What are the pros using for live recording (bands)?

Things have changed rapidly in the way that we record live. We used to use a separate mixer and get a feed from the direct outs of the FOH mixer to record the performance. That practice for a long time only changed slightly when digital multi-track recorders became available. Pro-Tools has become the digital recording program of choice for many years, only because it established a foot hold early. Now things have got real interesting as far as new things to come along.

Digidesign has released the live/recording consoles (The Venue Series) which give Pro-Tools users a real good way to mix and record live, of course this would be at the high end.

Midas has released their first digital console for FOH (Front of House) applications, the XL8. This is a great board but you still need some kind of recording set up like Pro-Tools or Logic

Now on the low end, a lot of console manufacturers are starting to produce mixers that incorporate iPods into the mixer as a recording device, which opens a whole new world for musicians.

The iMultiMix 16 USB is a sturdy, compact all-in-one tabletop mixer and recorder that features 100 studio grade 28–bit digital effects, a built–in limiter to avoid distorted recordings and an integrated iPod dock with control wheel transport controls for fast, easy direct–to–iPod recording.

The iMultiMix 16 USB features integrated iPod control and recording capability, and represents the first 16-channel mixer to fuse together professional quality mixing, 3-band per channel EQ, guitar/line inputs and iPod recording in a single, intuitive package. For ultra–clean live recordings of nearly any performance, including home studios, musicians, podcasters, and houses of worship, the iMultiMix 16 USB is an ideal solution.

Tascam has released a new 48 track recorder the X-48

TASCAM's new X-48 is the world's first standalone 48-track Hybrid Hard Disk Workstation. Co-Developed with SaneWave, it integrates the best of both worlds: the stability and ease-of-use of a purpose-built hard disk recorder, with the GUI, editing features and plug-in compatibility of a computer-based digital audio workstation.

So if you already have the mixer, all you need is this baby and you have your own portable studio.

Now the computer. It looks like a lot of people are turning to Logic and the Apple laptop for their recording needs, but you still need some kind of interface to work with your computer. Most interfaces are 8 channels except Motu makes a 24 channel interface.

The MOTU Audio 24I/O interface fulfills the promise of host-based hard disk recording: to record, edit, mix process, and master multitrack recording projects entirely inside the computer. It provides 24 high quality, 24-bit/96kHz analog inputs and outputs in a cost effective, single rack space package, allowing you to connect and record from 24 simultaneous analog sources.

Provided you have a mixer with direct outs. If you don't you can use the inserts on each channel as direct outs as long as you only put the plug in half-way or just to the first click.

As you can see, there are a lot of choices now.

For my set up I use Logic and the Motu 24I/O