advice, please: live recording with TASCAM DR-05

[Ewo]

I'd appreciate any advice or tips y'all might offer!

I bought a TASCAM DR-05 handheld recorder several months ago, intending to record a young grandkid learning to talk (my lady's wish) and some of my woodshedding at home (for self-critique, or to capture some improv lines to develop further). Happy with it in those applications; good bang for the buck, def.

So last weekend I took it to the gig to try recording my band. Set in on a table near the bandstand, equidistant from the PA stacks, on a small tripod. I put the recorder in _auto level_ mode because there wasn't anybody who could ride the gain during the show.

I've transferred the recordings into my 'puter (thanks, MonetBass and Thom Walker for diagnosing the boogered cable problem in that) and given them a quick listen. Pretty much as I expected, they sound kinda squashed and a bit crunchy sometimes. Heck, we're a loud rock band in a rock venue--no surprise the auto gain would break a bit of a sweat. (Actually, it sounded pretty good for that much of a stress test.) And I'm not looking for studio-smooth; just want to get a decent sense of the performance.

So I'd appreciate any suggestions you might have to offer about setting the recording level, based on your experience using one of these pocket recorders in a loud environment when it's a set-it-and-forget-it situation. I'm still getting familiar with the recorder's features, but I'm thinking set the level low and switch on the limiter... Your advice is helpful!

 

[mdjuszyn]

I don't have experience with the DR-05 but I do have experience with the Roland R-05 and the Zoom H5. I record our band rehearsal and performance every week. I think you are on track with the idea of setting the input gain lower and using compressor or limiter. Start at a level that you feel might be too low and then adjust future recordings upwards from there if you want. You can always increase the levels in your DAW later. If it clips you are stuck with it. According to my user manuals the auto gain setting is best for capturing conversation or dialog. It kills dynamics that you want to hear in music.

 

[Ewo]

Thanks for the advice! Yeah, next time I'll set a (low) level manually and switch on the limiter.

My manual seemed kinda vague in describing the auto gain function, but now I get what you're saying about the intended application. Def, not the best choice for recording music.

 

[mdjuszyn]

I'm not sure if your recorder has this option but my H5 has an option to simultaneously record a backup file 12db lower than the original. That can be helpful when you're not sure where to set your levels.

 

[Ewo]

That's a great feature! AFAIK the DR-05 doesn't have that...but I'm still learning to fly it...

 

[seamonkey]

After you import the "compressed" tracks, try setting a compressor on a ratio of less than 1.0
This will "expand" the compressed sound.
Setting these recorders back from the band and putting the pattern in Omni can give some very good results. You may not even need compression.

 

[Ewo]

Ah, thanks! I'll try this when I've got some clean recordings, and compile them into a disc of selects.