Re: Alesis HD24 Tips and Tricks?
Ned;
Like Jim said, it is very much plug and play for what you are going to be doing. If you ever put in any time on ADAT machines, you will feel right at home on the HD24.
-I would bring an extra HD... always good practice when using any HD based system in a live setting. I've never had a failure with a HD24..and I will even admit to dropping one (in an SKB case...YIKES) with HD's in it!!! (This was not my unit being transported that way).
FYI- Always dismount the HD's prior to transporting the unit!! Transport them separately if possible in a appropriately padded case.
-I also tend to go though and create the "songs" in the unit prior to the gig... breaking it up into manageable sections. If it's a two hour gig, I might break it up to 4 "songs" for easier to manage file sizes on the back end. It takes a few seconds longer then I would like it to take to create a "song" if you actually want to name it, so I get it out of the way before the gig starts so I don't have to think about it.
-If you are recording 16-tracks directly from the console, use up a few more and take a L/R console feed, and if you can throw up a room mic or two it can be helpful in post. If you've got 24 tracks and a big HD, use a few more tracks, it will give you some more options when you get to post production. Getting some crowd noise inbetween songs can go a long way towards making the overall tone of the recording feel more authentic living in the space you create for it "in the box".
Have fun... and just to echo Jim...GET the Fireport for transferring.. FTP is brutal.
