How should I record a DJ-set?

[vido]

So... I've tried DJ-ing my own tunes once in my life. Now I've been asked to do it again and I'd like to record the whole set (as I've got many different BPMs ranging from 90 to 128, and I just go with the flow, the sets will end up sounding very different).

So I'm worried about my mac crashing on me if I record an hour while Dj-ing. I'm sure the question has been answered plenty of times before, but I'm wondering ho I should do it? Just record the master on a single channel, or record the different tracks separately, in case I mess up and want to make it better?

Will (especially) the last option be asking for trouble?

[102455]

If it were me, I'd record externally using dedicated hardware.

Solid state digital audio recorders are cheap as chips these days, and you're not restricted to stereo either.

[jestermgee]

If it were me, I'd record externally using dedicated hardware.

Solid state digital audio recorders are cheap as chips these days, and you're not restricted to stereo either.

Pretty much this.

Something like a small zoom recorder can offer built-in mics for recording a lot of things and Line in / XLR inputs for direct connect to a mixer. Record to WAV or MP3 in any format and will happily sit and just record for hours.

If I was using a laptop to record I would use a dedicated recording/editing application rather than Live, one that could create chunks every so often so if you did have a crash it wouldn't risk corrupting the whole audio file.

[Michael Hatsis]

Give it a try. U should be fine either way- multitrack recording in Live, global record, or just resample the master channel directly into Live. I dont really use Live much anymore for performing/sets but used to record my stuff all the time and never had any problems.
Just make sure your not going too high w cpu. My rule was not to go over 55-60 % on lives cpu meter.

Mike

[re:dream]

I always record my sets on the Master track. Just hit the record button before you play your first track. Never had a problem.

It's quite humbling, going through it afterwards and seeing how many mistakes I make

Oh, and hot tip: if you do record your set, remember to switch off count-in before you go live

[vido]

Thanks guys! Things to ponder indeed... I think I'll try and record inside live itself since several has tried this without problems

[beats me]

I always record my sets on the Master track. Just hit the record button before you play your first track. Never had a problem.

It's quite humbling, going through it afterwards and seeing how many mistakes I make

Oh, and hot tip: if you do record your set, remember to switch off count-in before you go live

The bonus of recording with Live is you can fix your fuck ups in post production before anybody else hears it.

Or as it’s known in the industry, Tiesto-ing.

[re:dream]

The bonus of recording with Live is you can fix your fuck ups in post production before anybody else hears it.

Or as it’s known in the industry, Tiesto-ing.

The actual people on the floor being presumably to schmangled to notice a thing

[beats me]

The bonus of recording with Live is you can fix your fuck ups in post production before anybody else hears it.

Or as it’s known in the industry, Tiesto-ing.

The actual people on the floor being presumably to schmangled to notice a thing

Loud speakers at a large venue are very forgiving/masking.

[Jeffromusic]

Just record the whole set instead of recording it to a .wav file. That way you can fix any mistakes you've made and mix it afterwards

[Warmonger]

What is your setup? Do you use laptop only, dedicated Live controller or external decks and want just to record sound stream in Live?

If you don't want/need to play live, just get down and build your set from tracks in arrangement view for best possible quality.

[penguinpajamas]

If you want to keep the parts separated too you can just record arm whatever tracks you're using and then hit the global record before you play.

[zeropoint]

Just record the whole set instead of recording it to a .wav file. That way you can fix any mistakes you've made and mix it afterwards

^^ this. If you're working entirely within Live just "soft" record the mix in the arrangement view. It puts very little strain on the system and you can return to it after the gig, fine tune the mix , and render it out.