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Post by allthumbs on Nov 1, 2015 11:21:19 GMT
My last attempt at home recording involved my old Sony mono cassette player with the clunky buttons at the front near the slide out carry handle. Those of a certain age will remember them.
Anyhow, I'd like to start recording again for two reasons and the whole genre seems like most things today, fraught with too much choice:
1. help my daughter with her violin practice 2. help me with my uke practice
I want something of decent quality, ease of use and the ability to store files on the laptop.
What exactly do I need? Do I need a USB mic for my laptop plus software or a stand-alone device? I don't have any ambitions towards launching a solo recording career but one day hope to audition in the Plucky Duck.
I'm sure just about anything these days will be vastly superior to my old (sob) Sony. I don't have a big budget, I'm just planning on treating myself to a little Christmas pressie to ward off the influx of socks and extra slippers.
Gav.
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Post by andyhowell on Nov 1, 2015 11:26:18 GMT
A USB mic for the laptop would be good but a decent stand alone recorder is probably more flexible for what you want. The Zoom range are brilliant — I have the more basic 2 (decent built in mics) and the mine expensive 6. The 4 sits between the two.
You can take the mobile recorder anywhere, stick it on a very cheap tripod stand and with the 4 and 6 stick better mics in it if you ever feel so disposed!
Exporting these files to a laptop for processing is easy although you might find all of the effects you need on the recorder itself.
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Post by scripsit on Nov 1, 2015 12:49:28 GMT
+1 for one of the Zoom range of portable recorders.
And use your computer for 'mixing' and tweaking (Audacity works well and is free): trying to do it on the recorder will drive you crazy.
Kym
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Post by allthumbs on Nov 1, 2015 14:15:17 GMT
Thanks for the replies. I like the idea of a stand-alone for flexibility. I have audacity from a previous Open University project - never used it for mixing though but at least I already have it.
Which specific models are you referring to with the Zoom?
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Post by ocarolan on Nov 1, 2015 16:40:58 GMT
Zoom, yes indeed.
You can use them standalone, or as a USB mic. I'd go for the cheaper end of the Zoom range - the H2n will do all you require at a very reasonable cost. The Zoom H1 would too, though is slightly more basic. To stretch to the H4n will up your budget by 50% and may well be more complex and facility laden than you need - at this stage anyway. Could well be one to last you longer though.
However I'm still using my early model H2 which does all I require of it, in conjunction with some even older recording software. Your Audacity will be v useful to you even if only to trim the beginning and end of tracks, though much more is possible.
Transferring files to your laptop is easy - just take the card out of the Zoom and copy them across to your laptop for further messing about etc.
Do record at the highest quality, in wav. files, to start with - you can always convert them (keeping a high quality master copy)to various bitrate mp3 files later depending on what you want to use them for.
Keith
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Post by vikingblues on Nov 1, 2015 17:49:18 GMT
I've found the Zoom H4n to be of good quality, and to my surprise not to be too horribly complicated. Quite intuitive in fact and I've had problems with getting the hang of such devices in the past. I did find watching some YouTube instructional videos very useful though - the manual does run to 150 pages and is pretty thorough, but finding the basics in such a big manual isn't always easy.
It's useful to have a recorder like the 4N which allows the alternative use of external microphones too for extra variety and flexibility in microphone placement in stereo. It also allows the use of both internal and external microphones at the same time which gives a nice opportunity for adjusting tone in the mix. The fact that it can also be used to do multi track mode if you find the need to do that in the future is useful.
The only problem I've had with it was trying to use it as an interface on my PC - not something I needed to do, but an experiment that I would have been best not pursuing as it wasted half a day of my life! If you can get a stand alone solution that does not involve wrestling with compatibility issues and trying to get computer software and the hardware talking to each other then it's a good solution. You also avoid teh problems of computer recording software misbehaving due all the myriad tasks being done in the background by the operating system, anti virus software, et al.
But with the Zoom devices it's easy transferring files to a computer the way Keith describes, and the H4n certainly works fine in it's storage mode when it's attached via USB, effectively using the H4n as an SD card reader.
Mark
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Post by missclarktree on Nov 1, 2015 19:52:57 GMT
I use the H2N but I don't attempt to use any of its features other than switching it on and off. I use a cable to transfer the files to the computer, then usually turn the volume up a bit using Audacity.
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Post by allthumbs on Nov 3, 2015 17:00:04 GMT
Well, thanks for the replies everyone - much appreciated. I'm a bit intermittent on the forum nowadays now that my last OU module has started (groan). The H2N sounds like a simple to use option - now where did I put that letter to Santa??
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Post by andyhowell on Nov 5, 2015 23:00:38 GMT
I have a H2N and it is a fine machine for the price.
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Post by allthumbs on Dec 27, 2015 0:27:57 GMT
I was lucky enough to find an H2N bundle under the tree on Christmas Day.
I was wondering if anyone had any tips regarding best settings, placement, mic configuration etc.
I took it to the Humber foreshore today and it was blowing a gale. I had the sponge thing over the mic and was surprised at how spoken word it picked up when I was struggling to her with the wind.
It does seem to record at a low level though. Not worried about this as my better sounding CDs all seem quiet compared to the also-rans.
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Post by ocarolan on Dec 27, 2015 1:01:15 GMT
You can adjust the recording level with the rotary "Mic Gain" dial on the side of the unit.
Once recorded, you can increase the volume of the recording on the Zoom H2n with the "Normalise" function.
If you are going to use a PC for final processing though, it is easy enough to bump up the volume there with whatever software you may be using eg Audacity.
Can't help you with the mic configurations though - my ancient H2 doesn't offer these, but some simple experiments will soon tell you what sound best for you in particular applications.
As to positioning, again experimentation is the thing - but a good starting point for acoustic guitar recordings would be pointing at the neck body join from some 12" away. You can try, whilst still in this postion, angling the unit slightly more towards either end of the guitar for different results.
If you are recording direct onto the internal SD card it can be simpler to transfer files to PC by removing the card from the H2n and slotting into PC, then just copy files across.
Alternatively, these recorders work well as USB mics plugged into PC to record into eg Audacity.
Record in wav format for best quality, and save the completed project as wav file too. You can always duplicate the wav master file as an mp3 later should you need to do so.
Hope you have lots of fun - play with it a lot - go with what works for you!
Let us know how you get on eh?!
Keith
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Post by andyhowell on Dec 27, 2015 11:22:01 GMT
The H2N is a great little recorder. Enjoy yourself!
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Post by allthumbs on Dec 28, 2015 20:53:45 GMT
Thanks for all the tips and advice. I'll try aiming the mic I've been trying to get to grips with Audacity and using the H2N via the usb connection. After much gnashing of teeth (which I should have recorded for future sounds effects), I'm kind of getting there. There was a bit of tweaking with Win 7 and Audacity and the H2N but I'm now in a position where I can at least record directly into Audacity. The standalone functionality seems pretty straight forward, so I'm happy with that side of things. I noticed a queer thing with my laptop and that is there is some sort of sound bleed going on. I was inadvertently recording a 'background' signal even with all mics disconnected and/or disabled. Basically, the recorded Audacity track was bleeding onto a 2nd audacity track with no mics connected or enabled. Not sure why or how but I've somehow sorted it for now. Knowing me, I'll have to mess about until I re-create it so that I 'know' how to 'not' do it. Anyone else suffer from this sort of OCD? The number of things I took to bits as a kid to see how they worked. My b/w portable telly didn't survive it though (never told my mum or dad), but almost everything else did
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Post by scripsit on Dec 28, 2015 23:55:14 GMT
I noticed a queer thing with my laptop and that is there is some sort of sound bleed going on. I was inadvertently recording a 'background' signal even with all mics disconnected and/or disabled. Basically, the recorded Audacity track was bleeding onto a 2nd audacity track with no mics connected or enabled. Not sure why or how but I've somehow sorted it for now. There might be some issues coming from computer fan or the laptop soundcard (these are usually of very low quality). If you can't get rid of hiss and crackle when you are recording into the computer using the Zoom as a microphone setup, try using the Zoom by itself (the preamps built in are much quieter than most computer soundcards are capable of), and then transferring the raw file across to the computer for manipulation in Audacity. Kym
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Post by allthumbs on Dec 30, 2015 11:28:46 GMT
Kym,
thanks for the tip. I use a reasonable yet budget lap top. The 'background' I was referring to was the content of a recorded track. If I recorded a stereo track in audacity and then press record with nothing connected (i.e. I'm recording nothing), then it picks up the first track as a quiet but audible recording.
I've been faffing about with things and I think you are definitely right in suggesting that I record straight into the H2N and then transfer the files to Audacity to play with. I can't see that there is anything to gain by recording directly with audacity other than the convenience of not having to transfer files.
I set the H2N to record, closed all the around the house and just waited for 5 minutes. I was amazed at what the H2N recorded. Faint voices upstairs that I couldn't hear, creaks, wind, ticking clocks in other rooms etc. All very quiet but there none the less.
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