Any Ideas For A Cheap Recording?

[Rosa Floydian]

Got a qucik question. I don't have any fancy recording devices/mics/etc... But was wondering if any of you have pulled off a pretty decent recording of your band live or rehearsal with some cheapo gear? Any comments on relatively inexpensive recording units that yield a decent demo/recording?

[Belazaras]

Yep...

Beginner Set Up:

A 2+2 I/O soundcard it´s de most cheapo gear to records. Of course you must record all the instruments in pairs.

Better if you can buy a semipro soundcard (stay away from Creative !) with better A/D D/A conversion. With this configuration you need a preamp. A guitar or bass head work fine.

A home hi-fi audio system can work like monitoring system to mix. This solution it´s beter than cheapo monitors.

SemiPro Setup:

If you want to record all the musicians at the same time, go for a Firewire mixer. Alesis make one who allows to send 16 tracks at the same time to the PC. No soundcard needed. Yamaha and other brands are making good Firewire mixers too.

Here you don´t need preamps. The mixer have it own preamps. Yamaha have very good preamps.

A monitor system it´s very important. A isolated place to record and mix too. Alesis Monitor One with RA100 or Ra150 it´s a good start point.

 

For all the solutions you must consider quality cables and connectors (beware: a good set of good cables cost more than a mixer !). And Shure SM58/SM57 microphones. Take a look at JTS Shure clones, I read good reviews of it.

 

What you don´t need:

** A condenser microphone. A bunch of people swear about those huge 48v powered mics. But a simple all terrain standard in the world SM58 will filter all the noises you non isolated studio and even neighborhood street noises. Pro and Semipro condenser mics have more sensibility and it must be a nightmare in a home studio.

 

*** A superpro set of nearfield monitors. For a superpro set you need a superpro isolated room.

 

Ah... good ears and hours of patience. Read forums and mags it helps a lot.

 

Good luck

 

[ABGBrian]

http://www.samash.com/catalog/showitem.asp?itemid=41125&sourcetype=singleitemsearch

 

i record mostly direct to my computer through this little box and interface through it with Cubase LE software which it comes with. i also use an sm-57 mic and an sm-58 less regularly but nonetheless this is the most basic, inexpensive and efficient console i've found to give you a professional home recording. at least a recording good enough you can throw up on your myspace.

[Gruuve]

Something that looks really appealing to me is the new Zoom H4 field recorder. It's about $250 (I think the next least expensive field recorder is around $450 or so), but seems like you get a lot of stuff for the meager price...built-in condenser mics (don't know how good they are, but probably plenty sufficient), onboard storage for digital audio (CompactFlash, IIRC), two XLR mic inputs with phantom power, 4-track recording capability onboard, and the ability to use the same device as a USB audio interface to a computer running the included Cubase LE software. That's a pretty impressive feature list IMHO. I haven't tried one myself, so I can't speak from experience...but it sure does look appealing on paper.

 

Dave

 

[Eric VB]

Sony MiniDisc Recorder

From the Project Studio forum:

I often record my band with a Sony ECM-717 stereo condensor mic into a Sony MD recorder. If the live mix is good and I position it proerly, I get pretty good results.

http://ec1.images-amazon.com/images/I/21D5TZ2BEDL._AA160_.jpg

From Amazon.com:

I am a violist and I needed the Sony MZ-RH1 Hi-MD Walkman MiniDisc/MP3 Digital Music Player to record myself to make audition CDs for orchestra auditions and festivals. The recording quality is excellent and the MD player is easy to use. Transferring to the computer was very simple. I used the Sony ECMMS907 Digital Recording Microphone and it worked great. For all you orchestra musicians out there looking for a recording device to make your audition tapes, this is it right here. I highly recommend this!!

Amazon.com has the MZ-RH1 for $308, and the Sony ECMMS907 Digital Recording Microphone for $74 (or maybe the Sony ECM-DS70P Electret Condenser Stereo Microphone for $56.) [There are other MD recorders but make sure you get one that has a microphone input; some are designed to "record" over a USB connection to a PC only.]

 

getz may have more info on MD.

[Thomas Wilburn]

What you don´t need:

** A condenser microphone. A bunch of people swear about those huge 48v powered mics. But a simple all terrain standard in the world SM58 will filter all the noises you non isolated studio and even neighborhood street noises. Pro and Semipro condenser mics have more sensibility and it must be a nightmare in a home studio.

 

How cheap is cheap, and what's the level of quality you're looking to get? The nice thing about a decent condenser is that you could set just one or two of them up at the other end of the room, make sure that everyone's balanced properly, and then record the whole group through it. If you're not going for the ultimate recording, you could do that for about $100 for the mike and $100 for an interface into the computer. I mean, that's the REALLY cheap way to do it, besides just using a Radioshack recorder or something.

[Nicklab]

Do you have any local rehearsal studios? The ones around here will throw in a recording of your practice for a relatively small fee on top of the cost of studio time. I could probably get a decent quality rehearsal recording for about $60 - $70.

[Gruuve]

If you're looking to go really, really dirt cheap...there are plenty of cassette-based 4-track recorders available used (just check Ebay...we're talking < $50 in a lot of cases). Favor ones with the higher tape speed (double the normal cassette tape speed)...higher speed equals better sound quality.

 

For dirt cheap mics, about the best thing that I've ever used on the cheapo end was two of the Radio Shack PZM mics (they're a flat plate that you lay on the floor...it's called a boundary mic, and it's some sort of piezo condenser, uses a battery, about $20 each IIRC). Radio Shack doesn't make them anymore, but they sounded pretty awesome, and you might could find two used. Also, Behringer makes the C2 pencil condensers...I have a pair of these and believe it or not they are quite excellent. They are only $50 for a pair, but they do require phantom power, so consider how you would handle that requirement.

 

And...if you have a simple mixer and a decent laptop with a halfway decent sound-card, you could likely record live to the PC using it's built-in audio jacks and freeware DAW software like Krystal Audio or Audacity. The sound quality is going to depend mostly on how good the built-in sound card is, but who knows...some folks achieve some decent results this way.

 

Dave

 

[Eric VB]

You have two options for tracking:

(1) record everyone at the same time with a stereo mic (or pair of mics), or

(2) record everyone separately by multitracking.

 

The problem with option (2) is tracking the drums. You can get by with using only 3 mics, but since you don't have any right now that means you'll have to buy 3 mics. I guess you could try using SM57/58s, but at $100 each that's already $300. [Dave Sisk can give you a better idea of what's needed for drums.] In short, you can easily spend more on just the drum mic set than a recorder.

 

Of course if you go with option (1) you'll just get a stereo recording. One of the reasons 3 (or more) mics are used to record drums instead of 2 is to better define the kick drum. So yes, you'll lose definition in all the instruments with stereo recording.

 

If you have a PC, you can get an audio interface that will handle at least stereo recording. Looks like these will set you back at least $200 (such as an M-Audio Fast Track Pro). [Note that these are not all the same; the Presonus unit zombieater links to is much better for $100 more.] You'll probably want one with built-in mic preamps instead of buying a separate stereo mic pre (to save money).

 

So, assuming you have a decent enough PC and don't need to upgrade or buy one, you'd need:

audio interface (Fast Track Pro): $200

two mics (SM57**): $200

two cables: $40

two stands: $30

For a total of $470. Keep in mind that this will only handle stereo recording; in order to fully mic a drum set you'll have to replace the audio interface (good) or buy a mixer (not as good).

 

Getting the better Presonus interface gives you more options, although it still only has two mic pres, so you'll have to get a mic pre for each additional mic. (Or use the pres on a cheap $90 mixer.) This total is $795.

 

** Somewhere on GP I think someone suggested the SM57 is actually slightly better for tracking vocals than the SM58. The SM57/58 will probably sound a bit muddier or lack the clarity of a condenser.

 

 

NOTE: Whether recording "live" in stereo or multitracking, whenever you use microphones the room you're recording in enters the picture. Places where bands usually practice -- garage, unfinished basement, small 10x10 room -- are pretty awful for recording. Acoustically treating a room can easily set you back several hundred dollars.

[Phil W]

The cheapest option (not the best of course)

 

Secondhand minidisc with mic input (approx. $40)

Sony Condenser T mic $37.50 used on Amazon

 

Not the greatest quality - you can hear that set-up on Cissy Strut on my MySpace or on the lo-fi recordings from the London Lowdown get-together.

 

Davo's recording set-up - his recordings were taken with Rode NT5 matched stereo microphones straight into a Tascam US122 USB interface and into his Mac iBook G4.

 

You can hear that set up here:

http://media.putfile.com/The-Sixth-Line

[TimR]

I've had good results with my minidisk recorder and a very cheap condenser microphone (Like This)

 

Make sure that the room mix and volume is OK and your drummer is sympathetic to keeping the balance (particularly with the cymbals. Add blankets and soft furnishings to you rehearsal space if there is too much natural reverb. Maybe put something between the drum kit and the mic to reduce the volume from the kit, which is where most of your problems will come from.

 

I then record this back into my computer and use some mastering sofware, Goldwave, Audacity or similar to add multiband compression (which seems to work better than messing with EQ), and replace any reverb if you have over done it with the soft furnishings.

 

I've also had very good results using a basic mixer straight into the minidisk and micing everything and spending hours recording and listening back and adjusting. If you know a friend who can mix and record from another room that will help.

 

The recent london lowdown recordings were done using a stereo pair of expensive mics into a laptop, and also from a minidisk with condenser mike. Experiment with mic placement.

 

Good luck!

[Eric VB]

Oh, looks like they already hashed things out here.

[Vistajohn]

I was talking to someone who works for a local college running a recording/engineering program. He mentioned if I needed a demo cd recorded they do that sort of thing no charge. I didn't get all the paticulars but you might want to check with your local college and see if they have a similar program. Can't beat that price.

[moot]

Someone recently filmed one of our gigs with a typical cam-corder and the sound was amazing. My bet would be you know at least 2 people with cam-corders.

[wraub]

I have gotten acceptable results in the past with a decent cassette boom box and Radio Shack condenser mics.

It's all in the placement of them in the right place(s) in the room.

Experiment with what you have.

 

Peace,

 

wraub

[Michele C.]

I can testify for the quality of Phil W's solution: that is the route I took and it works pretty well for 80 euro total.

Before I was using Radio Shack PZM mics, an preamp and a PC. I do not miss that setup at all. Too much trouble.

Samples of my MZ-R55 with Sony T-mic here, recorded in a rehearseal room, re-recorded and compressed on PC with some loss in quality

http://www.proxybar.net/listing/Blues-2007-05-08/

If you have more budget, the Edirol R-09 has done wonders everywhere my guitarist and my drummer have used it and will get you mp3s without further fuss. It definitely seems to have pretty good mics.

The Zoom H4 is cheaper than the Edirol but I have no experience with it.

[dohhhhh6]

I'll just posted some clips on a thread I started a month or two ago about a $50 Ipod video accesory that allows you to record straight to the Ipod. The clips are from my band's myspace.

[dohhhhh6]

To add to vistajohn, my cousin got his band recorded (I think 5-8) tracks at a local college for free. I believe they worked with some recording program for the college. Definitely check to see if that's a viable option.

[lug]

Something that looks really appealing to me is the new Zoom H4 field recorder. It's about $250 (I think the next least expensive field recorder is around $450 or so), but seems like you get a lot of stuff for the meager price...built-in condenser mics (don't know how good they are, but probably plenty sufficient), onboard storage for digital audio (CompactFlash, IIRC), two XLR mic inputs with phantom power, 4-track recording capability onboard, and the ability to use the same device as a USB audio interface to a computer running the included Cubase LE software. That's a pretty impressive feature list IMHO. I haven't tried one myself, so I can't speak from experience...but it sure does look appealing on paper.

 

Dave

 

One of the Mods over at Harmony Central posted a clip of his band recorded on one of these, sounded very good. You can also add other mics and bypass the built-ins if you want. If I were in the market, this unit would be top on my list.

[cloclo]

Any comments on relatively inexpensive recording units that yield a decent demo/recording?

 

well, we used a 2-track audio cassette recorder (an old tascam portable thingy, but they had good preamps in them) and also a really old boombox now and then (with 2 built-in mics! the luxury!). afterwards i loaded (well, recorded) it in protools to tweak, eq and master. the 2-track tascam recording have a voive overdub on them done in protools with a cheap mike (once again). the result is here:

www.myspace.com/marvelassomething

 

we planned a more full-fledged recording session but when everything was set up the whole band fell seriously ill

 

anyway, this is what 2 track audio cassette recordings with cheap mikes and some luck in recording balance can give you

[Johnny Crab]

Something that looks really appealing to me is the new Zoom H4 field recorder. It's about $250 (I think the next least expensive field recorder is around $450 or so), but seems like you get a lot of stuff for the meager price...built-in condenser mics (don't know how good they are, but probably plenty sufficient), onboard storage for digital audio (CompactFlash, IIRC), two XLR mic inputs with phantom power, 4-track recording capability onboard, and the ability to use the same device as a USB audio interface to a computer running the included Cubase LE software. That's a pretty impressive feature list IMHO. I haven't tried one myself, so I can't speak from experience...but it sure does look appealing on paper.

 

Dave

I've been recording every gig since December when I got a Zoom H4. Originally, I got it to review my performances(new to band in August 2006) BUT it has captured many unique and nice moments. I've not dug into the software/options. It gets plugged in, set on my side of the stage(sometimes on the floor), and hit record. Sensitivity is set to minimum, AUTOGAIN ON, Comp/Limiter ON..recording mp3 files at 160kbps(?). Shown below setup at an outdoor gig, left front of the stage near Line 6 Bass POD XT Live. It's sitting on my always-present "cord-to-use-in-case-wireless-craters"...a habit developed when the FIRST generation of NADY's came out centuries ago...

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v245/Johnny_Crab/NatOilStage02.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v245/Johnny_Crab/SetupFXd.jpg

 

At our "houseband" gig, it gets set on a handrail on top of a polish cloth(vibration remover!).

 

Samples?

One

Solo section of a song UNPROCESSED and NOT EQ'd at all:

http://media.putfile.com/Zoom-H4-Live-Demo-Unprocessed

 

Two

We were covering that floor-filling, bass-player-in-a-cover-band-gotta-know song Brown Eyed Girl. One second before the bass/drum "solo" fill part(you know the line), a guest backup singer stepped on my volume pedal turning it off. After a 2 second check cord(ok), look at wireless display(signal ok), and THEN glance at pedal and see....*@!#!%!#@ red...I slammed it down and this came out. My amp's set on edge so if I play hard, it gets dirty...if I play normally, it's clean. This was played in anger(so hard I even hear the clicks of a string hitting the pickup), Growl-Eyed Girl?

http://media.putfile.com/Growl-Eyed-Girl

PS:

I LOVE our drummer.

He's a time-keeping wonder(jumped the song back to the normal drum/bass part after keeping time filling in the 3 second 100mph troubleshooting session). Plus, he's a great guy.

 

 

[Rosa Floydian]

A lot of the ideas sound very good and reasonable to try out. I will have to check into what my university's policy is on recording (I am almost positive you have to pay) but am definitely going to try out the camcorder recording. The thing is/issue we are not really a band more so just a trio of guys that do improv jamming. So we don't gig or play out anywhere we have only just gotten together once or twice a month and jammed. So I was looking for an extra thrift or frugal method and have gotten quite a few excellent suggestions. I would do a good recording but we aren't really going to sell any (lets see - his wife, my parents well thats at least 2 sold!). Those were the main factors driving my decisions so somewhere along those guidelines I was going to base my decision off of. Now for the trial and error set ups and recording... Wish me luck and I will have to keep coming back to this thread for advice. You guys really are a godsend.

[shandobass]

Has anybody tried either the Boss Micro Br or the Boss BR 600? The look like great sketchpads and a great way to practice as well as avoiding a computer to record multiple tracks.