Whats the best way to record a kids jazz band with a minimal setup? I've got a
couple of reasonable microphones, but they need phantom power - so that's an
issue.

Mini disk? (which one?)
Boss BR-532 onto smartmedia?
Tascam Pocketstudio 5 onto compact flash? (I've already got lots of CF cards)
Cassette recorder? (which one?)
CD recorder (Marantz CDR300)? (I know, that's about $250 more... )
USB interface into my laptop? (which one?)

I want good sound, but I also need ultra portable, quick setup, robust, and
non-intrusive.

Thanks!
-lee-

Lee Wadsworth wrote:

Whats the best way to record a kids jazz band with a minimal setup? I've got a
couple of reasonable microphones, but they need phantom power - so that's an
issue.

Mini disk? (which one?)
Boss BR-532 onto smartmedia?
Tascam Pocketstudio 5 onto compact flash? (I've already got lots of CF cards)
Cassette recorder? (which one?)
CD recorder (Marantz CDR300)? (I know, that's about $250 more... )
USB interface into my laptop? (which one?)

I recommend the $200 Tascam US-122 into your laptop. Two
channel mic/line/guitar, 48V phantom, direct monitoring,
phones out, USB powered, inserts for effects if you ever
want them, quiet pres with -126 dBu EIN and well built.

What do you run on your laptop?


Bob
--

"Things should be described as simply as possible, but no
simpler."

A. Einstein

Winter wrote:
If you want good sound, the "best $500 remote recording for school jazz
band" would be recorded by somebody who's already experienced in this sort
of thing. It'll probably cost you less than $500, too.

Sometimes this kind of advice is right, but not in this case. I've already
recorded a couple of concerts, and the parents/directors have been thrilled.
I've recorded the concert using a minidisc recorder from a frend, then popped
the file into cool edit pro, normalized/equalized, cut into tracks, and burned
a few CDs.

This is for recording lots of concerts for elementary through high school
bands. This is not for production albums, for that I'd record it in my studio
using my normal equipment.

I'm leaning toward the Tascam interface into my laptop. This seems like it
could give the best results for reasonable $. I'd probably put up an X-Y set
of small diaphram condensors. I've got Marshall 603s, ECM 8000, and I just got
a pair of SP C4s. I would expect the C4s would do just fine in this situation
-- especially compared to the internal microphone of a minidisk recorder!

I may still need a minidisc or something like that - the kids play at
Disneyland and Knotts each year and I don't know how they would react to the
laptop setup.

-lee-

ospam (Lee Wadsworth) wrote in message ...
Winter wrote:
If you want good sound, the "best $500 remote recording for school jazz
band" would be recorded by somebody who's already experienced in this sort
of thing. It'll probably cost you less than $500, too.

Sometimes this kind of advice is right, but not in this case. I've already
recorded a couple of concerts, and the parents/directors have been thrilled.
I've recorded the concert using a minidisc recorder from a frend, then popped
the file into cool edit pro, normalized/equalized, cut into tracks, and burned
a few CDs.
Perhaps this advice was given because of the initial posting question
as to what format to record to and the phantom power mention. To ask
which cassette recorder to use(to pull out one example) is
contradicting to the comfort level someone here would have in your
ability to execute this job well. Hints at novice with good
intentions. $500 barely gets you enough stuff to do a good job. 4
times as much budget might not generate better results.
Recording/mixing technique and good ears is always where good sound
comes from. Let me point out that parents are always thrilled to hear
their kids even with marginal quality. Sounds like you have plenty to
do the job. If you are doing all these recording freebies then don't
worry too much about what gear works the best. If they pay you for
each of these concerts because you're a "recording studio guy" then at
least pay a recording engineer to come help a few times and sponge as
much mojo/wisdom as you can.
good luck,
kelly
This is for recording lots of concerts for elementary through high school
bands. This is not for production albums, for that I'd record it in my studio
using my normal equipment.
What, by chance is you normal equipment & why dont you just use that?
I'm leaning toward the Tascam interface into my laptop. This seems like it
could give the best results for reasonable $. I'd probably put up an X-Y set
of small diaphram condensors. I've got Marshall 603s, ECM 8000, and I just got
a pair of SP C4s. I would expect the C4s would do just fine in this situation
-- especially compared to the internal microphone of a minidisk recorder!

I may still need a minidisc or something like that - the kids play at
Disneyland and Knotts each year and I don't know how they would react to the
laptop setup.
I dont get this. I've done far too many of these type of shows and
the kids are always oblivious to any of the sound equipment used....or
are you referring to the Knotts/Disney people? They wouldnt care at
all.
-lee-

Lee Wadsworth wrote:

I may still need a minidisc or something like that - the kids play at
Disneyland and Knotts each year and I don't know how they would react to the
laptop setup.


Might check out http://www.nomadworld.com/products/Jukebox3/

About $250 for 30 hours of uncompressed 16/44.1 recording. So-so A/D
converters but it has a digital input so you can upgrade to an external
unit later. No preamp.