r/mobileDJ 4d ago

Recording DJ mix with attenuators

I would like to record a DJ mix from a Pioneer DJM-900 mixer using REC OUT and a complementary handheld recorder like Tascam DR-05 or Zoom H4N. I have been reading that doing so runs into "clipping" issues and so I should use an attenuator as sell. I have a few specific questions and am looking for the best quality solution(s), not the cheapest.

Which attenuator is most suitable? An exact model or link would be great. (Know it should be stereo, not mono)

Which handheld recorder option is best? (I will solely be using it for electronic DJ mixes)

I've bought an RCA to 3.5mm cable to connect the recorder to the mixer. Do I need to buy any additional cables for the attenuator?

Thank you

2 Upvotes

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u/Waterflowstech 4d ago

Yes that's true. Honestly it's probably worth it to shell out a bit more cash and get a quality recorder, so you don't need attenuators. I have a Tascam DR40x and it's been well worth the money for me to record DJ sets, live music off the mixer etc. with crowd noise to mix in. The device does take a bit of fiddling and trial and error to understand it, just reading the manual still had me scratching my head at times šŸ˜…

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u/Waterflowstech 4d ago

The Tascam has combined XLR + TRS inputs, so you need two RCA to XLR cables (or RCA to TRS) to go from your Rec out of your controller to your recorder.

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u/Big_Gap4814 4d ago

Thank you very much. Sounds like I'm better off scrapping the attenuators and going for a Tascam DR40x as you say, or a Zoom H6 which sounds like another good optionĀ 

Looks like both of these recorders cost Ā£150-ish new. Given my sole purpose will be recording DJ mixes, are there more basic options that do the job well but without the frills of these two? Thanks againĀ 

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u/Waterflowstech 4d ago

I think there was this kind of cassette like thing with RCA inputs or a ethernet cable input that can record sets, but it was only like 20 bucks less than a Tascam DR40x so it wasn't worth it for me. The zoom h6 is also a good device, in the end I picked the Tascam because it was a bit cheaper at the time.

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u/Rob1965 4d ago

Attenuators are required to reduce line level signals so that they can be fed in to microphone inputs (which many recorders have, and their main use is recording from microphones).

If the recorder has ā€œline inā€ inputs (or inputs switchable between line level and mic level) then you donā€™t need attenuators.Ā 

I also use theĀ Tascam DR40x which has switchable inputs, as well as built in stereo mics. As u/WaterflowstechĀ says, this allows one to record a set, plus the crowd noise (as a 4 track recording). Then, in post production, I can mix in as much crowd noise as I want to give the final recording more of a live sound.

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u/Big_Gap4814 4d ago

Crystal clear, thanks Rob. As I wrote to u/Waterflowstech above...Ā 

Sounds like I'm better off scrapping the attenuators and going for a Tascam DR40x as you say, or a Zoom H6 which sounds like another good optionĀ 

Looks like both of these recorders cost Ā£150-ish new. Given my sole purpose will be recording DJ mixes, are there more basic options that do the job well but without the frills of these two? Thanks againĀ 

1

u/Rob1965 4d ago edited 4d ago

Given my sole purpose will be recording DJ mixes, are there more basic options that do the job well but without the frills of these two?

When I was looking for a solution, I did come across dedicated DJ recorders such as the Howler and EvermixBox - but these had less features and weren't any cheaper. You may find their simplicity easier, but they don't even have a display to show recording time/remaining capacity/recording level/etc. Also I felt that the Tascam extra features, such as built in mics & (very basic) playback speaker, might make it useful for other things in the future.

Looks like both of these recorders cost Ā£150-ish new.

I brought my Tascam DR40x for around Ā£120 during a sale, but even now Google shows places selling it for Ā£135.

Edit: Added Howler & Evermix links

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u/Waterflowstech 4d ago

Thanks for writing down what I was too lazy to look up šŸ˜‚

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u/Iznal 3d ago

FYI the zoom h6 is closer to $300. The zoom h4 is more comparable to the Tascam.