 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: clarinetwife
Date: 2004-04-02 22:01
My husband got me a "walkman"-sized cassette recorder for me for my birthday. I am curious what folks here use for recording ensemble rehearsals, any parts of practice sessions they might want to play back, etc. I think he thought I would like the idea of being able to use regular tapes, and it was a whole lot less expensive than a minidisc or digital recorder. What do you find useful about what you have? Do most of you work with mp3 quite a bit?
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Author: claaaaaarinet!!!!
Date: 2004-04-03 01:45
clarinetwife,
I use a portable Sony DAT (Digital Audio Tape) recorder with a Sony stereo mic and I get good results. Most of my friends/colleagues use mini-disc, which is almost as good as DAT and much cheaper.
If you can afford a digital recorder of some kind it really makes a big difference! It also makes transfering the material to CD easier and more effective.
I recently heard, btw, that the newer Sony mini-disc machines don't have the 'mic in' jack, which is obviously problematic as far as recording is concerned. Can anyone confirm that?
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Author: ron b
Date: 2004-04-03 02:45
To my thinking, Clarinetwife, the little Walkman devices are about as "handy" as it gets; small, lightweight, inconspicuous. Perfectly adequate for your purpose (or mine, if I had one) I would assume.
Being at a small gathering last week, I was interested to hear some of the guys discussing sound systems (they're not musicians, just "appreciators"). Seems that many connoisseurs are turning back to the old vacuum tube rigs, building their own from surplus stuff, and using reel-to-reel tapes, etc.
I know next to zip about such things but, to shift to another time frame for a moment, another friend's guitar teacher recoded him at his home a while back using digital equipment. He's a good guitarist in person, but the recording to me sounds really good, especially for a home recording. He said it took 'em a long time to set up the equipment.
I remember the somewhat bulky old reel tape recorders and how much handier and more portable the smaller casette outfits are. A little guessing and a little peicemeal info gathering on my part causes me to believe that, whichever one you choose, the end result has a lot to do with the microphone.
I know it's bad form to answer a question with another question. Please forgive me, but this topic does raise the question: do "they" make portable digital, as in CD (disc), recorders? Forgive me too if I seem way out of the loop here; I've been in the basement a very long time.
- r![[cool]](http://test.woodwind.org/clarinet/BBoard/smileys/cool.gif) n b -
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Author: BobD
Date: 2004-04-03 13:03
Well, you could use a digital video recorder...or even an analog one, for that matter. Yes, there are those who say that the old tube equipment playing vinyl (or amplifying guitars) yields better sound than digital....just like some say wood clarinets give better sound than plastic ones. My personal opinion is that using an analog "walkman" type cassette recorder will not provide the degree of fidelity I would be happy with for ensemble type work. If you want to capture decent sound you need to spend more money......and the cheapest digital video camera(played back through your home sound system) is about as cheap as you can get.....i.e. around $300...which is about what you'll pay for the Sony minidisc. with a plug-in Sony mike.
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Author: John J. Moses
Date: 2004-04-03 14:20
Hi clarinetwife:
FYI:
The best, and most portable, recording device I've used is the SONY-Walkman MiniDisc recorder. It's smaller than a cassette recorder (about 3"X3"), has great recording capabilities, can be easily transferred to a CD format for relistening, and not all that expensive these days. An additional benefit is that you can rerecord over again on any MD numerous times. It's well worth the investment, and I believe the recording device of the future.
By the way, the newer MP3 player do have a record feature, and a DAT machine works just fine. My personal choice is the MD format.
Something to consider:
Here in NYC, it is illegal to record live music (at rehearsals or performances) in certain location, due to Union rules. It protects the players, conductors, and others involved in the project. Just check to see if your personal rehearsal recordings will be in violation of any rules or offend any one else you are recording. Just a thought...
JJM
Légère Artist
Clark W. Fobes Artist
Post Edited (2004-04-03 14:23)
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Author: Alan
Date: 2004-04-03 15:19
John,
Just curious how you go about transferring from minidisc to CD. I was trying to do that last year when I first got mine and came to the conclusion it could not be done. Is there something I'm missing?
Thanks,
Alan
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Author: Mark Charette
Date: 2004-04-03 15:23
Alan wrote:
> Just curious how you go about transferring from minidisc to CD.
On my MiniDisc there's both an optical out & a line out. Connect either to your computer's soundcard and record away (as long as you've got the software to convert to CD format).
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Author: William
Date: 2004-04-03 15:58
Recording yourself is the best way you have hear how you actually sound "out there". It takes a bit of courage to "face the music" and listen to yourself (I sound like THAT), but often you discoverer that you sound better than you think. Recording yourself in practice of rehearsal--a good idea.
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Author: Katrina
Date: 2004-04-03 16:46
claaaaaaaarinet...
I've heard the same things about the newer Sony MD recorders. A friend is shopping for a new one, and says that his brother got one from Sharp (I think...I may have the wrong name...) that has a mic in. This one was more expensive than the Sonys though.
I have an older Sony. So old it's not even square, but rectangular! So far, it works great for me.
Katrina
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Author: John J. Moses
Date: 2004-04-03 19:23
Alan:
Check out this site:
http://christian.klukas.bei.t-online.de/files/netmd/winNetMD.htm
The conversion program is called WinNetMD, and it was developed by Christian Klukas. It's available as an easy download, and costs about $19.
It works like a charm, and makes very professional sounding CDs!
Good luck,
JJM
Légère Artist
Clark W. Fobes Artist
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Author: Ken Shaw ★2017
Date: 2004-04-05 15:26
CW -
Format doesn't make much difference. A DAT will sound better than an MD, which will sound better than a cassette in an A/B comparison, but you can record and listen to music on any of them. After all, our parents/grandparents listened on AM radio to Toscanini conducting memorable concerts. Our ears adjust.
I have sometimes recorded rehearsals to listen for intonation and balances, and I have quite a few of my own concerts on cassette. Years ago, I recorded the #2 part for a bunch of duets (on reel-to-reel tape, no less) and occasionally use that to play duets with myself.
What I'm most glad to have is a tape of the night our family (including several people now dead) sat around the dinner table remembering the family tree.
You'll probably use it a lot at the beginning -- after all, it's a new toy -- and not so much later. But it's nice to have.
Best regards.
Ken Shaw
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Author: diz
Date: 2004-04-06 22:52
Easy answer ... whatever works and is within your budget. I'd also ask permission of the group before recording ... some of them might be a little iffy about this sort of thing ...
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