Setup for those who travel alot

  • Thread starter Thread starter octoruss
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octoruss

octoruss

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I travel alot for business--mostly international stuff which can be fun, but the downside is that I seem to have my most creative moments sitting in some hotel room somewhere. Of course I'm away from my studio and I generally forget my idea by the time I get back to it.

It would be great if some manufacturer could create a small, lightweight portable foldup guitar or keyboard that I could plug into my laptop for basic recording. Hello Roland, Yamaha, Korg...anybody?
 
Easy!

Laptop with a USB pre (dmp3? tascam products?), a mic, and a cable. Add any of the backpacker guitars and you're set.

Heck, you can even get away with using the mic input on the laptop since you're only going to be scratch padding, anyway.

I've done this a couple times and its pretty fun. I take an AKG c1000s (which runs on a battery so I don't need phantom power) and just put the darn thing on the bed while recording the guitar. I have to use a couple adapters to go from XLR to 1/8", but is works. Its pretty silly and doesn't sound as good as what I can do at home, but I've actually laid out full arrangements with rough harmonies in an evening at a hotel. Makes it a snap to record when I get home...

Take care,
Chris
 
I noticed in a catalog that somebody had a guitar effects floor board with a built in 8 track recorder and midi accompaniment. I think it was Boss or Roland. Kind of a cool idea.
 
The real kicker is the instruments--I refuse to buy a martin backpacker guitar--they're just too big, goofy and sound like shite. Not that sound matetrs in this instance, but wouldn't it be cool if you could have a fold-up guiitar that could fit in a suitcase?
 
Octoruss,

I'm not sure about a fold-up guitar - I think I've seen something like that somewhere, but it may have just been a kind of practice guitar without pick-up/plug-in capabilites.

I'm in the same boat as you are, and like you, I didn't like the 'Backpacker' any....I finally picked up on the Tacoma Papoose - bought it - and not only use it for my weekly travel, but also quite a bit as a kind-of 'mandolin-y' guitar for home recordig. I found it really suited the travel part of my needs (being extemely small), but also has the benefit of having a sound 'all its own' - so I can get a lot of use out of it!

I can bring along my BR 532 & SM 57 and can really enjoy recording on the road - without a major hassle..

Good luck.
Jim
 
Road recording rig:

Fostex 4 track cassette recorder.
Shure SM57
Desktop mic stand (Rat Shack special)
BOSS Dr5
Fernandes Nomad - travel guitar

Everything except the travel gutar fits in a small bag. The guitar has a gigbag that looks like an AK47 slung over your shoulder.

At home, mix down to the PC via Wavelab. Burn a CD for the working copy.
 
here's what i have:

dell inspiron 1.2ghz with 512mb ram (usb/firewire/pcmcia)
m-audio duo usb mic-pre
audio technica 4033 microphone
steinberger spirit-gt guitar (you know the headless boat ore)
roland directx-instrument

I'd been using the stein' for live shows for years and always loved playing it in the tour van because it sat right up on my lap. in the studio, i play a fender american strat. the stein' turns out to be super easy to carry with me on business travel.

the only thing i don't have is a small usb/midi keyboard.

ps. i should have gotten the VXpocket instead of the m-audio duo.
 
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