Grateful Dead Music Forum

I've never really owned a recording unit and I plan on buying one today. Want to spend about $400 for it and maybe $100 on accessories if needed.

I just want to record my guitar, vocals, keys, etc... 2 at a time at most.. just a little home recording for fun

I saw Zoom H4 (palm size) and it doubles as a live recorder and comes with computer software for mixing. All the Zoom guitar pedals I've tried SUCKED so I'm hesitant but it gets good reviews.

anybody have any helpful suggestions?

I'm also looking at the Boss Micro BR fyi... if anyone is familiar with this unit

I picked up a BOSS BR-8 two weeks ago and love the thing. Its my first recorder but its great for my needs. 8 track recording, 2 tracks simultaneously, records to 100mb zip disks. I fit about 1 full, all 8 tracks song on one disk. The disks are very cheap now since they have been made obselete in previous years. I picked up the BR-8, 20 extra zip disks, and an external zip drive for my pc for about 300.

You can look into the Tascam DP-02

40 gig Hard drive. USB, burn cds etc

http://www.thetwistergroup.com/store/cu ... &source=fr

I agree 100% about Zoom guitar pedals. They are total junk, just cheap toys IMHO.

However, I'm pretty impressed with the H4 and am considering an H2.

This show was recorded on an H4 in a pretty small bar with hardwood walls and a tile floor, and we were far too loud. It still got a pretty serviceable recording:

http://www.archive.org/details/fen2008-05-10.penuch1

rusty, that recording is pretty darn good - i'm impressed. good to know these types of recorders are within reasonable price ranges. this will be the next step up from the iTalk that plugs into the bottom of my iPod.

the band sounds great too. what do you play?

A guy recorded one of our shows last week with an H4 and it was surprisingly good.

Here's the audio from it:http://www.archive.org/details/fen2008-05-10.penuch1

It was a square cement room so there's some bass "boomyness" to it - but I'm pleasantly surprised at the quality.

Rusty the Scoob wrote:I agree 100% about Zoom guitar pedals. They are total junk, just cheap toys IMHO.

However, I'm pretty impressed with the H4 and am considering an H2.

This show was recorded on an H4 in a pretty small bar with hardwood walls and a tile floor, and we were far too loud. It still got a pretty serviceable recording:

http://www.archive.org/details/fen2008-05-10.penuch1

I have an H2 and use it for recording band rehearsals. It is really an excellent unit.

I stick an 8 GB card in and don't have to touch it for the whole practice. If I were recording a show, I would hit stop between songs now and then as there is a 2 GB file size limit and it takes a few seconds for the H2 to close the first file and open a new one, which it will do just fine unattended, but you might misss a little of the music. Our practices run about 2-2.5 hours and we have yet to go over 1.8 GB in file size.

I've been using the built-in mics and recording to WAV and the fidelity is excellent. I would not hesitate to use this thing for recording shows. Miles ahead of when we used to bring cassette recorders into dead shows.

Thanks for the tips, Emoto! Now I have to decide if I can justify the $$... How much was the 8 GB card?

BuddhaG wrote:
the band sounds great too. what do you play?

Bass. Thanks! Not too bad for our first gig together!

Rusty the Scoob wrote:I agree 100% about Zoom guitar pedals. They are total junk, just cheap toys IMHO.

However, I'm pretty impressed with the H4 and am considering an H2.

This show was recorded on an H4 in a pretty small bar with hardwood walls and a tile floor, and we were far too loud. It still got a pretty serviceable recording:

http://www.archive.org/details/fen2008-05-10.penuch1

Checked out Mission in the Rain and I gotta say your jerry guy sounds alot like John from DSO. A cover of a cover haha. but for real sounds good keep it up!

Thanks man! That's me - I do all of the Jerry parts.

Rusty the Scoob wrote: http://www.archive.org/details/fen2008-05-10.penuch1

I'm listening to the Eyes now - fantastic!

Btw, my band also uses a H2 for recording rehearsals, and it's great for that purpose.

GOT IT

LOVE IT

one word... VERSITILE!

I recorded myself playing some classical guitar and was worried it wouldn't pic up the subtle changes in my right hand position.. not only did it pick it up fantastic, I could hear myself BREATHING on it!

thanks for the feedback guys!

BOUKINATOR wrote:I could hear myself BREATHING on it!

mouth breather!

NO!

I was breathing through my nose and got this nice whistly effect (maybe from a booger)

always looking for new sounds.. lol