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Piano Recorder

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I’ve never done any recording. My son has been taking piano for five years and has become reasonably accomplished. He’s in a piano club and I want to record him and some of his friends performing their pieces and save on CDs. The recording is for family mementos. He plays a parlor grand (6’4”) in a reasonably acoustically neutral living room (by which I mean only that it is neither an overly bright nor overly absorptive environment (it does, of course, have parallel walls etc.). He plays classical music exclusively and the instrument is a mellow European piano.

My inclination is to think recording directly to a computer may be my best bet. The computer I would use is a 2+ GHz pentium 4 with a 120 GB and a 160 GB hard drive using XP Home (Audigy II sound card). In reading around, I get the impression I should probably use 2 small diaphragm condenser mics to record a grand piano. The equipment that I have seen discussed that seems to make sense would be a choice between Tascam US-122, Lexicon Omega Studio, and DigiDesign Mbox, and some of the mics that appear they might be reasonable choices are Marshall MXL 603, Studio Projects C4, and AT 3032.
As between these, if I were to buy something now without any further input, I think I would get the Lexicon and 2 Marshalls, a couple of mic stands and some cables. I would like to keep my budget under $1,000.

I’m looking for advice and ideas from those who know more about this than I do (that means just about anyone). Do I need a bunch of stuff I don’t know about? Is the software that comes with these computer input devices (the Tascam US-122, Lexicon Omega Studio, or DigiDesign Mbox—or other you might suggest) adequate, or will I really need something more, and is the learning curve of any one of them significantly easier than the others (recognizing that the more flexible software is, generally the steeper the learning curve—but I’m not sure I need a lot of flexibilty). All thoughts greatly appreciated.
 
I own the Tascam US-122 but never use the software that came with it. It was a version of Cubasis and a crippled GigaStudio and I can't remember what else. The device itself is something I'm completly satisfied with, though, and would buy again if it got damaged or stolen.

As far as microphones go, you have picked an excellent time to jump in - a time when quality Chinese-manufacturered condenser microphones are being marketed in abundance under all sorts of brand names - Marshall, Studio Projects and Behringer to list a few. These are condenser microphones, meaning they need phantom power to operate, and the Tascam US-122 provides this on a single switch for both channels.

As far as software goes, an audio recording application called Audacity is freeware and is all you will really need to get started.

http://audacity.sourceforge.net/

Here is a link to the US-122:

http://www.zzounds.com/a--2676837/item--TASUS122

and a few microphones:

http://www.zzounds.com/a--2676837/item--STUC1
http://www.zzounds.com/a--2676837/item--CADGXL2200
http://www.zzounds.com/a--2676837/item--NDYSCM900
http://www.zzounds.com/a--2676837/item--MSHMXL2003

Any one of these microphones would work for your application. I estimate with the audio interface, the software and your choice of microphones, cables and stands you will be able to assemble a very nice stereo recording rig for about $400 to $500.
 
Also - please refrain when posting a question on this BBS from doing what's called 'crossposting' - posting the same question in two or more forums.

You won't get a quicker or better answer by doing that, and it's frowned on here and on most other BBS's...
 
$1,000 you say? well then! but before i get started...I'd just like to say my dad sucks...he never recorded me when i learned how to play guitar...come to think of it, i was always told to go outside. anyway heres an idea. the audiophile 24/96 $99.99 instead of the audigy.....a yamaha MG10/2 for $99.99. a matched pair of of MXL 603s is $279.00. cables and mic stands should run you another 90 bucks or so depending on the length of the cables and what brand you get. oh yeah and some recording software! Cakewalk Home Studio XL 2004 is $149.00 total cost is about $717
 
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