Advice on recording for self-critiquing?

[Bflat]

I'm aware that listening to and critiquing recordings of one's own playing can be very beneficial and I'd like to try it. I'm referring not to performance or gig situations, but simply practice sessions in the home - very basic stuff.

Any tips or guidelines on how to go about the process (the technique, what to listen for, and how to use the information), and suggestions as to what kind of affordable, non-professional equipment would be suitable?

Thanks all.

Bflat

[Gordon (NZ)]

It is my impression that you will not get anywhere near a realistic reindition of your sound unless you use very expensive microphone and speaker set-ups. Non-professional components grossly distort the tone quality.

[saxfella]

Bb Flat - this is a good idea. Gordon is right - you need top equipment to hear your sound accurately. HOWEVER this overlooks the importance of choosing another goal when you're practising : eg if you're working on timing / rhythm things then a recording of yourself can really help. Sometimes, players have trouble keeping a steady tongued phrase going OR easy parts are at tempo, tricky parts slow down. Some players are weak on bars 8 and 9 of a 12 bar blues in terms of improv - this can become clear on a recording. It takes away the need to be self-evaluative AS you play - you've got enough to work on right? Equipment ? Well, a cheap tape recorder can be fine - an expensive recordable minidisc also works. Depends on your budget. Once again, you can focus on many different things when practising - timing, scale / chord knowledge, tune memorisation, tonguing, phrasing etc - PLUS it can become a record in time of how good you were at that point. SO that later on you can really hear your progress.
Simon

[milan]

I use a Tascam Pocketstudio, both for practice recording and jamming along with MIDI files and MP3's. OK..... the built in Mic ain't no Neumann, but for assessing timing, tuning etc. it's just great.

[Cameron Wigmore]

To get a good idea of WHAT your playing and how it sounds, (improvising or other), then any recorder will do.

One thing to remember is that we can be overly self-critical, so don't give up when you hear yourself playing for the first time.
:wink:

[markieg]

I just use my computer to record sound. It has a built in mic. I found that if you go to volume control and adjust the sensitivity it works great. Then you can save as a .wav file on your comp. I have also found free software to change .wav's into .mp3's! It seems to work pretty good for me. I have some sounds posted at http://www.angelfire.com/freak/dafrootloop/vs_pics.html
This should give you an idea of sound quality of inexpensive mics.

[LoVeTheBlues]

My set up at hnme includes a Tascam 424, Alesis nanoverb effects, shure sm57 mic, portable cd player, good headphones and a great collection of Jamey Abersold play along cd's, also some JamTrax playalongs. This simple set up is not too expensive, but I tell you what, after hearing myself jam through the headphones, with the effects/play-along cd's, and of course recording it too, I absolutely love it. My improv and sound has improved dramaticly over the years, do to using this set up. There is something about hearing yourself through headphones. Use the techniqes in the book Rock & Roll Saxophone by John Laughter, you will love it. I have a couple short recordings if you would like to hear.

[Greyduster]

I use an Aiwa mini disc redorder with a good quality mic and play it back through the Hi Fi. I find it very useful to listen to myself. Listening to myself while I'm playing is a different experience as I'm multitasking and as a beginner I don't really think I'm listening well enough as i'm concentrating too much on the playing.

[eagle 0 four]

Personally I really hate recording myself but I do recommend it. I just use a basic tape recorder...the sound is really really bad but I get to hear all my technical mistakes and fix them. Also hearing a bad recording of yourself can motivate you to work that much harder to improve...at least thats how it works for me.