How To Record Saxophone (On ANY Budget)

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🎷Thanks for watching!
In this week's lesson you'll learn the most effective ways to record your saxophone, depending on your budget. You can use a mobile phone to record your sax, or a USB mic, or a variety of microphones and an audio interface. I also demonstrate what different mics at different price points sound like. You might be surprised!
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Chapters:
00:00 Introduction to Recording A Saxophone
00:25 Free Saxophone MasterClass
00:48 What To Record With
00:50 Mobile Device
03:02 USB Mic Connected to Computer
04:39 Mic & USB Audio Interface
09:18 Mic Placement
11:15 The GYST Inner Circle Membership
13:24 Mixing Considerations
18:27 Studio Performance
20:27 Audio Tests ... No EQ or Effects (Levels Balanced)
22:30 Reverb Comparison
22:52 Compression Comparison
23:13 Before You Go
23:30 Free Saxophone MasterClass
23:40 Thank you for the Coffees
23:51 Practice Hard, Practice Smart, & Enjoy Your Music
24:00 End Music & Bloopers
Get Your Sax Together is a fun and informative channel, packed with free online saxophone lessons. My name’s Jamie Anderson and I’ve been a pro saxophonist since 1996. I release new content every Sunday at 7am UK so you can Sax Up Your Sunday! Please subscribe and click the bell icon 🔔 (set to ALL) to get notified when new content is released. Practice hard, practice smart and enjoy your music! Jamie 🎷
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[@GetYourSaxTogether]

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[@haroldsomers6073]

I did a music technology course a few years ago. Their advice on recording wind instruments was two mics: one close up (clip-on on the bell) and one for ambient (room) sound: then you mix the two to get the sound you want. Having said that, you cant argue with the photos you show right at the beginning. Plus, like you, they did also mention mic'ing the mouthpiece. As with all things, trial and error is the best way forward.

[@GetYourSaxTogether]

👍🏼

[@xoxomat216]

@@GetYourSaxTogether clip on the bell might be good on Stage but never in a studio

[@BassNSax628]

Once again your timing is perfect. I’ve been experimenting with recording sax recently. I picked up some tips from this video. Enjoy your coffee.

[@GetYourSaxTogether]

Thanks! 🙏🏼

[@NTgamezZ]

thanks for that free course and the extra tip I feel like I play a lot better now

[@GetYourSaxTogether]

Anytime.

[@TallDocK]

Reading my mind. Really need to hear what I sound like outside my own head in the spare bedroom. Dream of sounding like the studio production version of my fav recordings (including "Your Latest Trick"). Working on long tones (boring but effective). Thanks again for the instruction.

[@GetYourSaxTogether]

You’re welcome! Keep at it. 👍🏻

[@HahnJames]

There is some great information packed into this video. I want to do both audio and video recording so that I can actually see myself and look for things I can improve. I could play in front of my bathroom mirror but, I can't hit rewind on the mirror. My best option at the moment for doing audio-video recording is my iPad.

[@GetYourSaxTogether]

👍🏼

[@MrDontslow]

Thank you so much for this comprehensive video tutorial 🙏 Running to test these recommendations

[@GetYourSaxTogether]

Glad it was helpful!

[@magnusselander]

Thank you Jamie! Great tips for recording your sax and I did learn a few new things 😊

[@GetYourSaxTogether]

Happy to help!

[@otmsnp]

Thank for tips 🥰🥰🥰 My Recording Setup Mic : AKG P420 Interface : Audient ID14 MKII Soft : Adobe Audition

[@GetYourSaxTogether]

👍

[@johnycat7373]

Great Job Jamie! I love how you can break things down to a level that complete beginners can understand and assimilate. People will obviously have their own preferences so I think that you will get a lot of comments from experienced people, but your video is clearly for getting people started in an area that can be quite intimidating. And you have absolutely smashed that ! The only thing that I think a beginner needed to know, was at the what mic? Section. I think a quick explanation of Condenser Mic (Phantom Power) v Cardioid and Super Cardioid would be a great help. Gotta say, I loved that DPA…and so versatile. You just sold me one and I have too many mics as a singer multi instrumentalist with a home studio…Also absolutely essential in my book is a decent set of studio monitors or much cheaper, a decent pair of monitor (flat-neutral) headphones or you won’t really hear the actual sound that you are recording or have recorded. Because the speakers or Hi Fi headphones will "colour the sound". But Jamie…awesome. I can’t see why any beginner can’t get started with the information that you have given them. I would recommend the Focusrite scarlet to beginners too. It comes with Ableton and various plug ins (recording tools/effects) for free. Everything you need to get started on the computer. 🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏

[@GetYourSaxTogether]

👍🏼

[@foothillsax]

Yet another amazing and free Masterclass, Jamie. Thank You! As an "Innie," I'll look forward to the additional material in the InnerCircle. :)

[@GetYourSaxTogether]

Thanks Alan!

[@TransformsIntoAGuitar]

I've watched a few videos about this so didn't expect it to be useful, but there WERE some great tips. This is by far the best video on the topic that I've seen.

[@GetYourSaxTogether]

Glad it was helpful!

[@nickmartorano6766]

FANTASTIC and super useful video!

[@GetYourSaxTogether]

Thanks 😊

[@zabellesax]

Thanks so much for this video, I am a non tech, this really explains everything in a simple way for dummies like me :-)

[@GetYourSaxTogether]

Brilliant!

[@ChipTheMusicMan]

Thanks Jamie - very helpful overview & some nifty tips to boot!

[@GetYourSaxTogether]

Anytime!

[@ianwhatmough150]

Fantastic information in this video. You helped me have a deeper understanding of some of the industry techniques used to record our instrument. Thank you for putting this information together. I will be putting your advise to use to explore the possibilities.

[@GetYourSaxTogether]

Great! Thanks for watching.

[@maltycultural7793]

I have bought and tried so many mics/mic pres etc over the years...just to capture the natural sound of a saxophone. The combination that worked for me was an ADK AREA 51 TT into a Focusrite ISA mic pre. Tenor sounds great, but the biggest surprise was soprano (which can sound thin and NASTY!)...it just shone with this combo. You can get a half decent sound with many mics but it involves so much faffing about with eq (and room eq)...but your advice to sort the room, mic placement and playing...all make a lot of sense.

[@GetYourSaxTogether]

Thanks for that. 👍🏻

[@lynwoods]

This is so helpful! Any tips on what to record into on the PC for an audition when you need audio + video and it cannot be edited?

[@GetYourSaxTogether]

I’m not really PC but short of using a normal audio DAW many people use Audacity I think.

[@johnasti7429]

Great video. Very informative. Appreciate your work. Great job!!!

[@GetYourSaxTogether]

Much appreciated!

[@tomnicbl367]

Loved the performance of "your latest trick"

[@GetYourSaxTogether]

Thanks so much

[@MHMBbMk7]

Thanks for all the great info! Do you have a suggestion for mixing the video from a phone with audio recorded to the computer?

[@GetYourSaxTogether]

You can mix the video and audio together on any video editing software - it’s just a question of lining it up, so always clap at the start.

[@bar8393gm]

Great info as usual Jamie! My question is about dynamic vs condenser mics. I’d read that condenser mics are better because they’re more sensitive and therefore pic up the full nuanced range in sax sound production. However I couldn’t really tell in your samples and the dynamic mics seemed to sound quite good. Your preference?

[@GetYourSaxTogether]

My preference is to bat sounds best and really that’s all you should pay attention to. I’m actually trying out some new mics this week and I’ll post the results in the Inner Circle.

[@priyankarawatuk]

How do you record video? Is that a camcorder attached to your mic mixer input?

[@GetYourSaxTogether]

yes

[@lynwoods]

Thanks so much. I have access to an active ribbon mic. Any recommendation on a budget friendly pre-amp?

[@GetYourSaxTogether]

Not really my field of expertise I’m afraid. I use the pres in my Apogee interface.

[@pavelpatsenkov]

Thank you so much, Mr Anderson, for that information!!!

[@GetYourSaxTogether]

🙏🏼

[@robstevens9590]

Thanks Jamie, for such helpful, valuable tips!

[@GetYourSaxTogether]

Glad it was helpful, Rob!

[@EvanTateMusic]

Nice video but I think a couple of things are missing, like; 1) For what purpose am I recording in the first place? Professionally for a production? For fun? 2) For what situation would I want to record with just my phone or iPad? Just some thoughts. Also, I don’t quite understand that comparison with recording with GarageBand on a Mac, and Audacity on a PC. Those two programs have little to do with each other. The type of recordings I’d make with GarageBand I wouldn’t be able to do with Audacity. For PC, Cakewalk would be a better comparison. Keep up the great work! 👍🏾

[@GetYourSaxTogether]

Thanks!

[@robm667]

Fabulous, easily understood discussion of almost esoteric (but not really esoteric!) subject. My personal preference was the SM58 for most even smooth and sound, and the Sennheiser for most authentic (as if I were in the room near the sax).

[@GetYourSaxTogether]

🙏🏻

[@olivierherment1188]

Merci as I wrote questions but you gave me the answers!! thank you

[@GetYourSaxTogether]

Happy to help!

[@almostasaxplayer]

Thank you for this, Jamie.

[@GetYourSaxTogether]

Thanks for listening

[@vincita51]

Thanks. Very interesting and useful video

[@GetYourSaxTogether]

Glad it was helpful!

[@alexragueneau5430]

damn that iPhone recording sounded amazing ! How does the sound not saturate tho ? btw great video as always Jamie, thank you !

[@GetYourSaxTogether]

Dunno the technology but it compresses it I think.

[@lisawanderess]

Ah the clip on onto a mug is a great tip thanks! I have the isolo that has the interface and I’d love to record more but I get overwhelmed by all the technology involved and just end up recording video on my phone and the sound sucks but I’m lazy! 😂

[@GetYourSaxTogether]

🤣

[@pimeye]

Great vid as I am experimenting with mics at the moment. How do you add the backing track so that everybody can hear it if you are only using an iPhone/iPad/USB mic and capturing your sax via video on the iPad camera or voice memo i.e. not mixing it or using Garageband?

[@GetYourSaxTogether]

Well yeh have to use garage band in your phone or something for that I think.

[@thomas_vk]

fantastic info, super helpful

[@GetYourSaxTogether]

Glad it was helpful!

[@28Melvyn]

Wow !! Great Information thanks 🙏🏽

[@GetYourSaxTogether]

Glad it was helpful!

[@benoittissier58]

Nice video. My experience if it helps. Microphone : Behringer B5 (75 €) does the job, Shure SM57/SM58 (100 €) usable but not natural, SE V7x (100 €) my choice, Rode NT1 very nice sound but catches a lot of room noise. DAW : Reaper (70 €), Ardour (50 €) both available for Mac, Windows and Linux.

[@GetYourSaxTogether]

👍🏼

[@collardgirl1593]

Can you advice when recording using reaper please. To get a fuller sound

[@GetYourSaxTogether]

Sorry, I’m not familiar with Reaper.

[@curtisvalle5141]

When playing live, say.. a loud R&B gig, and NOT wireless.... mic choice? Sometimes multiple saxes (ex. 3) on stage will only use one mic between them.... any experience with this mic setup? Lastly, I've found, playing live you need to work up and down when micing straight soprano using a vocal mic setup. Thoughts? Wireless on a straight sop is also challenging. Peace

[@GetYourSaxTogether]

Well, sometimes you don’t have a choice live, you get what you’re given and it’s often an SM57 or something. Not the end of the world. I agree it’s tricky micing sop, and yeh, I move up and down the mic a bit. You need two mics ideally.

[@curtisvalle5141]

@@GetYourSaxTogether Thank you, Sir If you take a flute and tell'em you don't want to spit all over their mic, they'll never argue ;)

[@andrewsmith7650]

Cubase is an excellent daw and is available for mac as well....

[@GetYourSaxTogether]

👍🏻

[@collardgirl1593]

Is it possible I could forward a track I've done so you can help and correct my recordings

[@GetYourSaxTogether]

I offer that kinda stuff in my Inner Circle Membership which you can try free for 7 days. www.getyoursaxtogether.com/innercircle

[@mrskint55]

Thanks for posting good information

[@GetYourSaxTogether]

Thanks! 🙏🏼

[@haroldwaynejackson7880]

Love it. Thank you.

[@GetYourSaxTogether]

👍🏼

[@SkyDiverCanada]

This is a really good channel! New Sub here.

[@GetYourSaxTogether]

Welcome aboard!

[@sidneiramalho]

Great video. I don't know what happens to me but just when I click record it's almost like I forgot the entire song. Thinking about the recording session as I'm playing throws me off. Also, I never know the output level I should record. Sometimes it gets too loud sometimes too low.

[@GetYourSaxTogether]

Red-light-itis! We all record digitally now so having the level peak at two thirds or three quarters is fine.

[@sidneiramalho]

@@GetYourSaxTogether thank you.

[@johnwhyte-venables2167]

Hmm, following your urging I have now recorded and listened to myself for the first time since taking up the sax five years ago. I sound stoned (I'm not) and have no sense of cleaving to the backing track at all. This is clearly irremediable and after five years, deeply distressing. It could explain why there's always an awkward silence when I get up to play at jams.

[@GetYourSaxTogether]

Oh dear. 😤 As long as YOU enjoy it though.

[@luisgustavogiovelli4746]

Muito bom. Excelente. Muito obrigado pelo video

[@GetYourSaxTogether]

Obrigado por seus comentários!

[@BillColeExperience]

That was interesting

[@GetYourSaxTogether]

👍🏻

[@brianmatthews232]

great advice 🙂

[@GetYourSaxTogether]

Glad it was helpful!

[@Morenob1]

My mixing channel has like an EQ, compressor, sidechain, reverb, delay, preamp radiator and a bit of a flanger for the sharpness.

[@GetYourSaxTogether]

👍

[@peterwong8460]

great tips

[@GetYourSaxTogether]

Thanks!

[@gangofgreenhorns2672]

I will say an iphone is vastly superior to an android for recording. Don't know why exactly, but I think they all have some kind of built in compression or automatically gain-stage--either way the mic never "pops" on them when overloaded. All the concerts on my channel (besides the first) are recorded with an iphone for that reason. If you're stuck with an android (as I currently am) I would get either a USB mic for phone/computer, or maybe a GLS audio knock-off SM57, and a behringer interface. Always use Reaper as the DAW, best there is and saves you hundreds to thousands. I guess the CakeWalk DAW is free now too*

[@GetYourSaxTogether]

Thanks for your comments 👍🏼

[@gangofgreenhorns2672]

@@GetYourSaxTogether Thanks for the great videos.

[@newscrews11]

I can't post recordings using backing tracks to SoundCloud or social media without being immediately hit for copyright infringement. Not the composer's but users of the same backing track! I just made a GarageBand recording of me playing Summertime over the Jazz Backs backing track. On posting it to SoundCloud it was immediately taken off and I was given a serious warning that I was infringing copyright: I’ve previously had a similar issue with Facebook. Why don't you have this problem?

[@GetYourSaxTogether]

Don't know, sorry

[@newscrews11]

@@GetYourSaxTogether I've now found out from Better Sax and Jay's team and other sources what's happening. The SoundCloud thing is that professional karaoke jocks prep and then copyright their tracks of super-popular songs using available backing tracks. So if like me you choose to record a really popular karaoke song, like Summertime using the same backing track they've incoproated in their copyrighted piece, you fall foul of the issue I encountered. No good appealing either, SoundCloud side with the jock, which p****s off the original backing track maker no end incidentally. So the answer seems to be: don't record songs that are obvious karaoke fodder, and en-video your effort to KZbin or Vimeo which are more fliexible if you don't try and monetise the result.

[@ize1000009]

But what would be the best way to see what the audience hears? After all we are playing for the people. I have a problem knowing how I’m sounding in others ears. I assume it’s just like our voice. Our vice sounds completely different to us, then it sounds to all the other people around us. So I don’t sound like what I’m hearing to others.

[@GetYourSaxTogether]

Sadly you can never play and have yourself hear it from a distance. You just have to get the best time you can and record or amplify it as best you can.

[@garagev8294]

20:37 song name ( MB solo ?)

[@GetYourSaxTogether]

Dire Straits Your Latest Trick.

[@ellwoodblooz]

Who else was amazed at how good the iPhone sounded?

[@GetYourSaxTogether]

Me!

[@joeg46Highlands]

Room sound: kzbin.info/www/bejne/nHLbeZ-CgJiCr80&ab_channel=TrilobiteJuice I have long used a Piezobarrel on my bass clarinet, which very accurately reproduces the acoustic sound of the instrument with no added ambient sound. For recording at least two mics - I use a pair of Rode M5s - are needed because of the length of the instrument. These feed into a Roland Edirol R4. My flat has a corridor with no external walls or windows which makes a good studio. (Laurie Anderson used this set up for "O Superman") For practice, rehearsal and performance I use a wireless transmitter with two receivers, connecting to an amp and to a pedalboard. giving clean and mediated sound mixed as required. I've used the same setup for C-Melody sax, though I omit the pedals (and where possible I omit the sax mostly on the grounds of its horrible ergonomics). Apologies - the clip runs for over 45 minutes.

[@GetYourSaxTogether]

👍🏼

[@ize1000009]

Listening to the raw Mics blind, I was like, wow, these are all not that good, then the last one, was, wow, so much more depth to the sound. Then it turned out to be the iPhone 11 😂

[@GetYourSaxTogether]

Crazy!

[@Jaujau933]

Sax sax has bad intonation 😱😱 sometimes flat sometimes sharp

[@GetYourSaxTogether]

That’s true.

[@ericdano]

Not sure that was a fair test for the DPA mic....isn't it more for being attached to the bell?

[@GetYourSaxTogether]

It is yes. If anything that makes it even brighter. I use them all the time though.

[@saxcowboy]

I liked the senheiser but the I phone was darn good!

[@GetYourSaxTogether]

I know right?

[@saxcowboy]

I have always wondered in a live performance no matter the mic the speakers and electronics take over and you lose control of the sound you want? Are we at the mercy of the sound company? Aargh!

[@GetYourSaxTogether]

Yeh sounds about right!