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What Recording Equipment Do You Use for Audition CDs?

Author: ilovetheclarinet24
Date: 2009-11-07 15:34

I need to make a CD high quality enough for submission for pre-audtions for doctoral programs, symphony orchestras and military bands. What do all of you use to record yourselves and make these CDs?

I have heard a bit about the Zoom recorder, but trust all of you more than reviews on their website because you all understand better the level of sound quality and sensitivity we need to produce an appropriate CD.

Thank you for your suggestions! Have a great weekend!

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Re: What Recording Equipment Do You Use for Audition CDs?

Author: NBeaty
Date: 2009-11-07 15:39

The Zoom H4 recorder is a top notch recording device. It is self contained with high quality mic and is very high quality. With a good space\hall and mic placement, it can provide the best possible recording outside of using a recording studio.

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Re: What Recording Equipment Do You Use for Audition CDs?

Author: Joarkh
Date: 2009-11-08 19:37

I use the Zoom H4N. Excellent.

Joar
Clarinet and saxophone teacher, clarinet freelancer

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Re: What Recording Equipment Do You Use for Audition CDs?

Author: rgames
Date: 2009-11-10 02:27

Any of the recent-vintage portable recorders (e.g. Zoom) or dedicated sound cards (e.g. Soundblaster) will do a fine job. Focus less on the hardware and more on the room and mic placement - those factors have much more impact on the sound. If you have a decent sound card, you can just get a cheap mic and be good to go.

Here are my general thoughts on how different elements affect recording quality:

1. Musicians - 75%
2. Room - 10 %
3. Recording Technique - 10%
4. Recording Hardware - 5%

So, bottom line, the musicians, the room, and the mic placement make up 95% of the quality of the sound - the hardware really has very little effect.

Think of it this way - are you more impressed by poor-quality recordings of great performances or high-quality recordings of poor performances? QED

rgames

____________________________
Richard G. Ames
Composer - Arranger - Producer
www.rgamesmusic.com

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Re: What Recording Equipment Do You Use for Audition CDs?

Author: BrianM
Date: 2009-11-11 19:31

I've been using an Olympus LS-10 with excellent results. For me it was between this and the Zoom H4n when I made my choice. Both provided excellent results.

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Re: What Recording Equipment Do You Use for Audition CDs?

Author: Joarkh
Date: 2009-11-11 20:06

Well, obviously, a good-quality recording of a good performance is preferable... Therefore, it is natural to want the best recording equipment in addition to preparing the performance carefully.

Joar
Clarinet and saxophone teacher, clarinet freelancer

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Re: What Recording Equipment Do You Use for Audition CDs?

Author: chris moffatt
Date: 2009-11-13 13:32

I use mic input to an 8-track Beringer mixer connected to a USB interface to a G5 Mac and using SoundStudio software. The setup is very simple and you can record multiple tracks and mixdown very easily. It also has good editing capabilities for a non-studio setup but you probably don't want to edit an audition CD......Playback is via sampson studio preamp and amplifier with BOSE speakers. the whole setup except for the computer part and speakers, fits in a small rack.....with the software you can choose the sampling frequency, record in various formats, use compression and burn CDs - but as pointed out above the main things are not the recording equipment (although the best mic you can get is important)

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Re: What Recording Equipment Do You Use for Audition CDs?

Author: interd0g
Date: 2009-11-21 21:08

I like a laptop running the Wavepad sound edit software.
The software is very comprehensive with extensive editing features and a detailed waveform type display of the whole recorded track on which you can see individual notes, their amplitude and quality.
It also has a range of effects , can save in a number of audio file types such as .wav and .mp3 for playing on portable devices.
AND, it's free.

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