Want to record my band practices, what do I need?

[gibso]

Hi all,

My band has been rehearsing weekly for about 9 months now, and we'd like to start recording ourselves as we always come up with stuff on the spur of the moment and then forget it!

Sometimes we have used smart phones but its a really poor quality solution.

The band consists of 1 or 2 guitars (usually 1), bass, drums, sometimes keys and sometimes sax/trumpet. We usually have 3 mics set up for vocals which all run through the PA (as do the keys when used)

We usually just set up wherever in a room and all face the center of the room, so is there something that (with little to no effort at all) could sit in the middle of the room and just take in what we're doing with decent quality?

I've done some research, but a lot relates to making video/interviews, but what I want is to be able to record the sound in the room, if that makes sense.

Any ideas/suggestions?

 

[Freddy G]

Zoom H1 Handy Recorder | Sweetwater.com

 

[KP11520]

Zoom H1 Handy Recorder | Sweetwater.com

Ditto (+1)

And don't forget to add the camera stand because this is mountable.

I have the Zoom Q3HD video camera. Same audio setup in both. The video is OK, but for what it is, the audio is its strong point. Perfect fit for your situation.

Post some clips when you nail them!

 

[lucidspoon]

Yeah. A little handheld recorder is "handy" for a quick and dirty recording. I have a TASCAM one.

 

[Progrocker111]

Zoom H2 is great, very easy to operate and the sound quality can be surprisingly good for such small and cheap device. Many mic options, great for recording band jams and practices. Dont await hifi quality from it, but it can really surprise.

 

[alekssorokoletov]

Just two samples of such a record.

The first clip recorded using a Zoom Q3HD.

Piano Cafe edited - YouTube

Second clip recorded using Zoom R24 and a pair of Rode NT1A.

Demo 26 apr 2014 - YouTube

The third clip is also recorded using a Zoom R24 and couples Rode NT1A, and connecting to the PA.

ThreeStyle - YouTube

 

[conjurer_of_riffs]

I use this: http://www.guitarcenter.com/Line-6-...C@ADL4GC-adType^PLA-device^c-adid^27114399522

I like it because I just turn it on and leave it be. It records in good quality and splits the files up automatically.

 

[QReuCk]

My band uses either a zoom H2 or a zoom H4. If the goal is to record ideas so that you can listen to them later, this will more than likely do a very good job.
With enough attention to placement, you can even get some pretty good sounding tracks. I even burnt a CD from sessions recorded with that and provided it is played on a reasonable stereo, it sounds pretty good.
Anyway, the one thing I did regret is some of the good recordings play-wise weren't the best ballanced and I had to trash them because no amount of EQing would fix that enough without deteriorating the tone. That's where you would like to use the same recorder (or any 4 or more tracks one), but with external mics placed at very different spots of the room, in order to be able to ballance better.
Maybe we'll do that one day, but currently we focus on writting songs and playing them well.