Live Recording Set-up

[johncaudrey]

Our ukulele band have been messing about with getting the best from our live recordings recently and uploading the audio results to our SoundCloud account: http://soundcloud.com/montaserra/sets/rehersals/

We decided at our last session to video us and the set up we are using.

Here are the results. Sorry about the choice of song!

Tech details:

The main reason for posting this is to show how we make our rehearsal recordings. We use a Zoom H4 field recorder to record in four track mode. The internal microphones are pointed at Brian's ukulele and then we have two external microphones pointing at Stephen and John to pick up both vocals and ukulele. The video was recorded using a Canon SLR for the main shot and a Canon Isus for the inset shot. The audio was mixed with Adobe Audition and the video with Nero Vision Xtra.

Too much information?

 

[FriendlyFred]

This sounds really good.
I use my Zoom Q3HD for recordings and I'm quite satisfied.
Good song choice.

 

[UkuEroll]

That sounded just great John. Nice harmonizing with the Aahhhhhs

 

[smellofstrings]

Wonderful song choice and singing! Professional setup!

 

[musicmonsterw]

Thanks for sharing. This is kind of information is very helpful. I'd love to share this stuff too but I wasn't sure how it would be received. When I see your post, it gives me confidence.

I've used the Zoom HQ3 HD as well. I don't have the Zoom H4. Does it do a good job of isolating the different sounds?

 

[benjoeuke]

I have a zoom H4 that I have always used two AKG C1000 mics, works pretty good. Is there really a way to use the two internal mics at the same time? I will have to examine my manual a little closer, mine is from the first gen H4 so maybe it's too old to do that, I don't know.

 

[isopyl]

I have a zoom H4 that I have always used two AKG C1000 mics, works pretty good. Is there really a way to use the two internal mics at the same time? I will have to examine my manual a little closer, mine is from the first gen H4 so maybe it's too old to do that, I don't know.

We use 4 track mode as the H4 is one of the very few recorders around that will record 4 tracks simultaneously (i.e. a stereo track from the internal microphones and another stereo track with the left and right channels mapping to the two external inputs. In this way we can separate the three players reasonably well although there is some bleed through. The external microphones capture both vocal and ukulele so there is some compromise there but its fine for this kind of recording where the main drive is to capture the performance rather than get perfect sound.

Stephen

 

[johncaudrey]

Thanks Stephen, you put that better than I could ever wish to!

John

 

[benjoeuke]

hmmm... ya... my H4 doesn't seem to have that option or else I can't figure it out. I can record 4 simultaneous tracks with either the xlr inputs or the internal mics but not both, I think... like I said, my H4 is the very first one they made so maybe they have added some features in the last few years.

 

[isopyl]

hmmm... ya... my H4 doesn't seem to have that option or else I can't figure it out. I can record 4 simultaneous tracks with either the xlr inputs or the internal mics but not both, I think... like I said, my H4 is the very first one they made so maybe they have added some features in the last few years.

I should have been more specific and said H4n. Its very likely the older model doesn't have 4 track recording as it is quite a rare feature. It really is a very good field recorder and performs fantastically well compared to what was around five years ago.

 

[DAPuke]

Thanks so much for this, it's good reference and you all are very good.
Don