Recording Help

[chanson]

I have a Tascam CD-BT1MKII (Portable CD Bass Trainer) and a nice Sony digital camera. I have been trying to do some recordings to put online but whenever I listen to the videos, what I recorded is so loud that it gets very distorted. In order to get little or no distortion, I have to turn the input/output levels on my Tascam to very low levels, making it very hard to hear myself play, especially when I play along to songs.


I run my bass into the input and also run a line in from my iPod or put a CD in the Tascam. After that, I run a line out to the Microphone input on the video camera.

Does anyone have any advice or alternatives for how to do this? I am extremely discouraged and lost.

 

[Nick Kay]

After that, I run a line out to the Microphone input on the video camera.

That's your problem. Line outputs put out a MUCH hotter signal than a microphone. On the order of 30+dB hotter. Line out > line in, microphone > microphone in.

 

[chanson]

So what would you recommend I do with what I have?

 

[chanson]

I have seen people on youtube using the same Tascam unit I have, I don't know what they are doing differently though

 

[Nick Kay]

See if your camera has a line-in, or drop the line-out from the Tascam unit into the computer's line-in and record it on there, then sync it to the video afterwards.

 

[chanson]

If I used the line out from the Tascam to plug into my soundcard, wouldn't it still be very hot?

 

[Nick Kay]

Of course, but if you're going into a line-in (usually black or blue on most soundcards), it'll be expecting that hot of a signal. Going into the microphone input (pink or red) will produce the same results as what you're getting currently, though.

 

[chanson]

Alright. I'll see how that works. Thank you very much for the help.

I only have Audacity right now. Any other good programs you'd recommend? Sorry, too lazy to search for this right now

 

[Nick Kay]

Reaper is my current home DAW of choice, but the endless context menus and tweakability can get a little confusing for the less-experienced. Audacity will serve your purposes just fine for now. If you find you want to get more into more expansive multi-tracking and more flexible mixing options, you can switch to Cubase, Sonar, PT, Reaper, hell, any other DAW. Mostly depends on what kind of work flow you like and the features you're hunting for.