Topic: What to use for recording a concert?

[Cryo]

Hi,

I'm new here and saw that this part was newbie friendly.
Can you give me some advice on what to use to record a concert in good quality?
There's so much out there and I'm not a specialist in that area...

Is a 200$ budget realistic?

Thanks!

[datbrad]

Hi,

I'm new here and saw that this part was newbie friendly.
Can you give me some advice on what to use to record a concert in good quality?
There's so much out there and I'm not a specialist in that area...

Is a 200$ budget realistic?

Thanks!

3 questions:

Is this going to be a concert you can openly record?

Is this concert a loud rock show, or something not as loud such as classical or accoustic?

You mentioned a $200 figure, but what is your absolute highest dollar amount that you are able to invest?

[Cryo]

- Talking about concerts in arena's or small venues from any artist.
- A loud rock show: from the Killers, Depeche mode to Melody Gardot, Erykah Badu... (loud sound every time)
- Absolute highest: 300$. It doesn't need to be audiophile quality.

Thanks for your reply

[rhinowing]

- Talking about concerts in arena's or small venues from any artist.
- A loud rock show: from the Killers, Depeche mode to Melody Gardot, Erykah Badu... (loud sound every time)
- Absolute highest: 300$. It doesn't need to be audiophile quality.

Thanks for your reply

you'll need three things:
-recorder
-mics
-battery box (powers the mics, essential for loud shows)
you'd probably want to get the mics and box from the same place

I would recommend:
-used iRiver recorder (can be gotten for $100 or around there if you look around)

-either Church Audio (he is a member here, other people will give you more information, but I think you can get mics + box for under $200)
-or Sound Pros BMC-2 mics and Sound Pros SPSB-10 battery box which you can get for like $125 together. should put you right between $200 and $300

the Church Audio probably has a bit better sound quality, while the Sound Pros is smaller and cheaper.

also, if you're going to record in a big place like an arena, you'd want to get Cardiod mics (pick up sound from wherever you point them at), whereas you want Omni mics (pick up sound in all directions) for a smaller place

[setboy]

$300 will be pushing it. Best bet is to look for stuff in the yard sale on this site.

Most likely you will need mics > battery box > cheap recorder.

 church audio mics if you can find them used are a good bet.

[admkrk]

whereas you want Omni mics (pick up sound in all directions) for a smaller place

i strongly disagree with this part. unless you set up in the back of the room, you're even more likely to pick up a larger amount of garbage than at a large venue. in stealth situations it might be different, but open, i wouldn't use omnis indoors except for special situations.

[Cryo]

Thanks for your replies.
I'll look into it.

Btw, I also read some things about the Zoom H2/H4. What about that?

[su6oxone]

Btw, I also read some things about the Zoom H2/H4. What about that?

If you want to keep things simple, you could just get a Zoom H2 and record with the internal mics, many people out there seem to like that approach and it gets reasonable results if you're not too serious about taping yet and just want to try it out.  Don't know much about the H4 but I think it is a larger, phantom power supplying recorder that isn't too popular.

[rhinowing]

whereas you want Omni mics (pick up sound in all directions) for a smaller place

i strongly disagree with this part. unless you set up in the back of the room, you're even more likely to pick up a larger amount of garbage than at a large venue. in stealth situations it might be different, but open, i wouldn't use omnis indoors except for special situations.

I was basing it on the fact that all the artists he listed were stealth jobs/my own experience as a stealth taper

[admkrk]

whereas you want Omni mics (pick up sound in all directions) for a smaller place

i strongly disagree with this part. unless you set up in the back of the room, you're even more likely to pick up a larger amount of garbage than at a large venue. in stealth situations it might be different, but open, i wouldn't use omnis indoors except for special situations.

I was basing it on the fact that all the artists he listed were stealth jobs/my own experience as a stealth taper

no problems. i only open tape and don't know any of those bands, that's why i added the caveat.

[setboy]

[quote author=admkrk link=topic=129145.msg1704995#msg1704995
i strongly disagree with this part. unless you set up in the back of the room, you're even more likely to pick up a larger amount of garbage than at a large venue. in stealth situations it might be different, but open, i wouldn't use omnis indoors except for special situations.
[/quote]

And i strongly disagree with you on that  

[admkrk]

[quote author=admkrk link=topic=129145.msg1704995#msg1704995
i strongly disagree with this part. unless you set up in the back of the room, you're even more likely to pick up a larger amount of garbage than at a large venue. in stealth situations it might be different, but open, i wouldn't use omnis indoors except for special situations.

And i strongly disagree with you on that
[/quote]

that's what makes this game so much fun.

ime, almost every time i've used omnis i ended up wishing i hadn't. the one time it worked, indoors, i was effectually at the back of the room. 2 stages facing each other with me in the middle. no time to spin the mics around so there was little choice.     

[Fatah Ruark (aka MIKE B)]

I'll try to get as close to $300 as I can get. Ideally I would have a pre-amp between the mics and recorder, but since you have a price limit you'll have to add that later.

You could skip the Omni caps. I happen to like Omni's for stealth recording because you can move your head a little bit and not have to worry about phasing.

This rig can produce very nice recordings (at least for $300). The DR-07 will be handy for stealth since you can run it 24 bit, and not have to worry about setting the levels too low.

Looks like $332 with both caps or just a hair under $300 with just the cards.


MICS: Church Audio CA-11 ($160 with Card and Omni caps)
available here: http://taperssection.com/index.php?topic=96900.0

BATTERY BOX: Chuch Audio CA-UBB ($29)
available here: http://taperssection.com/index.php?topic=119448.0

RECORDER: Tascam DR-07 ($143 at B+H)
available here: http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/599284-REG/Tascam_DR_07_DR_07_Portable_Digital_Audio.html

[Belexes]

Omnis give me headaches indoors unless the "room" sounds good and in stealth situations, there are no chatty people near me.  I lean on cards to help minimize these issues.  I love omnis outdoors in an open air venue (no roof).

[setboy]

that's what makes this game so much fun.

It sure is