• TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
    Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
    Join freeLog in
    Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.

mini disc recording help

Im not trying to do anything professional just get a recording onto my computer so i can work out my parts to the song... and just to listen to the song while were not playing for ideas and opinions etc...can be hard to hear what you actually sound like while youre playing sometimes....


so...

i hooked up like a computer mic to my little portable minidisc player... a sony mz-r70 digital recording mini disc walkman... i guess the mic is meant more for like a business meeeting recording conversation scenario... but i plugged it into the mic jack and turned thee rec volume way down...and it worked pretty well for my purposes atleast.... if i knew how to post sounds i would... my question is... is there a way i could get a quarter inch instrument jack sized down to i guess its a 1/8 headphone jack....just your stereotypical headphone plug... and will using a real mic help the recordings not be so hot? i run the line out to the mic in on my laptop and can record it in adobe audition and fudge around with eq's and noise etc... its only one track but its pretty effective... i also leave the mic in an adjacent room while we play... what else can i do cheaply to improve sound quality
 
i think you are asking the following two questions:

1. Will a better mic get a better quality recording on the MD?

in my experience, yes, but up to a point. the little condensor mics that come recommended with the machine work quite well.

2. Can i plug my bass directly into the minidisc?

never done it. but an 1/4inch --> 1/8inch adapter for two bucks or whatever and try it. worth the two dollar answer.

i've been using an MD to record gigs for years, so i can critically listen back and judge my own playing. for this, it has been perfect. i can dump the recordings into garageband and even track it out.

i actually have an extra sony microphone . . . .
 
I'm sure you could plug your bass in through an adapter, but you'll probably need some kind of preamp or it won't sound too good. Pretty much any mic will work better than a computer mic, if you want to drop $100 you could get something like Link Removed, which includes 2 condenser mics AND a preamp...