I had my first private voice lesson at DPU today (hooray!), and my teacher said that she generally requires her students to record the lesson, to allow for easy practicing later. She said a lot of people do it on iPods, but I don't have one... I don't actually have any means of recording myself. She has a way for me to record myself on a cassette tape, which would work fine, except I have no way to play it afterwards.
Does anyone know of any fairly inexpensive way of solving this problem? I'd appreciate it! Thanks!
Posted by Tante Shvester (Member # 8202) on :
Um, buy a cheap tape recorder?
Posted by Nell Gwyn (Member # 8291) on :
I'm guessing the easiest and cheapest way to fix it would be to buy a portable tape player.
(How do people record on iPods?)
Edit: Tante beat me!
Posted by Raia (Member # 4700) on :
I'm not sure how people do it on iPods, actually.
I guess that would be the best solution. I was thinking maybe you guys could come up with something better, haha.
Maybe I'll just go to walmart. That's about all we have here anyway. It's the place to hang out. Posted by Dagonee (Member # 5818) on :
Do you have a laptop?
Posted by Nell Gwyn (Member # 8291) on :
According to the Walmart site, they have a boombox with a tape player for about $25...there's also those mini-voice recorder things (like what you'd use at a class lecture or something), but you'd probably have to record on it too, and the quality might not be good enough. Target's site looked like they had a better selection, if there's one near you. Your voice teacher probably has a decent enough recorder that you'll be able to hear yourself pretty clearly on the tape - that might be easier than messing with your own recording stuff that might not work as well.
And yay for voice lessons! I'm jealous - I took lessons for 7-8 years, but I haven't had the time or money to find a new teacher after I moved for grad school. Someday... Posted by Raia (Member # 4700) on :
Yes, I do have a laptop, as a matter of fact...
Nell, I'm at college for music. I love every moment of it. Posted by Dagonee (Member # 5818) on :
Buy a good microphone or, if they have good microphones, an adapter. It should be easy to set up to record at high enough fidelity.
Someone here knows more about this, I'm sure, but it's not hard.
The laptop has the harddrive space, and the recordings will be readily available to you.
Posted by Raia (Member # 4700) on :
Hrmn. Interesting idea.
*will look further into that*
Posted by Nell Gwyn (Member # 8291) on :
*intrigued by Dag's laptop idea*
Perhaps that's how the iPod thing happens? Maybe they record lessons as mp3s.
That sounds like a better plan than tapes, as far as sound quality goes. And then you can burn them onto CDs and such.
*wonders why Nell never heard of this while still taking lessons*
Posted by Jhai (Member # 5633) on :
Hey Raia
You could borrow my iPod and my boyfriend's microphone attachment for the iPod, OR you could use the microphone he has hooked up to the computer (for when we use the computer as a telephone).
So, yeah.
Come down to my apartment and I'll get you set up. Maybe we can figure out how do do something on your laptop too (did you buy apple or dell?).
(and your belated birthday couch will eventually come too, I promise)
Actually, you can stroll down tonight if you'd like - just call first to make sure we haven't headed over to Walmart (ex. 5254)
Posted by fugu13 (Member # 2859) on :
Get a good digital voice recorder.
Posted by Tante Shvester (Member # 8202) on :
quote:Maybe I'll just go to walmart. That's about all we have here anyway. It's the place to hang out.
How sad. How very, very sad.
Posted by Raia (Member # 4700) on :
Hey Jhai,
Sorry, I was at the PAC meeting, and only just got back. I probably won't make it down there tonight, but what are you up to tomorrow? I have a dell, and I have no idea how to do anything you just said.
Anyway, if you're around tomorrow, give me a call or something, or post here, and we can plan for then. I appreciate it!
Tante: It is extraordinarily sad. YOU'RE telling ME. I'm from JERUSALEM!
Posted by ketchupqueen (Member # 6877) on :
Raia, go here and download Audacity. We've been using it for the reading aloud and a cappella projects, and it's really great-- good quality and everything, easy to learn, absolutely free.
If you want to be able to save the files as mp3s, you also need to download LAME.
Wikipedia has a neato page with easy-to-read information on how to use Audacity.
Posted by ketchupqueen (Member # 6877) on :
Oh, and Amazon.com has cheap, decent computer microphones (under $10.)
Posted by ketchupqueen (Member # 6877) on :
I have this one, which works quite well, especially for the price. But it looks like this one is the newer version-- and cheaper, too. (The same price I got mine for.)
Posted by Raia (Member # 4700) on :
How far away does it pick up? I mean, we move around in lessons a lot... if I set it on the piano, or something, will it pick it up if Caroline's making me dance all over the room?
Posted by Kwea (Member # 2199) on :
I think that Audacity is a great program for the PC, and if you have a laptop it would work well. Buy a GOOD mic though, it will be worth the expense.
Posted by ketchupqueen (Member # 6877) on :
Okay, then, you need a better mic. I suggest investing in an adaptor that can hook up a professional mic (which I'm sure she has) to your computer.
Posted by Jhai (Member # 5633) on :
Raia - I have a class until 10 tonight (actually, I'm currently in it - gotta love these computer labs). You're welcome to come down after that, or stop by sometime tomorrow (mid to late afternoon should be a good time). My boyfriend is in ITAP, so he should be able to help you figure out exactly what you need, and we can loan you a mic until you can order what you need, or go down to Walmart.
We'll try to get the sofa out after it stops raining.
Posted by Raia (Member # 4700) on :
Alright... I'm thinking it might just be easier to buy a tape player and blank tapes. I despise cassette tapes, because I can never figure out which side is which, but that may really just be the easiest way to do this. And I have a lesson tomorrow at 1:00, so that way at least I'll have something for tomorrow... I may find that that's all I need. I'll go to the bookstore tomorrow to see if they have tapes and a player and stuff.
Posted by fugu13 (Member # 2859) on :
Like a tape recorder, only better and with no tapes.
Posted by Raia (Member # 4700) on :
Emphasis on inexpensive ...
Posted by Jhai (Member # 5633) on :
If you can come by my place between 10 & 1, I can loan you my iPod + the recorder plugin for your lesson tomorrow (as long as you promise to take good care of my baby )
Posted by Raia (Member # 4700) on :
While I greatly appreciate the offer, and I would absolutely love that, I have class STRAIGHT from 8:00 - 12:30, and then my lesson is already at 1:00! Posted by Jhai (Member # 5633) on :
Ick - that's a long day.
We could do a hand-off in the PAC around 12:40, if you wish. My next class is at Julian at 12:50. Then you could come over in the afternoon and we could try to figure out a long-term (and cheap!) solution.
Edit: Or I could meet you in the Hub, since you'll be probably be trying to beat back the crowds for some food during your half hour break.
Posted by Raia (Member # 4700) on :
Alright, that would work! Thank you! In the Hub, then?
Posted by Raia (Member # 4700) on :
Actually, on second thoughts, I'll probably be in the PAC desperately trying to practice, before my lesson... that might be easier. I'll probably have lunch at 1:30 ish, after my lesson, and then I'll also have time, before my 3:00 diction class.
Posted by Raia (Member # 4700) on :
*bump* Jhaaai... where are you?
I'll be in a practice room upstairs, and around 12:40 I'll check Hatrack on my laptop again, and if you hadn't answered me, I'll either wander around the PAC Locust St. lobby, or even over to the Hub.
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