BOTM BOTM April 2016 "Alfie"

🙁 Oh dear, thoght I might have a go at this one on cello, as I have the bass dots for it. I have never recorded myself before... 😱

So, got the backing track OK, got it to play back, set-up the Zoom in front of the cello and recorded.

Chastening experience. Sounds seems rather scratchy to me, I'm breaking all the rules that I tell others about - chopping long notes, scrabbling (OK some of it is 'recording-itis I am sure). The pressure of recording means I'm snatching notes, so tuning is seriously suspect in places.

I feel rather depressed after that as I know I'm better than that, or I thought I was :confused2: 🙁 😳
 
tenorviol said:
🙁 Oh dear, thoght I might have a go at this one on cello, as I have the bass dots for it. I have never recorded myself before... 😱

So, got the backing track OK, got it to play back, set-up the Zoom in front of the cello and recorded.

Chastening experience. Sounds seems rather scratchy to me, I'm breaking all the rules that I tell others about - chopping long notes, scrabbling (OK some of it is 'recording-itis I am sure). The pressure of recording means I'm snatching notes, so tuning is seriously suspect in places.

I feel rather depressed after that as I know I'm better than that, or I thought I was :confused2: 🙁 😳
Click to expand...

I think that recording yourself is always a chastening experience, no matter what other people say about your playing. But the more your do it, the more comfortable you should feel and also the more you learn about the technical aspects of recording, the more faithful should the recording be.

So, give it a few more goes at recording that cello, move the Zoom around to a good position in a room with a decent acoustic, and then please post it for us to hear.

Rhys
 
rhysonsax said:
I think that recording yourself is always a chastening experience, no matter what other people say about your playing. But the more your do it, the more comfortable you should feel and also the more you learn about the technical aspects of recording, the more faithful should the recording be.

So, give it a few more goes at recording that cello, move the Zoom around to a good position in a room with a decent acoustic, and then please post it for us to hear.

Rhys
Click to expand...
I think one of the issues is that the mic is too close to the cello - although it was about 2 feet away which is picking up to much bow noise.

I'm a bit of a novice with how to record. I had my phone plugged into the aux in on a combo unit, which played back OK. That was to my right and the Zoom was at about level with the upper bouts of the cello (roughly chest height when seated). The challenge is hitting 'play' on the phone it goes straight to the count-in so I've got not time to get myself settled and get my hand position corrected: get that wrong and your tuning is out...
 
Very revealing recording yourself. First time I recorded myself speaking I found out I have a northern accent. I never knew. :confused:

I've started using a cheap remote I found on ebay for the laptop. It works quite well if you press the right button.

Using audacity or something similar seems to be the way to go. Headphones or not headphones is the next decision.

None of this will help you resolve playing issues you find on the recording. I practice a piece ready to record and think I've got it down like Paul Desmond. Press the playback button and I've got it down like Paul Gascoigne😱

Uh oh! Own goal and tears 😉
 
Colin the Bear said:
Very revealing recording yourself. First time I recorded myself speaking I found out I have a northern accent. I never knew. :confused:

I've started using a cheap remote I found on ebay for the laptop. It works quite well if you press the right button.

Using audacity or something similar seems to be the way to go. Headphones or not headphones is the next decision.

None of this will help you resolve playing issues you find on the recording. I practice a piece ready to record and think I've got it down like Paul Desmond. Press the playback button and I've got it down like Paul Gascoigne😱

Uh oh! Own goal and tears 😉
Click to expand...
Yes, I think I'm forgetting that you actually have to play and practice a piece for a while to get it 'right' and whilst I can play it, I can't 'play' it....
 
tenorviol said:
Yes, I think I'm forgetting that you actually have to play and practice a piece for a while to get it 'right' and whilst I can play it, I can't 'play' it....
Click to expand...

That's my problem. I'll post something after I've been playing it for an hour or so. The melody is not polished enough and my solo's are hopeless because it takes me weeks if not months to know a song well enough to improvise. (and even then... lol)
 
@tenorviol Ron lots of time left in the month for you have a play around with things. You don't need to spend a lot of time, 20/30 mins to try a few things out, eg mic positions, levels etc. As for pressing record and everything happening to quickly, J's idea is a good one. Get Audacity and give your self 8/10 bars before the backing begins.
You will be able to use the zoom as a mic (I think) others will sort that one out. Regardless of experience the big Red button can be off putting for players, it does take time to get comfortable with it.
 
tenorviol said:
I think one of the issues is that the mic is too close to the cello - although it was about 2 feet away which is picking up to much bow noise.

I'm a bit of a novice with how to record. I had my phone plugged into the aux in on a combo unit, which played back OK. That was to my right and the Zoom was at about level with the upper bouts of the cello (roughly chest height when seated). The challenge is hitting 'play' on the phone it goes straight to the count-in so I've got not time to get myself settled and get my hand position corrected: get that wrong and your tuning is out...
Click to expand...

@tenorviol I sometimes buy "Sound on Sound" magazine and it has had some interesting articles on techniques for recording acoustic instruments, including stringed instruments. The magazine has good resources of articles online, including some you may find interesting:

Session Notes: Writing & Recording Cello Overdubs

Recording Strings

College Q&A

There seems to be good information on what microphones work well and where to position them. That is certainly very important for recording saxophones, but I know that the Zoom recorders have the potential to capture decent sound quality.

I use Audacity and always play the backing track through one channel of headphones (with the other earpiece off so I can hear my sax directly) and record the sax track on its own separate track in Audacity where you can edit it and apply effects - I don't think it works as well to play and record over the backing track.

Rhys
 
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rhysonsax said:
@tenorviol I sometimes buy "Sound on Sound" magazine and it has had some interesting articles on techniques for recording acoustic instruments, including stringed instruments. The magazine has good resources of articles online, including some you may find interesting:

Session Notes: Writing & Recording Cello Overdubs

Recording Strings

College Q&A

There seems to be good information on what microphones work well and where to position them. That is certainly very important for recording saxophones, but I know that the Zoom recorders have the potential to capture decent sound quality.

I use Audacity and always play the backing track through one channel of headphones (with the other earpiece off so I can hear my sax directly) and record the sax track on its own separate track in Audacity where you can edit it and apply effects - I don't think it works as well to play and record over the backing track.

Rhys
Click to expand...
Thanks for that - I've bookmarked those links for later reading. I have had a GAS attack and bought a sound interface...
 


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