Topic: newbie situation

[jakobdorof]

Hey all,
First of all: completely new to the idea of recording shows. It's something I've wanted to get in on for a while but never really had the nerve to start asking questions. I now find myself with a show I'd love to record coming up in a week and a half, so I've decided to do some asking around to see if anyone can help me. It's a pretty specific situation, so any help from an experienced recorder would be most appreciated! 

First and foremost, I'm 17 and by all means have a very limited budget. Right now I'm willing to spend maybe a few hundred bucks to get started, which I realize is a budget you can exceed by buying a single mic...but I also don't want my recordings as of right now to sound like complete crap either, so if my budget alone ensures that I can't get a recording of commendable quality then I suppose I better call it quits right now. Investing more in the future is by no means out of the question though, so maybe something that could possibly be upgraded would be a plus. Not sure yet, I'd like to see where my meager budget could get me first...

So all right, it's going to be a show at a small bar in NYC. Probably not deadly loud, but loud enough...it's a rock show, after all. Considering it's a small venue and the band would probably consider recording it a favor, stealth is not an issue at all, but obviously I don't want to be lugging handfuls of gear to the show (not like my budget could afford handfuls of gear, but you know what I mean!); portability is of course an issue. Above all else, I want the closest-to-professional sound quality recording for the cheapest price possible. Also, where would be the best place to set my gear down to record in the room? It'll probably be pretty small and perhaps not the best acoustics imaginable. I was thinking maybe setting it down on the corner of the stage or right off to the side of it? Or would I have to stand in front of the stage holding the mic up like an idiot the whole time??

Anyhow...So far I've been suggested the following...

Fostex MR-8. Looks not-shabby, but I've heard concerning things about buttons breaking and the like...


Sony Pro MZ-M10
. Looks better than the Fostex to me...would the ECM-DS 70P stereo microphone that it comes with suffice for the show and the situation I'm thinking of?

And the Creative Labs Jukebox 3, though I can't seem to find it. Somewhere that lets you pay in monthly installments like the links above would be most wonderful...

Any of those my best bet? Or do you guys have any better ideas? Also, just what exactly is a soundboard recording (newbie newbie newbie! sorry)? What kind of gear do you have to buy to get in on that?

Also, is the learning curve steep on these things? I'd like to be able to use it for the show in two weekends, and I'm obviously very new to all this, so user-friendliness is quite important...

Anyhow, that's about it for now. Again, any help you can toss my way would be most appreciated. Sorry if I broke a rule or something in posting this, by the way!!

Thank you much,
-Jakob

[spreadheadtom]

Right now I'm willing to spend maybe a few hundred bucks to get started, which I realize is a budget you can exceed by buying a single mic...but I also don't want my recordings as of right now to sound like complete crap either, so if my budget alone ensures that I can't get a recording of commendable quality then I suppose I better call it quits right now.




Also, is the learning curve steep on these things? I'd like to be able to use it for the show in two weekends, and I'm obviously very new to all this, so user-friendliness is quite important...

enjoy the show this time.  read up on all of this......the SEARCH button is your friend.

Just don't give up 


Tommy

[RebelRebel]

http://taperssection.com/index.php?board=46.0

Hey all,
First of all: completely new to the idea of recording shows. It's something I've wanted to get in on for a while but never really had the nerve to start asking questions. I now find myself with a show I'd love to record coming up in a week and a half, so I've decided to do some asking around to see if anyone can help me. It's a pretty specific situation, so any help from an experienced recorder would be most appreciated! 

First and foremost, I'm 17 and by all means have a very limited budget. Right now I'm willing to spend maybe a few hundred bucks to get started, which I realize is a budget you can exceed by buying a single mic...but I also don't want my recordings as of right now to sound like complete crap either, so if my budget alone ensures that I can't get a recording of commendable quality then I suppose I better call it quits right now. Investing more in the future is by no means out of the question though, so maybe something that could possibly be upgraded would be a plus. Not sure yet, I'd like to see where my meager budget could get me first...

So all right, it's going to be a show at a small bar in NYC. Probably not deadly loud, but loud enough...it's a rock show, after all. Considering it's a small venue and the band would probably consider recording it a favor, stealth is not an issue at all, but obviously I don't want to be lugging handfuls of gear to the show (not like my budget could afford handfuls of gear, but you know what I mean!); portability is of course an issue. Above all else, I want the closest-to-professional sound quality recording for the cheapest price possible. Also, where would be the best place to set my gear down to record in the room? It'll probably be pretty small and perhaps not the best acoustics imaginable. I was thinking maybe setting it down on the corner of the stage or right off to the side of it? Or would I have to stand in front of the stage holding the mic up like an idiot the whole time??

Anyhow...So far I've been suggested the following...

Fostex MR-8. Looks not-shabby, but I've heard concerning things about buttons breaking and the like...


Sony Pro MZ-M10
. Looks better than the Fostex to me...would the ECM-DS 70P stereo microphone that it comes with suffice for the show and the situation I'm thinking of?

And the Creative Labs Jukebox 3, though I can't seem to find it. Somewhere that lets you pay in monthly installments like the links above would be most wonderful...

Any of those my best bet? Or do you guys have any better ideas? Also, just what exactly is a soundboard recording (newbie newbie newbie! sorry)? What kind of gear do you have to buy to get in on that?

Also, is the learning curve steep on these things? I'd like to be able to use it for the show in two weekends, and I'm obviously very new to all this, so user-friendliness is quite important...

Anyhow, that's about it for now. Again, any help you can toss my way would be most appreciated. Sorry if I broke a rule or something in posting this, by the way!!

Thank you much,
-Jakob

[pfife]

And the Creative Labs Jukebox 3, though I can't seem to find it. Somewhere that lets you pay in monthly installments like the links above would be most wonderful...

I don't think you're going to find one where you'll be able to make payments becuase the only way they are really available anymore is used from a private seller.  Moreover, it might be a budget buster.  However, it will result in better shows than the minidisc unit - Skalinder has a post around somewhere comparing DAT vs. MD vs. NJB3 somewhere.... do a search, look in the archives...

if you can drop around $100-$150 or so on the mics, check out soundprofessionals.com, and church audio is a dude that hangs around here that makes mics.

[bconnolly]

Rushing into this hobby by having a deadline like that is going to waste you the most money of all, but here is my suggestion:

Get a pair of sound-professionals CMC-4 mics with a battery box (~220) and get a used JB3 from the Yard Sale forum (probably about 150).

[Krispy D]

Rushing into this hobby by having a deadline like that is going to waste you the most money of all, but here is my suggestion:

Get a pair of sound-professionals CMC-4 mics with a battery box (~220) and get a used JB3 from the Yard Sale forum (probably about 150).

I'll second this.  I can't imagine a better *cheap* rig.

[Humbug]

Considering it's a small venue and the band would probably consider recording it a favor, stealth is not an issue at all

Isn't it? Do you have prior permission from the band? If not, you're probably stealthing..of course if you do get permission, you can use a light stand to get rid of some chatter.

Some good answers on this thread, but watch sound levels for CMC4s, at high volumes they can overload (not to confuse you, but this which is why people phantom power them or use a 3-wire battery box).

CMC2s are also good mics from Sound Professionals, and its hard to overload them unless you're stack taping..

[Slickgonzalez]

If you want a soundboard recording, which you can probably get if the band lets you, you just need the right cables and a recording device. Try to find out which cables you need ahead of time, that way you dont have to buy all the different assortments.

A cheap cheap cheap way to record would be to get a tape recorder and plug it into the soundboard either with RCA>1/8, 1/4>1/8, or XLR>1/8. But try to stop by the venue and find out from the soundman what your options are for patching into the board, that way you can buy one set of cables and a tape recorder. This will cost less than 40 bucks probably.

I know everybody is gonna look down on me for saying this, but it WILL get the job done and it will probably sound fine.

[Bdifr78]

Rushing into this hobby by having a deadline like that is going to waste you the most money of all, but here is my suggestion:

Agreed!  I took about two months to get my first rig together completely.  Read a lot on here.  You might not make it for this show, but if you pull a couple hundred more dollars out, after saving for a few months, you can get yourself a decent starter rig and you will enjoy the results, which will thrust you into this hobby 110%.  Take your time, learn your shit, save some money and buy some gear you will be happy with running for a while to learn the ins and outs of this and to learn what kind of gear you really like.  IT WILL BE SO WORTH IT!

[Roamer]

The Sony Pro MZ-M10 is one of the two models (with the MZ-M100) made for compatibility with the Mac. It is only interesting if you have a Mac and want to go HiMD. If you have a PC, there are cheaper units and better mics than the one bundled.
Or try to find a JB3 as already mentionned.