Topic: cell phones and their impact on taping

[kuba]

You all know that annoying noise appearing when a message or a call is received near loudspeakers. My question is, whether it is safe to tape with cell phone switched on near to the recording device. You know what I mean??

[Brian]

if you get in coming call and your cell phone is RIGHT next to the recorder i'm thinking you might get some interference.  One of the firsts shows I ever taped I had my phone next to my dat.  I could hear that noise on my tape when somebody called my phone during the set.  I just try to keep it in my pocket.  Sometimes i turn it off completely during the show depending upon a few variables.

[MattD]

Nextels in particular raise hell. I have a regular phone, but I always turn it off during the show. It's not like I'm going to hear anyone who calls, anyway.

[neutrino]

This thread reminded me of a conversation I had not to long ago with an old taper friend of mine about cell phones at concerts. We use to see people get busted taping stealth all the time by exposing backlights or meters on their decks and how the common use of cell phones have now made it easier for stealth tapers to get away with peaking at their decks and not worry too much about exposing a "mystery light" in a dark venue...
dB-

[Depechemode1993]

yes they do interfere with your recording. I was stealthing Morrissey back in October and I called my dad becasue he is a big morrissey fan. I got some of the clickdy click sound on the tape for about 1 sec. it just depends on how close you are to the recorder. Now I turn my phone off at concerts.

[Teen Age Riot]

It seems that the problem is worse in Europe. I have gotten noise at shows from other people (when I didn't even bring my phone). Also, for some reason I never had any problems going SBM1>D100. But using mics>D100, I often got weird sounds, so apparenly it also depends on the equipment.

[Tim]

I've had a hard time nailing the problems down to one particular piece of gear, one set of mics, one set of cables, or even one phone or service type.... I've observed the cell phone interference problem for quite a few years though across a myriad of gear types. I think it is generally just good policy to, at the VERY least, just turn your ringer off....

I think active cables though are more prone to interference than other types of cables, gear etc.... though ymmv.....

[blu666z]

This thread reminded me of a conversation I had not to long ago with an old taper friend of mine about cell phones at concerts. We use to see people get busted taping stealth all the time by exposing backlights or meters on their decks and how the common use of cell phones have now made it easier for stealth tapers to get away with peaking at their decks and not worry too much about exposing a "mystery light" in a dark venue...
dB-

Hadn't thought about it before but it makes perfect sense.

-Kevin

[Teen Age Riot]

This thread reminded me of a conversation I had not to long ago with an old taper friend of mine about cell phones at concerts. We use to see people get busted taping stealth all the time by exposing backlights or meters on their decks and how the common use of cell phones have now made it easier for stealth tapers to get away with peaking at their decks and not worry too much about exposing a "mystery light" in a dark venue...
dB-

Hadn't thought about it before but it makes perfect sense.

-Kevin

Totally! It actually saved my ass once at a Ben Harper show. I was upfront and this security woman saw the light of my D100 when I was setting the levels. She walked up to me and asked what that was. Luckily my phone was in my pocket right under the fanny pack, so I pulled it out and told her I had just turned it off. She believed it and left me alone. Never touched the D100 again that night... 

[fandelive]

I already taped some shows that were ruined in most parts by cell phones users having a conversation during the songs!!!
I just think cell phones should be forbidden at shows.

[cleantone]

I'm really surprised that I don't ge the cell phone interferance more often. I think maybe only one I have recorded the clicky noise during a show. Seems like it should happen more often. Thank god it doesn't. Just another thing to add to the list of things concert goers have no idea that thier doing to ruin a recording. Of course at least one person has to migrate toward your rig whether they know it or not. It could be 100 feet from anything and someone will want to stand 2 feet from it and almost step on it or something.

[JackoRoses]

I'm really surprised that I don't ge the cell phone interferance more often. I think maybe only one I have recorded the clicky noise during a show. Seems like it should happen more often. Thank god it doesn't. Just another thing to add to the list of things concert goers have no idea that thier doing to ruin a recording. Of course at least one person has to migrate toward your rig whether they know it or not. It could be 100 feet from anything and someone will want to stand 2 feet from it and almost step on it or something.

I think it depends on the phone and the carrier.
This one guy's phone messes with my friends tv all the time. I never seen mine
or his do that. I bring my phone to the show because I use the clock on it.
that's all it is there for..

[itook2much]

I bring my phone to the show because I use the clock on it.
that's all it is there for..

Buy a watch 

[firmdragon]

one thing i like about cell phones is that when i check my levels now, i pull out my cell phone right afterwards.  now whenever i check levels, security thinks i'm checking my phone.

[kev B]

I already taped some shows that were ruined in most parts by cell phones users having a conversation during the songs!!!

"hmmmmmm... I need to make a phone call. If I go back to those tall stands with antennae, that will increase my cell phone reception. Plus, no one is talking there so I can have a better, louder conversation"