Moving Targets

  • Thread starter Thread starter tc4b
  • Start date Start date
tc4b

tc4b

Yeah I been drinkin, SO!?
How do you record a moving target?

I love the things my son says and especially how he sings. I am dying to record him, but, at the age of 2.5, he's tough to nail down. I can't get him to sit still without ruining the crazy mood that makes him belt out songs like "A-1" (his favorite condiment, sung to the tune of "Get Back", complete with improvised lyrics about Jo-Jo dipping his steak). He can't maintain any kind of constant distance from the mic, so either it's distorted or waaaayyy too quiet. I usually end up settling for the latter and just duplicating the track 5 or 6 times in Protools to achieve more volume, but still it's not very clear. Is there something I could use as a "toddler overhead?" I've tried using my RNC in all sorts of configurations, but no luck yet.

Here's my deal at the moment:
digi 001
gt55
sm57
sm58
sm81 (x2)
RNC
Alesis 3630
TubePre
Mackie 1202
(...and some really shitty outboard FX, and some other crap in the closet that's even cheaper than the crap on THIS list)

However, I'm a proud (insane) enough daddy to buy more gear specifically for this purpose.

Thanks!
 
Just let him take a pull off your bong...he'll sit still.
 
a lavalier mic radio preferably

I've got an excellent sennheiser radio tie clip it cost about £300 ish

quite steep for one single purpose but a handy tool to have for any reason, records a double bass amasingly

Man I was 3 when I started playing (driving dad mad) with a drumkit & I have a 5" reel of tape somewhere with me playing kit at four

support your kids people they'll thank you

I started playing live with my dad & people used to say "don't push him, don't push him" & then as I developed my abilities they started saying "don't hold him back, don't hold him back"

fuck em all still the best jam I get is with my dad

superb mate
all the best
 
Thanks for the tip, and also for the encouragement. Warms my heart (being a dad has turned me into a sentimental sap, what can i say)

About the lavalier, I searched the forum and the consensus seems to be the senn, and also that the AT lavaliers suck ass. That's all well and good, but I couldn't find any input on the Sure's. They have so many models, are any of the <$200 ones serviceable? Meanwhile, I'm hunting for used senn's....
 
I would try an omni. like a 635a or something. or even a simple radio shack handheld tape recorder. maybe a camcorder mic. you do want to capture the natural "ambience" of him running around the room, right?
 
FALKEN said:
I would try an omni. like a 635a or something. or even a simple radio shack handheld tape recorder. maybe a camcorder mic. you do want to capture the natural "ambience" of him running around the room, right?
Click to expand...

I'll take or leave the ambience, as long as his voice comes through. Interesting mic, anyway. Ever use one?
 
yes I have a pair of 635as. My room is not very good for them though..the house is all tile. Still, they can make good drum overheads, if that big echo is what you are after!!

Sometimes when recording with condensers my dog will rattle his collar at just the right moment for the song!

maybe just turn on one of your condensers real hot and keep it at least 6 feet away!
 
...

Give him a used Tascam MF-P01 (mini-) Portastudio ($50/Ebay), and a $10 Memorex karaoke mic from Target/Walmart.

PS: Don't forget tape!

... maybe pick up some diapers while you're there.;)
 
You might get some decent results buying an electret condenser capsule and building your own mic. I built a mic that clipped onto my saxophone using an electret capsule from an electronics store. You should be able to find schematics on the internet (I think it was all of a resistor, capacitor, 1.5 volt battery, jack input and the capsule). The capsule I used tapered off under 75Hz, but I doubt that a 2.5 year old has a deep resonating bass voice (if he does, PLEASE post clips). The whole thing cost under $7US.

If you want wireless you might be able to find a cheap guitar wireless (or even an electronics kit that uses a standard FM radio to pick up reception from the transmitter - a friend of mine built one and it worked well short range).

Or just get a long mic lead and wrap it around his head.
 
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