HELP!! How do I go about preparing a CD supplement?

College Majors Music Majors
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<p>I’m not trying to be a music major, but I do want to send in a clarinet instrumental music supplement. How do people usually prepare their CD? Do they just use any recorder and sit in their room and record it? My friend owns a professional recording studio and he said if I need it, he would let me use it - it would sound very professional; in fact, I’m worried that it will sound too professional and may form doubts in the adcoms’ minds… </p>

<p>Should I use the recording studio??</p>

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<p>Given those two choices, I would suggest using the studio, but not doing any processing or editing on the recording. Play your pieces straight through a few times each and then select the best take to put on the CD. Unless you are good enough to get into a major conservatory program and the studio does some processing (reverb, pitch correction, compression, etc…) it is likely that most listeners will be able to tell the difference between that and a commercial recording. If you are playing just the clarinet part of a piece that usually includes other instruments, that should also tip them off that it is not a commercial recording. If you sound like Richard Stoltzman backed by the NY Philharmonic, then they will have reasonable doubts. The advantages of using the studio are that you will have a choice of microphones and a controlled environment in which to record.</p>

<p>You could try it in your room if you have a decent recording device, but the acoustics may not be very flattering for the instrument and you run the risk of having an otherwise really good take interrupted by a noise source beyond your control (automobile horn, neighbor’s lawnmower, etc…).</p>

<p>My favorite way would be to find a large reverberant space (like a church or a college recital hall) with good acoustics and get your friend to record you there.</p>

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<p>What do you mean? Do you mean I shouldn’t record in the studio but use the gadgets and the devices of the studio to record in a large reverberant space? </p>

<p>Thanks.</p>

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<p>Yes. Most studios have a rather small, acoustically dead space in which the recording takes place. They add artificial reverb to make it sound like you played in a much larger hall. Rather than doing it that way, I prefer the sound you get by taking advantage of the natural reverb present in a larger space with good acoustics.</p>

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<p>ahh okay. Thanks!!</p>

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<p>if my friend isn’t willing to bring out his stuff outside his studio, what recording device should I use?</p>

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<p>In that case, recording in the studio may be your best bet.</p>

<p>If you want to do it yourself, then take a look at the Zoom H4n. Or, if you have an iPod or an iPhone, something like the Blue Microphones Mikey (be sure to check out the free Blue Fire recording app if you go this way.) Or, if you have a decently fast laptop, something like the MXL 990 USB microphone.</p>

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<p>We like the zoom H-2. It’s handy to have one anyway, if you can afford it. As I remember, it cost maybe $80.</p>

<p><a href=“http://www.zoom.co.jp/english/products/h2/[/url]”>http://www.zoom.co.jp/english/products/h2/&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

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<p>I agree with the others that have suggested you’re likely to be happier with the sound if you can record in a hall. I’ve done both studio and hall recordings, and MUCH prefer to record in a hall - my apple laptop with a plug in mic does a pretty good job.</p>