Please Help! Need Quick Response!

[unarchy]

I have recently been video taping a band while on tour and I need a better source for the sound. I have been looking into a DAT recorder but find them a bit pricey. After some research on Mini Disc Recorders, they seem pretty decent and inexpensive for now. The bands tour starts again next Thursday Feb. 24th and I am hoping to have a set up by then. Can some one PLEASE just give me a starting point on why type of recorder they recommend and any other items I may need such as types of mics and what not. These concerts will probably be in smaller venues and be very loud. I was thinking of placing the mics and recorder in the rear of the room and hanging them from the ceiling or using stands. Any suggestions on the best placement of the recorder and mics would be great.

I wish that I had more time to do research on this, but unfortunately time is short. I do plan on learning as much as I can even after this tour, but I need some help REAL QUICK.

If anyone could please email me at josh@unarchyrecords.com with any suggestions or help it would be greatly appreciated.

Thank You,

Josh

[Mr Sim]

There are a veriety to do it but this is my recomendation:

First check out the Sony MZ-NH700 HiMD Recorder this would be your best likly choice (note: Higher models such as NH800, NH900, NH1 are just as good and have a few nice features but they do cost more and for the use you described any one of the above rercorders will serve you equally well) a HiMD unit is the only kind that data can be downloaded onto a computer from.

Now you should know that the above recorders have two inputs:

1. An analoge mic input 1/8"(stereo) that does diliver phantom mic power

2. A line in/optical 1/8" plug (thats analoge line in and optical in) no phantom power

Best Quality solution: through a PA

1. You'll want the whole band including:

A: Kick

B: Snare

C: Toms

D: At least one overhead mic for symbols (a separate direct pickup for the ride would be benificial) or if possible direct mics to all symbols

Going through your sound board.

2. Plugging MD into PA:

A: Use line in on MD(remember It's stereo in)

B: Use BATTERY not AC (AC historically causes buzz and MDs have been Known to get a bad case of the buzzes) keep some no name cheapo AAs on hand.

C: Find yourself (this has to be exactly what I tell you) a cord that is 1/4" mono at one end and 1/8" stereo at the other end.

D: plug the cord from the above step, 1/4" into the PAs "AUX OUT", 1/8" MDs line in.

3. Tuning:

A: Before you plug your MD into PA plug in a pair of headphones and make the mix you want.

B: With phones still in PA set output volume to medium(the louder it is the lower the recoding quality).

C: The MD has an input volume ajustment so do a few test records to find the right sound(start off quite)

The PA method will always be the best however If the band doesn't have access to a drum micing kit set up two over head mics near the drums and tune one for high renge and the other for low range.

I wouldn't recoment using mics directly into the MD for quality and convenience sake.

Also note steps two and three can be used for pluging a guitar directly into the MD without using a PA exept you'll now want to use the "mic in"

If you are using a mac for editing plese in form me because you'll have some transfer problems I need to help you with.