recording at home

[pthebig]

Hi,

I have listened to some of the music in the audition room, and I would like to record some piece of music too, but I don't know much of recording at home!
Could you please give me tips for recording at home?
I'm a pupil, so I don't earn so much money, cause of this it mustn't be too expensive!!!

Thanks for answers right now,

pthebig

[oxy60]

Why not use the recording capabilities of your computer? Goldwave.com has some some free software you can use. Most computers have a mic built in. Others need one plugged into the jack. That mic may be the only money spent on the project. Even if you only record in monophonic most listeners won't hear the difference. Add a little echo to fill out the sound.

After all the acoustic piano is really mono, isn't it?

[quantum]

Audacity, your computer and a computer mic.  This costs next to nothing if you already have the computer.
https://audacity.sourceforge.net/

Next up in price, you could probably get one of those USB condenser mics.  I haven't tried them, so can't tell you any details.

Another step up would be a portable recorder such as the Edirol R-09 or Zoom H2 or H4n.

Step up again would be computer interface (a dedicated USB or Firewire device with preamps), plus two condenser mics, or a stereo condenser.  

---

I have the interface and am quite happy with my decision to save up some money to invest in it.  The great thing about this option is that you can upgrade components individually as you have more finances.  It's like an SLR camera.  

That said, I'm looking into the Zoom H4n or another portable recorder for occasions when I would rather not lug so much equipment around to get a recording done.  

[oxy60]

That Edirol is quite a jump in price and worth every penny. I've used it in some very demanding situations. It has some built in filers which I don't use. I prefer to filter later working from the master. "Stage rumble" is always an issue and my software gives me multiple choices for which frequencies to filter out. At 11 megs a minute the Edirol also takes up a lot of disk space.

[quantum]

Oxy60, have you compared the H4n and the R-09?  Do you have recording samples of the R-09 you could post?

[oxy60]

My recordings would be meaningless for classical piano players who wish to record themselves or others because I've never recorded solo acoustic piano where I've had full control over the set. 

I can tell you one thing and that is I've seen several 09's peeking out of music cases at jams. Everyone I've talked to on both sides of the Atlantic and at sea swears by it. Of course it will never replace a studio set-up but if you set up your acoustics right it will reproduce exactly what you heard.

I've never seen the other recorder you mention.

[pthebig]

i have been coming to a solution now, my computer has Line-In, and I've got an E-Piano with Line-Out, so thats no problem, but thanks for your help!

[quantum]

Just use Audacity as your program. 

Try recording the same piece on your e-piano and an acoustic (with perhaps a cheap computer mic).  Listen to the difference between the two on how well you were able to express your music on the instrument, and how well the equipment was able to capture your music.