Topic: Starting Newbie Question

[phrench]

Hey ya'll, I'm just starting out and have a very small idea of what the taping world is about.  I would like any suggestions on beginner equiptment.  I live in Boulder and have a very close friend in Vail so I would be mainly taping in small venues like the Fox or 8150.  Any think will help and I am 26 with a steady job so I am looking to purchase something that is nice and not crappy gear.

Thanks for the help!

[Brian Skalinder]

http://taperssection.com/index.php/topic,35004.0.html

[phrench]

very nice thank you!

[leshlush]

Hey ya'll, I'm just starting out and have a very small idea of what the taping world is about.  I would like any suggestions on beginner equiptment.  I live in Boulder and have a very close friend in Vail so I would be mainly taping in small venues like the Fox or 8150.  Any think will help and I am 26 with a steady job so I am looking to purchase something that is nice and not crappy gear.

Thanks for the help!

Well, you've definitely come to the right place... This place is one of the best resources of taper related information that you'll find...

Your best to start from the begining "Where to Begin"  ( http://taperssection.com/index.php/board,46.0.html ) and work your way through all the info... Next you'll want to check out "The Archive" ( http://taperssection.com/index.php/board,14.0.html ), and then slowly make your way through the many different active topics... There's more info than you'll know what to do with but if you ever get confused there's always plenty of folks who are more than willing to help... Just make sure that before you ask a question, that you first a run a search, as chances are it's been asked before...

Another great source would be the live music archive ( http://www.archive.org/browse.php?collection=etree&field=%2Fmetadata%2Fcreator ) as there are tons of live shows and you'll be able to listen to different gear combos in action...

Welcome and +T

[dorrcoq]

You live in a good area - there is a very active taping community to Colorado.  Check the "Team Boards" forum.  I'm sure some guys would be happy to meet up with you before or after a show and answer questions in person

[tscales]

I'm in Boulder too and started patching a year ago and finally had a rig this summer - www.cotapers.org - all those guys are now my friends, ethan most of all, and are very nice about showing you how to do stuff, ethan most of all.

I'd even be willing to sell you my Sony D8 DAT and battery, and cables to start patching for 50 bucks less than I got it from Ian Stone ($350 I think)  Works like a charm.

I got started with AKG 393s (great low cost starter mics - actually I'd say their more mid level than starter, but mics get really expensive so some of the higher end tapers here might disagree)

Check out some of my recordings and do A LOT of listening before you buy anything - its the best kind of research and certainly the most fun.  Here's a few i have on archive.org, but i've seeded a bunch more torrents this fall an winter (Jamcruise!!!!)

http://www.archive.org/bookmarks/tscales

PM if you wanna talk on the phone too - I go to the Fox all the time, I was at Sherpa's this weekend, 8150 not long ago, and go to denver pretty frequenty too.  (((cough)))..music junkie...(((cough)))

Like I said - make friends with www.cotapers.org and TS.com here - they, and hopefully I, will take good care of you

tscales (timmy)

[gratefulphish]

Welcome to the board. +T for joining up. Follow Brian's advice, and read a lot before doing anything. Soem of it can seem intimidating, but almost everyone here is very helpful, and willing to answer questions to help newbies start out.  You don't need to reach for the stars immediately.  It can be anything from a reasonably priced, to a ridiculously expensive hobby.  You did not indicate whether you were going to start by patching, or were looking to buy a full recording rig.  In either case, read, read, read.  Ask some questions.  Check out gear for sale in the Yard Sale section, as it is frequently a good place to pick up used gear for far less than brand new.

[NJFunk]

I started with Studio Projects C4 mics and a UA-5.  I highly recommend both for beginners.  That is a rig that will go a long way (obviously, you'll need a recorder as well...) and includes a lot in a small package, including multiple caps, 4-channels of inputs, power for the mics, switchable caps (card & omni), and shockmounts, and sounds remarkably good for the price point.  Of course, the AKG 390 series mentioned above is similar to the SP-C4 package with the switchable caps and flexibilty and sounds better for a little bigger investment.  Unfortunately, the UA-5 is discontinued, so you'll have to look for one in Yard Sale.  I highly recommend holding out for a performance modded variety (either the Oade P, W, or T mod or the Busman bm2p, all of which can also be + modded to sound even better as well) rather than a stock unit.  Do not buy one that is not at least digi-modded unless you can either solder electronics yourself or plan on recording only with a laptop.

If you are planning to invest serious money into this hobby, I do recommend starting with a lower cost rig while you familiarize yourself with the nuances of it all so you can better decide exactly what you eventually want.