Here's a question for all the classical bassists, How do you record yourself? Arco playing is significantly more difficult to record and easier to ruin with a bad recording. What camera/mic do you use? If you use your phone how does it compare? Recording yourself is becoming more and more important due to the rapid improvement of technology. The prescreening for all the orchestras and colleges around the world are videos of yourself playing your rep so shouldn't we be focusing on this a bit more? While your bass tone is extremely important, even someone with the most beautiful tone will sound average on bad equipment. What are your thoughts on this and how are you planning to record yourself in the future?
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Double Bass Recording Classical Bass for Auditions and more.
- Thread starter Jayden DCosta
- Start date
Phone video is pretty good, sound not so much. You can get microphones and/or audio interfaces for phones, and that would probably be the simplest route to take.
I'm not auditioning for colleges or orchestras, but I have the engineering expertise to know that these things are needed if you use a computer to produce your video:
1) webcam (add-on for desktop or built-in on laptop) for video;
2) USB audio interface for audio;
3) software which records and provides editing for video with audio;
4) a suitable microphone;
5) a suitable room.
Some time should be taken to determine best microphone placement. I get best results with the mic about 3 feet off the bass top.
I'm not auditioning for colleges or orchestras, but I have the engineering expertise to know that these things are needed if you use a computer to produce your video:
1) webcam (add-on for desktop or built-in on laptop) for video;
2) USB audio interface for audio;
3) software which records and provides editing for video with audio;
4) a suitable microphone;
5) a suitable room.
Some time should be taken to determine best microphone placement. I get best results with the mic about 3 feet off the bass top.
AG has covered all the basics. I was under the impression (perhaps misguided) that at the entry level, in person orchestral auditions were supposed to be blind (behind a screen) if that’s not the case I recommend you get a decent webcam. I use the Line Audio CM3/CM4 for audio. It’s small, compact and sounds exceptional at minimal cost.
But a CM3/4 needs phantom power, so at least an external phantom power circuit or a mic preamp or mixing desk with phantom power is needed.
There is also the risk if you use different digitalizing interfaces for video and audio, than film and audio get out of sync over time. Probably not a problem for a shorter clip, but if you want to play a quarter of an hour or more without stop, be prepared for loosing synchronicity.
There is also the risk if you use different digitalizing interfaces for video and audio, than film and audio get out of sync over time. Probably not a problem for a shorter clip, but if you want to play a quarter of an hour or more without stop, be prepared for loosing synchronicity.
Good point, if I want to go direct into a computer interface with video, I had a Blue Spark Digital just for that purpose, but it's rather unwieldy, sounds great. Since I own a Superscope PSD 450 mk II, I can use whatever phantom powered device I own. and record to a flash drive in two different
audio formats. Although, I have the capacity to recorded Video I only occasionally do it.
I have a zoom H5 which can provide phantom power, so no problem recording with condenser mics, (e.g. the new Remic white 
), but I can also record with my android phone using an app called Hi-Res Audio Recorder. This is handy when you hear something you want to record and did not 'come prepared'. The phone mics are actually pretty good if you are out of the wind. With the app you can record mono or stereo (on phones with 2 mics). It offers wav, mp3 etc formats, and CD quality. I can't remember if I paid for it, I would not have if it was expensive!
i have no connection whatsoever to the developer.
Steve
), but I can also record with my android phone using an app called Hi-Res Audio Recorder. This is handy when you hear something you want to record and did not 'come prepared'. The phone mics are actually pretty good if you are out of the wind. With the app you can record mono or stereo (on phones with 2 mics). It offers wav, mp3 etc formats, and CD quality. I can't remember if I paid for it, I would not have if it was expensive!i have no connection whatsoever to the developer.
Steve
