Posted by Mike Solms on July 18, 1999 at 17:35:47:
In Reply to: Recording Equipment posted by Bob on July 16, 1999 at 14:23:37:
I use a Yamaha MT-120 four track recorder that has both a high tape
speed and dbx noise reduction (and no, even though it's a Yamaha
the buttons and knobs don't stick). I've never really looked at
either DAT or mini-disk because what I have works well and, after
a number of years, I know it extremely well. That last bit of
(possible) quality is less important to me than being able to set
up quickly and know that I will get good results. I use EV PL77B
microphones with a Stewart phantom power supply. The EV's were
recommended to me by the sound guy in a band I played in years ago.
They are reliable, not too expensive (about $40-50 in a pawn shop) and I know exactly what they will and won't do. The best way to learn to record well is to record a lot. Do piano recitals, rehearsals, anything you can. I believe that making a good recording has a lot less to do with equipment than technique. Keep a log book with information on room size, mic placement, levels and anything else that seems relevant. When you review your results add that information to your log as well. Keep the log book in your equipment bag and refer to it often.