I've been recording my band at gigs with my Edirol R-09 and I've not once been really happy with the recording. Specifically, I got this thing so I could go home and hear what "I" am doing right and wrong. However, the bass is never very clear. It is always kind of boomy and muffled sounding, never crisp and punch like I hear in person on the gig.

Here is a recording of "Love me Two Times" at a recent gig. Everything comes out nice and clear, but the bass is muffled and boomy. It is driving me nuts...

Love Me Two Times (http://almightyfrequencies.3.googlepages.com/LovemeTwoTimes.mp3)

Any idea what is wrong?

Maybe your bass sounds crisp and punchy on stage, but sounds boomy to the audience?

Maybe your bass sounds crisp and punchy on stage, but sounds boomy to the audience?

Well, actually, it is a bit the other way around. I can get out about 30ft with my cable, so I can hear what it sounds like in the crowd during our sound check. I'm usually pretty happy with the way it sounds in person, but never happy about how it sounds on the recorder.

any other thoughts?

1. Is your recorder located where you hear the punchy bass?
2. Are you recording to wav format or a compressed MP3 format, you're recording sounds compressed to me.

1. Is your recorder located where you hear the punchy bass?
2. Are you recording to wav format or a compressed MP3 format, you're recording sounds compressed to me.

1. No, I usually put in the an area that I feel will pick up the whole band well. I haven't been right yet.

2. I believe that recording was done in wav, but then compressed and converted to mp3.

:confused: :confused: :confused:

I'm doing the same thing using the Zoom H4.
Not sure of your settings but here's what I set the Zoom on(and it picks up what I hear):

1) Record in mp3 stereo at 160kbps rate
2) Mikes set to minimum sensitivity
3) Comp/limiter ON
4) AUTO level function ON

With #4, I have to push the RECORD button once and during the 1st song...push it again...OR we make a lot of noise to let the AUTO set itself and then press RECORD.

We use the BOSE stuff which throws everything >180Hz almost everywhere. I set the Zoom in the worst places yet sometimes get amazing results...even picking up the guitar player whose amp setup(Line6 -> BOSE) is on the other side of the stage.

Where I set it:
Left side of bass on handrail on top of a polish cloth(vibration damper):
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v245/Johnny_Crab/MagOTCstage01.jpg

Left side of stage front on the floor on a cord
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v245/Johnny_Crab/NatOilStage02.jpg

From ABOVE pic. It's on top of my emergency "what if the wireless craps out" cord". Been setting those out since NADY's 1st generation ones...
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v245/Johnny_Crab/SetupFXd.jpg

Same place, this time on a yacht gig(Starboard Johnny!):
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v245/Johnny_Crab/LoveBoatStage01.jpg

Samples:
FULL Mix, RAW(no eq or anything done). Bass tone set to sound somewhat like a Hofner as this is a modified Beatles tune. Bass rig: Line6 BassPODXT Live->QSC2402's->ACME B2's:
http://media.putfile.com/Zoom-H4-Live-Demo-Unprocessed

Bass "micro solo" in that overplayed, floor-filler, Brown-Eyed Girl. Bass rig: Same as above with ACME's replaced with BOSE, Line 6 set to distort when played hard, I was playing hard(this was right after someone stepped on my volume pedal...turning me "off"). Less real bottom end is apparent(ACME vs BOSE):
http://media.putfile.com/Growl-Eyed-Girl

From what I heard on yours and the Zoom & Edirol's being REAL close in quality/functions....try setting it like I do mine instead of where you've been doing it. Then, if you want a "band" mix...put it back where it was. I think somehow you are getting stepped on frequency-wise by the guitar and cymbals(they're in your punch frequencies).

It will be different for a band mix using "normal" gear. With the BOSE, what we hear is what is in the audience....which is sort of like..we mix by how loud we play & sing. It took about 6 months for me to get used to it but everyone can hear everything.

I've been recording my band at gigs with my Edirol R-09 and I've not once been really happy with the recording. Specifically, I got this thing so I could go home and hear what "I" am doing right and wrong. However, the bass is never very clear. It is always kind of boomy and muffled sounding, never crisp and punch like I hear in person on the gig.

Here is a recording of "Love me Two Times" at a recent gig. Everything comes out nice and clear, but the bass is muffled and boomy. It is driving me nuts...

Love Me Two Times (http://almightyfrequencies.3.googlepages.com/LovemeTwoTimes.mp3)

Any idea what is wrong?


I have a R09 for recording rehersals etc, but your recording doesn't sound too bad too me. I usually manually set the recording level, using the "input level" control on the left side, put the "low cut" on, and the "AGC" off. Mic sens. depents on elec. vs. acoustic.

Maybe the recorder was too far from stage?? was it near the back wall?