In recent months, I have realized how important it is to see and hear oneself while playing (both during practice and performance). In particular for 2 reasons:
1. to objectively evaluate the sound quality and the characteristics of certain passages, which we might think we are doing "well" when re-listening they are horrible (or vice versa)
2. to observe one's own gestures and posture in general
I was therefore thinking of purchasing a portable microphone to always carry with me (such as the ZOOM H2n) and an action cam, so as to stay within the €200-250 range. Do you have any advice regarding this? Clearly, it is a solution aimed at savings and price/performance; I am well aware that ideal equipment has much higher orders of magnitude in terms of price and quality (2-3 microphones, audio interface, etc.).
Until today, I have exclusively used my smartphone, so any upgrade will benefit the result.
Regarding the quality of microphones to purchase, we await Simone Renzi's advice. As far as "listening to oneself" is concerned, it is a good and right thing! However, we must not think that the recording replaces a good Maestro! Behind the recording, there is still our judgment, and ours alone! Your level will certainly be good enough to recognize the discrepancy between the performance and the recording. However, an external ear is needed. Even when we have to face a concert, it is appropriate to let oneself be heard, perhaps, a few days before, by a colleague who knows how to, tactfully, contextualize their judgment. Happy studying
O
Oracolo
Member
Reply 3 by Oracolo
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317
The recording is a great idea, I had opened this topic in the past
The Zoom H4N, which is discussed in the first thread, is simply a more 'advanced' and complete (and expensive) model than the one I had thought of (H2N). In the second thread, however, there is talk of a condenser microphone, which perhaps is not suitable for my needs
Good morning, in my opinion if the only need is to listen to/watch oneself, there is no reason to spend money on action cams and recorders. For this purpose, I bought a tripod for my cell phone. I put it on a table and start playing.
Good morning, in my opinion if the only need is to listen back/watch oneself, there is no reason to spend money on action cams and recorders. For this purpose, I bought a tripod for my cell phone. I put it on a table and start playing.
For video, a phone can also work fine, but the problem remains the audio, which with a smartphone turns out to be really flat (muddy in dynamics and lacking detail). Do you think the budget needs to be increased to take a step forward? I was hoping to stay within €200 for a microphone
The problem is that if you use external capture devices for the audio, then you have to edit everything. You risk playing for an hour and losing 3 hours editing it all.
Actually, I think you can connect the microphone to the smartphone and capture audio and video directly, isn't a headphone/microphone jack splitter enough?
It depends on the cell phone model. For some, it is possible to also purchase medium-quality condenser microphones, but I repeat that intentions can be sensed even with the autogain. If the purpose is to listen to and see oneself, it seems a bit useless to me to spend money on something that will anyway always guarantee a mediocre result.
I found a series of audio tests performed with an H4N on YouTube; in my opinion, the quality is very good for the price and for ease of use
Without paying too much attention to the musical aspect, I am linking the tests here; I hope the channel owner (Claudio Menaldo Millich | Zongora és Zene) won't hold it against me, whom I thank:
It depends on the cell phone model. For some, it is possible to also purchase medium-quality condenser microphones, but I repeat that intentions can be sensed even with the autogain. If the purpose is to listen to and see oneself, it seems a bit useless to me to spend money on something that will anyway always guarantee a mediocre result.
