Topic: Yet another first time taper

[Babooshko]

Hello everyone!

I'm about to step out in the tapers' world, and I thought I'd ask for some help in this nice forum. Please be aware I'm a total novice PLUS I'm italian so I'm having a bit of a hard time going through all the technical jargon. Thanks in advance for your patience

So I'm considering as a first rig something that would cost me around 600$. I'm planning to go stealthing for the most part, but I usually attend concerts in opera houses (though the artists performing there are NOT into opera at all!) or good auditoriums. Anyway, let's consider high-quality venues and/or small venues as the average target locations for the concert I go to.

I chose a tough one as a starter... Diamanda Galas in Rome next month. The venue is Auditorium Parco della Musica, in the same hall where PJ Harvey performed last month (here's the website: http://www.auditorium.com/). The acoustics are just AMAZING, so that should make it easier.

I've read the "Getting Started" post, and it's written that an AKG C1000S and a Sony D8 could do the trick (with the obvious downsides of a relatively low budget gear). I guess I could afford even something slightly better than that, but I really have no idea how to choose.

Is there anyone willing to make a tentative list for this dummy first-timer, please?

I'll ask later how to arrange the rig - I guess it should be well hidden and all, right? I'm sure there's a topic about this already, if someone could copy&paste the link for me, that'd be awesome.

Thanks again, sorry for the awfully long ramblings!
Francesco

[macacopowa]

Hi!! wellcome to the addict world of taping,   +T from Barcelona!

Your budget it's enought for to start with decent rig. I'll recommend to catch an iriver120 (120-150$ used) and focalize your others 500$ in to most critical item, your microphones. If you usually go to good acustical venues, how you explain, maybe omnidirectionals microphones are your choice, like dpa4061 but these are a bit expensive for your initial budget. Another option, that for me are very good, are Sound Professionals CMC-4 or CMC-8, that in fact are Audio Technica capsules, at853 for cmc-4 and at943 for cmc8. The cmc8 are smaller than cmc4 but both are very steltheables.

if you find a recorder for 100-150$, search a decent microphones in price range of 300$ and 100-150$ for the preamp, bb or others that give enought energy to the microphones. the YardSale would be your first page that you have to read every day...but carefully because you will convert in to a gearslut how a lot of us!

Wellcome and enjoy!

PS; sorrry forrrr my troglodyte english!

Dani

[Belexes]

Good advice from macacopowa. I'd stay away from DAT and Mini-Disc and get a nice, small flash recorder.  DAT tapes are expensive compared to how cheap memory is these days and can be prone to drop outs. MD and you'd have to mess with switch discs during the performance.

[sunjan]

So I'm considering as a first rig something that would cost me around 600$. I'm planning to go stealthing for the most part...

I've read the "Getting Started" post, and it's written that an AKG C1000S and a Sony D8 could do the trick...

Hi Francesco,

You were right in reading the Getting Started. But unfortunately, the gear chapter is heavily outdated! There's a lot of new gear which isn't mentioned there. So DAT and MD recorders are way past the point of being useful, unless you were on a shoestring budget.

The c1000s aren't really stealthable. You need to consider that these should be hat mounted.
For a European taper, the universal recommendation for a starter mic kit is the Church Audio setup (Church mics + Church Pre).
These come in different flavors. Since you will be taping in seated venues with nice acoustics, macacopowa is right in recommending omnis. But for stadium type gigs, noisy rock crowds etc you will need cardioids too. With your budget, you can still afford it!
You should consider this offer:
http://taperssection.com/index.php/topic,90474.0.html

The CA setup will be less than $300 (shipping extra on top of this), so you can afford a recorder for some $250 + shipping.

An Iriver (H1xx or H3xx) would be a very decent first choice, can be had for less than $150 with Paypal promotion code, but you'd have to pick up a USB charger cable separately:
http://taperssection.com/index.php/topic,100758.msg1344265.html#msg1344265

You can pick up an R-09 on ebay for around $250, since it's being replaced and phased out:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=300214028566

Or if you want to buy from a reputable retailer, they are less than $300 new:
http://taperssection.com/index.php/topic,99200.0.html
Rebate form here, although I don't know if you can use it from Europe:
http://taperssection.com/index.php/topic,101858.0.html

There is a great offer on the Tascam DR-1 for $249:
http://taperssection.com/index.php/topic,97474.0.html
Or the DR-1 + cardioids combo for $298:
http://taperssection.com/index.php/topic,100881.msg1343585.html#msg1343585

Each of these recorders have their pros and cons, depending on your preferences. Some additional questions:
 - do you ever see yourself running optical-in in the future? In that case go for the H1xx.
 - are you concerned about size (for stealthing)? H120 and R-09 are about the same size, DR-1 considerably bigger. If the venues in Italy are heavy on pat-downs and frisking, I'd stay away from the DR-1.
 - would built-in mics be an added advantage to you? Go for DR-1 or R-09.
 - are you planning to tape 24bit? In that case go for the R-09 or DR-1.
 - do you go to festivals without charging facilities? R-09 runs on AA batteries, as opposed to Iriver and DR-1.
 - are you careful with your gear or not? The R-09 has a weak line-in jack. Chris Church and maybe others here on TS offer a mod to strenghten the jack, but I'm not sure it would be within your budget.

I don't have first hand experience of R-09 or DR-1, but members from each camp here can vouch for one or the other. Spyder wrote a very good evaluation:
http://taperssection.com/index.php/topic,97231.msg1343749.html#msg1343749

Another brief overview here:
http://www.wingfieldaudio.com/compare-portable-recorders.html

[lordbelial]

My 2 cents.

Iriver IHP-120 with rockbox
ST-9100 preamp
Church audio ST-11 with omni/card caps and 4.7Kmod

http://taperssection.com/index.php/topic,90474.0.html

You'll have a lovely rig and you'll have to spend 450 $ (300$ on the preamp+mics and 150$ on the recorder). Save those 150$ so you can buy tickets to try your new gear on!

[Babooshko]

Woah, guys, thank you so much for all the info! You all rock, I mean it And Sunjan, your super-detailed post's been greatly useful! I think I'll print it and keep it as a handy guide for future steps ahead in the tapers' world, thank you too!

As the forum was down, I managed to fetch an iRiver on ebay - all things considered it seemed to be the best buy. On the mics and preamp side I'm very tempted to go for the CA solution! The price is reasonable and it sounds like a good reliable gear. I'll drop a line in the right thread for that - thank you lordbelial for pointing it out to me!

I guess I'll have some more question when I have all the stuff in my hands, I hope you won't mind if I come out a bit dull on things

Thanks again, I love this place already
Francesco