Recording Live Music, Recording Live Music Options

[brianjones]

I am new to this and happy I found this site.

I have a new iMac coming tomorrow. It is a G5 2.1 - whatever is the latest version.

I want to record live music. This is the set up.

Jamaican dancehall music is basically done like karioke??, where the sound system plays a pre recorded rhythm track on CD and the DJ sings his lyrics over it.

How do I set up the sound system to record into the iMac and also how do I set it up so the vocal can be captured on a separate track? I then want to mix the two together, along with video I am shooting and make a DVD of the performance.

I am not sure if the vocal should be captured in the mix with the music out of the sound system or if it should be recorded on a separate track.

The only software I will have is garage band that comes with the iMac. I have had two iMacs before and have used Peak, Deck to record music but want to see if garage band can do it before buying additional software. What hardware will I need?

I need some guidance and advise and also and directions to music/mac tutorials that I can read since I will be using the iMac for recording in a studio as well.

Thanks
Brian Jones

[dangt]

With Recording in Garage Band i think you are limited to recording a stereo track (or 2 mono tracks) only.

so to capture the performance live you could either. capture a stereo feed from out of the sound system (this should include music and vocals) or use a mic in the room to get the overall room sound of music, singing and probably background sounds (dancing, talking) as well.

To get the vocals recorded live to a seperate track with music on the other, you could feed the vocal channel into track left or 1 garage band (mono) and the music on 2, right (mono)

Garage band is limited for live recording. its not really a multitrack recorder.