signal when you are running 0dB on the master output and leave the booth level set for the rest of the night (might be problematic if you use the booth speakers as well though).
2. Booth outputs don’t play microphone signals, so even if you have to use the mic at some point, you just get the music and not the mic on tape.
3. If the Reloop breaks in the middle of your set, at least you don’t lose your master signal, the show goes on.

Hope that helps.

Good luck and greetinx,
C.

Why not just use your N4 with Traktor?

I have the MC6000 and used it for 2 years with lots of pleasure. I am sure the MC3000 will do great for you.

Good luck & greetinx,
C.

It’s a matter of taste. I am dying to try Serato, but my gear so far has not been supported. And getting a controller just to try Serato is not my idea of fun :-). Reason is it apparently has way better beatgridding on non-electronic music. Being a mobile DJ I have to play many kinds of music and in Traktor that means lots of manual beatgrid checking.

Still, Traktor packs a punch alright.

Fun to see that these three brands survived (VirtualDJ, Traktor, Serato). Nobody ever talks about PCDJ anymore. And there were a few more.

Greetinx,
C.