JPF Home Page Forums General Messages Songwriter Message Forum USING TAPE RECORDERS FOR SONG IDEAS.......

anyone still use cassette tape recorders for catching ideas for songs? just wondering; I've been doing that of late. haven't done it in a while.

markus

Hi Markus:

I used cassette tapes early-on but the storage space, logistics and new technology quickly convinced me that there are easier recording methods available now. Digital recording is a snap and CDs are easy to churn out when connected to a modern PC with burner and editing software.

Nothing wrong with cassettes... just depends upon your taste. Also remember that if you are submitting songs to A&R types, the CD has become the "official" media of choice with only a few exceptions.

Dave

Markus,
I have a old Tascam 4-track Cassette recorder that I use when I get an idea for a song. I'll record it to a work tape and then get back to it when I have more time to work on it. Let's see, I have about 4 or 5 45 minute cassettes to go through now. I better get going on that stuff.

All my tape gear is now broken, so it's just digital 4 track for demo, digital eight track for recording proper, and computer for mixing and mastering etc.

I can't even remember the last time I recorded anything onto tape!

Dan

I only very rarely record an unfinished idea. It's been awhile, but when I did, I always used tape. Now that I can record digitally, I'll probably do this sort of thing on the computer...it's just as quick, and seeing that file name might prompt me to action sooner. A snippet of song buried somewhere on a cassette usually only crops up again years later. "OH YEAH, I remember that idea..."

If my computer is on, I record into my computer, sometimes using Audacity, which loads more quickly than Cubase. If my computer is off, I use my creative MP3 player to record ideas, as it's got a mic. If I don't have it with me (which is rare), I call myself at home and record on the answering machine, or call my mobile and do the same.

I haven't used cassettes for years. My problem was that I kept accumulating cassettes and I didn't know where my ideas were stored etc

My MP3 player has limited storage, which forces me to go through my ideas and organise them (eg dump them or record them properly on my computer). As for my ideas stored on my computer, i regularly go through them, as I store them in a folder on my desktop so it's right in front of me.

I do not use a cassette tape. Whoh cannot remember the last time must be about ten years or so ago. If I want a quick recording I use a minidisc or just plug a mic into my laptop.

yes, but hopeful to buy a digital recorder someday.

I've got a friend who still records every jam session with a cassette. The last time I went over there he called and asked me to pick up a couple cassettes on my way over. No one carries them anymore. S.O.L.

I use my cellphone recorder sometimes

I use my music looped brain (that drives me nuts sometimes), which either remembers a good idea or remembers a not so good idea.

And the ones I forget?,,,,,Why would they be memorable or good for listeners, if not even for it's normal John's ear's creator?

No, never used them for creativity. But, a friend I know uses one for learning parts played by fellow band members, to know what and how to play with them. Now that makes great sense!

John

I use one just to record ideas....I have a digital one as well.
Don't ask why I don't use it I don't have an answer....

You better believe I use the little cassete recorder and tape, used it yesterday...

Nothing is easier cheaper or faster, the batteries last a long time and you can take it anywhere... One thing that helps is shorter length tapes, faster to find stuff.

The when you get some time you can dump stuff on to a CD. Which will eventually skip all over the place, jam and go DAAAAAAA- DAAAAAA and also read ERROR in some CD player. Like your car lol....

Q- Do you know what digital devices to your songs and song ideas?
A- Lose them! I have lost countless stuff now. Just tonight 4 songs from a band I recorded are GONE! No explaination. That is gonna hurt me badly, very badly!

I have never ever ever never lost a song put to tape, and the casettes I have from 30 + years ago work exactly the same as then.

I remember years ago we were at a studio and my friend and I were taking someone importants phone number down. I took out my little black note book & he whipped out his brand new fancy Palm Pilot with the fancy stick pen attachement.
He laughed at me.... and gave me the lecture.

Then he later had to call me for that guys phone number... I laughed at him, the last laugh, I STILL have that number his Palm Pilot has been in the dump for years.

Don't make a big deal (technical wise or not) to do something simple.

Ah, Oh yeah yes i still use casette tapes to throw ideas down

Yeah, I still use cassettes for about everything. All my music is recorded on a simple recorder. One day I'll afford something better. I do like them for the simplicity, just hit record and play/sing. If i used my puter, i'd end up checking my email first and lose the idea.

I will also use my cell phone for small snippets when i'm elsewhere.
Dave

Had 54 notes on my digital recorder. erased one but hit the erase button twice by accident and didn't notice the prompt that said "erase all?" Woops. It felt like I had just zapped a few of my brain cells! Better spend once a week transfering notes to the computer or logging them.

Ouch!

And for those like the 90% that wont sit each week and spend time out of there busy lives transferring things to there computer, try a cassette tape, I pick up 3 small tape recorders every summer at yard sales for 25 cents to 50 cents each. Even found a 100 pack stack of tapes for a dollar!

Then put your recorded tapes in a cardboard shoe box, pull them out in 40 years and you've lost nothing and you wasted no time backing up whatsoever....
What a concept huh!

We love to make things complex, it's hard not to.

I have a Sony digitasl recorder I liked for it's compact size and ease of use but it was a battery hog. Making things worse, it only used two AAA batteries limiting battery life even further, forcing me to use rechargeble batteries which will discarge in about a month, even if unused. If the batteries were allowed to run down without replacement, the data stored in the unit would be lost. I had to carry extra batteries and keep them all recharged at least once a month.

I now use my cell phone's recording feature. It's a pain to get to since I have to go through a few layers of menu which can be distracting when driving (unlike the digital recorder which I could switch on and off by feel). Still, even though my cell phone stays buried in my purse turned off until I need it (I bought it for emergency use when I'm traveling), I find it less hassle to deal with in the long run.

"I now use my cell phone's recording feature. It's a pain to get to since I have to go through a few layers of menu which can be distracting when driving (unlike the digital recorder which I could switch on and off by feel). Still, even though my cell phone stays buried in my purse turned off until I need it (I bought it for emergency use when I'm traveling), I find it less hassle to deal with in the long run."

Naughty naughty. Using a cell phone (except proper blue tooth type hands free use)when driving is illegal in the UK and carries a hefty fine and licence endorsement. It is distractive and dangerous and has caused numerous fatalities on the road. There is a TV advert campaign on at the moment trying to draw attention to this fact. I am surprised that this is not also illegal in the States.
Jeannie please for your own safety and others dont use a phone when driving.

I wish it was illegal here.
Florida is horrible when it comes to cell phones and driving.
From running red lights to just not paying attention and causing accidents, driving under the influence of electronics(cell phones)is something I do not do.
I also don't talk much while driving accept to usually curse the fool on a cell phone.
They are very dangerous!
There was a study done and cell phone use is equated with a drunk driver.
Attention span and reaction time were the same.
Scary isn't it?

Jerry I am all for freedom and hate some of the "Nanny State" rules and legislation we have introduced here. However anything that stops accidents and saves lifes is a must. Drinking and or using a cellphone does not equate to good driving. It should be universally outlawed.

Did you guys miss that the phone stays buried in my purse turned off? Just to get to it while driving, I have to pull off the road.

Just for the record, I wish cell phone use while driving was also banned here.

I like not only using taped recordings for ideas, but in general.
I have not used analog tape devices with recordings on the net though, just computer or digital playback device to computer through .wav programs. Although I use a mic and sometimes an analog mixer.
But I have this nice Sony cassette recorder the size of a Walkman.
As well as the ole' boombox or whatever I can record into.
I lined boomboxes together when I started recording to dub so I would'nt forget and loose the other musical ideas with that song.
And than I played around with the acoustics and certain spaces to have a warmer or cooler sound.
I love the experimentality of going with what is at hand.
But I know I can only go so far with who listens to that.
There is too much of anything.
I always just wanted to get the point across with whatever mixer and put all kinds of different sounds into that to have prowess in my own mind.
I also remember those DAT's and 4 tracks that were out.
Although I had'nt played an instrument yet. Those recorders would'nt last, but musicians had a blast with them.
Guitarists and keyboardest doing big orchestral multi-tracking with them. Thomas Dolby must of had a ball with those Dolby's.
They are considered obsolete nowadays I guess, but what is obsolete with the heart?

I find myself at times liking some musicians work tapes/rough mixes better than their finished product.
And sometimes a certain spontanious feeling or atmosphere gets captured that can't get recaptured.

I know I'm going on a lot, but this is a trip down memory lane.

Jeannie, I am glad you do not use your phone whilst driving. It was just the way you stated it was a pain to get to "since I have to go through a few layers of menu which can be distracting when driving (unlike the digital recorder which I could switch on and off by feel)." led me to believe that you used it WHEN DRIVING.
Honest mistake. LOL

my cell phone comes in handy when I have an idea. Like when I'm at work, I'll just turn the sound recorder on and get it all down. When I'm at home, I usually use my little 4 track Tascam recorded or I just use and mic and the sound recorder on my computer...

I love my simple little Tascam 4-track. My wife gave it to for X-Mass a few years back. I have a couple of friends who went out and bought Roland or Tascam digital recorders a while ago and are still trying to figure them out.

That the same issue my friend has with a digital Tascam Steve. I'm all for simplicity...It good quality too...I wouldn't trade it for anything!

I use my cassette recorder and tapes. I've never had a problem buying cassette tapes anywhere. I also have a digital recorder, I call home and record, and I record into my cell phone, but I carry my little hand-held cassette recorder everywhere and record my ideas. I only transfer to cd or my computer when I'm 95% done with lyrics and melody. I had all of my stuff on my computer once and lost everything when I picked up some kind of virus. So happy I had my little cassette tapes and recorder.

Roxy
www.soundclick.com/roxycain

I use a little Sony tape recorder whenever I'm not at my pc, but it's only because my mp3 player and my ipod both are a pain to record on and have really poor playback quality.
When I'm near my computer, I use Mixcraft to record. I have Audacity too, but I prefer Mixcraft (I love the ease of use).

Anyway, I find the tape recorder most helpful in the middle of the night (when songs come to me most). It's really convenient to just press one button, sing/hum a bit, and fall back to sleep! lol – there’s no brain surgery trying to fumble with the new technology in the wee hours.

Really? So, like, what's the problem?

HI MARK,

If it wasn’t for tape recorders I would not have had any success in song writing at all, there is a simple programme that comes with Windows Ex P. it's one minute samples, I tend to start songs via chord sequences with guitar and or piano, I then go and sing with a guitar into a cheap 3 dollar mike and listen to the play back, if I don’t think it's so hot I re write it and go back to this one minute sample until it's
right, I have found that what sounds Very Good to the ear whilst singing and playing , does not always sound very commercial on playback.

I have sung professionally for over thirty years, so I have a good range, I sometimes have three samples of the same song verse on one, chorus (if Any ) on two ,and climb or bridge on
three . as they all improve I delete the earlier samples

periodically, something stands out and then I do Demo try outs on Cool Edit Pro, it's a bit old but it works.

So yes it's still a great way to start a song off, I really don’t know how so called writers who do not play an instrument
can write anything of substance, in the same way any one who writes a lyric without understanding Meter, is just wasting his/her time, I start many songs off by writing down a metric pattern straight from my thoughts. Just look at some lyrics here and you can see the writers are trying to please the eye with no idea how a song builds , singability is the answer
to success, and Yes that can all be recognised by a simple Tape Recorder.

SPLIT