Help with technology

[abe]

I have a question for all of you technologically savvy pianoforumers. I am wondering if the Olympus WS-310M Digital Voice Recorder (http://www.aaaprice.com/ws310m.html) would be good for recording my piano playing and putting it onto a computer.

I realize it is primarily a voice recorder, but would it work well for music also? Perhaps it would record better using a microphone? If so, what kind of microphone would be good?

My goal is to get decent quality recordings digitized and on to my computer, but I am not experienced in this process. Please make any recommendations you might have for something better than this, but keep in mind I don't want anything too expensive or fancy, just a good quality recorder that will meet my needs.

Thanks!
-Abe

[abe]

One more thing: After having done some research, the above mentioned Olympus product doesn't look to be too effective at recording music because the sound will be too compressed. So......is there an easy, cheap, and simple way to record music and put it onto a computer?

Thanks!
-Abe

[jlh]

Memory will be the most negative part of this device. 4 minutes and you're done.  You wouldn't want to record any less than 128kbps, so you'll get frustrated I think.  Never use the built-in microphones in devices like these, so you'd need another mic.  My suggestion would be to get a device with MUCH more internal memory or a device with removable memory like a MINIdisk recorder.

[leahcim]

is there an easy, cheap, and simple way to record music and put it onto a computer?

Yeah, stick a studio projects mic into the computer. Or possibly 2 or more.

You have the computer. You need the mic(s) for whatever else you use instead. The mic is probably the limiting factor in anything that has a built-in mic the product you listed [although as you say, if that compresses for speech it'll be pants for piano]

You probably need a new soundcard though for the mic, or a preamp [something like this perhaps http://www.dv247.com/invt/2736 although studio projects do a vtb1 and there are plenty of others]

Alternatively one of the devices like quantum uses [see http://www.pianostreet.com/smf/index.php/topic,10124.0.html]

[abe]

jlh: Forgive my ignorance...The description of the Olympus product mentions 512 MB of internal flash memory. What is a sufficient amount of memory for recording, if this is not? (the product claims up to 138 hours of recording time, but I'm trusting your experience over my interpretation of the product description)

leahcim: If I purchase 2 mics, what else would I have to buy in order to get the recording onto my computer and able to play back? (I don't want fancy editting stuff, just a simple way to digitize the recording)

Thanks guys for the help. I'm sorry I'm really quite ignorant in this area, and it might turn out to be too much trouble, but I thought it would be fun to get into recording a little bit (maybe even create a cd of my playing for myself to satisfy my innate selfish and egotistical appetites  ).

-Abe

[jlh]

jlh: Forgive my ignorance...The description of the Olympus product mentions 512 MB of internal flash memory. What is a sufficient amount of memory for recording, if this is not? (the product claims up to 138 hours of recording time, but I'm trusting your experience over my interpretation of the product description)

Ah... I just reread the description.  Yes, it does claim 138 hours.  I think I misread it and I regret I offered that criticism.  However... personally I would not be so willing to buy a device that could only record in mp3 or wma format.  In fact, I'm such a hifi freak that if I could, I'd record only in 24bit with a 96kHz sample rate.  Of course, this doesn't happen without spending a lot of money, and if this Olympus device could record in that mode, it would be able to record only 15.5 minutes.

That being said, if you are not wanting especially high quality recordings, and don't plan on doing much post recording work or mixing, I'm sure you could get some decent recordings -- assuming you are able to use a good external mic and your mic placement is adaquate.  If there is an option, record in the highest bitrate possible (I think there is a stereo function on this as well -- useful if you have multiple microphones around the room, otherwise it will be in mono, which most players use the one channel and route it to both channels during playback.), and adjust the microphone sensativity so that there is no peaking or clipping going on.  The microphone is about the most important thing, so don't get cheap there or it won't matter what kind of bitrate you have.

Just some things to keep in mind.

Best Wishes!

Josh

[quantum]

I used a MiniDisc recorder before I obtained equipment for a higher quality recording.  I find MiniDisc great for carrying to gigs as you don't have to lug so much equipment around.  As far as I have seen, the plug in mics available for MD do not have the 20hz-20Khz range (maybe a bottom end of 30hz or so).  This may mean the sound of the verry lowest notes on the piano are not picked up optimally.  FYI the lowest A on an 88 key piano is 27.5 hz.  The audiable range for human hearing (differs on individual people) is roughly 20hz-20Khz.

See here for more on MiniDiscs http://www.minidisc.org/

As for my Studio Projects mics and Edirol UA-25 audio interface, follow the link leachim gave to see a detailed discussion.   

[jlh]

The mic input for most all portable recording devices, including mp3 recorders and minidisc recorders, is a 1/8in phono plug input.  This means you have to have a microphone that has a male 1/8in phono plug -- and yes, most of the mics out there that fit this description don't have the 20-20kHz response that is most useful.  There are ways around this, however.  For instance, how about getting an XLR-1/8in adapter cable?  Most likely, unless you have an external phantom power generator, you will have to get a mic that doesn't require phantom power.  If you find a good XLR mic, and want to use it for this device, check out this adapter:

http://www.soundprofessionals.com/cgi-bin/gold/item/SP-XLRF3-MINI-2

This website also has a great selection of mics with both XLR and 1/8in cables.

Hope this helps!