My advice to ALL players

[disgruntleddave]

backstory: i made a thread in member recordings (its also in misc discussion) about posting clips of yourself playing in the thread. I finally got around to recording myself. I have probably the worst possible recording setting in my house, but I did it anyways.

I was amazed at what I sound like. Its similar to what I hear when I play, but has many different parts. I can hear all the sloppy habits I have when playing, all my flaws, and how I actually sound (or at least how i sound on a 5 cent mic).

I strongly urge everyone reading this to record yourself practicing, or playing a song or two. Unfortunately for me, I just did it for the first time now, nearly 6 years after starting the sax. I plan to do it as much as I can in the future, because its helping me know what sounds good and what doesnt - and I would probably not have been able to come up with what I have so far in 2 days of recording.

So do it!

and maybe share your results here, but i encourage you to do it!

[Billy The Fish]

I agree totally, although it can be a little disconcerting when you try it for the first time :shock: . Definitely one of the best practice tips I ever learnt, and has helped me (and still is helping me) work on so many weaknesses I would probably have never spotted.

get over the initial shock - when I first did it, I refused to record myself for about a month afterwards, I was so shocked at how poor I sounded when I listened back to the recording, compared with how I thought I sounded. It was scary :oops:

Billy The Fish

[Gordon (NZ)]

Using a 5c mike is a bit rough on oneself!
It is certainly no way to ascertain ones tone!

[SopranoSue]

Best advice I've ever listened to. I recorded myself on an "el cheapo" cassette recorder. Ok, not the greatest, but if you can sound good on that, I figure you can sound good on anything.

Result? I need WHOLE bunch more practice before I EVER post a clip of me playing... :lol:

[disgruntleddave]

my microphone is so crappy its falling apart. i did it for the first time 2 days ago and have already done countless takes of summertime and autumn leaves for upload. around 6 hours in front of the mic so far, and i have no intent on stopping.

even though i dont sound like i thought i did (partially due to the mic, which i can tell) i can still get a much better idea of what i do sound like and what i need to work on.

[primetime]

Straight up! That is seriously some great advice! My sax teacher and voice teacher both told me that the easiest way to pick out flaws in your playing/singing is to record yourself.....my voice teacher gave me this big explanation about why what we hear and what really projects..but it was long and involved science (not for me!). But when I first started recording myself (usually with my video camera....which is good, because it can help if your embrochure is whacked out, too!) I couldn't bear to hear myself...now I've gotten my tone up to "bearable" level, and I can actually find out what i need to work on. I agree in the fact that everybody should record themselves playing, no matter what they play, be it sax, trumpet, flute, trombone, singing, anything, because it helps so much. (It even helps you with public speaking!)

-P.T 8)

[Troy]

Majinx, I agree totally with your first post. However, I also agree with Gordon. Get a better mic! It won't cost that much, and you'll be able to record something much closer to how you REALLY sound.

[Sigmund451]

Majinx....good idea.......but Im scared :dazed:

[Subtone Sam]

Mics cost 5 cents?! Man,I KNEW I paid too much for my Shure.... :wink:

[BlueNote]

I started recording myself practicing after I read a book about John Coltrane. It said that he would record himself over and over so that he could find the right notes, and listen to himself, and what to improve on.

I use an old 4-track recorder -- it works. Not the BEST quality, but gets the job done for sure. It's also good for the Jamey Aebersold play-a-longs.

[GiantSteps]

This is supremely important for anyone that plans on working
in a studio situation. You don't want to find out in your debut session that there are some problems in your sound, you may not get a call back.
You ever see someone get dressed without a mirror?
Sometimes they'll miss those little "adjustments", that need to
be made.
Think of the tape, as a sound mirror, and the tape won't lie baby!
Best regards from phx. :wink: :wink:

[zephyr]

I Have an el cheapo lapel mic. I'd like a better one, that fits my cassete recorder and sound card inputs. I'd prefer lapel style so i can use for recording myself speaking as well, & clip onto pc monitor when recording my sax.