Recording kit tip for those working remotely with young people who only have a phone and no computer

Hiya, thought this might be useful to others - I run a recording studio-based project for young people 16-25, lots of vocalists/rappers. Lots of them only have a phone and no other tech and so I was struggling find a way to work remotely with them. I found these Tascam DR-22WL recorders which were £110 each with my discount and they are pretty good quality (up to 24/96 stereo) pretty straightforward and have an app which allows files to be sent to a phone wirelessly. From there the app allows you to share files by email/facebook/web.

What I wanted to be able to do was to send them instrumentals to work with and for them to be able to send me back good quality acapella vocal files to mix with. I had one recorder sent to me first so I could get my head around it and they received the recorders yesterday - after some help getting going and recording advice they were already sending me files last night. I have them listening to the instrumental i've sent them on their phone using one earbud, and then they record vox clean into the recorder which they send me to mix with.

Just thought that might be of some help/interest to some.....

cheers, d

Comments

by Author David Carpenter

submitted on Fri, 29/05/2020 - 11:41

I've not used the model described here, but at BCB Radio we've been using Tascam digital recorders for a number of years, and we think they're great (I'm not sponsored to say this!). We use the DR-05's which cost about £80 BUT they don't have the wireless app capability, which is obviously partly why Dan needs this model.

In general, the auto levels on the Tascam work great for good recordings. They have the ability to plug headphones in to monitor the recording. I'm pretty sure you can even do multitrack recording on them. They are also good for recording live music - i.e. they can handle to loud noise levels.

Similar things are available from other manufacturers as well.

For radio/speech voice recording we have been using phones. Smartphones tend to come with a voice recording app, and a phone recording is definitely good enough for broadcast. I think it's definitely worth experimenting with (go with just audio recording not video maybe?) In fact, once we've worked with a group using a Tascam, we usually then encourage them to have a go with their phone if they have one to see how easy it is to record when they feel like it.

We do buy pop shields for the Tascam: Again, there are other manufacturers available, but theres do the job for us, and fit over the top nicely: https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B000KFVBH6/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_titl...

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Recording kit tip for those working remotely with young people who only have a phone and no computer

by Author David Carpenter

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