easiest way to record rehearsals?

[yammieoaks]

this may be a little off topic for 'technique' but in order to improve my technique, i like to record rehearsals to listen to parts that need improvement.

i've been using a Sony MZ R900 minidisc player and it has been a charm because it's portable and sounds good. but it just broke and i'm wondering of any newer technology (but still cheap as i only paid $60 used for the MD player) that could replace it?

i'd rather not lug my Macbook to practice, although it'd be convenient to immediately record into Garageband. i want something i can throw in my day bag and not have to worry so much about it breaking.

any suggestions? what do you use to record with that can stream into a computer and be converted into an MP3?

[brittc89]

A little pricier but the Zoom H2 and H4 are both incredible. You get some great sound for what youre working with.

[yammieoaks]

A little pricier but the Zoom H2 and H4 are both incredible. You get some great sound for what youre working with.
yep, the reviews are only great for them, but i was thinking of something in between the cost of an MD player and the H2. i have a feeling there may not be anything??

[Three]

Zoom H2 all the way! There's probably better quality recorders out there but they're normally £100+ more.

On the H2 you can record in various mp3, wav etc formats at different bit rates. There's 4 mic settings - a 90 degree pick-up angle, a 120 degree angle and then either a 2 or 4 channel surround sound pick-up.

When you've chosen your format, you pretty much place the unit in the room whereabouts you want it, set the record levels, press "record" when you're ready and "stop" when you're done! Easy.

It records all onto SD card so you can put the card in a card reader then drag and drop the file(s) straight into Garage Band, Logic, iTunes etc etc

The unit itself is about the size of a digital camera.




And sadly, I don't think there are many quality recorders under the £100 mark.

[2bsticks]

Yup,
Zoom H2 is a great little recorder for the money.

[JimmyK]

A couple room mics and an mbox. It is relatively cheap, and you can get really decent sound. I use just a room mic and a bass drum mic to record my drum videos and rehearsals with my band and it comes out where you can actually here all the instruments. I've tried handheld recorders but they compress so hard. Let me know what works for you!

Jimmy

[Monica McCoy]

A lot of practice facilities have recording gear already set up. We use a room that's $15 or $18 an hour and all we need to bring is a CD to record onto.

[BigSteve]

Another option is the Edirol R09. I've used it for practice and for recording live, a great little gadget like the Zoom. They sell for around $240 and are well worth the money.

[cnw60]

I found a great (and cheap) option with my mp3 player. It's made by Transcend USA and has a line-in recording feature that allows you bring a mic feed in from a mixer. Assuming you have a small mixer and a couple mics already - it's a simple way to get a .wav file of a rehearsal that you can then drop into your computer. And the mp3 player is about $40!

I've never used the Zoom so I can't compare the two, but the quality is pretty darn good.

[dairyairman]

i know you don't want to get a zoom recorder, but i'm here to tell you they kick ass. i have a zoom h2 and it's been a godsend. it records directly to mp3 and wav formats. the recording quality is great. when you hook it up to your computer with a usb cable, you can easily copy the mp3 files because it looks just like a disk drive.

i have a friend who has the edirol recorder and he says it's awesome. my drum teacher has a device that clips onto his ipod that turns it into a recorder, so that's another option.

[Wavelength]

A second-hand Zoom H2 is the way to go.

[keep it simple]

There's no getting away from it. The zoom H2 does everything you want and more at a good price and 24 bit quality. No bits, no leads, no mic's to set up, no interface problems. Save up the extra and get one.

[roboboticus]

I went through the same thing — used to use MD, didn't want to lug my Mac to sessions — and I ended up getting a Tascam DR-07, which I'm stoked about. Sounds great, simple to use, etc. They sell here (http://www.buydig.com/shop/product.aspx?omid=103&ref=froogle&utm_source=Froogle&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=TSDR07&sku=TSDR07) for about $150.

I haven't had a chance to compare it side by side with a Zoom H2 for sound quality, but the recordings sound quite good, and you can choose a number of different bitrates for mp3 recording, or even record wav files. It's easy to transfer the files to my Mac, and it's easy to operate, even under the influence ;P (I like how the record button glows red to let you know it's doing its business)

good luck!

[Late Bloomer]

I am waiting for my Zoom H4n to arrive in the next few days. I hope it is as good as the reviews say they are.

[whatwhatwhoa]

SM57 in front of the kit into a preamp into the direct in on your computer. You're gonna need that sm57 sooner or later so might as well get it now. $100ish altogether if you get it used. Shure also makes a few cheaper dynamics if you can't afford an SM57.

My set up is a recorderman into Presonus interface. But that's gonna cost $650 if you use my set up. It's not exactly luggable, but it has great quality so I can just put it up on youtube or myspace without complaints.

I don't like any of the camera mics because of the room acoustics killing that tiny condenser.

[Deathmetalconga]

I use a Yamaha Pocketrak 300. Very small, enough memory to record CD-quality or days, excellent sound quality, recharges AAA battery, built-in USB for downloading, adjustable mic gain. Just turn it on, set it down and play. Amazingly good recordings in a small and easy-to-use package.

You are wise to record your practices and gigs. I do it all the time. Band mates now bring thumb drives to practice and I give them a copy as they leave, then we discuss what we heard.