Topic: CD option?

[gatorglenn]

Hi,

I have a chance to record some high school bands in the fall. I have recorded my wife's middle school band for several years using various equipment. I now use a Fostex FR-2 as a recorder and it works very good for me.

Now the problem for the fall recording is that they want an instant CD given to them. So I guess I am looking for a stand alone CD recorder to do this. I am not looking for a portable CD recorder. The Tascam CD-RW900SL is one that I am looking at. I really would prefer to spend a little less but I doubt that I can find much for less money with good quality.

I guess I will go from the FR-2 analog outputs into the CD recorder. Otherwise I would need some kind of pre-amp box with digital outputs. Is there something like available? I still will want to record to my FR-2 to be able to edit the recordings later.

Thanks,
Glenn

[FrozenSounds]

your laptop's CD writer  ?

[rastasean]

Honestly I would strongly consider just making it available on the web and have the link emailed to people and/or posted some place on the web. You can do this very quick with a laptop before leaving the high school.

The other option mentioned is also great and would save loads if you already have a laptop.

[notlance]

I often create an "instant" CD copy for the director after a concert.  What I do is take a laptop along and upload the .WAV file, do some quick edits, (maybe cut out some dead space between numbers, some fade-in and outs, and amplify the peak to -0.5 dBFS) then burn a CD with the laptop.  It takes maybe 10 to 20 minutes tops to crank out an acceptable CD.  That is fast enough to catch the director before he or she goes home, especially if the director knows you are making a CD for her.  Make sure you get a fast card reader which should take no more than a minute or two to upload a one hour concert.  All but the very cheapest card readers are fast enough, I have found.

[gatorglenn]

your laptop's CD writer  ?

I briefly thought about using my laptop's CD burner. I guess I would go into the laptop after the FR-2 but I'm not sure how quick I can save it on my laptop and burn it. I will have to think about this option.

Thanks,
Glenn

[gatorglenn]

Honestly I would strongly consider just making it available on the web and have the link emailed to people and/or posted some place on the web. You can do this very quick with a laptop before leaving the high school.

The other option mentioned is also great and would save loads if you already have a laptop.

The web really is not a great option. The band directors want a CD that they can take home that day to listen to and play back at school the next day. Plus many of them are not very technology oriented. The just want a CD to be easy and simple.

The laptop option might end up being the best way to go.

Thanks,
Glenn

[gatorglenn]

Hi,

Thanks for the info. I guess using my laptop might be the best way to go. I really won't have time to do any edits though but they don't expect that. It is several high school bands and they play every 30 minutes. So there is not a lot of spare time in between to do much. It would have to be a quick and dirty upload and burn.

Thanks,
Glenn

I often create an "instant" CD copy for the director after a concert.  What I do is take a laptop along and upload the .WAV file, do some quick edits, (maybe cut out some dead space between numbers, some fade-in and outs, and amplify the peak to -0.5 dBFS) then burn a CD with the laptop.  It takes maybe 10 to 20 minutes tops to crank out an acceptable CD.  That is fast enough to catch the director before he or she goes home, especially if the director knows you are making a CD for her.  Make sure you get a fast card reader which should take no more than a minute or two to upload a one hour concert.  All but the very cheapest card readers are fast enough, I have found.

[FrozenSounds]

How about multiple memory cards and a CF reader.
That way you can read and burn the first while recording the second etc.

[rastasean]

How about multiple memory cards and a CF reader.
That way you can read and burn the first while recording the second etc.

Nice idea. while one band is playing, you're making the former band's album. Any editing would be better than none but its your clients who are rushing you and want it quick and dirty.

[notlance]

Hi,

Thanks for the info. I guess using my laptop might be the best way to go. I really won't have time to do any edits though but they don't expect that. It is several high school bands and they play every 30 minutes. So there is not a lot of spare time in between to do much. It would have to be a quick and dirty upload and burn.

Thanks,
Glenn

The scenario you describe sounds familiar.  Every spring I record the Large Group Music Festival which consists of about 60 performances at 3 venues in about 9 hours, and I crank out a CD for each performance and deliver the CD by the end of the day.  That works out to be a CD in less than 10 minutes, and I made some minor edits on each performance.  I use 3 recorders and 6 CF cards, and a student runner to swap cards for me.  This last year I used two laptops which helped a lot, but I've done it in the past with one laptop.  If you are recording at only one venue it makes it much easier.  It is a lot of work but after you do one of these events you really get fast on the DAW.  (Yes, the pun is intentional.)

[gatorglenn]

Hi,

Yes it is similar but smaller than what you do. It seems like using a couple of memory cards and a laptop seems like the best way to do this. I will probably try a test run sometime before the actual event.

Thanks,
Glenn

Hi,

Thanks for the info. I guess using my laptop might be the best way to go. I really won't have time to do any edits though but they don't expect that. It is several high school bands and they play every 30 minutes. So there is not a lot of spare time in between to do much. It would have to be a quick and dirty upload and burn.

Thanks,
Glenn

The scenario you describe sounds familiar.  Every spring I record the Large Group Music Festival which consists of about 60 performances at 3 venues in about 9 hours, and I crank out a CD for each performance and deliver the CD by the end of the day.  That works out to be a CD in less than 10 minutes, and I made some minor edits on each performance.  I use 3 recorders and 6 CF cards, and a student runner to swap cards for me.  This last year I used two laptops which helped a lot, but I've done it in the past with one laptop.  If you are recording at only one venue it makes it much easier.  It is a lot of work but after you do one of these events you really get fast on the DAW.  (Yes, the pun is intentional.)