Recording Jam sessions :O??

[andyouandi]

one idea that has come to my mind is recording my band's jam sessions... just because a lot of stuff happens that we might not catch, and if we can listen to it later on, we might be able to pick up something we missed.

We've tried with a computer mic... it worked, just the quality was bad.

Would seting up real mics around the room (rather than micing each intrument -- this might save mics?) work better?

Would you suggest any mics in particular? The Sm81? Sm57?

What about placement? In corners?

Would an omni-directional be best?

THANKS!

 

[Sklathill]

I personally would set up two stereo pairs, an XY coincident of SDCs (like the SM81s) and an ORTF of LDCs (take your pick...I like the CAD M179, AKG 414, Studio Projects B3...whatever pair of LDCs you have access to...)

 

[Bodoc]

Recording sessions

My system:

Mackie mixer into ADAT--but you can use a mixer into a stereo output into a minidisk recorder (highly recommended for stereo gig recordings!)...

2 drum mikes: snare/highhat SM57 (on a gooseneck), kick mike
direct bass line--no mike
1 vocal mike (or a second if backup vocal)
1 SM57 on guitar cabinet

You can mix in your computer later and print CDs or just play back off minidisk or ADAT through the Mackie. I have divided my Mackie 16 track into 8 inputs for tracking and 8 outputs for playback. I take ADAT lightpipe into my computer with a MOTU 828.

Easy, elegant--and it automatically archives the session/performance wtihout fooling around with computer files.

 

[Rev E]

I agree that a nice stereo pair would be decent, simple and would at least give you the ability to archive your jam sessions. Anything else gets a bit more serious (track management, mic set up, monitoring the recording) and it might take away from the vibe if all you want to do is capture the performance for the sake of posterity. But if you indeed want quality, as in sellable quality that can be later mixed down into something CD quality, you will have to spend a bit more money and (off course) put in a bit more time in mic choice and set up.

Bottom line, choose your poison.