Official Luthiers Forum!

Oops and pardon. I didn't know it had extra inputs, cause I ack, yup, assumed. So I stand (well OK, I just finished a gig so I sway) corrected.

Hi Robbie,

That is exactly my set-up described above. The E-Mu 0404 has 2 inputs, and I hook up a large condenser mic (Mine is a Sterling) and an AKG C1000S. When I record I have both Mics recording. And, to be honest, I love using Macs rather than windows based PCs.

Glenn

You will need a card capable of handling two inputs. M-Audio are good cards I use an M-Audio 1010 which was about $150 but there are cheaper ones. If you already have a computer around then that's a bonus especially if it's reasonably powerful with lots of RAM and hard drive space. If this is a one off recording then Audacity works well and is a free download for Windows (not sure about Mac).

I use a program called Ardour on a dedicated Linux system stripped down just for recording, so it's got low latency and some other tweaks. When I record our band I use two Rhodes NT3 condenser mics in stereo. A condenser with something like the 57 would probably give a good sound but you'll have to balance the volumes, no biggie. Since I had the computer system laying around the whole thing cost me with only one of the mics about $300 thanks to the free software. I added the other mic later and I am adding in some tube preamps soon to give it a warmer edge.

Hey Robbie, more 2 cents here.
If you want to record your guitar builds,
you need really good recordings to hear how they really sound.
Unless you want to learn about recording,
and let me tell you, there is a lot to know,
and tons of equipment involved.
I spent forever researching, blah blah blah.
Just look at the options you've gotten on this thread alone!
Then go to a recording forum!!! Ahhhhh!
I ended up buying an Apex large condenser mic for a c note.
Tascam 8 track digital, 4 c notes.
It is all just sitting there now,
why?
Because there are people out there that know what they are doing,
have good mics that they know will bring out the sound your gits sound like.
A good player can go into a studio and crank a lot of music out in a short period of time.
Find a studio, a little one, and pay the fellow his 25-50 an hour to record for you.
Unless you want to start up a crazy freakin' hobby!!!
Don't get me started on "sound levels".

Can't say that I'm a recording tech, or even interested in the acquisition of recording gear and going through the learning curve, but I just use a Roland Cakewalk interface with SM81 and PG81 condensers in Garageband. It's a whole lot better than my Zoom H2.

I have to third or fourth the recommendation for the Zoom H4n - I used a Zoom H4 for a few years before switching to the H4n - the H4 was great and the H4n is even better. I've done quite a bit of amateur and semi-pro recording as the engineer and some pro recording as a musician and gotta say that it's an outstanding value. Yes there's better out there but not for that price.

The built in mics of that device should not sound that good at that price. I've had two friends who are full time pros in the biz tell me how shocked they were when they heard recordings with that thing.

The other cool part about the H4N is that it can record 4 tracks at once - two internal mics plus two external mics so you could do the setup you described and it also can record mid-side with the external mics. Mid side is pretty cool, especially with solo instruments. but you'll need to buy a large diaphragm condenser with a figure 8 pattern to do it.

I've posted this before but I think it's appropriate to post it again - here's a friend of mine playing my last instrument recorded with a Zoom H4n - no effects. H4n is placed about 2 feet from the instrument. Enjoy....

Musical Moment recorded with H4n

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http://www.birkonium.com CNC Products for Luthiers
http://banduramaker.blogspot.com

That is a great price for what you're getting but to put a fine point on it, you can't really have a matched set between a large diaphragm and small diaphragm mic.

I'll stand by my recommendation for the H4n as it's got great mics and is portable but, if you've got an additional $200 laying around, I'd recommend the AT-2050 over the 2020 as it's a multi pattern mic. That in conjunction with the 2021 gives you some real flexibility in micing. The Audio Technica stuff is a great value. My AT2050 is no c414 but it still sounds really nice.

_________________
http://www.birkonium.com CNC Products for Luthiers
http://banduramaker.blogspot.com

Alan...you could sell it all to Robbie for $200...

Wow Andy. That sounded great even through my laptop speakers.

Does anyone else have any other guitar samples recorded though a small portable like a Tascam or Zoom for those of us who might be looking for a simple setup for recording a few shop clips? It would be great to start seeing more sound clips accompany the guitar pics on this forum.

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Doug Mills
Chicago, Illinois

Loren, that's a good idea, but I use it for a workhop to build tunes on.
Helps me to remember what I did, and work on what parts sound like.
Andy, I have your soundclip on my I-Pod, which is on shuffle, and that tune comes on and I really enjoy it!
I usually think, what's that?, then remember.
Nice recording!
Nice instrument!
Nice playing!

My setup is an ADK TC into a Focusrite Saphire. I'd like to have a small diaphram condensor and two Neve-esq preamps to bring it to life.

For me it is the advancements in digital technology that has placed the modern portables out in front these day. The earlier inceptions where somewhat toy like and quite limited and restricted in their capabilities when compared to their USB/Firewire counterparts, but those days have gone. That is to say with compact models like the Zoom H4n you can now record right from the unit itself with no added extras required and get good acceptable results in an amazingly small package that runs for a respectable time on just 2 rechargeable AA batteries. If you want high end you can use the unit in static mode set up on its own mic stand via the supplied screw in mic base with your choice of eternal mic set ups for a much more professional result and you can control the unit itself via an optional remote so you can set the mics up and not have to move from one take to the next, this is great especially if you are recording on your own.

These modern units also allow layering right from the hand set and include a choice of effects. They also have a huge range of sound resolutions/bitrates to choose from ranging in 18 stages from 48kbps thru 320kbps and VBR in mp3 format and 44.1, 48 and 96 kHz, in both 16 and 24 bit WAV format, so you really can set the finished file size to suit the purpose of output and its all stored on a standard SD memory stick of up to 32gig....I use an 8gig SDHC stick and could record at highest bitrate for hours, I do have a spare 8gig SDHC just in case but have never needed to use it. If you want to edit on PC you simply load your files from the stick or direct from the unit via USB 2 or you can capture the recording direct to the PC from the H4n via USB but I have not bothered trying this and am not sure why anyone would bother.

Here's and image, you can see the two inputs in the bottom of the unit and the stereo mic input on the back up near the standard X/Y mics



and here's the speil from Zoom in case Robbie wants to have a read.

http://www.zoom.co.jp/english/products/h4n/

Good bit of kit

Cheers

Kim

Mid-Side and Blumlein Array recording on a Zoom H4n.



Cheers

Kim

Or, if you have an iPhone, you can use a Blue Mikey with it for just $79!
I have one of these - it works very well indeed and has so far prevented me from investing in a Zoom....

Dave F.

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Cambrian Guitars

"There goes Mister Tic-Tac out the back with some bric-brac from the knick-knack rack"

Could you post a sample please?

_________________
http://www.birkonium.com CNC Products for Luthiers
http://banduramaker.blogspot.com

" "

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Billy Dean Thomas
Covina, CA

"Multi famam, conscientiam, pauci verentur."
(Many fear their reputation, few their conscience)

Two of these should be high enough quality, and keeps it simple:
http://www.amazon.com/Audio-Technica-AT ... B001AS6OYC
(Appears to be on sale now, < $100 ea... probably as high a quality as can be had for that $.)

+1 on Audacity for recording software.

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David Malicky