Digital Recorders

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toomilk
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Digital Recorders

Post by toomilk »

I have the chance to get a Tascam recorder for free. Does anyone know about this?

http://www.amazon.com/Tascam-DR-05-Port ... 66&sr=1-10

I've been wanting to record live gigs for a while now and this seems like a good opportunity. Any advice?
olan
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Re: Digital Recorders

Post by olan »

I use an M-Audio Microtrak, which is ancient now, but does a good job. I would advise something that can take an external microphone, preferably at line level so you can use a battery box which usually allows for bass roll-off. Have a read here:
http://www.taperssection.com/ it is a bit anoraky, but is the font of all knowledge.

If you are going to record gigs, the internal microphones on things like the Tascam and Microtrak are OK, but external mics have two big advantages (i) they are very hard to spot so the chances of being busted are very small, unlike if you are holding up a recorder and (ii) you will get better results as you can clip the mics to your collar. If you are above average height this will make a big difference. If you are a shortarse like me, collar level is still much better than hand-held unless you are strong enough to hold the recorder up for the duration of a gig

My mics are Core Sound Binaurals http://www.core-sound.com/mics/1.php, again ancient but very reliable. Church Audio also do great mics http://www.church-audio.com/ or if you are minted look into getting some schoepps http://www.schoeps.de/en/home.

I am in retirement from taping. The last thing I recall recording was Spiritualized at the Opera House in Sydney when they played Ladies and Gents.....
davedecay
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Re: Digital Recorders

Post by davedecay »

or attach mic(s) to your hat...
toomilk
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Re: Digital Recorders

Post by toomilk »

Just picked up a Roland R-05 Studio WAVE/MP3 Recorder and a pair of Roland CS-10EM binaural mics/earbuds.

I'm going to do some extensive testing with it before the LAGWAFIS shows, so hopefully all goes well!


(and thanks for the tips, Olan!)
olan
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Re: Digital Recorders

Post by olan »

toomilk wrote:Just picked up a Roland R-05 Studio WAVE/MP3 Recorder and a pair of Roland CS-10EM binaural mics/earbuds.

I'm going to do some extensive testing with it before the LAGWAFIS shows, so hopefully all goes well!


(and thanks for the tips, Olan!)
Hi Kevin!

Without appearing like a total know-it-all, I would advise the following with a new recorder:

1. Go to a couple of gigs in your local pub. See if you can make a decent recording in the face of shit PA/lots of bored punters chuntering along about the football. Make sure to see if you can tape for 120 mins without need to pitstop (see below). Fuck about with your recorder settings because there is likely to be a make-a-good-grab-in-the-face-of-extreme-hassle setting. You will need to find this as it is never listed in the manual.

2. Make sure you know how your kit works. I wanted to record a gig for a mate of mine who was really ill. My recorder froze after the first set and I could not get it to reset. I missed the rest of the gig and the encores. Turned out to be a combination button press thing (like ctrl+alt+del) but I couldn't remember it until after the show was done. Sods law that nobody else posted the gig to Dime. Mate recovered and gig was by The Cure so no harm was done.

3. Check your mics. It is really annoying to press pause and then notice that your mics are pointing at the roof. Get in front of the mixing desk if the show is standing and then make sure your kit is pointing at the gig. if you are seated make sure that you are good to go without drawing attention to yourself. The only time I ever got busted the woman in the seat next to me told security I was recording the show. They apologised and moved me, but left me with my kit so I was lucky.

4. Don't drink beer before the gig. Listening to the taper/yourself having a piss is not fun. This is actually the big thing about taping; if you want to do it properly you can't really jump about, scream, yell, talk or go for a beer during the gig, let alone take a piss. I gave up because I wanted to fuck about at gigs and I hadn't really done that for 25 years.

Actually, don't go for a piss and point your mics at the show are the important bits of advice really.

Olan
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