Home Recording Equipment

[Don O]

A lot of good info on trumpet mics on this page. Can we carry this further to include experience and recommendations for complete recording set-ups for the typical home practice room - bedroom or basement rec room? I think there are many out there who simply don't know what to buy so they can record their practice sessions so they can "hear themselves", their "sound". Minimum set-ups for starters. More elaborate set-ups for advanced players (also for those who can afford expensive equipment). Such info would be appreciated, I'm sure.
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"He who knows every note more thoroughly understands the effect".

[_Don Herman]

Pretty wide range there, Don... I'd suggest a simple cassette recorder, ala Sony, for starters. Could get a minidisc recorder if you've the money and desire for digital (e.g., you could take digital into your computer), but for basic practice recording I choose K.I.S.S. (keep it simple, stupid). Use the built-in mic, or get an inexpensive dynamic mic (about $100 -- I wouldn't bother with the really cheap ones) from Sony, Shure, AT, AKG, EV, etc.

If you want to lay down several tracks, then Tascam makes a four track cassette recorder that sells for about $150US. You could record yourself playing parts of a duet (or quartet) and make your own play alongs.

For cheap play alongs, Band in a Box (I think it's about $30US for the basic version, more with extra tunes and such; I think I paid about $150 for the "MegaPack", but that was quite a while ago so prices are probably higher now) will work, assuming you can practice in the computer room, or record the BiaB output from your sound card to a tape (or whatever) and play it back in your practice room.

I've seen "home studios" top $100,000 so I'm not sure where to go from here. My setup ran about $5k with some decent inexpensive ($200-$300) mics. I use a Roland VS880EX (890 is the new version) with DS-90 monitors and the CD burner. Mics are a pair of AKG3000's, plus a C1000 and an Earthworks instrument grade (omni) mic I use for calibration and ambiance recording. The 880 is a hard-disk based unit with built in mixer, effects, preamps etc. I picked up a pair of cheap (~$200, I think) Sonus Blue Tube dual preamps as they seem to provide a "warmer" sound than the Roland preamps and I like having the extra gain and impedance matching available. They also provide phantom power for the mics.

My next recording purchases will likely be a Lexicon reverb and a few more mics (dynamics) for live work. For more inputs, and better preamps, get a little Mackie 1202 or 1402 mixer (about $300/$550, I think -- ain't checked prices lately). Of course, a U87 (Neumann mic, around $2500) or two would be nice...

Tom Turner has a setup he uses on gigs; he's described it several times on the Forum so hopefully he can cut'n'paste it hear, too.

HTH - Don
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Don Herman/Monument, CO
"After silence, that which best expresses the inexpressible, is music." - Aldous Huxley

[tcutrpt]

I've got a Sony minidisc player and a Sony mic (mic was around $100 bucks). It works very well for what I need. Getting feedback from my playing. Sound quality is very realistic too. I like it.

matt

[Don O]

Those are good for starters, Don and Matt. But, Don, I thought the U87 was sunk in 1944. :-}

The simple cassette recorders do not really reproduce the true sound good enough. A little more sophistication is needed, where possible, which you have addressed Don. I know there are people out there, especially the younger ones, who would like to know exactly what components are needed for a complete set-up for not more than, say, $1,000.00 total investment. Used stuff's okay if in good repair.

And, Tom Turner, where are you?

Don II (or am I "1"?)

[OCTA-C]

Before you buy anything wait and checkout the new TASCAM POCKETSTUDIO-5! You will be so totally amazed!!!
It's a small handheld digital 4 track recorder. It has a built-in condensor mic., midi sound module, presets to play along with, is 24bit recording on Smart-cards, and capable of loading down into your computer as an MP3 file!
Check the Tascam website.
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Jay S.

"May the good sound be yours!"

"Always remember to blow into the proper end of the horn!"-circa. 1900 (Harry Gardoon)

[_Don Herman]

I was gonna check out a few things and get back to y'all... But, there's a bazillion (that's a lot -- maybe there ain't quite that many, but everybody exaggerates! ) of nice-looking recorders on the market now which, with headphones and a couple of decent ($100-$200 range) mics will set you back $1000US or less. From 4 to 8 tracks, MD, HD, built in effects, phantom power or not... Too many for me! I knew about the Roland/Boss unit, but there's a whole bunch of them by virtually all the big-name makers of recording gear. I have no idea which are good or bad -- time for a road trip to my local pro sound store to check 'em out!

Good luck! - Don

p.s. It was shocking to see how low prices have gone, and when I thin kabout how little I';ve used my setup and compare it to what i could get today for the same money -- sob!
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Don Herman/Monument, CO
"After silence, that which best expresses the inexpressible, is music." - Aldous Huxley