Creating audio tapes....
 

Does anyone here have experience in creating audio tapes? (I'm talking about info-product style audio tapes.... Essentially just someone talking, with maybe some introductory music at the very beginning.)

If so - did you do it in a studio, or just at home? (I actually have pre-production studio experience, from my days - when I was a student - at a student radio station, then at a public radio station.... So, if I want to record something, my "instinct" is to hire a pre-production studio, but I don't know if it's really necessary. Though my experience is with old tape-based equipment, rather than the digital equipment they use nowadays....)

Thanks for your feedback.... :)

- Dien

Here's how I do it...
 

> Does anyone here have experience in creating
> audio tapes? (I'm talking about info-product
> style audio tapes.... Essentially just
> someone talking, with maybe some
> introductory music at the very beginning.)

Yes.

> If so - did you do it in a studio, or just
> at home?

At home...

Use GOOD QUALITY tape blanks. The type which is designed for recording CDs and which doesn't normaly have a hiss when there is no sound. (TDK AD IECI/TYPEI is one such tape.)

Use a good quality tape recorder. And use a hand-held mic - not the inbuilt mic the recorder has.

Take the whole lot into the bathroom and record in there. If you will be reading off of a script, make sure you are comfortable and not hunched over which squeezes your tummy and makes it harder to breathe.

Michael Ross

Thanks Michael ! How about....
 

Hi Michael,

Thanks for the tips! I'm gonna have to get myself a good microphone.... :)

How about opening music? Most audio tapes seem to have an opening piece of introductory music.... Is this necessary, do you think? (I guess it does kind of "ease" the listener into your tape....)

I'm grateful for any feedback....

- Dien Rice

I Like The Bathroom..
 

Hello Michael,

I've never posted here before (just lurking) but this I've got to say: I like that bathroom thing...

When I read in your ebook about about recording in the bathroom, and why we sound so good when singing in it, I had a good laugh.

Now I know why...

No wonder I never win at karaoke contests. They never had it in the bathroom.

Cheers,
Kenneth Tang
> Yes.

> At home...

> Use GOOD QUALITY tape blanks. The type which
> is designed for recording CDs and which
> doesn't normaly have a hiss when there is no
> sound. (TDK AD IECI/TYPEI is one such tape.)

> Use a good quality tape recorder. And use a
> hand-held mic - not the inbuilt mic the
> recorder has.

> Take the whole lot into the bathroom and
> record in there. If you will be reading off
> of a script, make sure you are comfortable
> and not hunched over which squeezes your
> tummy and makes it harder to breathe.

> Michael Ross

Music to my ears...
 

> Thanks for the tips! I'm gonna have to get
> myself a good microphone.... :)

Mine's a Realistic - unidirectional (Frequency Response 60-12,000Hz, 72dB sensitivity, 500ohms impedance - which means it's right for the job).

Depending on your recorder, you may or may not need to get a plug adapter - one plug to two and/or thick to thin.

> How about opening music? Most audio tapes
> seem to have an opening piece of
> introductory music.... Is this necessary, do
> you think? (I guess it does kind of
> "ease" the listener into your
> tape....)

With just a tape recorder and a mic you can create a product. Simple.

Adding music creates an added step - an another reason - which can prevent you from creating your tape. You will have to take your master to a duplication studio and ask them to add music. And that will mean you will have to pay royalties on the music they add. Unless you have your own royalty free music. But then, how will you add the music? Do you have a mixer? Are you willing to pay a few hundred dollars for an audio guy to make your master with music which fades in and out? How quick do you want to get the product out?

See how adding music just adds more reasons NOT to create the tape in the first place?

I've made tapes with music and without music. And after making them without music, I have never made one with music since.

If you are concerned about what the customer may think about your tape without music, have a cover letter which has something like this in it...

"The tape was made by a real person and not a paid professional speaker. Our goal is to concentrate on the information the tape contains, because that is what will bring the results to you. And to me, that's what counts the most."

Tapes without music are quicker, easier and cheaper to get out onto the market.

Michael Ross

Re: Creating audio tapes....
 

Check out the Sony MiniDisc Player/Recorders.
Outstanding sound quality(with a good microphone),convienient editing, small size and FUN to use! It is reported the discs can be recorded/erased thousands of times. Up to 5 hours can be recorded on a $2.00 disc with certain models($150-$250+ or look on eBay for a deal).
Some models record in MP3 also. VERY feature rich!
I own two older models MZ-R70's, no MP3, not 5 hour capable. After editing transfer to tapes.

Re: I agree with John and more on equipment
 

Dien,

You use a cheap tape recorder but I wouldn't suggest it. You want your master recording to be the best it can be. (and no you don't need music)

If you want to take it to the next level, I also highly suggest a Minidisc.

A minidisc gives very high quality sound that is recorded on reusable "mini cds." One of the big advantages is that you eliminate the noise you often get with tape such as "wow" and "hiss." Also in theory the minidisc recordings should last forever where as audio tape wears out a little each time it's played. Mine is a Sharp MD-SR60. I've seen them as low as $115.

If you want to stick to tape then I suggest a Marantz 201 PMD becuase it perfect to use when taping telephone interviews. The phone line plugs right into the tape recorder so it eliminates the hum I used to get when going through a phone interface. You can get a good deal on them from CAM audio in Texas. They cost about $300 (savings of $100) 1-800-527-3458. They'll send a catalog.

Finally if looking for cool microphones at good prices then check out this site:

http://www.microphonemadness.com/

Hope this helps,

Ron

The sounds of silence....
 

Hi Michael,

Thanks again for your feedback.... You're right about the music - perhaps it's more trouble than it's worth.

If it means the difference between getting the tape out and not getting it out, then it's better to just leave the music alone! :)

- Dien

Small disc - big quality.... :)
 

Hi John and Ron,

Thanks for the suggestion on using a mini-disc recorder....

I actually inquired at an electronics store about equipment for making recordings, and the sales guy there recommended a mini-disc too. Sounds like an interesting suggestion! I'll have to explore this option a little bit more....

Thanks. :)

- Dien Rice

Re: Creating audio tapes....
 

Minisdisc is a good option. I would recommend going with a Sharp model minidisc though. Why? The Sharp allows you to adjust the recording level on the fly. With Sony you have to pause or stop recording to adjust. Also it's easier to record over what you've already recorded. Not good. With the Sharp you just press record and it automatically jumps to the end of the disk.

~ Dan




Get your stocking stuffers here...

Re: Small disc - big quality.... :)
 

Quick question: If you use the minidisc to record your information product, is your finished product a minidisc or a tape?

If your product is a minidisc, are there enough minidisc players in use to make this a viable means of distribution?

Peace,
Mike McBride


Be the success you were meant to be...