Blackbox Recorder

Former Sadie founder Joe Bull has launched the innovative Blackbox Recorder with new company, JoeCo. The concept connects to any standard digital or analogue live console to either capture a performance or record a soundcheck for later system setup.

The unit provides 24 tracks of audio recording directly onto a removable USB2 disk drive that can be immediately plugged into a DAW after a performance. Recording the audio up to 96kHz and at 24-bit resolution in Broadcast Wave (BWAV) files on a FAT32 formatted drive allows replay of he material on any workstation, by unplugging the disk from the back of the Blackbox Recorder and into a DAW as an external disk. For larger multitrack recordings, multiple Blackbox Recorder units can be chained together and operated from a single control surface.

The unit has been designed with simplicity in mind, so the BBR1 defaults to all tracks being armed ready for record – by pressing Record it starts the recording. If the record button is pressed again while in record, the Blackbox Recorder automatically starts a new recording so that each song can be easily identified later. Ending a recording requires the stop button to be held for 2s, guarding against accidental operation. A footswitch input is also provided to duplicate the record button function.

The three LED meters on each channel show the relative levels of each input and the mic amps on the desk can be adjusted accordingly. The main screen displays how long the recording has been in progress and how much space remains on the disk. In addition, there are four function buttons Menu/Ok, Loop, Mark and Back and a data entry/scrub wheel to control the more detailed settings of the unit and set markers for loop points. The inputs are normally looped directly to the outputs via relays in all modes except during playback, providing an additional level of safety so that should the power fail on the BBR, the audio through the PA will not be affected.

Inside the menu structure variables – sample rate, choice of tracks to arm when recording, time-code, setting up the digital audio clocks, naming the recordings, setting input and output levels, setting up loop points – can all be set up. By default, the unit enters playback lockout mode as soon as recording starts to ensure that the sound-check is not played in the middle of the actual performance. The BBR1 has been chiefly designed for use as a standalone multichannel recorder in studios, conferences, conventions, logging and monitoring.

Shipping: Now

Web: www.capturingperformance.com

Tel: +44 1223 911 000

March / April 2010