Klarinet Archive - Posting 000521.txt from 1999/08

From: "Benjamin Maas" <benmaas@-----.com>
Subj: RE: [kl] MiniDisc (was Audition tapes)
Date: Wed, 18 Aug 1999 02:02:35 -0400

Sorry about the delay in answering. I've been extremely busy lately (mixing
shows, actually) and haven't had the time to give a good response.

> From a money perspective,
> How frugally can one go? I believe that cassettes are criminally poor
> but unfortunately they are what institutions have to listen to for
> auditions and scholarship applications. Therefore, the best we can do, is
> make a recording as well as we can, before transferring it to cassette.

The whole thing is you want to get the best bang for the buck, whatever the
amount that buck may be. I got started with 2 SM-81s, a Mackie 1202 and a
DAT machine. Worked real well for several years.

I agree that cassettes are a waste of time and money. I have the ability to
make a real nice cassette, but I generally choose not to. My rates for my
work are such that it costs less for me to make a CD than duplicate
cassettes. It won't be long before cassette is a totally dead medium (just
like that hi-fi device called the 8-track :-P). I believe MCA has stopped
all new cassette production. It just isn't economical. CDR's have gotten
quite cheap as stand alone burners or even less as a part of a computer.

I run a contemporary music ensemble and we have had a couple calls for
scores. I must say, it is much more impressive for somebody to send in a CD
than a cassette. Many people have CD players in their cars and
studios/homes now.

> I presume that recording to any digital recording machine with editing
> functions is more practical than recording straight to cassette or, heaven
> forbid, a few takes on cassette then edit to another cassette [which is
> pretty well what I've been doing for several years now].

You are correct. Especially for the music most of us play and our budget, a
digital master will yield the most pleasing result (and lets not get into a
analog vs. digital discussion...)

Minidisc has some limited editing capabilities. If you had to do minor
editing, staying in the digital realm will cause less signal degredation.
Second or (God Forbid) third generation cassettes are really bad.

> To specifics:
> I have found a DCC900 Philips deck, asking price about $200. U.S. An
> abandoned technology but worth the gamble?
> There are 2 Mackie 12 channel mixers in the local classifieds for $375.
> Should I snap this stuff up?

I would stay away from DCC. It is a format that never matured and is for
all intents and purposes dead. You can't get the tapes and your machine,
while being a decent cassette deck, won't be worth much more than a boat
anchor in very short time. Minidisc would be a much more viable product.

If you are going to spend $375 on a Mackie 1202, get it new (and most likely
get it cheaper). You could find the old version of the 1202 used for under
$200 now. The 1202 VLZ (second edition) is about to be replaced so look for
a glut of them on the used market.

> AKG 4033 mics have been reccommended to me as an available and quality
> way to go. Is there something still less expensive that will do
> a credible
> job. [The specs on my AKG D70s are pretty poor].

4033's have never really impressed me. They are really bright and thin
sounding and very colored off axis (as most cheap mics are). For the money,
I'd much rather use a Shure SM-81 or a Rode NT-1. It is just as colored off
axis, but has a much smoother sound. They cost about $300/each new

>
> Finally, what about CD-RW. They seem to be digital to digital devices.
> Would it be possible to do without the mixer and Dat or MD or DCC and use
> the computer [loud fan and all instead].
>

It would be possible. Most cheap soundcards, however have really noisy
convertors. A computer-based CD recorder system costs about what a good
cassette deck costs. I have seen CDR drives as low as $200. DAT is still
the best sounding medium, but it costs more than the other digital mediums.
Cassette should be a last resort for your master.

If you want a budget system, my suggestions could be summed up as follows (I
posted these a couple months ago). All of these can be found for less used
if you look hard enough. A Tascam DA-20 DAT ($800 new). Good convertors,
will work at numerous levels. It costs about the same as the Sony stuff and
is much better quality. A Mackie 1202 mixer ($375). 4 mic ins and 4 stereo
line ins. Without a doubt the best bang for the buck out there. A lot of
people use Mackie boards in professional situations. They are the greatest
(I'd much rather have a Neve), but they do the job pretty well. A pair of
Shure SM-81s or Rode NT-1s. ($300/each--need 2). A Stereo Bar ($15) a
couple of cables to connect everything ($50), A tripod mic stand
($40)--Have the option of going up about 8 feet high. A round base one
won't do that.

If you have to skimp, go with a Minidisc, rather than DAT. You'll save
$450. Or the other option is to find a good engineer, make friends and hire
them. They will have the really good stuff (Neumann mics for example) and
make a better master. If you really have to skimp, get the Audio Technica
single point stereo microphone and plug directly into a Minidisc player. It
isn't a sound that I particularly like, but if it is what you can afford, do
the best you can.

Have I answered your questions? I will try to help spread the knowledge
that I have learned from doing big shows and working with some really good
engineers. The overall thing is USE YOUR EARS!!!! As a musician, you know
what you want to sound like. Don't be afraid to try something strange. You
very well could be pleasantly surprised. I often mic violins from behind...
You won't find that in any book...

Also, spend the extra few bucks. If you are serious about getting a
job/winning that competion/etc... don't let the judge think less of you
because of a bad tape.

Enough rambling... Time for bed...

--Ben

Benjamin Maas
Freelance Clarinetist and Recording Engineer
Los Angeles, CA
benmaas@-----.com
http://www.fifthcircle.com

---------------------------------------------------------------------
Unsubscribe from Klarinet, e-mail: klarinet-unsubscribe@-----.org
Subscribe to the Digest: klarinet-digest-subscribe@-----.org
Additional commands: klarinet-help@-----.org
Other problems: klarinet-owner@-----.org