Recording Practice Time

[kats45]

Hi,

What's a simple way to record practice times that will be organized?

Thanks

[Mr Fixit eh]

Depends on your equipment and what you want. If you just want audio, then the built-in mic in your laptop would suffice and download a free program called Audacity. Save the files as MP3s and label them by date.

Steve

[ljguitar]

Originally Posted by kats45

Hi,

What's a simple way to record practice times that will be organized?

Thanks

Hi Kats...

A Zoom H1 recorder would do that nicely, with fairly high quality, and if you stop and restart the recorder with regularity, then you will have each segment of your rehearsal/practice as individual mp3 files or wav files (it does both/either) that you can listen to later, or immediately.

If you have a Mac, there is Garage Band included which would do the same thing using the computer's built in mic.

If not, Audacity on a windows machine will do the same thing, if you have a mic built in.

[kats45]

I have Audacity already downloaded on my computer, and a logitech usb mic, so I guess that would set me up. Starting and stopping creates a new file with Audacity, at least I think. You said the Zoom Q H1 can do either. I don't know how that works. Are you familiar with the Tascam GT-R1? It's kind of a trainer and recorder in one. I just got one not long ago, but need to learn the device better.

[ljguitar]

Originally Posted by kats45

I have Audacity already downloaded on my computer, and a logitech usb mic, so I guess that would set me up. Starting and stopping creates a new file with Audacity, at least I think. You said the Zoom Q H1 can do either. I don't know how that works. Are you familiar with the Tascam GT-R1? It's kind of a trainer and recorder in one. I just got one not long ago, but need to learn the device better.

Hi Kats...

Yup it should do just fine.

There are all kinds of YouTube videos about that particular one (Tascam GT-R1).

[kats45]

Thanks Larry. I'll check out the videos on the Tascam.

I just had a rude and ugly awakening. I recorded myself on Audacity playing Sloop John B. out of Mark Hanson's Travis Picking book, and it sounds horrible. It sounds choppy. There's no flow. I don't know if that's because my speed is slow or if it's just because it's choppy...period.

What are your thoughts on this?

[ljguitar]

Originally Posted by kats45

Thanks Larry. I'll check out the videos on the Tascam.

I just had a rude and ugly awakening. I recorded myself on Audacity playing Sloop John B. out of Mark Hanson's Travis Picking book, and it sounds horrible. It sounds choppy. There's no flow. I don't know if that's because my speed is slow or if it's just because it's choppy...period.

What are your thoughts on this?

Hi Kats...
I'd say welcome to the reality check most of us get the first time we hear ourselves, then I'd say "Now you know what you need to work on."

And last I'd say, with all your enthusiasm, "Don't you dare to get discouraged and threaten to give up…"

[kats45]

Bless your heart for your encouragement. Thank you.

[Blueser100]

I just discovered today that there is a firmware update V2 for the Zoom H1 that adds USB interface capability to it. I also discovered that is very easy to record on the H1 and then drag the file into GarageBand for further editing.

[kats45]

And, if you don't have Garage Band...? I have a PC. Although I doubt the effectiveness of the H1 depends on that. I need to further explore my GT-R1 better before I look at a different piece of equipment. In what I've done I find using Audacity is easy.

[Blueser100]

Not sure but doesn't garage band work on windows? Audacity is a great tool. Can't beat the price.