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Dirty-South Blues Harp forum: wail on! >
help with sound and practicing
help with sound and practicing
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rvgypsy
4 posts
Dec 20, 2012
9:04 AM
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OK, I've been playing for 3 years, I have been going to open mics and jamming with some bands on a few songs. I need help when I practice. I want to record myself so I hear how I sound. I hook up our mp3 player to our stereo then play on my my bullet mic or regular mic using my smokey joe amp for the mic. I am watching youtube videos about mixers and amps. So here is my thought. If I get a mixer with 8 channels, I could hook up my mp3 player and my mics. I would have extra channels if someone wanted to jam on their guitar or vocals. Then I would need a small amp for output. I could record to my phone??? I don't know. Somebody help me on ideas. We travel around alot, so getting hooked up with a band or regular jam partners won't work. Thanks for the ideas.
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rainman
42 posts
Dec 20, 2012
9:20 AM
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That is one nice looking interface for the money. Anyone own one of these?
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Baker
258 posts
Dec 20, 2012
9:48 AM
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There's a few options I guess depending on what level of quality you want/need.
You could just record on your phone in the room, depending on the phone(quality of mic etc), you'll get something you can hear but probably not the best .
If you want to record live in a room I've heard good things about the Zoom recorders – http://tinyurl.com/btnruhq – Not sure which ones are best. Maybe someone else can chime in.
Do you have a computer? There are several programs you can use to record yourself. Personally I use Garage Band, you can import your backing track straight into the software so you don't loose any quality recording it in the room. I then use a USB microphone to record over the backing track (If you use a USB you don't need Phantom power, but the quality isn't as good as a proper condenser mic).
You can layer up different tracks this way, with different instruments if you choose and mix them all. You'll need some headphones to do this but it's pretty easy (listening to the recorded tracks while recording your playing). I use this mic - http://tinyurl.com/ctpmj9f – but I've heard these are good – http://tinyurl.com/btm8vdh.
You could try using a Digital 8 track like this – http://tinyurl.com/cm3m27v – These work like a mixing desk/recording device all in one. I've not used one for ages but i used to have one that recorded to Mini Disc. Great for messing around on but the one I had wasn't great quality, and wasn't as flexible as computer software.
Or you could go the whole hog and get a mixer etc which you could plug several instruments into and record together. I don't know much about this type of set up. You'll most likely need a computer with software similar to Garage Band to actually record what you're playing. You'll also need a HiFi type amp and speakers to play it back, although you could just listen back through head phones plugged into the computer. You don't want to use a guitar type amp to playback.
Other people will have far more knowledge on many of these types of set ups than I have.
I can say my USB mic thing works pretty well for me, I can record over a backing track, or put a guitar track down and then record a harmonica track(s) over the top of it. And the quality is pretty good for a home recording.
I hope this is some help.
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MakaInOz
78 posts
Dec 20, 2012
2:48 PM
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To "record myself so I hear how I sound" I use a Zoom H1 - they are cheap, flexible and easy to use (get the little tripod too). The quality is pretty good, but its not anything like a professional recording.
The multi-channel mixer into an amp is a whole different issue - that's the basis for a PA system! Most mixers have an output you can record from. I run a Boss KM60 (mid 70s vintage) passive 6 channel mixer and a Soundcraft Gigrac 600 8 channel powered mixer (2 x 300W). I've used those two together as the PA for 12 ukuleles, electric mandolin, electric bass and six harmonicas at an outdoor gig. Added a 500w powered speaker for foldback.
But I recorded it with the H1 on its little tripod out the front!
Cheers
Maka
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