Recording

[Duggeh]

I'm thinking about getting into recording. Portable recorder, maybe make a dummy head. Regular visits to the Younger Hall, field recordings, whatever.

Anyone here into recording? Is there a forum for this sort of thing? Where does one learn which bits of kit are best to buy?

[bjarnetv]

Gearslutz.com - Powered by vBulletin ?

[grawk]

Check out taperssection.com too

I used to do a lot of recording, so I can give some advice too. Budget matters

[tyrion]

I've heard a bunch of Dan's recordings, listen to his advice.

[Duggeh]

After a brief look-see I was thinking about something like the Tascam DR-100 as the recorder. But I'll check out all the FAQs and things around the place.

Would you advocate flash over HiMD Grawk? The minidisc I'd looked at was the MZ-RH1.

[wualta]

If you want to get started for cheap and don't mind a little DIY, used MiniDisc sounds good (avoid Sony and its cheap MD mic preamps), and if you can't find a pair of A-T's ATR-35S for cheap, you can build your own mics using Panasonic capsules from your local friendly electronics parts stockist.

Another way to go binaural cheap is to use your own dummy head. Works great.

[grawk]

I'd definitey go with a flash based recorder over minidisc. I don't like atrac as a concept for recording.

[Duggeh]

HiMD does 16/41 lossless. But it means a different disc every 90 minutes (at 1gig per disc).

What sort of stuff did you record?

[grawk]

HiMD does 16/41 lossless. But it means a different disc every 90 minutes (at 1gig per disc).

What sort of stuff did you record?

Concerts, with and without permission

[Duggeh]

Do they sound better without permission?

[grawk]

Do they sound better without permission?

They sound more rare that way

[Dusty Chalk]

Budget matters

Quoted for emphasis -- that was meant to be a question, I.E. what is your budget? Also, what is it you're trying to record?

And yes, at this point, there is no reason not to go flash-based. MiniDisc was a good budget entry point at the time, but nowadays, flash memory is cheap, and therefore so are the recorders.

There exists a portable DSD recorder -- I intend to have on in my stable before I'm done. I'm guessing (entirely) that this will be one of the better sounding ones. Also, whether or not you intend to record anything beyond stereo is important (there are a couple that can do 4 channels).

Also: H4N advertises itself as doing USB 2.0 -- which implies that there are others besides the H2 and original H4 that don't -- just make sure you check.

Edited September 20, 2009 by Dusty Chalk

[diebenkorn]

What ever Nixon used is the best.

[Duggeh]

Let us say for the sake of simple inquiry I can spend

[grawk]

I'd shift your bias way toward the microphones if you want to record music. Get the cheapest recorder you can find (I had an m-audio microtrack, but I think the Korg MR1s have gotten cheap), and spend the rest on microphones.

[Duggeh]

Okay, thanks

[Duggeh]

Well I went with the Tascam and the 4060 mic set. The head is the best quality mannequin head ( in terms of not being a lump of expanded polystyrene) I could find from a UK seller.

Student radio at the university have expressed an interest in the idea of binaural recording. So I'm excited about what might come of that.

Does anybody have any requests or indeed, suggestions for sounds of Scotland they might like to hear?

[luvdunhill]

Does anybody have any requests or indeed, suggestions for sounds of Scotland they might like to hear?

Scottish Carillons?

[grawk]

the audio exploits of the modern scottish jack the ripper?

[Duggeh]

Scottish Carillons?

I'm trying to find out if I might get access to the North St clock tower at the Quad. The problem is finding a bloke who knows a bloke who knows a bloke who knows a bloke. The town also has a church with some very pretty bells. I'll be investigating that too.

[Dusty Chalk]

Ah, brings back memories.

Me: Excuse me.

Chick: Yes?

Me: I couldn't help over-hearing -- you have a very nice voice.

Chick: Thank you.

Me: I actually like to take recordings, do you mind if I record your voice?

Chick: Um...

Me: Please?

Chick: I wouldn't know what to say.

Me: Oh, I'm a minimalist, I'd be perfectly happy with just one word, repeated. Perhaps the word, 'yes'?

...

So...how about some Scottish chicks?

Or, in lieu of that, how about the shore?

[Dreadhead]

Doug if you don't mind could you put up where you found the mannequin heads? I have been thinking of getting one myself.

[Duggeh]

Ebay uk. Only weighty one I could find anywhere over here.

MD-EraW2 looks good over the pond.

[Dreadhead]

Great Thanks!

This is going to result in some weird looks when I pick this up from my mailbox at the UPS store.

[Dusty Chalk]

That's some nice detail.

And $25 is an amazing price for that level of detail, but...you sure you want to be working with fiberglass? You might want to talk to them about making a custom one with holes in the ears, or ask them if they already have one.