How to hook it up?

[sj022698]

I have a rh910 and when I went to a concert, we plugged into the soundboard via a "Y" cable 1 mini into the MD and 2 male jacks going into the soundboard. It worked great but I went to another show the other day and asked the sound guy if I could plug in and he said he didn't know how to hook that up. For future reference, does anyone know specifically what to ask for when approaching a sound person?

Thanks,

Justin

[dex Otaku]

It depends on the sound board. Your end of the connection will always be the same [3.5mm stereo/TRS] but the other end can be any of several, depending on the model and make. Some possibles:

* dual RCA jacks - Mackie boards have tape inputs/outputs like this. This is the simplest possible connection from your perspective.

* 1/4" stereo via headphone jack - some boards have no outputs for tape at all, only a mono or stereo main output; if the FOH engineer isn't using the headphone jack [they usually do in indoor venues] you can use appropriate cabling to plug in; you can also the headphone volume control to set levels this way

* 2 mono 1/4" jacks [1 per stereo channel] - some boards will let you take the direct output of mixing buses this way; again, appropriate cabling is all you usually need, as these kind of jacks will usually work with both balanced [TRS] and unbalanced [TS] 1/4" plugs

* 2 mono XLR jacks [1 per channel] or 1 XLR [mono only] - many boards for professional use have only their main outputs [some Soundcraft consoles are like this]. If the headphone out isn't an option [it often won't be] then having cabling to plug in via the mono XLR output [stereo usually going to the PA, and no self-respecting engineer will allow splitting the main output of the board] may be your only choice.

There are several other possibilities, as well.

The simplest answer to this question is: there is no simple answer. The only way to know you can jack in to the FOH console is to know what the console is before getting to the venue, and taking the appropriate cabling/adapters with you.

If you don't the equipment at their end beforehand, the only possibility for you is to cover your bases - take cabling and adapters for every possible connection method.

If you ask the sound engineer and they say they don't know how to do it, ask them, "Why don't you know?" Considering how simple it usually is to hook up a recorder [assuming you have the cabling], any engineer who can't figure it out in 30 seconds or less is either using someone else's equipment, just starting out with their job, or shouldn't be behind the board in the first place.

[KrazyIvan]

If you ask the sound engineer and they say they don't know how to do it, ask them, "Why don't you know?" Considering how simple it usually is to hook up a recorder [assuming you have the cabling], any engineer who can't figure it out in 30 seconds or less is either using someone else's equipment, just starting out with their job, or shouldn't be behind the board in the first place.

LOL Basically what I told this guy over at the T-Board.

[dex Otaku]

LOL Basically what I told this guy over at the T-Board.

I have had this happen myself [i.e. I was the engineer]. That's why I added the bit about "using someone else's equipment."

[KrazyIvan]

I have had this happen myself [i.e. I was the engineer]. That's why I added the bit about "using someone else's equipment."

Yeah, I can see that happening but like you stated already, a real engineer will figure it out fairly quickly, even on gear he/she does not use on a regular basis.