bootlegging with mini-disc players

[Brideoffrankenstein]

I have just discovered a mini-disc player in the depths of my flat. I have been thinking about trying to bootleg some concerts in the past, and now it would seem I may be able to.

I have the actual mini-disc player and a few blank mini-discs (74 minutes ones - are there any bigger ones?), but no microphone to plug into it.

Do any of you know where I can purchase a suitable microphone for it? Also, how do you transfer what you have recorded onto your computer?

I hope someone out there can help as I know some of you bootlegged The Sisters recently!

[Mrs. Snowey]

First off, check the unit has got a line input socket so it'll accept a microphone. And a record button (sounds obvious I know, but the number of times I thought I'd seen a bargain in the shop window, only to realise it was only a Minidisc player, not a player/recorder )

Yes you can get 80 minute Minidiscs, or you could see if it's got a long-play function.

Microphones can be obtained from t'Ebay, or Superfi Or sometimes Richer Sounds (but they've gone a bit cack now, so not optimistic)

ATM I will transfer the gig to an audio CD-recorder, then rip the audio CD to a PC with Nero and burn it from there. I'm sure there must be a way of sending the Minidisc data direct to a PC (it is all digital after all). But I have no idea how! I'm sure there are people on this forum who have such knowledge

The most important thing is get the blooming thing in there And then not get spotted

Good luck

[CellThree]

You could either connect a cable from the headphone socket on the Minidisc to the line in port on your soundcard which is the analogue way of doing things, or if you have something like a Soundblaster Audigy 2 Platinum thing it has an Optical In/Out port built into it which is the digital way.

I would then record the audio into the PC using a program like Soundforge or Goldwave, save it as a WAV file, split it up into tracks, then burn it onto CD using Nero.

[Brideoffrankenstein]

Blimey sounds complicated!

Thanks to Mrs Snowey and C3

The mini-disc player does have a microphone input thing and a record button so I suppose I'm halfway there (sort of )




Once you've got the thing into the gig I assume you just press record? Is there a way of ensuring you get a good recording?

[Izzy HaveMercy]

Is there a way of ensuring you get a good recording?

Not really when trying to bootleg something. It's a bit secret eh? So putting two condenser cardioid microphones in a stereo-positioned setup is not really an option

Just beware of standing next to Germans. They tend to be a bit loud on Sisters gigs Clip the mike on your collar or something (when you have a clip-on mic) and refrain from jumping, singing along and smoking/breathing for best recordings. And try to stand somewhere half-way in the crowd, a bit on the side but not the whole way. X marks the spot


- - S T A G E - -

ooooooooooooo
ooooooooooooo
oxxooooooooxxo
oxxooooooooxxo
ooooooooooooo

Happy leggin' !

IZ.

[Eva]

My two cents:

1. When buying a microphone make sure that it either takes its power suply directly fom the md recorder or that the extra battery pack you need for its power supply is not the size of a small family car. Binaural mics are the best, but their power supply is usually very large. A normal Sony stereo mic will do the trick, just make sure that you can clip it to somewhere, and that it can't fall off the clipping thingy. If it's removable GLUE it to the clipping thingy, as there's nothing worse than a mic falling off while you're recording. BTW If your cleavage isn't too large, clip the mic to the middle of your bra. There it is well protected and usually nobody besides your boyfriend can spot it.

2. You either have a sharp md recorder, where you can see what you're doing when setting the rec levels on the remote control, or you have any other brand and it's a trial and error thing to set the record levels correctly. My advice for the latter case in particular: Play with the record levels of your md recorder at home while listening to some loud music on your stereo. Set the rec levels of your md recorder to a level well below what they could take from your stereo. Go to a gig you wouldn't bootleg otherwise, stand where you would place yourself if it was the gig of your favourite band, and bootleg that gig. If it is a loud gig and the recording turns out fine or is slightly too quiet, keep the rec levels for next time where they were for this gig. If not, play around some more at another gig. But always keep in mind that while it is no problem to boost the sound level of a quiet recording on your computer, there is no way of taking away distortion that results from rec levels set to high.

3. Practice as often as possible, because at a gig you might have to be able to set everything in complete darkness or without looking at the md recorder, especially if you like to stand in the frontrow.

I wish you good luck and don't loose your patience, as it does take a while until one succeeds, but the recordings you get are worth the hassle.

[Andie]

Oh yes

the recordings that Eva gets are most definately worth the hassle

[Eva]

Awwww, Burn, that was very nice of you to say so....

[Andie]

Awwww, Burn, that was very nice of you to say so....

it's the truth...and so would say quite a lot of the posters here when they know how much hard work and effort you put into the shows you *cough* record *cough* aledgedly

[James Blast]

sounds like a miltary exercise Eva

[Brideoffrankenstein]

The question is...have I got the brain power?

Thanks everyone so far esp C3

[Andrew S]

Just beware of standing next to Germans. They tend to be a bit loud on Sisters gigs

"Woo!" and "Baby!" seem to be feature a lot in the noise for some reason.

[Eva]

sounds like a miltary exercise Eva

No, I only try to spare her the hardship I had to go through (and still have sometimes).... There's nothing as sad as looking forward to a decent recording after a great gig only to find out you've fcuked it up. Again... And such sad experiences, dear Burn, are the reason why I never get enough of being told when I've NOT fcuked them up....

[Andie]

Eva...i'll tell you all day long over tea and shortcake

[Mrs. Snowey]

Yet another two-pennorth:

If you've got a mobile phone with you, it's dead handy as a torch

Have a look-see on your minidisc to check if there's a way of setting it so as not to switch off if the "stop recording" button is pressed accidentally When we took ours on it's maiden voyage, we ended up with 15 minutes worth of Fall. Cracking gig, but 15 minutes is prolly a bit short even by Mark E. Smith standards

[James Blast]

Syndrome - Aah!

[Mrs. Snowey]

Syndrome - Aah!

Is that a sigh of relief, pleasure or fear Mr. Blast?

[flip]

Hi there,

For my job i recorded quite a lot of amateurbands directly via the 'front of house' soundboard to minidisk. At first we wanted to record gigs as loud as possible. But then the md goes into clipping, recording no sound at all.
Now we set the recording level back, to as less as -20 db, with some cloth-material under the machine to reduce vibrations / direct contact from the table you put your md on.

If you want to secretly record a gig on md, make sure your input levels are not to high. You can boost it later on in your computer. Unlike tapes, you won't boost the hiss.
Bra ornaments are (mostly) not given to us guys, but do keep your stereo microphone shielded from moving clothes and any loud friends.

I love recording with md. Sure you get less information then on analog devises, but the presence and dynamics are great.

With my own band GAP (www.listen2gap.nl), we recorded our demo's/cd's on an analog 4 track cassetterecorder, 1 track guitar, 1 track snaredrum, 2 tracks stereo with the total drumsetup, bassguitar and guitarsynthesizer. Mix it down to a 2 track stereo on md, put those 2 tracks back on a cassette and you get 2 tracks extra to record vocals and overdubs.
Final 4 track-cassettemix mixed to 2 track-stereo md.
Perfect! Load into computer and burn!

So Eva, what are your special treats, materials & measurements to record a gig?

Cheers, Flip

[Eva]

@Flip: I've mostly revealed my secrets, and I still consider myself a beginner.
Of course the bra thing only works, if your t-shirt doesn't touch the mic.
A certain minimum cleavage is needed to avoid that, but not too much so
you don't squeeze the mic inbetween. I know this is too much information
for some people.... Besides: I always keep the md recorder on me,
that's what waist bags are for.
Regarding the length of mini disks: I know the professionals among us
change the mds during the break before the encores start. Despite the
probably better quality I've found this to be a bad idea. As Murphy teaches
you: whatever can go wrong will inevitably go wrong - especially the small
details you haven't thought of. Like Eldritch reappearing before your
md recorder has even stopped "toc editing".... An event that of
course leads you to violate your md recorder, so it refuses to work, which
then inevitably leads to large amounts of money you don't have spent on
a new device somewhere in a foreign country...
MD recorders in general: the thing why everybody tells you to buy a Sharp
is that Sharp are designed for these barely legal purposes (but, attention:
Sharp have stopped making md recorders, as they rely on mp3 players
now AFAIK). Sony are less "professional" and are said to break down soon
(a lot of design but crap terchnology): I've made good recordings with
both brands and all 3 (2 Sony due to Murphy's Law, or rather Eldritch's
unpredictability, 1 Sharp because I lost patience) are still alive and kicking.
Somebody mentioned the "Hold" button - this is another MOST important
feature - I've learned about that through a sad experience too - 10
minutes of Sisters @ Hildesheim 2002 weren't enough for me either...
AND - most important: always use fresh batteries for your md recorder.
And if the battery container comes separately, you know, one you screw
onto the md-recorder, make sure you fix it to the md recorder with an
elastic band...
As to transferring the music to your computer: as I don't have a mic line in
on my mac I have to use an usb interface. I think the advantage of that is
that I can transfer the music digitally. But I might be wrong...
Oh, and sharpen your elbows or get used to the nutters (of any nationality
and gender), cause they find you inevitably, at least if you're in or close to
the front row...

[James Blast]

when does the film come out Eva

[Eva]

As soon as The Sisters DVD...

[Brideoffrankenstein]

MD recorders in general: the thing why everybody tells you to buy a Sharp is that Sharp are designed for these barely legal purposes

Wahey! Mine's a Sharp!

[Eva]

MD recorders in general: the thing why everybody tells you to buy a Sharp is that Sharp are designed for these barely legal purposes

Wahey! Mine's a Sharp!

Welcome to the club! It will never die and it will never let you down...

[Karst]

One tip - try to stand close to FOH - probably less people and the soundguys use their ears to focus from their vantage point.

Good place to go it the tapers forum on TTD:

http://www.thetradersden.org/forums/for ... y.php?f=41

[Eva]

@ Karst:

But what the heck is "FOH"? If it's the place where the mixing desk is - sorry, no way. Even the perfect recording isn't worth missing the front row experience imho....