Recording Rehearsals and Gigs

[skin]

What do you guys and gals do to know how you truly sound during rehearsal and a gig?

What kind of gear do you like? I just came across the Zoom H2 and it sure looks like fun!

Thanxabunch!

 

[slackdaddy]

I have been making recordings of our practices since starting the new band and this is what I do.

I record with one mic into a Roland BR532 digital 4-track

I then dump those tracks to my computer as MP3s

Since everyone in the band works and generally stays pretty busy, so I have a friend of mine upload them to a hidden page on the website where the guys can go and download the MP3s to listen to on their own time. I don't have to burn CDs for everyone in the band anymore. This has really helped with keeping a momentum going since we usually practice just once a week.

 

[James Hart]

I've done the boom box through to bringing my PC and an extra mic to rehearsal. I'm ordering an H2 ASAP

 

[rappa29]

I've done the boom box through to bringing my PC and an extra mic to rehearsal. I'm ordering an H2 ASAP

Ditto. Except I'm not getting an H2.

 

[zac2944]

Wow. I've been waiting a long time for something like the H2 to come along. I will have one very soon.

 

[rmrf]

I have big headache right now trying to make custom solution.
The main idea was:

• Creative Zen V - it can record from line-in 160bps. Price on 1G is $55 right now. 1G means about 14hours of recordings on 160bps. More than enough to record the longest gig/jam in your life
• Amped Mic - here I just stuck. I bought Audio Technica PRO24 stereo mic and just because I'm lame enough I thought it doesn't require preamp because it has battery inside.

Right now budget of this project is 55 (Zen V) + 65 (PRO24) + 5 (2.5mm-3.5mm adapter) + tax = about 145 bucks.

Because we are splitting everything on 3 band members. this come to 48 bucks a piece and it doesn't work.

To make it work we need also preamp. This adds to budget another 60 bucks. and become 200+.

Where was my main mistake? It wasn't in my misunderstanding of condenser mic concept. I just didn't know about H2!

Amazing. 180$ ($60 a piece - add to 48 bucks one more 12pk of Heineken). And less than some garage project with mp3 player, preamp and mic putted together with duct tape

Will order H2 tomorrow (I need to tell the same to band members)

P.S. Of course there is always alternative solution - Laptop+Audacity+Mic. And budget comes to price of mic. But this means you have to bring laptop on every rehearsal and gig, put it somewhere.... etc... etc... I had enough.

H2 is the winner!

 

[skidrawk]

Mixer out -> 2 track recorder

or

2 pencil condensers in XY -> 2 track recorder

or

mics -> Mixer sub mix -> 4 track recorder

 

[Pruitt]

Our practice location (drummer's basement) is equipped as a 24 track studio. We just walk in, plug-in and everything gets recorded to separate tracks. Every jam is recorded, providing we remember to hit "record". lol...

 

[JKT]

I have been making recordings of our practices since starting the new band and this is what I do.

I record with one mic into a Roland BR532 digital 4-track

I then dump those tracks to my computer as MP3s

Since everyone in the band works and generally stays pretty busy, so I have a friend of mine upload them to a hidden page on the website where the guys can go and download the MP3s to listen to on their own time. I don't have to burn CDs for everyone in the band anymore. This has really helped with keeping a momentum going since we usually practice just once a week.

We have also gone this route but have shaved it down even simpler by using a small mp3 mini recorder with built in mics.

We mount it on a stand in the practice room where it can hear the whole band and after a quick sound check for level we go ahead and rehearse. The guitar player edits and uploads to the web when he gets home.

JKT