Field recordings

[Jekblad]

i know there are some guys who really get into this, so lemme start off by saying i want to record on and at locations because of the imperfection that comes with not being in the studio. It's about capturing something real instead of making something happen. So carrying a bunch of gear out to the middle of nowhere is probably not what i'm looking for (obviously)

I have an iphone, should i consider 150 bucks for the alesis protrack, or spend more on the zoom handy h4?

I'm looking to record full performances of two man acoustic guitar folk type stuff out in the woods. so maybe the H4 with some decent condenser mics? I feel like the protracks phantom power is ONLy when you have it plugged into a power supply.


The other option is to drag the macbook out there with a usb powered interface for the mics. ideas? thoughts?

i'd be editing all of this in ableton afterwards.

[0815]

Check also the new zoom h1 out. Lot of battery power now.

[Pitch Black]

I've had the Zoom H4N for about 6 months and I love it!


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

I've used it to record gigs, 2 line inputs from the desk and 2 audience/ambience mics simultaneously, and also for field recordings in stereo using the built-in mics, and quad recordings using my Rode NT-4.

The only thing is that being condensers, the mics are VERY susceptible to even the slightest breeze or movement, so a fluffy wind shield is a must for outdoors. The Zoom's RAM card appears as a drive on your desktop when connected by USB, so drag n dropping files is a breeze.

It also has built in FX/gtr amp models, built in speaker, tuner, a "phrase trainer" for slowing stuff down to 50% and functions as a USB audio interface/mic pre.

Great sound and awesome convenience. Highly recommended!

[tw1nstates]

isnt there an ipod adapter thing now that is made by one of the mic companies?

Update, there is - Mikey by blue. . .

I have got a H4, bulky in comparison to that thinhg and a nano.

Don't have paddy's version so the newer version might be better but i found the h4 to be a bit noisy as well . .

Yrmv though. .

[Jekblad]

I wonder if a good set up for my gig would be a dynamic mic for vox and the built in for ambience (h4)

using a dynamic mic on a stand in the middle of the woods would probably lose the woodsy feel though. I feel likethe flexibility of the h4 makes it a winner... Paddy u can use two line in and two xlrs all at once?

[Jekblad]

Srry I'm on iPhone.

What I meant to say was two quarter inch and two xlrs, so I could go direct with the guitars and use two dynamic mics?

[Pitch Black]

Paddy u can use two line in and two xlrs all at once?

Unfortunately no. The external mic/line in connectors are combo XLR/jack plugs, so you can't use a jack and an XLR simultaneously. So you can do 2 mics+2 lines, or 4 mics, but not 4 lines.

[Jekblad]

no i meant two guitars in qtr inch, and two dynamic mics with xlr in. It sounds like it would accommodate that!

the other option would be condensers with big ole wind screens. I think one mic stand that held both at different levels would be sweet, to minimize the footprint of the gear. The mics would still be in the shot so the windscreens are probably going to look too lame.

Maybe i just need to shoot on non windy days. lol

[Pitch Black]

no i meant two guitars in qtr inch, and two dynamic mics with xlr in. It sounds like it would accommodate that!

I'm sorry I don't understand... you can use the qtr inch jacks, OR the XLRs, but not simultaneously. FYI the Zoom's built-in mic pair are hard-wired to the unit, so it's not like you can substitute dynamic mics there.

Sorry Jeff, I must be dense... you must be asking something that I'm not getting!

[Jekblad]

psshhhh ...DJs...





lol just kiddin bro. I'm being dumb cuz it's clear when you look at the unit but sometimes the spec sheet just isn't clear enough. I could go direct 1/4 inch in but then i'd need to use the built in mic for the Vox.

so maybe i'd do this. Mount the zoom halfway on a straight stand to pick up the guitars, put a condenser at the top of the stand for vox. That'd leave one input open which i could use for whatever.

I bet i could build a sweet all in one mic stand that had an interesting looking windscreen on it, this way it can comfortably live in the shots. Maybe it'd look like a lampshade though.

[Pitch Black]

You could use one XLR and one jack, tho. Fine for a single vox/gtr, but for a duo... not so much...

For windshield, you could use this... and have that "Superstar DJ" look.

[flippo]

2 line inputs from the desk and 2 audience/ambience mics simultaneously

That's a nice feature. I guess that was not in the original H4, as I would have bought that instead of the H2 if that were the case - otherwise, I've made a mistake!

But I do really like the H2. Interface is very clunky, but the sound quality for what I use it for is great. It's quite eerie to listen ambience you've recorded it through headphones sometimes, very convincing. Sometimes I've been recording bird calls or similar, and on playback I've found myself turning around to find the birds again

[Jekblad]

something like this. if the arms could be variable that could account for different types of performers, vocal/non vocal or violin vs guitar..



think you could slap a windscreen like this on a condenser mic? i know they use similar for the shotgun mics in film...

[Jekblad]

Paddy I misseD that windscreen! A most def purchase