atrafanaSchool Studio Set Up or How to Record Yourself
I have already elaborated on the importance of listening to your own playing in the 3rd person. To that end you simply need to record yourself with any device at your disposal. Sound recording is good but video is always better as then you are able to observe your technique like an outsider and make adjustments to your playing.
When your goal is simply to watch how you are doing by the way of playing, any device is just fine as long as you can acceptably hear and see yourself. Just use your smartphone for that.
However, if you wish to produce something a bit more pleasant especially for others to enjoy your performance, then you may want to look into a better setup specifically in the sound recording department.
As for video, your smartphone is still just fine as all phones with camera capture pretty decent video. In fact, I may suggest that using a phone is a lot less complicated than an actual camcorder as phones are equipped with front facing cameras that make it exceedingly convenient for self capture.
I personally use an ipad/iphone for video. It's simply great! I can find the perfect frame and adjust the focus and exposure with the touch of a finger without getting up for scramble through buttons or meet items.
To get back to the audio quality, there are several options available. In fact, it is a great time for anyone to start a home studio as the required tech is nowadays very affordable and available.
Before gearing up for recording, it is a good idea to find the ideal spot for it. The recording equipment may be easy to get but proper sound insulation is still a big deal. Since many of us cannot hire technicians to soundproof a room, you need to find a quiet place to record. Maybe a room with no windows. Or the spot that is furthest from the traffic and/or domestic noise. Once you find this spot, don't change it; record everything here. This way, you will be able to optimize and standardize your recording setup. If you cannot find a super-quiet place, don't sweat because the microphones I'll be talking about are sensitive to close range sounds. So, as long as you are facing the mic at about 40-50 cm, you are good to go.
The Apogee Mic
When your goal is simply to watch how you are doing by the way of playing, any device is just fine as long as you can acceptably hear and see yourself. Just use your smartphone for that.
However, if you wish to produce something a bit more pleasant especially for others to enjoy your performance, then you may want to look into a better setup specifically in the sound recording department.
As for video, your smartphone is still just fine as all phones with camera capture pretty decent video. In fact, I may suggest that using a phone is a lot less complicated than an actual camcorder as phones are equipped with front facing cameras that make it exceedingly convenient for self capture.
I personally use an ipad/iphone for video. It's simply great! I can find the perfect frame and adjust the focus and exposure with the touch of a finger without getting up for scramble through buttons or meet items.
To get back to the audio quality, there are several options available. In fact, it is a great time for anyone to start a home studio as the required tech is nowadays very affordable and available.
Before gearing up for recording, it is a good idea to find the ideal spot for it. The recording equipment may be easy to get but proper sound insulation is still a big deal. Since many of us cannot hire technicians to soundproof a room, you need to find a quiet place to record. Maybe a room with no windows. Or the spot that is furthest from the traffic and/or domestic noise. Once you find this spot, don't change it; record everything here. This way, you will be able to optimize and standardize your recording setup. If you cannot find a super-quiet place, don't sweat because the microphones I'll be talking about are sensitive to close range sounds. So, as long as you are facing the mic at about 40-50 cm, you are good to go.
The Apogee Mic
This little microphone is the best thing ever! It is a studio quality condenser mic equipped with it's own sound card and a lightning cable that plugs directly to your iphone or ipad. Those of you who are familiar with sound recording technologies can appreciate the unbelievable convenience of such a plug-and-play device.
I was sceptical when I received it. It looked so small and kind of goofy. But, the sound quality was impressive.
I have recorded many of my videos with this mic, including my string comparison series. Check out the following video:
I was sceptical when I received it. It looked so small and kind of goofy. But, the sound quality was impressive.
I have recorded many of my videos with this mic, including my string comparison series. Check out the following video:
Apogee One Sound Card
After using the Apogee Mic for a while, I started to compare my videos with the ones that utilize more professional equipment. Granted, the Apogee was amazing and all. But I was limiting myself with devices that I could use only on my ipad. There is a whole world of great condenser microphones out there that output via XLR cables. That is not something you can plug into your ipad.
After using the Apogee Mic for a while, I started to compare my videos with the ones that utilize more professional equipment. Granted, the Apogee was amazing and all. But I was limiting myself with devices that I could use only on my ipad. There is a whole world of great condenser microphones out there that output via XLR cables. That is not something you can plug into your ipad.
So, what you need is a sound card that will take in and process the signal coming from the microphone and then relay it to your computer, or in my case my iphone.
Again, Apogee came to the rescue. Here is Apogee One for IOS that does exactly that:
Again, Apogee came to the rescue. Here is Apogee One for IOS that does exactly that:
This is a small sound card that has accepts XLR input, processes the signal, and then pushes it onto your i-device. I have tested other low-cost sound cards before but Apogee excels in sound quality. And hey, now I can use any microphone out there on my ipad!
With the acquisition of Apogee One, I went ahead and ordered a microphone that I had admired for some time.
Rode K2
With the acquisition of Apogee One, I went ahead and ordered a microphone that I had admired for some time.
Rode K2
This is a great condenser mic that captures a wider range of sound than the Apogee One. It is a big and heavy microphone that requires its own power source. Took me a while to fit all the components into my small studio but it was worth it.
Here, take a look at the following video and take notice of the fullness of the basses and the bite of the trebles, which is something the Apogee Mic cannot capture to this extent.
Here, take a look at the following video and take notice of the fullness of the basses and the bite of the trebles, which is something the Apogee Mic cannot capture to this extent.
With this upgrade, recording an album (something I wish to accomplish in the future) seems a bit more within reach. I would still need my sound engineer for mastering but being able to record comfortably in your own time is a big advantage.
Rode NT5
Rode NT5
All professional recordings of acoustic guitar are done with a minimum of two microphones. Why? For starters, we have two ears - stereo. Also, different regions of the guitar soundboard generate different qualities of sound and for a well-rounded recording one needs to capture at least two of those.
I recently acquired Rode NT5 for this purpose. NT5 is a very affordable shotgun type microphone that doesn't require extra power like the K2. Its small size and directional focus allows me to place it very close to the guitar and capture the most punch especially from the trebles.
Check out the following video:
I recently acquired Rode NT5 for this purpose. NT5 is a very affordable shotgun type microphone that doesn't require extra power like the K2. Its small size and directional focus allows me to place it very close to the guitar and capture the most punch especially from the trebles.
Check out the following video:
Again, I am using my Apogee One as the sound card.
Stereo Recording
Apogee One, as the name implies, has only one input-output. Therefore, I can only use one of my microphones on it. To use both, I need Apogee Duet, which is again a sound card but this one has two channels.
With the Duet I will be able to use both the K2 and NT5 together and capture a wider range of tones from my guitar.
And that is the subject of the next article.
Stereo Recording
Apogee One, as the name implies, has only one input-output. Therefore, I can only use one of my microphones on it. To use both, I need Apogee Duet, which is again a sound card but this one has two channels.
With the Duet I will be able to use both the K2 and NT5 together and capture a wider range of tones from my guitar.
And that is the subject of the next article.