Klarinet Archive - Posting 000543.txt from 1999/08
From: Dan Sutherland <dsuther@-----.ca>
Subj: RE: [kl] MiniDisc (was Audition tapes)
Date: Thu, 19 Aug 1999 12:21:20 -0400
Thank you very much for your reply. It puts things in excellent
perspective for me. I am not sure exactly what I will end up with, but I
will begin hunting now. I should have some fun with this project.
Thanks again,
Dan
At 23:02 17/08/99 -0700, you wrote:
>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
>
>
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