Handheld Digital Audio Recorders

[BuzzBeamer]

I need to make a quick CD for my son's band's press kit. I was thinking about using a hand held digital audio recorder to record their gigs and throw that on a CD. Any thoughts about that?
I think recording live at a gig would put less emphasis on the audio and more on their performance, and we'd be using the CDs to sell their ability to perform to the venues.
The brands I'm considering are Edirol and Tascam.

[paul999]

This is the sort of thing that I recommend for bands to use to see how their performances are doing. Record night after night and make improvements. For a demo I would shy away from this. I record demos all the time for bands. The reason they come in for this is that they can't get good gigs with unprofessional demo's especially when they are just getting started. $500 for a demo will get you a lot of gigs the first time they hear you as apposed to 3 out of 4 venue managers saying no to the band because they sound amateur.

Cheers

[BuzzBeamer]

Thanks. $500 wouldn't be bad because there's five members of the band. I thought it would be several thousand to go into a studio.
By the way, here's a link to their first live gig. It's pretty funny because they weren't used to special effects.
live stream of Distorshun @ the 19th hole 08-21-09, distorshun projectdopamine on USTREAM. Rock

[paul999]

They look Like they are having fun! It is good for them to have a way to record themselves at practice and at gigs so that they can hear where they need to improve and what their strengths are.

I started performing early and when i was in grade 7(a hundred years ago) I took a band practice tape around to try and get gigs. Didn't get one. After we made a "proper" demo I was able land quite a few gigs after I convinced them that their was no studio magic because they had heard the first demo. I would have been even more successful if they wouldn't have heard the practice demo. That is like showing someone a sketch and saying will you buy my artwork.

Make sure you can hear some work at the same price level as what you are after from the studio. Never pay more then half up front. I work on a flat rate and that is what I recommend finding in a studio so their are no surprises.

[BuzzBeamer]

Yeah–they were having a blast. They're totally fearless when it comes to performing. My son is the drummer, by the way.
Normally, I would be patient and let them develop for awhile, before sending them into a recording studio, but the House of Blues here in town has heard about this cool band of 13 and 14-year-olds and is interested in them for some young showcase they're doing.

[paul999]

Good for them. I run a private music school and recording studio. I think it is quite appropriate to show them how to take opportunities that come along and get them to take as much responsibility(ie. payment for business expenses) as they can. They will develop faster in the "school of hard knocks" then they will in the basement. Of course there should always be at least one parent at the gig.

As far as professionalism the studio and performing will pull this up if they are shown how to be self scrutinizing. Most kids look at performing as a party and it is to a degree. If they can look at a video and listen to a tape after every gig and some practices. Then find 2 things each that they can improve. This will show the work side

If they want to just have fun that is cool to. The band will likely fizzle out after a year or so and they will have had the time of their lives. Isn't that what music is about anyway.

Just some thoughts

[PeterSimonRussell]

Given that you probably have a computer then a cheap USB interface and a couple of decent mics might be a better option than a hand held recorder. Look at for eg Alesis io/2.

Regardless, to make any decent audio recording the ROOM is the most important parameter and that's one of the main things you pay for at a studio. Even a "local" studio should give you 200% better quality than a cheap recorder - go for it dude.

[BuzzBeamer]

I do have an M-Audio Mobilepre USB and it works great with my iMac. I just didn't want to haul the iMac to the bands practices and gigs. I did get a Tascom-DR-1 for $195 (about the of a DR-7) and recorded a practice with the built-in condenser mics. It wasn't bad, but I can see how a better recording room would make a big difference. My son is at a band mate's house right now, and they're going to record their Jam on the device with a couple of my condenser mics. I think we'll find a formula that will produce something they can use for a promo CD.