Re: [Harp-L] Recording a demo

["Vern Smith" <jevern@xxxxxxx>]

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Michael Fugazzi" <mfugazzi67@xxxxxxxxx>
To: <harp-l@xxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Thursday, February 24, 2005 6:41 PM
Subject: [Harp-L] Recording a demo

> Can anyone suggest some rather specific ways to record drums, harp, 
> vocals, guitar, and bass?  I think we'd rather try to record the 
> insturments individually rather then trying to record with one mic in the 
> middle of the room.  It would be fine coming up with something that would 
> be done with the computer.
>
> Guitar Center gave us some options all  well over $500, and we're hoping 
> to keep the process to around $200.
>
> All advice is appreciated!

I assume that the guitar and bass have pickups so no mics are required for 
them.
The drums are probably loud enough to be picked up on the vocals mic, so no 
mic for the drums.
You need two mics... for the harp and the vocals.
A Radio Shack electret lapel mic held inside the cup will work great for the 
harp.   $25
Another Radio Shack lapel mic will work for the vocals and drums.     $25
Now buy a little four-channel mixer such as a Boss BX40,  used at 
http://www.daddys.com/php/usedgear_detail.php?aproductid=BOS2838 for $26. 
Worth every penny because the inputs accept mic, pickup, and line-level 
inputs.
Install a 24 bit "Sound Blaster Live" card in your computer   $30
You connect the output of the mixer to the input of the /sound card.
Now you can adjust the mixer to balance the inputs and record *.wav files 
using the blaster software.
You will need a CD burner and software to run it...I assume that you have 
this already.
You will need miscellaneous adapters and cables but you should still be able 
to stay within $200
For about $25 you can get software to design and print a fancy label for the 
CDs.

Hey! it ain't top-of-the-line but should do a pretty good job on your 
minimum budget.
This setup is miraculous compared to what you could put together ten years 
ago.

Let us know how it works out.

Vern
Visit my harmonica website: http://www.Hands-Free-Chromatic.7p.com