Topic: TASCAM DR-07 record level setting for 16th row.

[gas]

Hello,

My seat is in 16th row, dead center in a tiny venue with capacity less than 2000. Any ideas to make the optimal settings? What is the mic gain, input level, etc? I'll put the recorder on my lap inside a thin recycle bag. Is this alright? Thank you for any inputs and thoughts.

Steve Guest

[Fatah Ruark (aka MIKE B)]

1. Don't put it in a bag. The mics will need "line of sight" to the stacks. It's not going to sound very good on your lap. If you don't have external mics ideally you'd have the recorder in a hat on your head...but you could also put the recorder in a pocket on your shirt with the mics sticking out.

2. There is no way to tell what setting you're going to need without knowing how loud it is. Simple as that. From what I remember (I used to own a DR-07) there are 3 mic sensitivity settings. I recall having to set mine to the middle setting for rock shows and then adjust the levels from there. Don't quote me on that though...I only ran it with the external mics once as a test.

[earmonger]

Are you recording a super-paranoid act (like Bob Dylan or Tool)? Or just a standard touring band?

The problem with your lap is that it's going to sound awfully muffled down there. The people in front of you are blocking the sound.
The problem with a bag is that no matter how still you try to sit, it's going to crinkle.

Unless you've got some  really anti-recording band playing, it would be worth it, as suggested above, to just put the DR-07 in a shirt pocket with its mics peeking out (so it doesn't rustle against your shirt fabric). Or in a little camera case around your neck--though the lower you go, the more muffled it will  get. Try at home to see if you want to put something--soft uncrinkly plastic, a cloth, a paper towel--in your pocket or camera case to raise the mics into open air.

Everybody now is toting around cellphones, cameras, etc. Security guards pretty much ignore them unless they look like professional video or camera equipment--telephotos, shoulder rests, etc. There are a handful of bands that are maniacal about it, but I have taken my Sony PCM-M10, which also has its mics at the top,  to dozens of concerts in a camera bag, and it goes right through. One guard just warned me not to use the flash. Oh, OK : )

[gas]

@ Fatah Ruark (aka MIKE B)
Thank you for your suggestions

1. Yes I use the internal mics only.

2. I would try Medum gain with rec. level 2  (0 ~ 10 scale).

I'm interested in your Clapton/Winwood  Denver 2009. Mind to have a swap please?

@ earmonger
Thanks a lot for your inputs too.

1. I'm going to see Joe Bonamassa.

2. Camera case is a good idea, haven't thought about that before.

3. Yes I've noticed that the secuity level is less stricter than few years back in general.

Steve

[Fatah Ruark (aka MIKE B)]

I didn't record Clapton/Winwood. I was way up in the nosebleeds. I was hoping someone else would do it.

If you set your recorder to record @ 24bit then levels are less of a concern. Set them low and you can boost them in post. Anywhere in the -12db is fine.

And to check your levels just look at your recorder like it's a cell phone.

[gas]

I had the Denver 2009 before the hard disc failure. Someone uploaded it before but I still haven't recovered it yet.

I used to do 16bit, 44.1kHz. I don't know how to down sample from 24bit properly. I tried to do it by Audacity but was unsuccessful.

After several bad attempts of getting distorted results, I would keep the level lower.

Again thank you for the suggestions.

Steve

[TimeBandit]

get a preamp and nice little clip on mics and run them into the dr-07. I run it with Ca 9100 Pre + ca14 mics into the line in. with the Preamp gain cranked full up the Gain wheel on the tascam is set around 6. taped yesterday with that i had nice levels around -6 dB.

But important, there is no rule about what value you need, just little hints. For learning leave more headroom - you can always raise the gain a bit in postpro, but an distorted recording is most for trash.

so the mics placed on the TShirt and after level check you can place the preamp and the recorder into your bag and let them do their job.

[F.O.Bean]

get a preamp and nice little clip on mics and run them into the dr-07. I run it with Ca 9100 Pre + ca14 mics into the line in. with the Preamp gain cranked full up the Gain wheel on the tascam is set around 6. taped yesterday with that i had nice levels around -6 dB.

But important, there is no rule about what value you need, just little hints. For learning leave more headroom - you can always raise the gain a bit in postpro, but an distorted recording is most for trash.

so the mics placed on the TShirt and after level check you can place the preamp and the recorder into your bag and let them do their job.

Exactly what I would do, and am in the process of doing. All I have to do is pay for my CA-14 Cards and a 9100/9200 preamp and I will FINALLY have a kickass stealth setup

[gas]

Thanks for the valuable suggestions.

I have a question: Do I need an extra battery box?

[Belexes]

1. I'm going to see Joe Bonamassa.

Joe is taper friendly.  No need to be stealthy unless the venue is not taper friendly.  Consider getting your deck as high up as possible.  Joe's FOH is also his road manager. He may be able to assist you. No board patches allowed.

[gas]

Thanks Belexes. My worry is that the security knows nothing about the artist's taping policy. They are hired by agent or contractor for the venue. I don't really want to take the risk to argue with the them in case they really went to stop me. Sometimes the audience are funny too. That's why I tried to pretend I'm not taping at all. Who's Joe's tour manager? What's his name and where can I have his contact? Maybe I'd like to talk to him. Thanks.

Steve

[Belexes]

For Joe shows, I go to the venue early and track down the promoter/security and they then call in to Joe's people to get clearance.  Really not that much of a hassle, but then I have taped him in some very friendly venues.  I'm a big fan of his music, so for me it is worth the extra effort.

I'll have to track down a name for you. You can print Joe's taping policy here:

http://www.jbonamassa.com/policy.html

[gas]

Thank you for your information. I'll show the policy to the security before I'm seated.

[earmonger]

////I have a question: Do I need an extra battery box?////

An inexpensive signal path is little electret mics-->battery box-->Line in. The battery box sends power to the mics, enough so that a signal from a loud concert can be recorded through line-in, without the preamp behind the mic-in jack.  Alternately: mics-->preamp-->line-in. Not both.   

[Belexes]

Thank you for your information. I'll show the policy to the security before I'm seated.

Any issues, have them refer to Joe's FOH sound engineer. He loves tapers.