My first live recording

[Crowfriend]

Greetings, as mentioned I have made my first live recording! I recorded Dwight Yoakam with my new MZ_RH10. I used Squidd binaural mics with the bass rolloff. Everything went well, the recording, when played on the unit is sensational. However, when I uploaded using sonic 3.2, and listen to it on the computer, it seems to have suffered in quality. Is this typical? Can anyone shed light on where the quality went?

Thanks for your input.

[orangezero]

Greetings, as mentioned I have made my first live recording! I recorded Dwight Yoakam with my new MZ_RH10. I used Squidd binaural mics with the bass rolloff. Everything went well, the recording, when played on the unit is sensational. However, when I uploaded using sonic 3.2, and listen to it on the computer, it seems to have suffered in quality. Is this typical? Can anyone shed light on where the quality went?

Thanks for your input.

i assume you've done all these things, but here goes:

check that it is importing the songs in .wav format, straight pcm and not encoding them to atrac.

try out some other speakers or headphones on the computer, or burn to cd and play in your stereo

just a few things to check.

[Crowfriend]

i assume you've done all these things, but here goes:

check that it is importing the songs in .wav format, straight pcm and not encoding them to atrac.

try out some other speakers or headphones on the computer, or burn to cd and play in your stereo

just a few things to check.

Wel guess what? They were imported with atrac. I guess I missed where I import them with wav. I'm not sure how you set that.

[veezhun]

First. What codec were you using? Pcm, HiSP or HiLp

Second. Importing in Sonicstage has nothing to do with quality. If you recorded on your hi md in Hi SP, SS will import as Hi SP. No additional encoding takes place. If you recorded in PCM, sonicstage will import in PCM.

SS will convert to Wav any analog recording in any bit rate. ie. if you recorded in Hi SP, sonicstage will keep the original Hi Sp recording and convert additionally to a wav file.

Thirdly, were you listening to the recording on speakers or headphones on your computer? Binaural recordings sound wierd through speakers from what i read on soundprofessionals website.. from their site:

"" If you mostly listen to your recordings with speakers (at home, in the car, with a boom box, etc.), you would get better results if you made stereo recordings instead of binaural recordings. Binaural recordings sound best when listened to through headphones. ""

cheers

[A440]

The same file you recorded should be on your computer and played back through SonicStage. At that point it is a simple upload, not a conversion. It's very possible that your computer, particuarly if it's a laptop, has a mediocre sound card and that's what's lowering the quality of your playback.

As suggested above, use SonicStage (under Tools) to Save as .wav and burn it to a CD (not ATRAC CD), and see how it sounds.

[Crowfriend]

The same file you recorded should be on your computer and played back through SonicStage. At that point it is a simple upload, not a conversion. It's very possible that your computer, particuarly if it's a laptop, has a mediocre sound card and that's what's lowering the quality of your playback.

As suggested above, use SonicStage (under Tools) to Save as .wav and burn it to a CD (not ATRAC CD), and see how it sounds.

Great tips! I recorded in Hi-SP because of the concert length. I want to record in PCM - is that the reccomended mode? Do you insert a new disc between songs? I assume the first one has to write before you insert the second and then the recording levels accessd again? 30 seconds?

The quote mentioned recording in stereo rather than binauraul - Does that mean a different mic? Confused!

Thanks again.

[greenmachine]

Great tips! I recorded in Hi-SP because of the concert length. I want to record in PCM - is that the reccomended mode? Do you insert a new disc between songs? I assume the first one has to write before you insert the second and then the recording levels accessd again? 30 seconds?

Yes, yes, yes and yes. PCM will give the highest 'uncompressed' quality. But recording time and battery life will be shorter. If you choose the more convenient or the qualitative best way is up to you. Although its lossy, Hi-SP usually sounds pretty good though.

The quote mentioned recording in stereo rather than binauraul - Does that mean a different mic?

No, its a confusing description of mic placement. The 'in the ear' technique if often called 'binaural', whereas there are several other possibilities for a 'stereo' setup. My preferred technique is to have the mics near, but not in the ears. This will usually make the recording perfectly suitable for both headphone and loudspeaker playback, although it usually sounds more involving through headphones. I don't like the additional 'coloring' effect of the pinna, so 'binaural' is not for me.

[Christopher]

PCM recordings/uploads aren't really necessary unless you place extreme sonic priority in the recordings. Hi-SP will be more than sufficent, not to mention efficient as well. A 40 minute track recorded in Hi-SP that is converted to wav will be 400+ mb..it's much less without the conversion.

I wish we had 320kbps in Hi-MD units.

[Crowfriend]

Yes, yes, yes and yes. PCM will give the highest 'uncompressed' quality. But recording time and battery life will be shorter. If you choose the more convenient or the qualitative best way is up to you. Although its lossy, Hi-SP usually sounds pretty good though.

No, its a confusing description of mic placement. The 'in the ear' technique if often called 'binaural', whereas there are several other possibilities for a 'stereo' setup. My preferred technique is to have the mics near, but not in the ears. This will usually make the recording perfectly suitable for both headphone and loudspeaker playback, although it usually sounds more involving through headphones. I don't like the additional 'coloring' effect of the pinna, so 'binaural' is not for me.

Which type of Mic do you prefer?

[greenmachine]

Miniature omnis, not too different from the ones you use, but without roll-off. I build them myself. See the pinned DIY thread in the live recording subforum. Mic placement is as determining for the resulting quality as the kind of mics you use themselves.

[Crowfriend]

Miniature omnis, not too different from the ones you use, but without roll-off. I build them myself. See the pinned DIY thread in the live recording subforum. Mic placement is as determining for the resulting quality as the kind of mics you use themselves.

I am anxious to attempt the mic building as you mentioned. I saw on a site somewhere that showed a modification to the mic capsul, a slot was cut across the face. Have you tried to do this? I assume you use the The radio shack volume attenuator. Have you built any cardoids?

The next recording will be made thursday, I will place one mic on my hat and the left mic on my brother's hat. What do you think? Better?

[greenmachine]

I saw on a site somewhere that showed a modification to the mic capsul, a slot was cut across the face. Have you tried to do this?

Yes, i'm using such modified capsules. It's called Linkwitz- or source follower mod and improves the performance at high SPLs. It's also mentioned in my DIY thread.

I assume you use the The radio shack volume attenuator.

No, i don't. I'm using battery box to line-in instead with usually very pleasing results.

Have you built any cardoids?

No, i have heard too many mediocre/bad samples with cardioids. Im a happy user of omnis.

The next recording will be made thursday, I will place one mic on my hat and the left mic on my brother's hat. What do you think? Better?

Hehe, that would be called 'split omnis' then i guess - it might be worth an experiment. Where did you put them in your previous recordings?

[Crowfriend]

Yes, i'm using such modified capsules. It's called Linkwitz- or source follower mod and improves the performance at high SPLs. It's also mentioned in my DIY thread.

No, i don't. I'm using battery box to line-in instead with usually very pleasing results.

No, i have heard too many mediocre/bad samples with cardioids. Im a happy user of omnis.

Hehe, that would be called 'split omnis' then i guess - it might be worth an experiment. Where did you put them in your previous recordings?

Each side of my eyeglassess.

Also, do you attempt to manually create a track split between songs?

I searched PCM recording mode but came up empty, I thought sure there would be posts concerning the modes??

[greenmachine]

Each side of my eyeglassess.

Don't part with this method, it's one of - if not the - best sounding i have found so far.

Also, do you attempt to manually create a track split between songs?

I try to keep it as a whole and cut off pieces afterwards in an audio editor if i ever need them.

I searched PCM recording mode but came up empty, I thought sure there would be posts concerning the modes??

The search can't handle words below 4 characters. What do you want to know about it? Basically it's 44.1kHz/16bit/1411kbps uncompressed, the same as the audio cd format.

[A440]

If you separate the mics too far you are going to get some weird sound mix. I'd keep them both on your eyeglasses. With one on your hat, one on your brother's hat, what happens if you both turn your heads at various times?

For omni mics, stereo recording would be to point both mics forward, binaural would be to point both mics sideways (left and right) with your head in between.

Unlike greenmachine, I usually split tracks during applause by pressing the track button. It's always a gamble, though--you could be missing the last reverberations at the end of the song, or you could be too late and push the button as the next song is starting up. It's really up to you.

[Crowfriend]

If you separate the mics too far you are going to get some weird sound mix. I'd keep them both on your eyeglasses. With one on your hat, one on your brother's hat, what happens if you both turn your heads at various times?

For omni mics, stereo recording would be to point both mics forward, binaural would be to point both mics sideways (left and right) with your head in between.

Unlike greenmachine, I usually split tracks during applause by pressing the track button. It's always a gamble, though--you could be missing the last reverberations at the end of the song, or you could be too late and push the button as the next song is starting up. It's really up to you.

I think I'm starting to get the picture and with a little trial and error, I'll find what works for me. I guess I won't have to relegate my brother to Mic-stand-status! Not sure how he would've felt about that anyway. At some point I'd like to upload a song or two for critique by those more experienced (everybody).

Thanks again, great to have this forum available.