Recording music on a boat?

[goeasy123]

PortClydeMe.... thanks for asking.

To be honest I just wanted to know if anyone had a 'real' setup that worked on a boat and with the 12vdc house. Mind you, it's an entertaining thread!!

‘My Stuff’… I have an old Win7 gamer laptop with Cubase 5, Waves bundle and a 4 in to USB Behringer I/F. A few mid-priced mics. Anything much more than that (expensive) isn't much use to me as my hearing’s going (mostly to Rory Gallagher at the Ulster Hall in 1974… man what a night!!).

‘… to gain’ a quick and easy way to track and mix down 2 DI’s guitars, maybe the odd other real instrument and 2 voc’s. Occasionally a live field recording with a stereo pair.

[goeasy123]

And now for some opinion… My stuff also includes a load of expensive dust collecting valve and discrete component electronics all of which is unreliable, time sucking and stifles the creative process. If you’re the artist the fancy gear is ‘chocolate tea pot’ unless you have a producer/engineer to go with it…. And there isn’t room for one of those on the boat.

I’ve recorded at Olympic and believe me Yesterday was recorded on **** noisey gear held together for the duration of the session by genius analogue electronics engineering. The results were great because George Martin made then great, the material was promoted with a big marketing budget and anything else that might have had artistic merit didn’t have a vehicle to see the light of day. BTW… Compare the original release to the 2009 remaster. Does the remaster do anything for the performance or its artistic merit?

In a thousand years from now aliens will come to Earth. They will comment on how humans made and listened to LIVE music for 6 million year until someone invented the recording machine, business moved in and it all went to **** for 100 years. Then the recording machines got really cheap and no one could make the business work anymore. People started having to play live again…. And they all live happily ever after.

[weavis]

I use the same stuff on the boat as I do on land. SM57/8s.. high spec windows machine..mixer, Yamaha work station and a couple of different midi progs.

But.. end up mainly doing acoustic recording direct to disk and then fettle it when having time on land.

I'm not full time on the boat so just transport Fender strat and Goodall to and from. I only have one of each due to cost lol. Plus I'm left-handed so the cost is more.

Nothing nice than a gentle sea breeze background on acoustic recording... reminds me of vinyl.

[unbusted67]

Originally Posted by PortClydeMe

Too bad the recording industry is now DEAD, and all money is now via touring and t-shirt merch. Sad sad days!

Strongly disagree. The musicians are untethered from the labels and raking it in touring. These are excellent days. Especially to be a tour manager/sound engineer like me! And it's really nice when your tours take you through Amsterdam and you can captain a boat and mix a band at Paradiso all in one night.

And yes, I am a Maneiac these days. I run a water shuttle in Penobscot Bay year round (god help me). One of my good buddies owns the house next to to Co Op in Port Clyde. That's usually my port of call when sailing up from Boston, I know it well!

[PortClydeMe]

Originally Posted by unbusted67

Strongly disagree. The musicians are untethered from the labels and raking it in touring. These are excellent days. Especially to be a tour manager/sound engineer like me! And it's really nice when your tours take you through Amsterdam and you can captain a boat and mix a band at Paradiso all in one night.

And yes, I am a Maneiac these days. I run a water shuttle in Penobscot Bay year round (god help me). One of my good buddies owns the house next to to Co Op in Port Clyde. That's usually my port of call when sailing up from Boston, I know it well!

In the old days, we toured to support album sales. The big money was made through selling records. Today, there are no album sales, so artists give away music to support tour and merch money. Ever been on tour, year after year? It gets old, brother, especially when there are no mansions and Ferraris due to no record sales. That was my point.

As for Port Clyde, well ... hahaha. Know it well also - 54 years. Howards Head. The last time I was there, I took my mom to Monhegan on the Laura B. She got tired walking around. Anyway, the lobster is always good. The attached photo is from the deck of our house. Can you read the port of call?

[PortClydeMe]

Originally Posted by Andy Todd

PortClydeMe.... thanks for asking.

To be honest I just wanted to know if anyone had a 'real' setup that worked on a boat and with the 12vdc house. Mind you, it's an entertaining thread!!

‘My Stuff’… I have an old Win7 gamer laptop with Cubase 5, Waves bundle and a 4 in to USB Behringer I/F. A few mid-priced mics. Anything much more than that (expensive) isn't much use to me as my hearing’s going (mostly to Rory Gallagher at the Ulster Hall in 1974… man what a night!!).

‘… to gain’ a quick and easy way to track and mix down 2 DI’s guitars, maybe the odd other real instrument and 2 voc’s. Occasionally a live field recording with a stereo pair.

Understood. It appears that you have what you need. The mid-price stuff all works fine. I was just pointing out the other end, and it costs money. It's quite amazing what's available today. You can now fit Abbey Road into a 25-foot sloop, and still have room left for a v-berth and a chart table.

[PortClydeMe]

Originally Posted by Lake-Effect

Outside of mics and speakers, there's not a huge gulf between good budget recording electronics and the top of the line.

No hissy fit, just a pro talking gear. There actually IS quite a big gulf. That's why the high-end gear is expensive.

Put on a good set of headphones, and then listen to this (not me playing):

Neve vs Avalon vs Chandler vs RME. Can you hear the difference? I can. Avalon for me! It sounds just "super yummy", both vocals and acoustic! Warm expensive goodness. First came across the Avalon back around 2004 while recording in a San Pedro studio.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aC4V...&frags=pl%2Cwn

[unbusted67]

Originally Posted by PortClydeMe

In the old days, we toured to support album sales. The big money was made through selling records. Today, there are no album sales, so artists give away music to support tour and merch money. Ever been on tour, year after year? It gets old, brother, especially when there are no mansions and Ferraris due to no record sales. That was my point.

As for Port Clyde, well ... hahaha. Know it well also - 54 years. Howards Head. The last time I was there, I took my mom to Monhegan on the Laura B. She got tired walking around. Anyway, the lobster is always good. The attached photo is from the deck of our house. Can you read the port of call?

I can’t make it out! And yes I’ve been on your year after year. For almost 20 years and I loved almost every day of it. I guess i’m sick that way. lol.

[Mixman1]

Originally Posted by unbusted67

Strongly disagree. The musicians are untethered from the labels and raking it in touring. These are excellent days. Especially to be a tour manager/sound engineer like me! And it's really nice when your tours take you through Amsterdam and you can captain a boat and mix a band at Paradiso all in one night.

And yes, I am a Maneiac these days. I run a water shuttle in Penobscot Bay year round (god help me). One of my good buddies owns the house next to to Co Op in Port Clyde. That's usually my port of call when sailing up from Boston, I know it well!

You got that right unbusted67! You can have a smash hit now and not make any money unless you tour. I'm a touring sound engineer like you and I have never been busier.

[PortClydeMe]

Originally Posted by unbusted67

I can’t make it out! And yes I’ve been on your year after year. For almost 20 years and I loved almost every day of it. I guess i’m sick that way. lol.

It reads "PORT CLYDE ME"

Our house is 1 nautical mile from port. In the morning at high tide, I often chat with the lobstermen from my deck as they pull pots in front of the house. "How's the fishing this morning?" "It's damn good, ahayaa." "Ok, see you in port."

I'm then there waiting when he arrives at the CO-OP. It's nice to be given "first choice", and talk about FRESH! Those lobsters were swimming in front of my house 30 minutes previous. ........... **** FRESH ! **** .......

[PortClydeMe]

Originally Posted by Mixman1

You got that right unbusted67! You can have a smash hit now and not make any money unless you tour. I'm a touring sound engineer like you and I have never been busier.

Back in "the day", a lot of artists made a TON of bread with not much touring. It was known as radio airplay and album sales. That was my point. Now, you MUST tour. The "recording industry" is dead. Life on the road? No thanks!

On that topic, I now laugh when I see has-beens organizing "rock cruises" aimed at boomers and their grand-kids (hahaha), or Aerosmith signing up for a long-term stay-in at a Vegas casino (hahahaha). Such a shame. I bet Steven and Joe would rather be selling a zillion copies of Toys again, instead of going to work every night at the casino.

[PatMc57]

I use a Zoom H2n.

Mine is about 6 yrs old. I originally bought to record the band I play in at Church.
I have recorded directly off of the PA...and used it as a "Mic in a room".
The Direct recordings are truly great digital recordings.
The Mic Only recordings are surprisingly good.
Today's models may be even better.
Mine has the option of AA batteries or A/C adapter. the batteries are fine for the job on the boat...don't forget to remove them over time...as they will corrode your terminals.
If ambitious, you can do multiple recordings..and overdub/mix with a Program like Audacity..
I have not been disappointed. mine cost roughly $250 then.
Patrick
S/V Keiko

[PatMc57]

Originally Posted by PortClydeMe

Back in "the day", a lot of artists made a TON of bread with not much touring. It was known as radio airplay and album sales. That was my point. Now, you MUST tour. The "recording industry" is dead. Life on the road? No thanks!

On that topic, I now laugh when I see has-beens organizing "rock cruises" aimed at boomers and their grand-kids (hahaha), or Aerosmith signing up for a long-term stay-in at a Vegas casino (hahahaha). Such a shame. I bet Steven and Joe would rather be selling a zillion copies of Toys again, instead of going to work every night at the casino.

HA!!! Me too..
Have opened for The Grass Roots..The Guess Who..Head East...Brian Setzer/Stray Cats...Herman's Hermits...and others...only to have 1 original member left with some of these...Owned the name...I guess. Here in Quakertown, PA..we have built a new Amphitheater...and now..through a Broker...Eventbrite...We get every Geritol /Boat payment tour on the circuit.

Currently...Foghat is about to play with the Guess Who.
In true form...even though I have played venues with them...I have NO idea who will be there..hence the name...I suppose...Guess Who...
HA!
Patrick
S/V Keiko

[PortClydeMe]

Originally Posted by PatMc57

HA!!! Me too..
Have opened for The Grass Roots..The Guess Who..Head East...Brian Setzer/Stray Cats...Herman's Hermits...and others...only to have 1 original member left with some of these...Owned the name...I guess. Here in Quakertown, PA..we have built a new Amphitheater...and now..through a Broker...Eventbrite...We get every Geritol /Boat payment tour on the circuit.

Currently...Foghat is about to play with the Guess Who.
In true form...even though I have played venues with them...I have NO idea who will be there..hence the name...I suppose...Guess Who...
HA!
Patrick
S/V Keiko

Grew up with The Guess Who, and later, BTO after Randy Bachman left The Guess Who. Foghat? Know them well! Dave and Rod are now dead, yet saw them live more than once back in the '70s. An absolutely great show, every time. Nothing like it today. Before MTV, only the cream rose to the top. Today, it's just a bunch of nonsense junk, dancing around with no musical talent. Nobody can actually play, or write a hit song.


Hey! What was this thread about? I forget. Recording something on a boat? hahaha

[unbusted67]

Originally Posted by PatMc57

HA!!! Me too..
Have opened for The Grass Roots..The Guess Who..Head East...Brian Setzer/Stray Cats...Herman's Hermits...and others...only to have 1 original member left with some of these...Owned the name...I guess. Here in Quakertown, PA..we have built a new Amphitheater...and now..through a Broker...Eventbrite...We get every Geritol /Boat payment tour on the circuit.

Currently...Foghat is about to play with the Guess Who.
In true form...even though I have played venues with them...I have NO idea who will be there..hence the name...I suppose...Guess Who...
HA!
Patrick
S/V Keiko

I once mixed monitors for "The Original Whalers" on the beach in San Diego only to find out that "The Original Whalers" were playing across town. Each band only had one member of Bob's original band and neither got along LOL.