Topic: Need help taking new Grateful Dead tribute band

[notquitedeadmusic]

Hey now tapers!  I need help figuring out an inexpensive way to tape my new Grateful Dead Tribute Band (Not Quite Dead) for demo and website use (notquitedeadmusic.com)  I can't spend much on recording since most of our money goes into production equipment.  We've been playing in small clubs with  a modest PA and for recording we've been using floor mikes 20 feet from the stage into my Tascam 122 into  a laptop running Audacity.  We've been using leftover stage mikes (Shure SM 57's and Sennheiser E 835) and get too much crowd noise, a tunnel effect and overpowering bass and drums.  Fortunately or unfortunately, most of our energy is going into making the music rather than recording it.  Any cheap and easy solutions (such as good cheap mikes and better placement) would be greatly appreciated.  Keep on Truckin'.

[powermonkey]

I'm sure there's a local taper out there who'd be glad to sort out taping you... get a decent rig and a board feed on the go, matrix the two sources, and voila. Good tape, and someone to give you a good insight as to the sort of gear you need.

[Ryan Sims]

Where are you located? We have tapers from all over and I'm sure some would be happy to help out if nearby, especially if you could guestlist them for the gig.

[goodcooker]

For minimum investment you could get away with buying a used set of Studio Projects C4s (~$200) and running them into your existing Tascam/Laptop setup.

Here is a link to a show I recorded with the same setup (in a crappy club from a bad location).

http://bt.etree.org/details.php?id=502252

Plus with the C4s you get a set of omnis for running onstage or whatever.

Then you could spend a little more and get a modUA5 and do sbd+aud/onstage mics. Run the onstage mics back through the snake to the board and keep your UA5+laptop back there.

My 02c

[notquitedeadmusic]

Thanks for the quick responses.  We are in the Twin Cities (MN).  These are good ideas I can use until a member of the tribe shows up with a taping rig.  Any suggestions for mike placement?

[Ryan Sims]

It'd be a good idea to start where the mics are at the point of an equilateral triangle from the P.A. stacks. It's not always the perfect place, so walk through the venue during soundcheck, but it's a start.

[deadheadcorey]

notquitedead,

Check out these mics @ http://www.avantelectronics.com/CK-1.htm
Some great mics at a great price, you can not go wrong with these.
Plus it includes three interchangeable capsules (cardioid, omni, and Hyper-cardioid). Let
me know if you have any other question.


stay K!ND.