NorioDS
What's the easiest way to record yourself and your band-members jamming?
For me, it's not even a case of sounding exactly right -- but I want to record our ideas.
AlanRatcliffe
Easiest way? A ghetto blaster with a tape deck and built-in mics.
A better way would be using one of the new small portable recorders from Zoom or Edirol.
Either way takes a little bit of experimentation with the position to capture a decent mix and the sound of the room is key to a respectable sound quality, but do-able.
NorioDS
Would you mind providing the names of the goodies to look out for?
I'd like to start looking at pricing.
By the way, whadya think of the new header?
AlanRatcliffe
A quick look turns up the following:
Edirol R-09
Sony PCM-D50
M-Audio MicroTrack II
Zoom H4 Handy Recorder
The M-Audio seems to be cheapest and the Edirol the most popular. There are more upmarket pro models too, but prices seem quite scary on most of those.
Graeme
If you have an iPod and want a real cheap way to record there is a stereo mic available for around R400 from
http://www.igear.co.za/ProductInfo.aspx?productid=ITALKPRO called "iTalk".
It's fine for recording a rehearsal or putting down song ideas, but certainly nowhere near the quality of the Edirol or the Zoom etc.
It can record at 16bit, 44.1kHz - has a stereo mic and a 3.5mm jack input.
I use it for putting down song writing ideas when I'm away from my studio.
NorioDS
Thanks Alan, Graeme ?
I think I'll have to experiment a bit to find the easiest solution. I hate faffing with my computer when I'm playing guitar. So first prizes goes to something that plugs in and just sommer works!
I actually used my Sandisk MP3 player to record a riff the other day. It's quite easy but, ja, I think I must get proper equipment plus an Apple Mac for easier recordings.
cain
Hey norrie.
Boss has a small recording device. It supports recording multitracks also and uses flash memory. You can connect it via usb and copy the mp3s off afterwards. These devices are usually a tad a expensive.
NorioDS
That sounds pretty awesome, Francis.
Do you know what it's called?
AlanRatcliffe
I think he's probably talking about the Boss Micro BR, which is a mini 4-track recorder. Quite nifty little thing with a built in drum machine, COSM amps and FX and even a built in mic (only mono and not great quality, but better than nothing). It looks like they are cheaper than the R-09 too (going by US prices). It doesn't have a separate mic input for a better quality mic, so it's definitely limited on that side in comparison.
NorioDS
The drum machine definitely adds big points to this one.
I'm Googling it now ?
cain
Here it is :
http://www.bosscorp.co.jp/products/en/MICRO_BR/index.html
Ive seen similar products. Just check around.
NorioDS
Ja, it looks like muz.co.za has it for R1.7k.
I'd buy it at that price. Especially considering the convenience it provides.
How many times have we (you and I, Francis) come up with something good that we lost because we never recorded it? Definitely worth the small investment of R1.7k!
PS: Found some nice looking chorus pedals on muz.co.za as well. Decent prices too. I just need to find some time to try them out somewhere!
AlanRatcliffe
Ja, it looks like muz.co.za has it for R1.7k.
Are you sure? I see R2795...
NorioDS
Whoops, my bad. Still quite affordable for the convenience you'll get.
I am, however, hell-bent on replacing my laptop with a MacBook. This thing is driving me insane and replacing it is the only way I can think of avoiding watching it fly through my closed window!
(And the relevance is that Apple's make it easier to record and tweak your recordings)
Degorath
http://www.roland.com/products/en/MICRO_BR/index.html
I bought this the other day and I am VERY impressed. Cost me R2,300.00. The sound quality is extremely good and the extras are...I'm getting too excited. Just check out the link ?
(EDIT: Sorry...only saw now that it has already been mentioned)
(EDIT 2: And the microphone is actually pretty damn good, all things considered.)
cain
I would not get the Micro BR. I really want the BR-600 man.
Garth-S
Ja Francis, the BR600 is an amazing device.. I am so impressed with it. Rather spend the extra grand or so.. you won't be disappointed.
Degorath
Think its about 2k extra...And the BR has portability on its side.
AlanRatcliffe
Maybe hold off on the BR's for a little while...
I'm not supposed to know this, but NAMM starts today, so everyone will know anyway: The BR900 is being upgraded to a version 2 and the BR-1200CD and BR-1600CD are both getting hard drive upgrades. So it's entirely likely you will find the BR-900 V1 being blown out cheap in the near future.
There may also be some upgrades or price changes on the smaller units in the range too - I'm not privy to all the info.
ralley
Just saw a post on harmony central listing some new third party software for the Micro BR recorder, check out:
http://microrecorders.org/downloads.html for the software download, and
http://www.geocities.com/sixtyfourguitars/software/MBRPatchDoc/ for some information on it. There seems to be a whole community for these things at
http://microrecorders.org/.
Rob.
