Looking for a recorder to record live kareoke and DJ music

[melphoi]

Need input related to audio
In one indoor event there are karaoke session and DJ music, with the following info:
1. For karaoke use an amplifier with XLR output
2. DJ Controller with RAC output
I want to record using an audio / voice recorder to get clean results (the output of both goes directly to the recorder). In order to be able to record with the above criteria, what is a good voice / audio recorder?
And if possible I'm looking for the recorder that cost $250 or less
Thank you in advance

[Arpangel]

Zoom H6, stretches your budget a bit, but it’ll do the job, records up to six inputs at once.
You’ll just have to make sure you have access to the line level inputs, via XLR/RCA adaptor leads.

[Mike Stranks]

Welcome!

Pardon my ignorance, but what is the 'RAC output'?

Do you want a portable recorder or one that will fit in an equipment rack? Either way, there are very many available within your budget. Check here: https://www.solidstatesound.co.uk/

for the sort of thing that's available.

A few more questions:
* Do you want to record in stereo or mono?
* Is there ever a situation where you want to record from both bits of kit at the same time?

[Wonks]

Pardon my ignorance, but what is the 'RAC output'?

It's obviously a posher form of an AA output.

Actually, Arpy sussed it straight away.

[Mike Stranks]

Ah! RCA... Doh!

[melphoi]

Zoom H6, stretches your budget a bit, but it’ll do the job, records up to six inputs at once.
You’ll just have to make sure you have access to the line level inputs, via XLR/RCA adaptor leads.

Thank you for your responses, and I'll try to look for one
But pardon me, by "record up to six inputs at once" meant, will all of the sound recorded as one which will mix all the sounds from karaoke and DJ, isn't it will make like unpleasant voice to hear? or will the H6 create separate files for each of the session?

Welcome!

Pardon my ignorance, but what is the 'RAC output'?

Do you want a portable recorder or one that will fit in an equipment rack? Either way, there are very many available within your budget. Check here: https://www.solidstatesound.co.uk/

for the sort of thing that's available.

A few more questions:
* Do you want to record in stereo or mono?
* Is there ever a situation where you want to record from both bits of kit at the same time?

Thanks for your response
Sorry my bad, I mean RCA and yes I'm looking for a portable recorder
And :
* If possible, yes I want to record stereo, but mono is fine too
* Actually the session will be held separately, so I can move the recorder to other audio source when one is done, but if it happen to be held at the same time, can a portable one handle them at the same time?

[Mike Stranks]

Thanks for the extra details.

The recorder that Arpangel was suggesting will let you record six separate sources at the same time. Thus you could record the stereo output of the karaoke machine to, say, tracks 1 & 2 and the output of the the DJ controller/mixer to tracks 3 & 4. You could them subsequently mix them down to a single stereo 'mix' in a computer.

But I think the simplest approach for you would be a basic, but decent two-channel recorder that you could switch between karaoke and DJ as necessary.

The following would probably suit:

https://www.solidstatesound.co.uk/tascam_dr-40x.htm

https://www.solidstatesound.co.uk/zoomh4npro-black.htm

https://www.solidstatesound.co.uk/tascam_dr-60D-mk2.htm

You may need to buy some XLR-jack leads to connect to your existing kit. NB You can't use XLR-XLR as that would 'overdrive' the mic inputs on the recorder.

I have avoided suggesting other slightly cheaper recorders with 3.5mm jack inputs. I think you need something a bit more robust.

Hope that helps.

Mike

[ef37a]

This needs a bit more thought and fettling?
The XLR output is likely balanced and +4dBu line level (or it could be a "DI" at mic level!)
I would guess the DJ deck RCA output is -10dBV (316mV) but until we get some makes and model numbers we ain't never gonna know! A link to the user manual of each would be wonderful but rarely happens.

I have a £100 Tascam hand held recorder that would do the job famously but that has just a 3.5mm jack input but no matter what recorder is bought, some adapter leads will be required.

Y'beat me to the qwerty Mike! If OP is doing this as a one-off I reckon my Tassy would last the course? If ongoing, scratch that and buy the Soundcraft 8fx mixer and have a much more versatile connection regime. Yes you need a laptop but who hasn't got one of those? Does not need to be at all fast for 2 channels, old Pentium lll would be fine.

Dave.

[melphoi]

Thanks for the extra details.

The recorder that Arpangel was suggesting will let you record six separate sources at the same time. Thus you could record the stereo output of the karaoke machine to, say, tracks 1 & 2 and the output of the the DJ controller/mixer to tracks 3 & 4. You could them subsequently mix them down to a single stereo 'mix' in a computer.

But I think the simplest approach for you would be a basic, but decent two-channel recorder that you could switch between karaoke and DJ as necessary.

The following would probably suit:

https://www.solidstatesound.co.uk/tascam_dr-40x.htm

https://www.solidstatesound.co.uk/zoomh4npro-black.htm

https://www.solidstatesound.co.uk/tascam_dr-60D-mk2.htm

You may need to buy some XLR-jack leads to connect to your existing kit. NB You can't use XLR-XLR as that would 'overdrive' the mic inputs on the recorder.

I have avoided suggesting other slightly cheaper recorders with 3.5mm jack inputs. I think you need something a bit more robust.

Hope that helps.

Mike

I'm sorry for the late reply.. it was a busy day for me
Thanks for your recommendations, I think I'll try with either DR-40X or DR-60D from Tascam, and can save few dollars to buy cable and storage cards

But can you please enlighten me about how to connect the recorder on the karaoke session to be able to record both music and vocal?
Let say the karaoke using a player or amplifier which only has 4 x 6.5mm to XLR output (6.5 to the player or amplifier and XLR to mic), can I still record both music and vocal on this case?

And if the DJ Controller has RCA connection, where on DR-60D can I connect the RCA, and can DR-60D record both at the same time? And by "You could them subsequently mix them down to a single stereo 'mix' in a computer" is this meant that DR-60D will record like File 1.wav (karaoke) and File 2.wav (DJ) separately at the same time on recording process?

Thank you alot for your time

[Mike Stranks]

But can you please enlighten me about how to connect the recorder on the karaoke session to be able to record both music and vocal?
Let say the karaoke using a player or amplifier which only has 4 x 6.5mm to XLR output (6.5 to the player or amplifier and XLR to mic), can I still record both music and vocal on this case?

Can you post some photos of what it is you want to connect to the recorder? You can't post direct - use something like Imgur to host them.

And if the DJ Controller has RCA connection, where on DR-60D can I connect the RCA,

You'll need a lead like this:
https://www.thomann.de/gb/the_sssnake_spr2015.htm?sid=ccb39be17f5a35373b2b33faa8da55d9

and can DR-60D record both at the same time? And by "You could them subsequently mix them down to a single stereo 'mix' in a computer" is this meant that DR-60D will record like File 1.wav (karaoke) and File 2.wav (DJ) separately at the same time on recording process?

Ignore the aspect of mixing down in a computer - we've moved on from that as you've said that you don't want to record karaoke and DJ Controller at the same time and you're happy to replug.

That said if you really want to record both at the same time - as long as both are in mono you can connect one to channel 1 and the other to channel 2