Line in audio recording solution?

[Epithet11]

Hey guys,

I've been tasked with helping some people set up a recording solution, and don't have much experience so I thought I'd turn to you for some help.  

We have an older sound board and are hoping to use it in conjunction with a laptop. The exact process I'm trying to do is; 

-Run the sound board as normal. It has microphones and a cd player hooked to it then goes out to multiple speakers.

-Use the laptop to record what goes through the sound board.

-Play slide shows on the laptop via HDMI through a projector.

-Bonus points if I can use the laptop to play music through the sound board and still record everything played through it back onto the laptop.

 

I'll probably use something like Audacity for the recording, but I'm open to suggestions.

This'll be used for church service type things with music playing lightly and people talking over it.

I think all I really need is a laptop and an external line-in sound card.

 

So what I'm looking for is anyone with experiences thoughts, suggestions, specs I might need, or a slap on the wrist for thinking it'd be relatively easy.

 

Thanks in advance, and let me know if this should be re-posted somewhere else. I considered posting in Audio or General, but I just wasn't too sure.

[Prastupok]

First: I'd recommend not taking on a task you don't know how to do.

Second, and I believe I told you this: You want an interface between the laptop and the soundboard. That is the best way to handle it. How many simultaneous channels will you be running? I can recommend a product based on that.

[Epithet11]

First: I'd recommend not taking on a task you don't know how to do.

Second, and I believe I told you this: You want an interface between the laptop and the soundboard. That is the best way to handle it. How many simultaneous channels will you be running? I can recommend a product based on that.

Hi. Thanks for volunteering advice, and I'm always up for learning something new. Also, this is the first time I've ever posted anything like this or have been in contact with you, so sorry if this is very similar to a recent question. I probably could have been more thorough looking through past posts.

The sound board will be running at most 3 microphones, the music from the laptop or a cd player, and out to two sets of speakers.

The laptop will be dedicated to this project and has also not yet been purchased if you also have recommendations for it.

[Prastupok]

Hi. Thanks for volunteering advice, and I'm always up for learning something new. Also, this is the first time I've ever posted anything like this or have been in contact with you, so sorry if this is very similar to a recent question. I probably could have been more thorough looking through past posts.

The sound board will be running at most 3 microphones, the music from the laptop or a cd player, and out to two sets of speakers.

The laptop will be dedicated to this project and has also not yet been purchased if you also have recommendations for it.

 

Do you know the model of the soundboard, by any chance? So I could look into the I/O?

[Epithet11]

Had to run over to the site. 

This is the soundboard we have. 

http://www.phonic.com/en/am-442d-usb.html

[Prastupok]

Had to run over to the site. 

This is the soundboard we have. 

http://www.phonic.com/en/am-442d-usb.html

 

Well, it has basic USB functionality, so if you wanted, you could download the drivers and record in with it set up as it is. It will only be stereo mixed recording though.

[Epithet11]

Well, it has basic USB functionality, so if you wanted, you could download the drivers and record in with it set up as it is. It will only be stereo mixed recording though.

I noticed that on the website as well. I've never had to remove the board from the cabinet they keep it in when helping them with basic fixes. I'll give this a test with my personal laptop and see how it goes / sounds. Do you have any recommendations on minimum specs for a laptop if this works well enough?

[Prastupok]

I noticed that on the website as well. I've never had to remove the board from the cabinet they keep it in when helping them with basic fixes. I'll give this a test with my personal laptop and see how it goes / sounds. Do you have any recommendations on minimum specs for a laptop if this works well enough?

 

For that, a good i5/i7 would suffice, and probably 16GB of ram.

[Epithet11]

Upon further investigation it seems they made multiple versions of the AM 442D and mine is without USB, sadly. I would have personally called it like, the 442.5 or 443 or something, but my mistake, and sorry, but we are back to square one.

[Prastupok]

Upon further investigation it seems they made multiple versions of the AM 442D and mine is without USB, sadly. I would have personally called it like, the 442.5 or 443 or something, but my mistake, and sorry, but we are back to square one.

 

Then as I said, you will need an interface. Something like this would be what I would get: http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/UltraLiteAVB

 

It's a little pricey, but has a lot of great features and can be expanded further in the future.

[Epithet11]

Thanks again for your time, help, and patience. 

[Technic77]

Then as I said, you will need an interface. Something like this would be what I would get: http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/UltraLiteAVB

 

It's a little pricey, but has a lot of great features and can be expanded further in the future.

Goodness gracious that's waaaay to expensive for what he's trying to do. A Focusrite 2i2 or any other interface of that tier from other manufacturers like M-Audio would completely suffice and cost a fifth of the price. But yes, an interface is definitely the way to go.

 

This is much cheaper: http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/Scarlett2i2

[Prastupok]

Goodness gracious that's waaaay to expensive for what he's trying to do. A Focusrite 2i2 or any other interface of that tier from other manufacturers like M-Audio would completely suffice and cost a fifth of the price. But yes, an interface is definitely the way to go.

 

This is much cheaper: http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/Scarlett2i2

 

With the exception the 2i2 has limitations. And with said mixer, having a 1:1 I/O ratio is the right thing to do.

 

Edit: This is coming from someone who does this professionally, so maybe a bit out of touch with basic needs.