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Do you record yourself when you practice?

Do you record yourself when you practice?

  • Yes, just at home

    Votes: 22 12.6%

  • Yes, just at band rehearsals

    Votes: 63 36.0%

  • Yes, at home and at rehearsal

    Votes: 41 23.4%

  • No, never

    Votes: 42 24.0%

  • Yes, but my microphone is a carrot

    Votes: 7 4.0%
  • Total voters
    175
Isaac_James

Isaac_James

May 20, 2021
2,745
5,950
Eugene, OR
#1
My drummer has started bringing a little Zoom recorder (similar to the H4N, I'm not sure exactly what the model is) along to our rehearsals and uploads the results to our private YouTube channel, which I've found very helpful both as a way to go over mistakes I make after the fact and as a play-along track for practice at home.

I've been thinking about setting up my Scarlett interface at home when I practice for the same purpose, and I'm curious how many other folk here do the same. Any useful tips for getting the most out of your rehearsal/practice recordings?
 
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#2
I record practices, gigs and ideas using my iPhone built in mic. It records well enough to hear what is happening and can be uploaded to a mac (or dropbox or whatever) to go through further processing. I've been recording practices, et. al., for so long I used to use a portable cassette recorder. I still have some of those. Super fun to reminisce. My kid uses a portable Zoom recorder with multiple XLR inputs which would make a much better sounding recording (but the playing remains unchanged of course). I had the Shure MV88 IOS mic but have broken two of those so - no more MV88 purchases for me.
 
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#3
Cave Puppy said:
I record practices, gigs and ideas using my iPhone built in mic. It records well enough to hear what is happening and can be uploaded to a mac (or dropbox or whatever) to go through further processing. I've been recording practices, et. al., for so long I used to use a portable cassette recorder. I still have some of those. Super fun to reminisce. My kid uses a portable Zoom recorder with multiple XLR inputs which would make a much better sounding recording (but the playing remains unchanged of course). I had the Shure MV88 IOS mic but have broken two of those so - no more MV88 purchases for me.
Click to expand...

We've done it with our cell phone mics as well but the sound quality definitely suffers compared to the Zoom. For something that small it really is a remarkable tool, I wouldn't use it for anything I release to the general public but for going back to listen to practice it's great.

I got the Scarlett 2i2 a while back and feel like I haven't made good use of it yet, but the few times I have used it I get a great sound just with the DI off my Sansamp.
 
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#4
Isaac_James said:
We've done it with our cell phone mics as well but the sound quality definitely suffers compared to the Zoom. For something that small it really is a remarkable tool, I wouldn't use it for anything I release to the general public but for going back to listen to practice it's great.

I got the Scarlett 2i2 a while back and feel like I haven't made good use of it yet, but the few times I have used it I get a great sound just with the DI off my Sansamp.
Click to expand...
"They" do make some great iOS mics and the sound difference is huge. The built in iPhone mic is good, not great and is only mono. Aftermarket iOS mics are mostly stereo. I just can't justify buying a THIRD one though.

I use my interface at home to play along with youtube, etc. or to use my pedal board to REALLY listen to it and to see what my Source Audio Atlas Compressor is doing in the Neuro app, and to record, of course. The Scarlett 2i2 is a great interface. I had one for years. I gave it to a friend and he's still using it.
 
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#5
Isaac_James said:
My drummer has started bringing a little Zoom recorder (similar to the H4N, I'm not sure exactly what the model is) along to our rehearsals and uploads the results to our private YouTube channel, which I've found very helpful both as a way to go over mistakes I make after the fact and as a play-along track for practice at home.

I've been thinking about setting up my Scarlett interface at home when I practice for the same purpose, and I'm curious how many other folk here do the same. Any useful tips for getting the most out of your rehearsal/practice recordings?
Click to expand...


Record separate tracks.

I have a zoom
 
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#11
I record band rehearsals (actually, the bandleader does it) and I do listen to them critically and think about whether or not I should change or fix anything.

I’ve never recorded my personal practice regimen but I probably should once in a while.

And now I kinda wish I had a microphone that looked like a carrot.
 
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#12
I only record at home for songwriting purposes, but I am a big fan of recording band rehearsals. My main originals band has written multiple songs or parts of songs based upon ideas captured in such recordings, and I also use it for a rough check on song arrangements. I'm not a good person to ask about tips on the actual recording process as we typically just use someone's phone or occasionally a GoPro, since sound quality is not really a big factor for these purposes.
 
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#16
We got a full mic'd up scarlett 18i20 with my laptop right now at our practice space to capture everyone (6 on drums, 1 bass, 1 guitar)

Oh and I've been using a zoom portable recorder for years.

I should clarify the purpose is mostly for writing, not just standard rehearsal
 
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#19
JRA said:
my band isn't recording rehearsals, currently, but we do record every gig, multitrack. i record my bass at home when i'm making a demo of an arrangement for the band (or an original tune) or when i'm throwing bass parts on tunes for others.
Click to expand...

Shoot, should have included recording gigs in the poll. We do that as well and I find it very helpful (and occasionally humbling) to go back and listen to what we did well or not so well.
 
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