Recording Devices Poll

BassBlatt · Post by **BassBlatt** » Sun Mar 18, 2007 12:48 am

Hello

I would like to take a poll of what recording devices you guys use.

I'm looking more on the mobile side of things - something to recording practice sessions with in good quality for quick reference.

I was wondering if anyone has had any experience with the M-Audio Microtrack, or the Edirol R-09. The specs on these look very good, but as we all know, trying to record a tuba is quite the task.

Looking forward to your opinions,

Charles

Dylan King · Post by **Dylan King** » Sun Mar 18, 2007 3:16 am

These days I would never spend money on that kind of thing when one can get a laptop and have unlimited track 24 bit recording anywhere.

MAC is best, but PCs can do it too, and think of all the other things one can do with a laptop. Like read tubenet all day.

oldbandnerd · Post by **oldbandnerd** » Sun Mar 18, 2007 9:09 am

I use a Sony Walkman MZ-R20 minidisc recorder with a Sony unidirectional stereo condensor microphone. The microphone was made just for the minidisc and is very small and clips on a music stand or anything you can find . I bought both on Ebay for just under $100.00 .
This set up will do a fine job of recording your practice sessions. It will also do a decent job of recording performances .You will have to play with the recording voulme level if you are recording in a small room or the mic is very close to you .The mic. has a tendacy to be overpowered if you don't. But, once you learn how to make the proper adjustments you will be able to use it anywhere.
I am not sure about this but I think minidisc's are no longer being made . But You can still find them on Ebay :
http://search.ebay.com/search/search.dl ... arch&fgtp=

Very Cheap and portable . Also, very easy to transfer to a computer with any music editor program . You can burn the file to a cd, send in a email or upload to a music hosting webpage like Acid Planet so we can all enjoy your terrific tuba sounds ...

Here's an eaxmple of a recording I did of my community band :

Pirates of the Carribean : http://www.acidplanet.com/components/em ... 481&T=6037

Here's a recording of myself playing . I was in a middle school band room and the microphone was clipped to a music stand 50 feet away from where I was sitting :
http://www.acidplanet.com/artist.asp?PID=956394&t=5377

Best of luck to you in your search .
TY

geneman06 · Post by **geneman06** » Sun Mar 18, 2007 9:56 am

if you're looking for something cost effective, the sony mini disc player is definitly the way to go. but i would suggest investing in a better mic. I use the MXL V63MBP, its a large diaphram condenser, frequency response from 20khz-30hz, and its battery powered, so you can use it with a mini disc recorder, or as i like to do use it with garageband on my mac. the nicest thing about this mic, its only $100 and comes with every ting you need; cable, adapter, desk stand, it even comes with a battery.

Mike Finn · Post by **Mike Finn** » Sun Mar 18, 2007 12:31 pm

Doc wrote:Minidisc is the way to go. Plenty of options and very portable. I use a Sony MZ-N707...

I use the same thing, with a Sony ECM MS907 mic. Very convenient, great sound, can be run on a single AA battery or plug it in. The only times I've been disappointed in it have been when I did not set the recording level proprly. (In particular the night I jammed with Toby Keith's horn section in a local beach bar after their gig at the Ampitheater...) There's an auto record level, which is fine, but the compression "breathes" a little so I prefer to set it myself. I just need to remember to use different settings for quintet rehearsals and bar gigs!

Dylan's right about the laptop, but for super-simple and extremely portable recording without much of an investment or learning curve, go for the MD.

MF

Stefan Kac · Post by **Stefan Kac** » Sun Mar 18, 2007 1:11 pm

I'm partial to the laptop theory (I use a Mac Book with Garage Band and a Behringer FCA-202 Firewire interface). Admittedly, it's less compact and significantly more expensive than a mini-disc, but as a previous poster said, think about everything else you can do with the laptop. (for example: the new Macs come with iWeb, a ridiculously easy to use program for designing websites; I was able to do mine myself and have since heard from no fewer than 3 friends wondering if I could do theirs!)

Has anyone used the iRiver? I've only run into one person who had one (presumably, as I later found out, because it only works with PC's), but it looked like the perfect package. It's basically an iPod that also records.

Wes Krygsman · Post by **Wes Krygsman** » Sun Mar 18, 2007 1:58 pm

I just bought the ZOOM H4 Handy Recorder this past week and so far it's AMAZING!!!! It does so much more than I thought it did and the built in microphones are really high quality for the digital audio it records. Google it to find more info. I highly recommend this to anyone looking for a recorder.

Also it's only about $300, and it has everything you need, no need to buy anything else to supplement it unless you want to.

tbn.al · Post by **tbn.al** » Sun Mar 18, 2007 2:01 pm

I use a Zoom H-4 field recorder that I love. Cheap, small, light and very good recording quality. mp3,44.1kHz to 96kHz. The built in mics are fine for rehearsal, but it also handles standard powered mics as well. It is flash memory based so there are no moving parts. I record a 2 hour rehearsal, plug it up to my computer with USB when I get home and email the mp3's out to the rest of the quintet that same night. I love it.

http://www.samsontech.com/products/prod ... rodID=1901

Tubainsauga · Post by **Tubainsauga** » Sun Mar 18, 2007 4:38 pm

I'd put in a vote for the Edirol. The laptop setup is great if you can leave it set up in your practice space for long periods of time, but if you're lazy like I am, you won't use it as often as you should. The Edirol has really good sound quality and you can keep it in your case and you'll use it a lot more. Just my $0.02

jtuba · Post by **jtuba** » Sun Mar 18, 2007 4:58 pm

Just got the Edirol R09 last week and recorded my BQ yesterday using some Giant Squid mics. It blows minidisc out of the water. The internal mics are pretty good too, but I'll probably use my GS mics to record some upcoming things in town here. No more mechanical noise for me. It's not cheap, but I was able to talk the Guitar Center salesdude down a little.

schneidah · Post by **schneidah** » Sun Mar 18, 2007 8:27 pm

I've been using the Edirol R-1 for about two years and have had great success with it. For practice/rehearsal sessions (as well as the occasional informal concert recording), the quality is excellent, and I've found it pretty easy to use. The R-09 is something I'd definitely consider were I in the market now.

The laptop idea is definitely one to consider as well; I've had friends who've done very well with a pretty basic freeware program and a cheap mic. Now if I only had a laptop...

tubaguy9 · Post by **tubaguy9** » Sun Mar 18, 2007 9:49 pm

Dylan King wrote:These days I would never spend money on that kind of thing when one can get a laptop and have unlimited track 24 bit recording anywhere.

MAC is best, but PCs can do it too, and think of all the other things one can do with a laptop. Like read tubenet all day.

I second that one! I have a laptop, that I do that with, buy a microphone (I used one that was just lying around the house) and download Audacity and you're set! I also keep a tuner and a metronome on my laptop, too, so it's the ultimate practice device!

Bandmaster · Post by **Bandmaster** » Mon Mar 19, 2007 3:20 pm

I bought a M-Audio Microtrack 24/96 off of eBay plus a 4 GB memory card and have used it to record concerts for the community band I play with and it works great. It even has phantom power available for high end mics. A percussionist friend told me about the 24/96 and swears by it as well. He uses it to record his rehearsal sessions.

lprince · Post by **lprince** » Mon Mar 19, 2007 3:44 pm

tubaguy9 wrote:
Dylan King wrote:These days I would never spend money on that kind of thing when one can get a laptop and have unlimited track 24 bit recording anywhere.

MAC is best, but PCs can do it too, and think of all the other things one can do with a laptop. Like read tubenet all day.
I second that one! I have a laptop, that I do that with, buy a microphone (I used one that was just lying around the house) and download Audacity and you're set! I also keep a tuner and a metronome on my laptop, too, so it's the ultimate practice device!

Exactly... but since you have your computer there make sure you don't spend all your time in the practice room on tubenet like a certain person is doing right now...