Accessories Recording / microphones

[Dr.cox]

Dear All,

As if by chance I started thinking about recording myself for practice…. And maybe put myself out there for SOTM (feels trepidation riding already )

I find this and it sounds intriguing

Wireless mic

And an Wucherung how it compares to this

Wired

Or the focusrite 2i2 from the second link but with another microphone if that isn’t that great?!

Maybe a shure sm57?!

Or something completely different….

Have a great weekend!

 

[mizmar]

There are lots of threads about; mics, interfaces, handy/field records, USB mics for PCs, using smartphones. Have a search and read.

I'd suggest thinking about the actual activity/process. Even just have a go with a smart phone and see what you actually do in a practice session. There's probably a lot of stop-start, deleting duff attempts.. listening; speaker? Headphones? do you want a Laptop in the practice room? Etc.

Different kit suits different purposes.

 

[Dr.cox]

There are lots of threads about; mics, interfaces, handy/field records, USB mics for PCs, using smartphones. Have a search and read.

I'd suggest thinking about the actual activity/process. Even just have a go with a smart phone and see what you actually do in a practice session. There's probably a lot of stop-start, deleting duff attempts.. listening; speaker? Headphones? do you want a Laptop in the practice room? Etc.

Different kit suits different purposes.

I had a look but nothing specific in those systems were obvious.

To try and use the iPhone is a good idea. The few times I tried it, however, there were a lot of key noises present. Can one optimise the pickup area/performance of it?

Thanks!

 

[mizmar]

I don't know about the iPhone - it's worth noting that default apps which are for things like voice memos, use gain control. For recording yourself, it's worth ensuring the app can and does disable gain control, then position the device where there's good pickup but no clipping.

 

[dexdex]

For home studio use, a wired microphone on a good old microphone stand going through an interface to a computer gets my preference these days.
One of those Focusrite kits would be a good starter.
Wireless mics are rather thought for live performance, not sure how far you get as much precision in the sound rendering, compared to a good wired microphone. Specially if the question is « how do I really sound ? ». Furthermore, in the past at least, clip-on mics picked-up quite some keywork noise. When you play in a band, it is OK, it gets lost in the mix. But when recording yourself in a silent loft, it might be more noticeable.

 

[wakyct]

You definitely can get into the weeds with recording setups, but maybe a simple starting setup would be a not expensive but well liked microphone on a stand, with an inexpensive interface going into an ipad or iphone, or a handheld recorder. I think even Android has improved its audio capability lately from what I hear. If you have a laptop/desktop available than you have lots more options of course.

Just for reference (and I am definitely not a recording expert) I have a SM58 and an Audio Technica 2035 on stands, which go into a pre-amp mixer (Dtar Solstice), then into a recorder (Zoom R16). This was all gear I had bought used or borrowed from friends prior to learning saxophone, it works well enough for me.

 

[sax panther]

I find this and it sounds intriguing

Wireless mic

I have this mic and use it regularly for live performance, but I wouldn't use it for recording. It does pick up key noise (as does any clip on) which isn't noticeable when you're playing live with an 8 piece band, but it will annoy you on a recording.

I have the focusrite interface that you linked to and use an Audio Technica mic through this, with reaper as my DAW on a PC. Prior to that when I first started recording I used a Blue Yeti USB mic straight into the computer, with Audacity - this was a really good, simple starting point. In hindsight I should have not bothered with audacity and gone straight to Reaper - it's much more powerful and not more difficult to use. There are lots of resources on both Audacity and Reaper on this forum, thanks to Pete Thomas and Veggie Dave.

If you have a Mac , or iPad, then garageband is also a good way to get started.

 

[Ballymenaboy]

I have both Shure SM57 and a Rode condensor microphone and for most recording on Zoom R8 tend to use rhe SM57 as it captures the sax sound more directly whereas the Rode picks up the slightest sound from the surrounding areas.The Zoomr8 does not require a computer or software and,in my vew,is ideal for home recording with imported backing tracks..I hope this helps you to decide how to proceed.many people on this site home record successfully so lots of suggestions and friendly advice...lots to choose from.

 

[Colin the Bear]

These days I stick the Shure 55 into the laptop mic socket and open audacity.
We had a long debate in here when I did the same with a cheap condenser mic and got half decent results. Turns out the mic socket puts out 1.5v and powers the mic.

I started out with a Skype mic clipped to the saxophone and long extension wire to the laptop.

It depends why you're recording. I started wanting to check what I was doing and then got drawn into posting on here, Soundcloud and social media.
Recording can be a rabbit hole.

 

[thomsax]

To record myself when I practice/play on my own I use a Zoom hn1. If I want to do a video I connect the hn1 to an old iPhone. Hn1 have a better microphone. I just record myself to check my tone and to remember the good things. "Även en en blind höna kan hitta ett korn" (even a blind hen can find a grain of corn).

I use SM57, SM58 or Sennheiser 421 when I play(ed) live.

I use to play/practice with same set-ups as I did when I played live. I blow into a microphone, sometimes I don't use any microphones, that is connected to a PA. The sound from the PA is picked up by the hn1. I'm searching for a better microphone that can pick up the sound from the PA. So far I'm lost .... soo many options.

I'm a "hobby-live- blues- rock- sax-player" and I want to play in the. same style all the time.

 

[Dr.cox]

To record myself when I practice/play on my own I use a Zoom hn1. If I want to do a video I connect the hn1 to an old iPhone. Hn1 have a better microphone. I just record myself to check my tone and to remember the good things. "Även en en blind höna kan hitta ett korn" (even a blind hen can find a grain of corn).

I use SM57, SM58 or Sennheiser 421 when I play(ed) live.

I use to play/practice with same set-ups as I did when I played live. I blow into a microphone, sometimes I don't use any microphones, that is connected to a PA. The sound from the PA is picked up by the hn1. I'm searching for a better microphone that can pick up the sound from the PA. So far I'm lost .... soo many options.

I'm a "hobby-live- blues- rock- sax-player" and I want to play in the. same style all the time.

Thanks for the input and tips. I never had the Zooms on the radar before. Seems to be a nice simple thing to use. I now only need to figure out the differences between the models. (looking back to other threads the HN2/4 had been mentioned as well) The Swedish quote exists in my native German tongue as well. " ein blindes Huhn findet auch mal ein Korn".

I'm also glad that you are still playing. Recently I stumbled across a post from you saying you might quit and sell all your saxes. I'm 42 and will most likely never reach proper competence but would love to think I will still be playing when retired.

 

[Dr.cox]

Many thanks to everyone for posting their thoughts so far. This will give me a lot to dive into / consider.

 

[thomsax]

Thanks for the input and tips. I never had the Zooms on the radar before. Seems to be a nice simple thing to use. I now only need to figure out the differences between the models. (looking back to other threads the HN2/4 had been mentioned as well) The Swedish quote exists in my native German tongue as well. " ein blindes Huhn findet auch mal ein Korn".

I'm also glad that you are still playing. Recently I stumbled across a post from you saying you might quit and sell all your saxes. I'm 42 and will most likely never reach proper competence but would love to think I will still be playing when retired.

I'm still playing, or maybe honking, is a better word. I'm back after some longer breaks. During the break I sold some saxes but most saxes were given away. I kept my Martin Committees and some other saxes.

I don't know so much about microphones, recording equipment ..... just know that my SM 57 was bought new in the 70's and the Sennheiser 421 is from the 60's (my friends, so I don't know the age). I just want to keep it simple.

 

[greenstripe]

I think, there's some bigger questions to be asked here that will inform what sort of equipment you need:

How do you envisage recording:

A) Would you be playing along to backing tracks through a loud speaker and recording everything together

You can just get a decent mic that plugs directly in to a laptop or phone or use Zoom and transfer files.

Or

B) Do you want to get into editing and recording sax and backing tracks separately and synchronising / mixing etc.

Get an analogue mic with XLR connection and a digital to analogue interface like the Focusrite Scarlet setup.



A) is really simple but less flexible in the long run. B) is more complex and expensive but gives you much more flexibility.

The wireless mic you've listed in your first post is a XLR mic this means that you'd need to connect it to another piece of equipment -it won't plug directly in to a computer or phone -so you need an analogue interface as well. Bear in mind other comments about the suitability of this type of mic for home recording.

XLR connector - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

 

[mizmar]

On the simple, record for personal feedback and casual sharing front; although I did suggest there's a lot of discussions worth reading; it's also true that things change.
I have a H2n which is simple and very functional (see here). But recently I got a pixel phone which, like I suppose iPhone, has much better microphones (yes, more than one) and, I guess, is less tied to the traditional voice model. It also has a better speaker than the zoom, if I'm not using headphones. So, for personal feedback, I often just use the recorder in TE Tuner with gain control turned off.

 

[Dr.cox]

A) Would you be playing along to backing tracks through a loud speaker and recording everything together

You can just get a decent mic that plugs directly in to a laptop or phone or use Zoom and transfer files.

Or

B) Do you want to get into editing and recording sax and backing tracks separately and synchronising / mixing etc.

Get an analogue mic with XLR connection and a digital to analogue interface like the Focusrite Scarlet setup.

Right now probably A as I am in no position / not at the skill level to do B. (perspectively this would be great though)

On the simple, record for personal feedback and casual sharing front; although I did suggest there's a lot of discussions worth reading; it's also true that things change.
I have a H2n which is simple and very functional (see here). But recently I got a pixel phone which, like I suppose iPhone, has much better microphones (yes, more than one) and, I guess, is less tied to the traditional voice model. It also has a better speaker than the zoom, if I'm not using headphones. So, for personal feedback, I often just use the recorder in TE Tuner with gain control turned off.

I did not realize that my latest iPhone mic would be better than the ones in the Zooms. (they look rather professional as far as devices go.) I just head so much clicking noise on the iPhone recordings via TE tuner that I was getting a bit discouraged to listen to myself. Also, while I know that most of the unsatisfying sound is down to me I thought potentially it was the phone doing the recording but if it is accurate enough I might stick with it for a while and accept the key noises.

 

[mizmar]

I did not realize that my latest iPhone mic would be better than the ones in the Zooms.

I didn't (mean to) say the mic is better on the phone that the zoom! My current phones mic is much better than my old phone. It's adequate for a quick listen, with little distortion / clipping etc. The speaker on my phone is better than the zoom bilt in speaker.

I don't know about key-click sounds. I suspect that's more to do with position than mic.

 

[Colin the Bear]

My Shure has an XLR plug.
With the portable PA I use an XLR to 6.3 jack cable.
For the laptop XLR to 3.5 mm.
There's lots of adapters on eBay to connect most things to most things

 

[greenstripe]

My Shure has an XLR plug.
With the portable PA I use an XLR to 6.3 jack cable.
For the laptop XLR to 3.5 mm.
There's lots of adapters on eBay to connect most things to most things

This is can work but could potentially be an issue on some mics that require phantom power, so be sure to read specs carefully and enure that your laptop/preferred recording device has a 3.5mm recording socket. Be mindful this is an analogue connection so won't work with usb etc.

Key noises are a little inevitable -you can try to practice not taking your fingers off the keys (flyaway fingers) and pressing less hard to reduce this phenomenon but it's easier said than done.

A decent quality external mic will yield better results than a phone -yes to some degree phone hardware is biased for clear speech over neutral fidelity.

On your recordings the acoustics of the room will have quite a big effect on your tone.

I have an Audio Technica AT2020 USB+
available for about £90 this plugs directly in to a laptop. I am very happy with the quality of the sound recorded and think it's pretty faithful (painful to listen to my rubbish playing though). It is very sensitive and will pick up all of the sound including traffic outside etc.

For your requirements either this or something similar that plugs directly in to whatever you want to use for recording would probably be best for you. Be aware if you're an Apple user that the Lighting plug is being phased out in lieu of USB-C

 

[Colin the Bear]

There's an adapter for that too. 😉