Recording from a DJ Mixer to an iMac

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OlorinTane

13 posts

Geek

#26098 11-Sep-2008 21:07

Can anyone help with advisement on what I need and how to go about recording DJ sets from a Pioneer DJM-800 to a new iMac. I will then want to burn them to CD and want to get a good quaity recording.

Thanks

RobM

31 posts

Geek

#164248 13-Sep-2008 17:23

I suggest you check out products from M Audio, Motu, Tascam or Mackie

http://www.m-audio.com/index.php?do=products.family&ID=recording

http://www.motu.com/products/motuaudio/

http://www.mackie.com/products/digital_recording/index.html

http://www.tascam.com/catalogue;40,2.html

These 4 aren't the only games in town ... but I presume you want to be able to record at pro quality.

It's the interfaces you want to look at - either firewire or usb

Note that some of the mixers they have on offer have fw out so you could just record straight from the mixer without going through another box.

But that kinda makes the Pioneer redundant, heh.

You could go straight out of your Pioneer>Spdif to the iMac ... but looking at the back of that thing I'm unclear if there will be an adaptor req'd. Nor am I too certain on just how good the sound card is in the iMacs so hence the need for a digital interface when recording.

You'll likely want to go out of the mixer>XLR to one of the products above then capture via fw or usb - I guess.

Have a good squizz at the specs for each device - it's all horses for courses.

Heck I've got an old portable Tascam USB interface that's doing absolutely nothing 'cept gathering dust.

Should throw it on TM $1 res ... hmmm.

knoydart

904 posts

Ultimate Geek
+1 received by user: 154

Trusted

#164254 13-Sep-2008 17:56

Depends on the inputs to your Mac? I assum its got a 3.5mm line in socket? If thats the case, some unbalanced (grrrrrr pro sumer gear) phono to 3.5mm adaptopr leads and garage band may do the trick if your looking for a simple route of recording? Similar thread came up a few weeks ago with mixing desks and home studios. Personally I'd throw money at it and use some of the previously mentioned products, always keen for balance audio personally and the right gear for the job, esp if you want to do something with the recording like sell it?

cheers

knoydart