Howler Recorder & Streamer Review [Solves a BIG problem for DJs..]

Howler is a small, rugged audio device that solves a genuine problem for DJs who want to either livestream or record their DJ sets, giving solid options for both use cases.
Read the full review: www.digitaldjtips.com/reviews...
Howler website: www.howler-audio.com/
DJ Livestreaming Made Easy course: djtips.co/livestreaming
⚡ TIMESTAMPS ⚡
0:00 Intro
0:26 Layout & features
2:16 Provided cables
3:22 How to set up
5:05 DJ use cases
7:10 What we don't like..
8:26 Should you get it?
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#Howler #Tech #Gear #Audio #Livestream #DJTips #DigitalDJTips #MusicIndustry #DJing

[@HouseJackBuilt]

Have it. Love it. Such a hassle free way of recording your music. I don´t DJ with a laptop anymore so I needed something easy and sturdy. Winner!

[@digitaldjtips]

Totally agree! We love the one we have here

[@JFox337]

As a club DJ this is a gamechanger. Great product

[@digitaldjtips]

We agree!

[@Traumadj]

Thank you got mine today. Can’t wait to do a lot mor sets now since I can just plug in and keep moving

[@digitaldjtips]

Have fun!

[@techsavvyhero]

Thanks for the review!! I was contemplating getting a Reloop Tape 2 to record DJ Sets, but I like this one even better. Recording to SDcard is great. Price is about the same as Reloop 2 also

[@digitaldjtips]

Looks like your mind is made up!

[@hunterengland]

I have one of these and it is brilliant, so simple and great sound quality (once mastered using Steve's method from the MixTape course). I got it when it was a kickstarter campaign and the guys at Howler have been great to deal with. Still a few more updates required but the last firmware one we had was so easy to do!

[@digitaldjtips]

Glad to hear this!

[@DocFUNKist]

I purchased this during its crowdfunding phase-it's a fantastic device. The only letdown is its inability to record while streaming, although I'm not sure if there have been any updates to address this issue since then.

[@digitaldjtips]

Not as yet.

That's almost a dealbreaker, isnt it?

[@uniqueflowsnake]

Nice and simple way to digitize your vinyl too I'd imagine. Not that any other audio interface coudn't do it...

[@digitaldjtips]

Yes, as long as you do it through a DJ mixer or your turntable has a line output.

[@tamildjtutorial]

Yamaha AG 06 MK2 is good with additional inputs I used it for steaming. AG 06 got loopback also.

[@digitaldjtips]

Exactly what we have tucked under our desk here!

[@DJ_Cue]

Great review Phil. I’ll be sticking with my Tascam DP-006 for recording though, I can’t justify the cost. £99 then I’d buy one in a heartbeat

[@digitaldjtips]

Fair enough, boutique will never be bargain basement

[@NocturnalGroovesEnt.-sc9fq]

I see the market for this product, especially for those extreme limitations a Club rig might present. My workaround is a Zoom H5 patched into the Master Mixing Console (if one is available). Once my Set is over, I label the SD Card and from there I do my editing. With private events, I spend a bit more time with equipment setup/break, but it’s well worth the extra effort. The downside is having to spend more for the extra equipment. The upside is I use my H5 for recording on the fly in all environments. A DJ can’t go wrong owning a Zoom!

[@digitaldjtips]

Yes, Zoom is also a great solution

[@FlavioBozzoli]

199€ and cables/adapters are to be purchased separately. Apart from the streaming side (I doubt every DJ doesn't have a sound card at home) it doesn't seem so different to me to justify the price. I've been using my mk1 reloop tape on usb for years and it still does its job great. The only pro of this Howler? The battery that allows 30 hours of recording.

[@evilsohn]

I‘m using a Behringer U-CONTROL UCA222 - it doesn’t record, but I record on the mac within Serato, and I plug into the Behringer that is attached to my PC running OBS Studio. Edit: at 23€ I believe the Behringer U-Control is the better option. Unless you need the recording function.

[@digitaldjtips]

Different products for different uses. Yup, that's a good basic audio interface, true!

[@evilsohn]

@@digitaldjtips agreed and a product that can do both recording and streaming is less equipment clutter 🫶

[@ikerm4110]

I am a Howler user and I have to say that the recording has very good sound quality. It is something simple and without unnecessary inputs and outputs. A device like, resistant and easy to use I have also used uca 222, but the result is inferior.

[@digitaldjtips]

We agree, anything that makes life simpler!

[@MistaJayLJ]

you can use BUTT to record during streaming with stream services

[@digitaldjtips]

Thanks for the tip

[@theaverageguy3884]

It's a shame that #Pioneer not have a rec usb port on all mixers now in 2024. My Pioneer XDJ-XZ have it and i not understand why Pioneer not intergrate a usb rec port on all mixers.

[@lordcarloshere]

What modern pioneer mixer does not have rec out over USB?

[@VideoMusicManiacPlace]

I also need to record/stream the video output of the DJ computer, along with the audio. What can I use? Thx.

[@digitaldjtips]

OBS - free software

[@JimvsBob]

I was really disappointed the A9 didn’t have something like this inbuilt. The xdj xz is the most versatile for recording and streaming.

[@lordcarloshere]

For a9 you could use the pioneer phone app, no?

[@iansmith1549]

The A9 supports Pioneer’s DJM-Rec streaming and recording app on the phone. What more do you need?

[@JimvsBob]

@@iansmith1549 Well… an inbuilt recorder 😂

[@joeyscontenthub]

Hello thank you for introducing Howler. I’m very interested in buying them. I am quite new and bought an old model of XDJ-R1 by Pioneer however there is no cable included. Very much appreciated if you can teach me what kind of cable I should buy extra to connect with the Howler recorder. I have 2 master out & one being in use for the speaker that connects with RCA cable. Another one is I suppose XLR cable ( which I am not having ) do you think buying a XLR Canon plugs will help to connect with mixer and the Howler.？

[@digitaldjtips]

Use an RCA to RCA cable from your RCA outs to the Howler, then plug your speakers into the extra RCA sockets provided on the Howler.

[@joeyscontenthub]

Thank you so much let me give it a try 😊

[@curtisbrooks6201]

I have an iRig Stream Pro, what would be the difference between that and this new device? Thanks.

[@digitaldjtips]

This can record too

[@djtechsys]

I’m not by my rig, but I think the rec out on the DDJ-SX3 doesn’t output the mic, and only the master out will. If I’m wrong, someone please correct me. Nice unit, especially because I learned the hard way that you can’t record BeatPort tracks inside of Serato. Thanks again, Phil!

[@digitaldjtips]

You can just use the master and the thru on this unit

[@djtechsys]

@@digitaldjtips I’m glad it has both RCA and XLR for the master out, just have to watch the levels, and probably have the house adjust the loudness to keep it the recording on the Howler from clipping. I’ll still probably get this regardless of price. Thank you!

[@jackfoster4899]

Love this. Great idea but why not use something like the M-Audio M-Track Duo USB Audio Interface similar size but more options

[@scratchnmix9511]

I'd like to know what you think about it too Phil. Good point.

[@ghettoshampoo]

doesn't look battery powered, has no micro sd card slot. doesn't have simple RCA passthru.

[@oisin7644]

Also does that device even allow you to record into a phone?

[@digitaldjtips]

Overkill for DJs, no recording option.

[@jackfoster4899]

If you are using it for streaming and using a separate computer you do have options for software based recording

[@COMATRON.]

199€ for not streaming and recording at the same time ... harsh ... for my outdoor dj streams i use the Behringer U-Control UCA222 coupled with a 5€ usb-hub to charge my phone, stream and record. works for me.

[@evilsohn]

Oh! It‘s 199€? The the U-Control paired with a Reloop Tape for 129€ as an add on is slightly cheaper - and you get to stream and record. But you‘ll have to fiddle with two devices…

[@alderaanic1042]

Fortunately my Pioneer XDJ RX3 has a specific usb slot that you can record straight to a usb stick so no need for a recording device.

[@digitaldjtips]

Great!

[@ujjayisoundsystem]

Can I record audio while making a video straight from my device into my iphone? That's what I want.. I want to be able to record snippets from my Akai Force with better audio than just in the room recording sound from my monitors. Thx

[@digitaldjtips]

Depends on the app you're recording in I guess - in theory, yes.

[@ortizmusic7115]

Can I plug this into the android phone while running the recorbox Android app on the phone with my flex 4 and record. Cause the android record box app for the phone doesn't have the record button, so is this my savior.🙏

[@digitaldjtips]

You don't need the Rekordbox app, just plug this into your FLX4 and press Record on this.

[@RennieDJ]

What’s your view on this compared to just using the USB out from the DJM A9 and the Pioneer app DJM-REC (which was only $10) I’ve been recording my mixes via this and it has instant upload to soundcloud feature in the app ? Is there a sound quality difference between the two? (Both do 320 Mp3) Would welcome your thoughts on this @digitalDJtips ?

[@digitaldjtips]

It’s a great solution if you don’t mind tying your phone up

[@RennieDJ]

@@digitaldjtips thanks, I was hoping the app would work on the iPad Pro but it doesn’t. But works great as described. Thanks for replying. Still interesting in the product from a streaming perspective though :)

[@johnmeza5433]

Would it be possible record from amazon music with the mixstream pro +

[@digitaldjtips]

You can record anything from anywhere, so yes.

[@JimmyM921]

What the benefit of this over using Audacity with VB Cable? Will this be better quality?

[@digitaldjtips]

No, this just means you don’t need to do it on a computer

[@vj-nikkolax8008]

What dj pool service can I use to stream In order not to have any copy right problem ?

[@digitaldjtips]

None

[@1066tmb]

What’s the company name for the dj desk you are using? Would like to get one 🙂

[@digitaldjtips]

UDG desk, DJStandz racks

[@1066tmb]

@@digitaldjtipsthank you.

[@DJLyncho]

I want one but the price is a big turnoff. Can you get discount codes or anything Phil?

[@digitaldjtips]

No, sorry

[@harry_bonkers]

its a bummer that its using FAT32 partition on the SD card. This means the recording limit is capped at 2GB per file. Meaning every 2 hours (approximately, if you are using WAV format) it will be creating a new file and during that transition a few seconds might get lost. The same thing happens with Reloop Tape2 (but the sound quality is awesome). Thats my only complaint about Tape2. And i suspect that the same will be with the Howler. Can you please test this and post an update? Thank you

[@digitaldjtips]

That is exactly the case as far as I understand, but MP3 will get you a lot longer.

[@marcyavila3436]

How does this compare to the Reloop which is cheaper?

[@digitaldjtips]

This is better built

[@RenatoHarripaul1217]

👍👍👍👍👍👍

[@mybrighton]

Stream and Record simultaneously?

[@TradingTheta89]

Someone else in comments mentioned no you can't, but Phil also said no option to do so 7:13

[@RC75]

Gonna keep my Tascam DR-40x when I’m using my Xone mixer or my MacBook or iPhone app when I’m using a pioneer mixer. This stuff does nothing that I already can’t. It’s probably great stuff but the price is a bit too high I think. 149€ or even a bit less would be more reasonable.

[@digitaldjtips]

Fair enough, you already have a solution so why change?

[@RC75]

@@digitaldjtips I’m not🙂 but it’s always good for the competition if there is more gear on the market. Nice review btw👌

[@tablackburn]

While I love the idea of this product, I feel the price is too high for what it does. I recently found that my Pyle PAD15MXU battery-powered USB mixer provides a USB audio interface when connected to a computer (and presumably smartphones and other similar devices, although I haven't tested). The mixer is about $60 new on Amazon, and frequently $50 or less for used options on Amazon, and when paired with any free recording application, like Audacity or the built-in options on Windows and Mac, it's a great, inexpensive way to record audio.

[@digitaldjtips]

Yup, audio interfaces are indeed ten a penny, the recording function is the thing here.

[@oisin7644]

No gain control on the input which is a bummer, defeats the purpose of having an all in one unit for streaming when you have to take the record output of your decks and run it through another interface/mixer to control the gain. The IRIG wins in my opinion…

[@scratchnmix9511]

I second this.

[@TradingTheta89]

I was reading that irig is only compatible with some older android phones. Unfortunate for me

[@timjanssen1516]

Imo having gain on a recorder device also introduces the chance of amplifying it too loud, accidently distorting the sound if not paying attention while you are busy djing

[@oisin7644]

@@timjanssen1516 it should be a “set and forget” control before you begin the recording, any gain adjustments after the fact should be done on the mixer using the trim controls. If you’re sloppy with your levels when DJing then sure, there is always the possibility of distorting the sound but this problem is not specific to recording devices with a gain control, if anything having that gain control is an extra place to control the level if you’re not going to do it on the mixer.

[@digitaldjtips]

You record quiet and normalise after, as long as you're not playing in the red it'll work fine.

[@MundoSonora]

Behringer U-Control UCA202 has been around for years and it's cheaper

[@digitaldjtips]

True, but it doesn't have the same feature set.

[@dj_paultuk7052]

Seems expensive for what it is. Reloop Tape is half the price. And a USB Sound Card with audio in is just £15.

[@digitaldjtips]

Yup, boutique is never cheap

[@johneccles9051]

It’s a lot of money I think 50 or 75 dollars would be brilliant they would sell loads

[@digitaldjtips]

"Boutique is never cheap".

[@VinylVinnie]

My honest answer; I dont get it. The DJM-REC app and the DJM settings utility program all have features/configurations to simultaneously record and broadcast. Why use an extra unnecessary Analog to Digital step with this box? If you have a pioneer setup with an line out/rec out over USB this just isnt practical. Every mp3/aac encoder for broadcasting (butt etc) have the option to record nowadays. And I keep saying this; Djing using streaming services is not an innovation. Its a degradation from the curator task a dj is supposed to have. It's appalling and unreliable. Unreliable in service (internet drop outs) and legal wise; who makes the decision if a track is made (un)available for streaming to your DJ software? This cannot happen when you own "bought music", there is no distinction between physical media or digital media. Throw away your dj career at a flip of a switch...

[@digitaldjtips]

1. Not everyone owns Pioneer gear like this, and it ties up your phone. 2. It's an option, not best used to replace your own music collection, curation is as you say everything.

[@gal3sz]

200?ahhh....iRig Stream is better.In fact a Tascam device is cheaper and can do the same.

[@digitaldjtips]

Good to have choices

[@merellgilman6355]

Promo_SM 👌

[@ichigen511]

micro usb? micro usb card?

[@digitaldjtips]

Micro USB card