NEWBIE Equipment Help Needed

[s-r]

Hey I'm new to taping and when it comes to equipment I have no clue! I have read through the "where to begin" section but I want to get other people's opinion on equipment. There is a band that I am seeing who are not going to be performing again for a while and this is why I am interested in Taping (so I can leave with a musical souvenir). I'm not sure if the band allows Taping so something "stealth" is probably the way to go. Now, I'm not that serious about Taping (its just something I'd like to do at a concert every now and then) so I don't want anything too high tech and expensive, I just want something that is simple and gets the job done.

Any suggestions??

[setboy]

how much do you have to spend? what's your budget?

[s-r]

how much do you have to spend? what's your budget?

ummm I haven't really thought of a budget. I don't think I need anything high tech because I want the recording to sound Live (otherwise I would just listen to the CD) so I don't care if the recorder picks up background noises, etc. just as long as I can hear and understand the band. I've heard of people just using a MiniDisc and mic but I don't know very much about this.

Like I said I just want something simple. I don't care if it picks up noises from the audience, just as long as I can hear the band and understand what song I recorded.

I can't think of a budget because I don't really know the price range of decent equipment

[Humbug]

Sorry about this, but you still need to do some reading, and listening to shows recorded with budget mics on The Archive.

It's crucial at this stage you make an informed decision about what to buy. Here's a few links:

http://taperssection.com/index.php/topic,29057.0.html
http://taperssection.com/index.php/topic,15920.0.html ( a link to stealth threads, which will help you)
http://taperssection.com/index.php/topic,97523.0.html
http://taperssection.com/index.php/topic,92388.0.html

[s-r]

OK thanks I will have a look

[Liquid Drum]

Sounds like the Church Cardioids would suit your needs.

How much are you looking to spend in total? The Church Cards are $120 (I think). Don't buy anything thats too cheap because you most likely won't get great recordings.

You stealthing I guess?

Your best bet is to get a cheap Hi-MD recorder (maybe about $50) and Churc mics. If you can afford it, get the Church battery box for $40, but its not essential.

There's tons of threads on Church mics, take a search and read about them. You'll find lots of samples too.

[3-Fan]

I have a set of AT831's just setting here I need to get rid of.  I have had really good results with them and are nice and small for those special situations.  Smaller than the Chruch mics I think.

[Humbug]

I have a set of AT831's just setting here I need to get rid of.  I have had really good results with them and are nice and small for those special situations.  Smaller than the Chruch mics I think.

I wasn't going to recommend equipment I've owned, but since you have, let me just say that SP-CMC2s (AT831s) make killer first mics. I've owned mine since Nov 2002, and used them to make 300+ recordings, including a few officially released by bands.

Even after upgrading them they still come out on occasion.

They work nicely with a 9V battery box, and either Nomad JB3, or iRiver H120.

Where are you based, s-r?

[Church-Audio]

I have a set of AT831's just setting here I need to get rid of.  I have had really good results with them and are nice and small for those special situations.  Smaller than the Chruch mics I think.

They are actually a bit bigger then my mics.. But they sound very good and would be great once you do a 4.7k mod to them.