Digital Recorder

[pearlthekat2]

I am trying to do something very simple but I want to make sure I don't buy the wrong device. I would like to record my lessons and my practice at home and then post to this site in Hear Here, Would a digital Recorder be a good device for this purpose?

[pearlthekat2]

also, how do I transfer the file that I record to this site?

[Alan Green]

There's plenty of choice and most of it is sensible money too - I use the Boss Micro BR 4-track, which has a bunch of amp models and some FX. You can export tracks via USB to your PC and mix them there. Zoom make some good kit; I've never used their recording gadgets but I've played with people who've recorded the show on a Zoom gadget and it always sounded decent.

Online hosting - you can't upload files here, so you put them somewhere else and link to them from your posts here.

Myspace ($ Free) is dead and buried

Soundclick ($ Free) is OK but a bit "You're in the charts, whoopee!"

I haven't tried Soundcloud and don't know anyone who has.

I use Reverbnation - I have recordings there, and concert photos, and my concert schedule, and my blog, and I can do some marketing from there too. It connects direct to my Facebook, Myspace and Twitter pages. I use the Reverbnation "Listen Online" and "Gig Schedule" widgets on my own website so people can see where I'm playing and listen online; and it keeps stats of how many fans you've got and where they're from as well as how often they play your stuff.

Reverbnation is $ Free (surprisingly for how much you get but there are premium services available if you want them.) Gets my vote

http://www.reverbnation.com/alangreen - for my recordings using the Boss Micro BR, and www.essentialsoundsmusic.co.uk to listen to some Big Band tunes I recorded live at our show last Saturday using the same gadget.

[Nick]

I use this for note taking and basic recording of ideas:

http://www.staples.com/Sony-ICD-SX750D- ... uct_856040

I chose it because it's very small, lightweight, records a ton, and does it by pushing a single button. I don't mix or anything else on it. It's there just to stop me from forgetting the ideas that strike me through the day.

I don't have anything I can really post on it, but I'll record something later today.

I use soundcloud and have been happy with it.

http://soundcloud.com/nfshakespeare

And I use soundclick:

http://www.soundclick.com/nfshakespeare

I suppose I should pick one.

[pearlthekat2]

thanks for the detailed replies. I ran out and bought a Tascam DR05 recorder. didn't cost too much and its probably good enough to do the job. I want to record my lessons with my teacher and record the GuitarNoise songs that I know.

[Blue Jay]

That really looks like a great choice! http://tascam.com/product/dr-05/ I love it, and you are sure to enjoy.

I have a SONY also, might be like Nick's? It plugs directly into USB port, and charges its one long life battery too.

[Alan Green]

It does look good - I like the stereo/ space capability of the dual mic.

My first piece of recording kit was a Tasam Portastudio. Huge fun and fond memories.

[Laz]

I have the Tascam DR-07 for recording our band practices. I use Audacity to edit and balance. Works great! Not multi-track but helps us a lot with harmonies and structural stuff.

[pearlthekat2]

i been a recording ninja all day. very fun.

[deeaa]

I record quick ideas as videos on my cell phone basically.

But for more functions...can't praise the Zoom R-16 enough. It ain't small but it's a portable 8-track with good internal mics and phantom too, great preamps, works as a soundcard, records on SD cards, produces perfectly aligned multitracs easily to any DAW software...and it has guitar amps and effects too...just an insane device. It alone can do more than a million-dollar studio in the early eighties. It's a bit large to carry around everywhere, but very light anyway; not suitable for quick to-be-remembered clips, but that's what a cell phone works well for IMO.

It ain't super cheap, but it's so good...and no need for any other soundcards etc. I've recorded a couple of albumfuls already with it and soon will release a live album completely done on it...here's one of our training tapes, recorded with it in training:

http://deeaa.pp.fi/spookbox/2012/22_1_2012_nwyt_live.mp3

We've started to record all our practices; just 8 mics to board, my JMV head offers a D/I out as does the bass amp; then we mic the other guitarist's cab and my vocals via a tube preamp and drums are left with four; kick, snare and overheads. Everything bleeds into open mics nicely and creates a live feel.

Then I just take out the SD card, open cubase and import to a project I have made for it, and voilá I have a completely ready-mixed version of the song/songs right there. Because we don't change mic positions or sounds meanwhile, I never have to mix 'em more, and if I do improve it, they're all in the same project and all get the same corrections easily. Superb system. I'm releasing a CD of the tapes with 13 live songs done just this way, all thanks to the Zoom R-16.