pick-up or mic?

Subject: pick-up or mic?
From: TIA
Date: 22 Jan 03 - 12:25 PM

Never done any recording and am totally ignorant of the technology, but I've been asked by my kids to record a CD of bedtime music that they can play when I'm on the road and unavailable for the nightly gig.

Will be playing 5-string and Irish tenor banjo, as well as guitar (no vocals thank goodness). Found that I have a program on my laptop that can record from a mic input.

Which would be better a micropohone or some kind of pickup?

Subject: RE: pick-up or mic?
From: Ralphie
Date: 22 Jan 03 - 04:07 PM

TIA

Find the best Mic you can afford (or beg, steal, borrow!)
Pour yourself a nice glass of wine, or tea, whatever...turn the lights down low...
And just play!!!
It'll be perfect...promise. No technology needed.
Good Luck
Ralphie

Subject: RE: pick-up or mic?
From: Jim Colbert
Date: 22 Jan 03 - 04:15 PM

That is so cool!

I would think that Ralphie is right on the money. Plus, if you have two banjos and a guitar, you would be looking at three pickups (unless you got one of those old contact ones and played around with it.)

A mic will give you some sense of "air" to the recording, just play around a bit for proper placement- on the guitar, you might want to try pointing it at the neck, not the soundhole.

Depending how much you want to spend, there are alarmingly good condenser mics available relatively cheaply now, although these normally require a pre-amp.(which, ART ones in particular, are relatively obtainable now too.) But yeah- renting or borrowing one is a great option.

Enjoy, have fun and don't worry about a few rough edges...that's what makes this music so enjoyable, the human feel.

Subject: RE: pick-up or mic?
From: Ralphie
Date: 22 Jan 03 - 05:30 PM

Jim

Thank You...Some of my most favourite recordings have all been because of the situation that I found myself in....
Technology is useful, but, ambience is everything.
People play better when they're smiling.!
Big Grin preferred. Bigger the better

Ralphie

Subject: RE: pick-up or mic?
From: TIA
Date: 22 Jan 03 - 05:56 PM

Thanks Jim and Ralphie! I'm off to go mic hunting.

One final question... what room should I record in? I've got a big tile bathroom (echoey just talking), a small cloth-walled and carpeted den (very quiet even when the kids are conscious) and everything in between. What's best?

Thanks again.