Which digital recording unit for acoustic?

[leofenderbender]

I am interested in digitally recording my acoustic music.

I have a dozen or so finger-style compositions in alternate tunings most of which are well received. It is time I got my music onto a CD. Any suggestions on the digital recording unit I should be looking for? I will be using either a miked Goodall Rosewood standard or the onboard Fishman blender on my Taylor 712CE.

Since nobody else can play this stuff, when I am gone all of my music would be lost forever – I have been getting pressure from friends & family to record. I am looking for a digital recording unit that will produce a decent (almost CD) quality product.

What do I go for? What do I need to know?

Thanks!

 

[flicker180]

i just got a steal on a Tascam DP-01 with a 40gb onboard hard drive...looks like it'll dump pretty good copies of material to the computer for re-editing, etc.

the FX model of the series has mic inputs also...the base unit is 1/4" only.

if you hunt, you can grab one (i got mine from bhpoto.com) for 299.99 + 3 day shipping.

dave

 

[leofenderbender]

Thanks Flick!

I just popped for one on eBay. I hope it works out - I mean, I hope I can make it work...

 

[flicker180]

grab the manual from tascam's site...looks to be pretty simple...I'm going to do all my tweaking offboard anyway (i've got a few laptops, etc. that are my mobile recording units) and i've actually got the space on my ginormous pedal board to put this thing on there...

dave

 

[leofenderbender]

Thanks again Flick!

Right again - lots of info on their site. The manual seems well organized and intuitive in its layout.

Looks like you might have given me exactly what I was looking for...

 

[flicker180]

Originally posted by leofenderbender
Thanks again Flick!

Right again - lots of info on their site. The manual seems well organized and intuitive in its layout.

Looks like you might have given me exactly what I was looking for...

now, about my commission...LOL

dave

 

[Turbozag]

I have had excellent results using a Tascam 788 digital 8-track.
Has some awesome features like auto-punch-in, 24-bit, hard disk, cd burner etc... Draw back, no USB port (has SCSI and Dig out)

 

[tms13pin]

I recommend if you record with the Taylor that you record
simultaneously one track from the preamp out and one
that is mic'd. You can then blend later. You'll be able to add
in some more natural tone that way.

--Tom

 

[zenpicker]

Leo f.b. - you're not gonna believe the coincidence here.

As it happens, I just *today* posted two acoustic fingerstyle tunes done...

- in alternate tunings
- on Goodalls, one of them rosewood
- recorded on the Tascam 788

See:
http://home.comcast.net/~casademel/html/eh_music.html

Crossing Crystal Lake was done on the Goodall rosewood, with an mAudio DMP3 preamp and two MXL condensor mikes, the large-diaphragm mike aimed 6" from the 14th fret and the small-diaphragm one aimed about 5" from the saddle end of the soundhole. "Laying the Roses" and all the other steel string pieces were done on a Goodall koa jumbo.

All the pieces were transferred to the computer and mixed/mastered with software (Sound Forge or Sonar).

So there you are, you can preview your setup, more or less, by listening to those tracks. Sounds like you didn't go for the 788 but this will still give you the general idea. Would be more than happy to help you with your setup process if you need it.

I look forward to hearing those first recordings--best of luck!