Joined:
April 2008
Posts: 1851
Location: Newington, CT | Well, I just picked up a product that - so far at least -- I can endorse wholeheartedly. It's the "Zoom H2 Handy Recorder." I picked it up at Best Buy for $180. Here's what it did for me.
I was looking for something that I could use to record directly to my computer -- WITH MINIMAL NOISE (CAPS for emphasis) -- and I have found it. Or, at least I've found something.
The background: I've played for years, but only by myself. Occasionally with others in a "your-turn-wtih-the-guitar" kind of setting. Not all that satisfying, or growth-inducing. I wanted to "see what I could do." So, the goal was: identify something that would allow me to record a "backing track," then solo with it.
* I tried "LightSnake* -- Direct connect of your instrument to your computer. Yuck! Full of noise. Sure I was doing something wrong, but couldn't make it work.
* I tried a hyper-cheap mic on the computer with Audacity. No luck. The computer made too much noise by itself! Better, however, than LightSnake.
I was going to buy the Tascam or the Boss recording station (I still might) eventually, but wandered into Best Buy on an impulse and purchased the "H2."
The Problem I've been trying to resolve: Lay down a backing track, then play with it while the recording device ignores the backing track -- but I hear it, so I can play with it -- and records only my playing with it.
Here's what I did:
(1) Recorded the "backing track." Just a sequence that I had worked out in advance. Some chords, some pickin', some fun. In a key.
(2) Copied the recording to my laptop, and imported it into Audacity as the first track.
(3) Readied the recordig device for my solo with the backing track.
(4) Attached headphones to the computer and put them on.
(5) Turned down the volume on the computer -- this was going to be my playback device, after all. And I was going to use the headphones to listen to my backing track, while simultaneously listening to my live solo, played with the backing track.
(5) On the computer, in Audacity, I clicked on "Play" and (nearly simultaneously) pressed "Go" on the H2. Note: On the H2, you need to press the "Record" button twice to make it record. The first press puts it into "record standby" mode. This lets you take a deep breath, etc., before you actually start recording. So, "Go" really means only the second press of the "Record" button on the H2.
(6) Played live to the recorder, with the backing track in my headphones.
(7) Transferred the solo to the computer, imported it into Audacity with the backing track and I had a "Jam!" if only with myself!
(8) Many more tracks later, and I had LOTS of jams -- all with myself.
(9) Note: I really had only one rule: One take -- as though live at an open mic. So, please keep in mind that you are hearing nearly TOTAL improvisation.
And I never had to subject my chops -- or lack thereof -- to the slings and arrows, and opprobrium, and excoriation, and casual cruelty, and crushing indifference of the potentially hostile audience!
So now, against my MUUUUUUUUCH better instincts, and lawyer's advice -- to say nothing of my kids' pleading, whining, cajoling, begging, pouting and foot-stamping, I have added "Wistful slight return" to my ning page. It was done with the H2, and an HP laptop computer, as well as two Ovation guitars (commentary about THEM below)
The Guitars:
* Ovation 2007 Collector's Edition - This beautiful guitar has everything. A gorgeous mid-range focused sound and a fantastically playable fingerboard. I LOVE this guitar! What a sound, and a GORGEOUS look! There aren't enough superlatives for this guitar! However...Its mid-range focused sound made it more approprite for a lead role, rather than providing the "rhythm" section for this recording. However...not this beautiful guitar's fault! It was the player's fault.
* Ovation FD14 -- My favorite guitar. OH, MY GOODNESS!!! This is a gorgeous guitar in ever respect. What sound! Gorgeous to look at; gorgeous to listen to. a MUUUUUUUCH better guitar than I am a player.
* The recorder: the Zoom H2...the thing that made it all possible. No noise. No hiss. No fuss. Nice piece of equipment!
All this resulted in the "Wistful slight return" recording mentioned above.
If you can, could you please listed to some of my recordings and give me your comments and impressions. I'm nearly impossible to offend, so please feel free to let loose.
Thanks!
Alan |
Songwriters - Product Review
