Zoom Gear & Home Recording Forum

Hi All,

Been a lurker for a while, finally came up with a question I could not find with the search function.

Is there some secret to getting better fidelity drum tracks? I've figured out how to bounce them to an audio track, but when I hear the recorded version it sounds like an AM radio.

I was thinking it could be the fidelity setting of the project, I've been using the lower setting to save space on my card. The only thing is the other audio tracks sound good at this setting, while the drums are AM radio, if that makes sense.

The only other thing I can think of, which just occured to me, is I'm not recording the drum track in stereo? Could that be it? I won't have access to my recorder for a few more days (I'm in the middle of a move), so I can't give it a try to see if that's the culprit. Any help is appreciated, thanks.

JB

Hello Rangemaster and welcome to the board. Pleased to be the first to respond to your post.

There are many caviats to using a PS-04/PS-02. One is "DON'T EVER FILL UP THE CARD" - you have been warned!

Another is to always use the HI-FI setting. Using "Low" is probably why your bounced drums sound like AM radio. Make a new project and try it, this time setting to Hi-Fi. I think the difference will be obvious.

The supplied smartmedia cards are too small to be useful. I don't know the maximum for the '02, but the '04 can take up to a 128mb card. Even if larger cards are available, don't try it. You can't go above 128mb. Period.

The tips and tricks section here:
http://www.2090.org/zoom/bbs/viewtopic.php?t=6972
gives you a world of information.

Howard

Hi RangeMaster. Glad you made yourself known

What Howard said - plus a couple of other things -

- To record in stereo you must record to two tracks

- Make sure there are no effects applied at the time of bouncing (mastering etc.)

- When you play back the bounced tracks, make sure you turn down the rhythm and bass tracks, otherwise you'll be listening to a doubled rhythm which will colour the sound

Can't think of anything else at the moment, but I haven't done this for a while I know it can be frustrating, but it is possible to get a decent sounding bounced drum track, although I only ever used Hi-Fi quality.

Good luck

Gary.

Thanks for the responses, it seems like I was thinking along the same lines you guys are. I'm using the 04 with a 64MB card, just FYI.

I'll give those suggestions a try when I unpack, hopefully this weekend. Thanks again.

You can still buy 128 mb cards. They are about the price of a new PS-04.
just kidding... but they are high.

What some have done is use an xd to sm adapter and a cheap 128mb xd card. Google for these items as the suppliers change their stock regularly.

For the sm card, bo to the "Home Recording Gear" link in the blue box upper right on this page.

For the xd card, click on the Amazon box lower left and type 128mb xd card in Amazon's search bar.

You can still buy 128 mb cards. They are about the price of a new PS-04.
just kidding... but they are high.

What some have done is use an xd to sm adapter and a cheap 128mb xd card. Google for these items as the suppliers change their stock regularly.

For the sm card, bo to the "Home Recording Gear" link in the blue box upper right on this page.

For the xd card and adapter, click on the Amazon box lower left and type 128mb xd card in Amazon's search bar.

To get a better drum sound check out my additional drum kits:

http://www.soundside.de/shop/ps04sampleset.htm