What equipment to start with

[UncleBill]

I would like to start making some home recordings and need your help on an inexpensive way to get started. My initial idea was to pick up a Sony WM-D6C (pro cassette walkman) and a Sony mic, but am not sure if a DAT recorder or minidisc might be "better". So, if you have some ideas on a few inexpensive starter configurations, it would be greatly appreciated. By the way, at this time I have no interest in mixing or editting the recordings. My interent is to record woodwinds. Thanks!

 

[DavidK]

Yes, Dat will be better, no doubt. Pro cassette is an Oxymoron, like Jumbo Shrimp. Spend the extra clams and go DAT.

. By the way, at this time I have no interest in mixing or editting the recordings.

Hang around here for a while, and you will change your mind real quick!! Welcome Aboard.

 

[Shazukura]

UncleBill,

What Sony mic did you have in mind? It isn't one of those 1/8" jack microphones is it? If you don't care a lot about quality, that would probably be the cheapest way to start making recordings, but you'll lose a lot of the dynamics and tonal qualities of your woodwinds.

The "next level" would be to get a "real" microphone, a good preamp to go with it, and possibly a better recorder too. (we're talking 3-digits, maybe 4 if you want to get a nice recorder too.)

If you use the search engine, you can find some threads on topics like "what equipment is in your studio", and see a broad range from us small-time home recordists up to guys who record and master professionally.

Good luck, and enjoy!

-Shaz

 

[Chris Shaeffer]

UncleBill,

From what I understand, you're just looking for something to get some nice live woodwinds down on "tape" (whatever kind of "tape" you end up with), right?

I have no experience doing this directly, but I have heard some excellent recordings done that way on a minidisc. I might chose MD over any tape based medium just because tapes get eaten and degrade more easily.

This also seems a bit different than what most folks around here do, though I could easily be quite wrong. At least, this isn't the kind of equiptment I've seen being discussed. Believe it or not, you might find more useful gear information talking with people who "bootleg" shows.

At the risk fo being booed off the board for associating with such "heathens" (which I don't anyway), here's a link that I found

http://www.bootlegs.com/info/

Kinda basic, and I was hoping to find something that would give you more information, but most of my searches for "bootleg" on the net turned up rather surprising sites.

Good luck,
Chris

 

[badgas]

Hi Uncle Bill.
I saw your interest is in woodwinds.
Up in the mic forum a man by the name of Harvey Gerst begin giving his knowledge on mics.
He was a recording engineer for about 40 years I guess. It's one of the most indepth readings I've come across about mics, for all instrument and occations.

Here's the link. The author is Harvey Gerst, and the subject of his post is, 'Nearing the End'. It is about the 12th post down on this page.

http://www.homerecording.com/bbs/showthread.php?threadid=27030&perpage=40&pagenumber=5

Good luck.