Besame Mucho

[JerryPH]

Yes... I know, this song has been done to death and should kind of be retired from the list, but I had my own special reason for taking the time to make a video with this piece. On top of this reason, it also gave me an opportunity to see how well the Zoom F4 fits in my workflow, which I must admit I enjoyed a lot.

Ill let the video speak for itself. Enjoy.

 

[maugein96]

Jerry,

It might be an old tune, but play it like that and people will listen to it every day! An excellent rendition of a tune I never even knew the name of until a few years ago.

A very fitting tribute to your father, and I bet a lot of people are glad you started playing again.

Nice sound from your Roland too.

I had to look up what a Zoom F4 was, and still don't really know exactly what it is, but if was designed to give "Hollywood" sound then it worked just fine.

 

[JerryPH]

Thank-you for your kind words.
Yes, I was not too clear on that, was I? A Zoom F4 is basically a 6-channel field recorder. Nothing special in terms of options/features, but it can capture sound at super-high quality either directly to a computer as an audio interface or to two SD cards. Its made more for amateur film makers than music, but it works awesome as a music recorder.

http://syner-g.no-ip.biz/mymusic/files/zoom-r.jpg>

http://syner-g.no-ip.biz/mymusic/files/zoom-l.jpg>

I can connect it straight to the arranger and v-accordion or up to 4 condenser mics (or any combination in between). Its quite versatile and a small step above the other better known Zoom recorders (like the H4n or H6).

I may make a short video explaining how I make my videos one day if people want?

 

[maugein96]

Looks like a fascinating piece of kit, but I wouldn't have the first idea how to use it.

Takes me all my time to get my laptop to do what I want it to, but I can tell you that the picture and sound of your video clip were excellent.

 

[Tom]

Great recording Jerry, thank you, a wonderful tribute, beautifully played.

 

[Keymn]

Nice video. And good playing. The Zoom does a good job. That is always my dilemma, field recording audio. But to start bringing all that stuff to a gig is too much. When I plug directly into my Zoom Q4 camera, get fairly good results.
My pockets are empty now, but plan on figuring out a compact quick setup in the near future. This video was recorded directly mixer out to camera, line in...

 

[JerryPH]

Thanks guys.

That is always my dilemma, field recording audio. But to start bringing all that stuff to a gig is too much.

The needs of the performer on a gig are way different from home or studio recording. On site we are willing to make a couple more sacrifices because the most important aspect of that is making the people listening to you happy, getting a recording of the event comes a distant second (or 73rd) requirement, and thats if there is someone helping you. Especially when playing alone, one has very little time to concentrate on anything more than making a great performance.

One can definitely get more than good results by going direct to camera. Not only does it work well, there is no audio syncing needed, which is a real time saver.

When I plug directly into my Zoom Q4 camera, get fairly good results. This video was recorded directly mixer out to camera, line in...

It did sound good! I would not hesitate to say that using digital instruments has a big advantage in one area... no feedback to ever worry or even think about!

Today, one can record great audio on cameras that are very affordable, the whole thing is to NEVER use the internal camera mic (or any camera mounted mic). Rather find a way to get the sound either straight from a mixer or straight from the instrument.

Ive already tried going straight from the outputs of the accordion or BK-7m, to the camera and had results that were quite nice, all one needs is a device with 2 characteristics:
- manual settable audio levels (autogain sucks for several reasons)
- though 44.1khz is considered CD quality, you should be looking at something that can capture at 48khz sample rates of sound quality levels (DVD quality levels) and most cameras today are able to do that... even my under $200US Canon Vixia HF R70 does that!

The one price that is paid in that kind of a setup is that because you are recording to a final stereo image, you cannot make any changes once captured. That is likely one of the big advantages of something like the Qtouch, where it is a mixer and recording device all in one and record each track to a separate file. You can record and mix-down later and get even better results, or one can do what I am doing in recording to an external device, and mastering the soundtrack, exporting it and syncing it to the video, but again, in a live gig, this is not easily feasible. Again, one has a choice to make if that is important to you or not.

For me it sometimes is, like when I am not performing live and am just making a video for myself and want that greater level of control. When playing, getting a good recording is not high on my list of priorities, unless it is maybe staged for making advertising or promotional material or something similar.

Ill say it again, were living in a great time... our options are pretty much limitless!

 

[Keymn]

Thanks guys.

That is always my dilemma, field recording audio. But to start bringing all that stuff to a gig is too much.

The needs of the performer on a gig are way different from home or studio recording. On site we are willing to make a couple more sacrifices because the most important aspect of that is making the people listening to you happy, getting a recording of the event comes a distant second (or 73rd) requirement, and thats if there is someone helping you. Especially when playing alone, one has very little time to concentrate on anything more than making a great performance.

One can definitely get more than good results by going direct to camera. Not only does it work well, there is no audio syncing needed, which is a real time saver.

When I plug directly into my Zoom Q4 camera, get fairly good results. This video was recorded directly mixer out to camera, line in...

It did sound good! I would not hesitate to say that using digital instruments has a big advantage in one area... no feedback to ever worry or even think about!

Today, one can record great audio on cameras that are very affordable, the whole thing is to NEVER use the internal camera mic (or any camera mounted mic). Rather find a way to get the sound either straight from a mixer or straight from the instrument.

Ive already tried going straight from the outputs of the accordion or BK-7m, to the camera and had results that were quite nice, all one needs is a device with 2 characteristics:
- manual settable audio levels (autogain sucks for several reasons)
- though 44.1khz is considered CD quality, you should be looking at something that can capture at 48khz sample rates of sound quality levels (DVD quality levels) and most cameras today are able to do that... even my under $200US Canon Vixia HF R70 does that!

The one price that is paid in that kind of a setup is that because you are recording to a final stereo image, you cannot make any changes once captured. That is likely one of the big advantages of something like the Qtouch, where it is a mixer and recording device all in one and record each track to a separate file. You can record and mix-down later and get even better results, or one can do what I am doing in recording to an external device, and mastering the soundtrack, exporting it and syncing it to the video, but again, in a live gig, this is not easily feasible. Again, one has a choice to make if that is important to you or not.

For me it sometimes is, like when I am not performing live and am just making a video for myself and want that greater level of control. When playing, getting a good recording is not high on my list of priorities, unless it is maybe staged for making advertising or promotional material or something similar.

Ill say it again, were living in a great time... our options are pretty much limitless!

I agree with that. We do have options. And like you said the QTouch is the way to go....I am sure many options are becoming Available similar. In the field I just want capture clips for promo pusrpose. Camera and audio cable may be enough. It is just the cable to worry about. Do you think that wireless unit you purchased can be used to connect camera audio? Stereo?
I do seem intimidated when recording live. Seem to make more mistakes!

 

[JerryPH]

Do you think that wireless unit you purchased can be used to connect camera audio? Stereo?

Ah, that... it *might*, depending on how it is used, and I will explain why...

That 25ms delay is not noticeable if all instruments are at the same delay level. Meaning if you connect the line out of the mixer to the transmitter, and the receiver to the line in of the camera, it is not an issue.

In the case of going direct to camera wirelessly from the mixer, it should be fine... at worst, you might have to separate the audio/video in post and push ahead the audio 1-2 frames so that it matches perfectly (if you are super picky like I am), but besides that, it will work fine. In fact that is one of the ways that I intended to use these units.

For connecting my accordion to the mixer wirelessly where the arranger is connected directly, there will be a slight difference you will feel more than hear, but nothing big.

Where I heard the delay the most is when I connected the accordion to the mixer wirelessly *and* had the accordion speakers turned on at the same time... it was like hearing 2 accordions, one ever so slightly behind the other. That drove me nuts enough that I did not like that effect at all.

I do seem intimidated when recording live. Seem to make more mistakes!

Thats normal for some, as there is always a bit more preassure playng live than when alone in the studio or in the basement. That said, I tend to do better in front of an audience as I am more motivated to get it right the first time, because if I screw up there, it is a bit more of a serious thing than when I am recording the song and the tape is rolling. In those cases, it is rare I get anything the way I want on the first take and I need to play it several times. Mostly its more nit-picking than anything else, I always hope the next repeat will be the perfect take... but it rarely is.

 

[Keymn]

Do you think that wireless unit you purchased can be used to connect camera audio? Stereo?

Ah, that... it *might*, depending on how it is used, and I will explain why...

That 25ms delay is not noticeable if all instruments are at the same delay level. Meaning if you connect the line out of the mixer to the transmitter, and the receiver to the line in of the camera, it is not an issue.

In the case of going direct to camera wirelessly from the mixer, it should be fine... at worst, you might have to separate the audio/video in post and push ahead the audio 1-2 frames so that it matches perfectly (if you are super picky like I am), but besides that, it will work fine. In fact that is one of the ways that I intended to use these units.

For connecting my accordion to the mixer wirelessly where the arranger is connected directly, there will be a slight difference you will feel more than hear, but nothing big.

Where I heard the delay the most is when I connected the accordion to the mixer wirelessly *and* had the accordion speakers turned on at the same time... it was like hearing 2 accordions, one ever so slightly behind the other. That drove me nuts enough that I did not like that effect at all.

I do seem intimidated when recording live. Seem to make more mistakes!

Thats normal for some, as there is always a bit more preassure playng live than when alone in the studio or in the basement. That said, I tend to do better in front of an audience as I am more motivated to get it right the first time, because if I screw up there, it is a bit more of a serious thing than when I am recording the song and the tape is rolling. In those cases, it is rare I get anything the way I want on the first take and I need to play it several times. Mostly its more nit-picking than anything else, I always hope the next repeat will be the perfect take... but it rarely is.

I think we know when there is a perfect take. I played the Tennessee Waltz for my dad before he passed, his favorite.

 

[JerryPH]

I think we know when there is a perfect take.

I know my perfect take has not come yet... maybe with the next one.

I played the Tennessee Waltz for my dad before he passed, his favorite.

Awww... heart wrenching. {}