Recording Device for jamming sessions, Suggestions ?

[spinninsticks]

Hi all,

Been searching around the forums for similar threads but to no avail, so thought I'll just do up a new Thread.

I'm looking for a recording device to record jam sessions, doesnt have to be anything spectacular, just able to decently record all instruments playing at time of recording. A easy playback would be a plus as well.

So does anyone have any recommendations ? Probably a digital recorder (with a decent Mic).

Thanks in advance for the input guys.

cheers.

 

[babs]

you can use a MD player /recorder
works for me
but be sure to set the recording level at a comfortabl level
higher levels tend to get the bass booming and the recording don't sound so good

 

[spinninsticks]

Hey babs thanks for the input! I do have a md but dun have any mic to aid in recording, any to recommend ?

Or if anyone else who can recommand and recorder with a decent mic would be good. Preferably the model as well. Thanks!

 

[blueprintstudios]

i think this has been covered before : zoom h2 recorder. it's around $270 i think.. at citymusic.

if not buy some 2nd hand MD on yahoo auction or anywhere else

 

[syed_zack]

=blueprintstudios

bro is it user friendly?ive been doin researchon the zoom web but ill need commnets from fellow softies to judge its authenticity.cheers

 

[spinninsticks]

Hey blueprintstudio thanks for the info, I 'll drop by city music to sample it soon. I'll also probably just stick to md recording since my bassist has one haha.

 

[GuiTarMeL]

oh currently i'm using it at jamming sessions..
bought it at 200 plus..
its easy to use..
but the bad thing is that it doesn't have a speaker to playback...

 

[spinninsticks]

Hmm no speaker to playback, then does it have an earphone input to listen ? How about downloading onto the computer ?

 

[blueprintstudios]

syed_zack: hey i think you should go down citymusic and test it out,there're friendly staff there who'll entertain you. then you can be the best softie judge for yourself. it's not like the h2/h4 suck or anything heheh

 

[Krist]

get the adobe audition..

u will not regret it..

enjoy!

Adobe - Audition 3

 

[doggieshaman]

if you are feeling rich....

i think m-audio's microtrack is a great field recorder.

but heads up, sinamex sells microtrack 2 at $500+ a pop so.

i guess head for zoom H2 or H4

OR

i've never tried this before but you COULD probably hook up a condenser mic to the studio's PA system (usually the one for vocals) and then do a direct line out to an MD/MP3 recorder? Might work.

 

[ungauged]

So wat's the verdict? Any device tat could produce studio like sounds? I've got a mic that does the job but not the device....

I've seen a few of ur recommendations and i've tried mp3 players or MD recorders... The sound quality just isn't up the standard... I can achieve almost studio recording with my camcorder but the output is video :???:

 

[traqstyle]

If you have the latest Generation ipod, maybe can look at these device
Belkin : TuneTalk™ Stereo for iPod®

I bought one as a back up for shows that I do, it has a stereo line in, the mic isn't fantastic, there is a handy AUTO GAIN feature, a very basic 3 stage compressor I guess, you can hear it working at times.

 

[THOA]

Any device tat could produce studio like sounds?

There's a reason why a studio can produce studio like sound, whereas the set ups you tried can't. Studios spend thousands of bucks and many hours of work and use many techniques to produce the kind of sound you are trying to achieve.

I can believe that your MP3 player's recording is crap; they are designed for convenience rather than quality. MP3 is a lossy audio format, so the sound you hear is basically a degraded one.

I don't see why an MD player can't give you a good sound though, cos the quality should be way better (I believe they record digital wav). Are you using the same mic that you used for recording to video?

In any case, what isit that you are trying to record? What isit that you want to get out of all this? Maybe you should access your needs first to see if it's even necessary to cough out the bucks to record something that might not need to be perfect.

 

[doggieshaman]

no honestly, you can't get studio like sounds simply because there is alot of external noise that exists outside of the studio environment.

but as for recording devices, i've used m-audio's microtrack before, and I can tell you it's recording abilities are very very good. In a perfect (noise-proof) environment it sufficiently doubles up as a studio mic if you need it to be, it's that clear. Of course it is steep as hell... price wise

\i feel whats most important is, check to ensure there isnt any external sources of noise, in a jamming studio, maybe you want to scout around for a possible location in the room where your device can sufficiently and clearly record the output of all the amps/drums? And if possible adjust the input level of your device accordingly, and this is the hardest, but placing it on a soft surface/platform will help to reduce the impact of vibrations caused by the bass amp/bass drum's very low frequencies, a lot of devices don't have the capability to record those properly so you'll get popping sounds - bad audio.

But there is still a compromise of course, depending on what you have there are limitations on what you can achieve as to how clean the sound is? Nevertheless there are steps. Probably get someone to be there just to record, to listen through headphones real time to check the audio quality on the go

 

[ungauged]

I've been recording my own songs as well as my band's own music for years now but I'm still stuck with poor sound quality or should I say sound which does not satisfy me.

I know direct recording from the jam studio will definitely be out of the question with at least a 6 track mixer due to the various sound waves going through one condenser mic but so far it's been ok considering the sound quality is quite clear. I'm more interested in home recording for my personal usage.

THOA : Yes I did use the same condenser mic while using an MD to record and the sound does not have the same results as my camcorder. It seems to me the onboard sound system in the camcorder offers a more brilliant sound even with 2 signals being recorded through 1 condenser mic. I mainly use my Mesa Dual Rect on distortion with my guitar or an acoustic guitar. I don't need something too complicated as I would only be needing 3 to 4 tracks per song.

I'm looking for a device that will accommodate my condenser mic and be able to transfer it to my computer as a sound file (not necessarily mp3). I'll try to upload a demo of my sound clip using my camcorder. I would be very satisfied if it can reproduce that kind of quality but as a sound file not a video file. So far it seems most of you use the Line 6 toneport? Any other suggestions?

 

[doggieshaman]

the zoom h2 should be ok for that? or similar recorders. I feel m-audio's microtrack is better, I use it alot and is very happy with the sound quality. And both can record in wav and supports 1/8" mic input. The m-track has inputs for S-PDIF and for 1/4" mic cables as well?

 

[obzervr]

no honestly, you can't get studio like sounds simply because there is alot of external noise that exists outside of the studio environment.

Hmmm... you'd be surprise what a multi tracked live jam recording can achieve. Each instrument can be independently mic up (sometimes concurrently DI), full drums kit, all individually tracked. Except for vocal that will be recorded after mixing. Check out with Fourtones for such recording service.

Otherwise, for simple jam recording, I'd go for H4 coupled with external condensors with careful placement. For more adventure, hook up four instrument mics (the wharfedale pros at city music works well) and 2 condensors through a good small 6 channel mixer before the H4.

Better still, bring a laptop and use the H4 with external mics to track two instruments at a time.

 

[doggieshaman]

haha yes bro i know you can mic that up, i was referring to using like just ONE mic to do a live pass!

but then again even if u mic up it isn't that CLEAN per se as a studio environment, there will be some artifacts recorded also (such as the other jamming room's sounds being muffled but still recorded in) although it is negligible per se.

i suppose if you are willing to (and the owners are agreeable) you could drag down a simple interface and a couple of mics and mic them up one by one... should be able to get a pretty clean (but not studio quality) recording

 

[ungauged]

Any idea who carries the m-audio micro track? How's the sound quality through a condenser mic? anyone has an demo track?