I've been using a Panasonic MiniTape Recorder for the bootlegging I've done. I was wondering what some other people use, becuase I'm planning on moving on to hopefully a MiniDisc.

I was using the Panasonic on Sunday and I got home and tried to listen to the concert and the thing never recorded it. I'm eBaying for a MiniDisc right now, any advice. Thanks. I'm looking for something good but cheap.

Well, I've been using a MD for a few months now. I have a Sony MZ-R70 and just recently upgraded to a Sony MZ-R900 (still have the R70 though).

I absolutely love them - great sound as far as I'm concerned. You mainly have 2 options, Sony & Sharp. I went for the Sony for 2 reasons... It seems more durable, and I had heard a lot of people with earlier Sharp models have problems with TOC (Table Of Contents) errors.

The main drawback of the Sony unit is that you can't adjust the recording levels on the fly - you have to be in record-pause mode. This can be overcome with a battery box with level adjust and/or a preamp with level controls. The other annoyance is that it always reverts to AGC (Automatic Gain Control) mode - so you have to go in to the menu and select manual and set your levels every time. I felt that it was worth living with these 2 annoyances for the durability and reliability of the units.

Check out The Sound Professionals . I've dealt with these guys on many occasions and the customer support (even after the sale) is tremendous! I can't recommend them enough. So far, I've purchased their slimline cardiod mics, their premium battery box with level controls and bass rolloff, a set of omni elements for the mics (they are changable), a stereo t-bar, and plan on ordering their pre-amp this week! Chris at SP really knows his stuff and couldn't be a nicer guy.

One suggestion - get a unit that supports MDLP. It has been a godsend. That way you can get up to 160 minutes on a disc with very good quality (almost indistinguishable from the SP mode which only allows 80 minutes). That way you don't have to worry about flipping discs.

Thanks for the information, but i have a very good feeling that you are on a higher budget than me, I am a soon to be poor college kid.

Thanks though.

Well, what do you consider cheap?

Looking at E-Bay you can pick up the Sony MZ-R500 for about $120 if you keep at it. This is a newer model with MDLP. The main drawbacks from the higher up Sony models are, 1) no remote and 2) only LINE in - no MIC in (but if you've got a BB or preamp that shouldn't be a problem). It might also be worth a trip to your local Best Buy - we recently saw some open box Sony recorders that were really good deals there.

If you do try and pick up an older MD recorder, I would definantly go with a Sony - as the older Sharp units seemed to have more problems than the Sony.

<center><FONT COLOR="#000080">--- Edited 1 times, lastly by Dave on Aug 23, 2001 ---</FONT></center>

One other place to check out - http://www.minidiscussion.com/ Lots of good MD info there - and I believe a classifieds area as well.

Thanks for the info, Dave. Obviously the pro-grade cassette gear has seen its day, and renting a stereo Nagra is not in the budget (along with being a bit conspicuous ).

I've been thinking about minidisk, but of course $$$ is always the big thing around here.

-Z

Once you go minidisc, you'll never look back, trust me!!! The nice thing is you can build a decent recording rig in pieces when you've got the money. Don't believe all this hype about MP3 player/recorders... Minidisc blows them away. Just look at the cost of the media - about $2 for a MD. How much is a memory card for an MP3 player?

I never figured on having over $1000 worth of recording equipment - but it's an addictive hobby. Any MD recorder should do a decent job... Mics is where all the money is spent. But it's also not like I laid out that $1000 all at once - I've been slowly building up my gear a piece at a time.

For those who don't know, MD discs hold as much as a regular CD (or two or four times as much - depending on the recording mode). And they are completely re-recordable.

Actually, when I first bought my MD recorder and Sony mic, I had every intention of returing it, thinking I wouldn't be satisfied by the quality of recordings I would get. Boy was I wrong... Hell, Kim liked it so much we had to go out that weekend and pick up a home deck and portable player for her as well.

<center><FONT COLOR="#000080">--- Edited 1 times, lastly by Dave on Aug 23, 2001 ---</FONT></center>

Thanks, Dave. I have a couple of those old dynamic mikes you can pound nails with (or stick right in front of an amp, which is what I did with them). I do love the condenser mikes though.

MP3 recorders IMHO are not there yet for pro work, if they ever will be. They're to load up from your PC and take to the beach.

-Z

Dave is right about minidisc
short of DAT it's the best thing going
and a quantum leap forward from analog tape

PS as a matter of semantics
i don't call them "bootlegs"
unless someone is profiting from them
i just call it "shows"
'course that's just me

A few thoughts...

1.) Definitely move up to MiniDisc. You will not regret it. I suggest a Sharp MD-MT15. You can get one on E-Bay for well under $100.

2.) I would not suggest using MDLP. The only time you should use that is if you are using a single mono microphone. You can tell a HUGE difference in quality when you compare a recording in MDLP to a stereo recording.

3.) Dave is right, it is an addictive hobby. And can get very expensive. To start off with though, I would suggest getting a pair of AT853's and a battery box from Sound Professionals. Then run that into a mini disc recorder. That setup should run you around $300. Then if you want something better, get a Zefiro Inbox. It's $310 now at Core Sound. It Definitely makes a huge improvement in sound quality.

4.) Stay far, far away from mp3 recorders. Absolute junk.

So, ya' want to get good live recordings ...
Get the blue Sony (don't remember the model number)and the Sony stereo mic. About $200 ~ $225 or so for both. Thats all the field equipment that's really necessary.

ALWAYS RECORD ON THE BEST/80 MINUTE SETTING! DISCS ARE RELATIVELY CHEAP !!!! Change discs for each set.

THEN, take the money you didn't spend on more field gear, and BUY A COPY OF SONAR, CAKEWALK'S BIG BROTHER. About $300 ~ $350 should do it. Using this digital recording studio to edit and master the live recordings you make on the mini-disc will result in final product that will rival about anything put out by the pro's. I own a studio, and this is the best all-around technique I've found next to a full-blown studio-to-go.

When recording, let the disc recorder set it's own input level. Don't worry, it'll be o.k. Even though you are using the line-in for a mic. the end results will be GOOD! When you track the mini-disc into Sonar you can use the level/gain controls to get the final levels you need. The lack of noise from the mini-disc recording when used in it's best-quality mode will allow you to bump up the level all you need without any increase in noise you could possibly notice.

If any of you are considering just what to get gear-wise for live shows and would like to hear a sample from the Oct. 2002 Revival using this set-up, drop me a note. (:})={+}==:

<center><FONT COLOR="#000080">--- Edited 1 times, lastly by Mr Donald Duck on Apr 14, 2003 ---</FONT></center>