this Friday will be my first, so i'm open to suggestions...

so far i got: tape it to your balls. that's about it.

has anyone tried bribing a bouncer into letting it slide? what about just being nice and saying "please"... leaving the place and coming back, hoping not to get frisked again?

also, can someone confirm they don't use metal detectors at Crobar?

equipment: slim MD recorder, small stereo mic, extra batteries and MD's. would really love to use my dynamic stage mic, but i guess it would seem strange having a huge hard-on, coming out of the cold...

my best bet is to pick a pair of huge knockers out of the line outside and offer a free ticket for stuffing her bra with my stuff... maybe stuffing something else with something else later... God help me!

No metal detectors.. but fyi, you can bring a camera no problem into the club, so if your minidisc looks like a camera, (they never even open my case usually) you'll be better off. The downer for you is this... the bass at crobar is fucking IN- Tense... and Mr Sasha with Mrs Ableton tweak it into vibrations that your device will most likely not capture... so the set might sound boring or nothing spectacular is my guess, or like a big goose honking with all the vibrations....

unless of course you are retarded and plan to not go near the dancefloor at all?

Every recording method besides plugging your record medium into the soundboard system sucks anyway. Not worth recording a gig if you have no access to the mixer IMO.

"really dude, its my phone"

bouncers aren't retarded, minidisc recorders and phones dont intermingle... digital cameras these days have all sorts of formats and media to record with. I would look into a digital recorded and not a MD if u r at all really serious about this. They can double as cameras, and they let everytake all the video/photos they want with the mini digital point and shoots that do MPG's. ipod and ipod photo have adapters to be recorders, that can rest in a pocket after its in a purse or knapsack that you check at coat check... try to be less shady about it, don't do it for money, or any other reason than you really love the music and you want the memory this bad. Otherwise your karma will get u busted. :mrgreen:

[quote=TomTom]Every recording method besides plugging your record medium into the soundboard system sucks anyway. Not worth recording a gig if you have no access to the mixer IMO.[/quote]

Seconded. Sounds like a bunch of crap.

You gotta ask yourself if a so-so recording is worth the risk of getting your MD snagged by a boucer who'd like one of his own. Or at best a cold walk back to the car and a second tour of duty standing on line.

As far as the Crobar is concerned, you will not be frisked or checked out. It shouldn't be a problem to take in whatever you need to record a set, its just too bad that you cant plug in direct from the mixer output or soundboard. I find it strange that NYC would have one of the most relaxed entrances to clubs in the US, although, at the same time I appreciate the trust.

they check for weapons basically, and I have never seen them allow people to get cracky messy or openly use drugs in the club. I must say that Crobar treats its patrons with a remarkable level of professionalism, courtesy, and goddamnit, they are fucking REALLY nice and respectful all the time. I like it!

shady , shady , shady :Tomato t:

HEhehe!!! Are you sure remoh!! :mrgreen: :RockOn:

Good Luck but I agree with Tom if you can't get a sounboard recording. It really is not worth. Think about you have to basically stand still all night for a shitty recording. Not worth it in my opinion. Not when you could be dancing all night long and have a blast with no cares in the world.

Ive been there twice and both times they did a quick check for weapons and thats about it. No metal detectors and no thorough pat downs. They are pretty lenient about what goes about on the dance floow (i.e. drug use). Hell I remember some guy coming through the crowd with about a 60 bag under his nose and everyone was pretty much going about his/her business. I also remember one bouncer who seemed to be standing there with his eyes closed for the last 3 hours of Sasha's mix.

what ya gotta do is get in tight with the people running the shit and record right off the board. i've done that many times out here in detroit. mic recordings suck.. although i've seen people try it. i saw one kid at the demf a few years back strap a mic to his hat and stood front and center for all of hawtin's set... i heard the recording and it blew ass too. it sounded distant and reverbed out, plus the mic picked up the talking and yelling of the people around him, so it was basically useless. just a few month ago i saw a guy that brought in a real small laptop and a mic and setup a little recording studio on the balcony of st. andrews out here. no one was really up there so i don't think he got fucked with at all.

the thing about plugging in is - it's not as simple with JZ's mixer...(don't care about Sasha's part). supposedly his DMJ600 will blow my MD away anyway, so without a Direct Box a microphone recording will actually sound better. plus, i hear James' set will include new material from his next ALiVe CD and i was told it is highly unlikely he will give his permission, not to mention Sasha being there. ...but i AM bringing a 1/4 inch cable with me just in case.

as for the risks, you could safely say i'm not taking any. my MD is all scratched up and is really nothing attractive to a bouncer, plus i got my ticket so standing in line is not for me.

so what about leaving the place and coming back? i don't wear baggy clothes, so i can't really imagine getting everything in at once... hopefully they won't even bother checking me twice. wonder if they'd let me enter with a big-ass Polaroid... i think i'd be able to fit most of my stuff inside.

you leave and come back and you are automatically on the watch list dude

[img]http://www.mercuryserver.com/forums/images/icons/icon9.gif[/img]

[quote=miketpoto]you leave and come back and you are automatically on the watch list dude[/quote]

ok, thanks.

so what else can i get away with besides a digital camera and a phone?

[quote=th33f]supposedly his DMJ600 will blow my MD away anyway,[/quote]

bullshit.

i record from 600 to minidisc all the time.

[quote=Jenks][quote=th33f]supposedly his DMJ600 will blow my MD away anyway,[/quote]

bullshit.

i record from 600 to minidisc all the time.[/quote]

dunno... i heard it sraight from the guy who worked with JZ before and he said James' mixing always makes the levels go through the roof...

anyway, just called Crobar and they said NO CAMERAS! of ANY kind!

I posted before I saw a guy walk up to the mixer and plug his Sony Digital recording thing into one of the outputs in the mixer. He did it right before James Holden came on, but this was at the small room. I'd imagine you couldn't just walk up to the DJ booth and plug your recorder in @ Crobar. After the Beirut fiasco I personally saw Diggers check for recorders before he started spinning, and I saw him unplug some and plug his own in.

[quote=Jenks][quote=th33f]supposedly his DMJ600 will blow my MD away anyway,[/quote]

bullshit.

i record from 600 to minidisc all the time.[/quote] yup, same here.

yeah, the booth at crobar is on a BIG stage that just out into the dancefloor runway style

[quote=th33f][quote=Jenks][quote=th33f]supposedly his DMJ600 will blow my MD away anyway,[/quote]

bullshit.

i record from 600 to minidisc all the time.[/quote]

dunno... i heard it sraight from the guy who worked with JZ before and he said James' mixing always makes the levels go through the roof...

[/quote]

i doubt very much james would do an amateur move like max the levels.

anyway, how would that blow your minidisc? if anything the sound recording will just be distorted, but it's not going to "blow away" your minidisc.

that "guy" is a moron.

Ive record sets a few times with MD and i think its a good way to have a set that its impossible to find ANYWHERE else. :D

and how is that compatibility working out for you? Sony and their universiality

[quote=Jenks]anyway, how would that blow your minidisc? if anything the sound recording will just be distorted, but it's not going to "blow away" your minidisc.

that "guy" is a moron.[/quote]

no, no, no! i didn't mean it like that. i was talking about major clipping occuring, so yes - distortion. my Sony MZR-70 does have some manual rec level controls, but i was told those aren't enough...

[quote]that "guy" is a moron. [/quote] That guy is me. :) Do I qualify as having had enough experience in this particular arena? :)

Minidisc or DAT or PC-based recording without a DI box from any mixer gives unreliable results - and especially noticeable on a DJM600 because of the way it compresses the sound when compared to the Allen & Heath range. The signal can often be too hot, even with your recording levels riiiiiight down. A very low volume, highly distorted recording is not what you want. In fact, you can hear a minimised example of this in my recording of Zabiela from 2003 at Lot 33 - the recording levels were just above silent, and there's still distortion when the bass kicks in some areas of the set.

Adding to the pressure are the effects built-in on the 600, plus the fact that James uses a EFX500 or EFX1000; especially flange. FYI - the 1000 is better with level management than the 500 is.. and I feel the NYE set I recorded bears this out.

By putting the DI box in between the mixer and your recording equipment, you give yourself complete control over the levels. A DJ can push absolutely everything to the max, and your DI box will act as a buffer. This is the same reason high-level DAT field equipment (Tascam DAP1 for example) has a "clip pad" built-in. Not to mention a DI box gives you added control over lifting an earth when required, meaning you don't need to apply filters afterwards and muddy up your sound.

Auto-level control on a Minidisc (or DAT for that matter) will do jack shit all if the rec-out is being driven to the brink in all areas as it often is in a peak-time club environment.

(For the record, a maxing of the incoming signal way beyond your device's capabilities is unlikely to do any damage to it... it's more a matter of 'blowing away' the recording for any useful purpose. Been there, done that plenty of times.)

PS: you can pick up a stereo DI box by Behringer for bugger all. Look for a DI20 and it will cost you about US$20. You'll also need some cabling made up (unless you've got an XLR to minijack lying around) but hey.. if you're serious about it, go for it. I did.

Oh, well then, i guess not mr. smarty pants. :lol:

no, since it's you, i guess i'll take our word for it.

but the th33f fella there talking about the 600 blowing his minidisc up was not quite on the up and up.

[quote]A DJ can push absolutely everything to the max, and your DI box will act as a buffer.[/quote]

well, i don't have one of those, and neither do any of the clubs i play @, and we record with minidisc all the time, and just watch the levels like most djs do.

Nifty little box ya got there tho, that would be handy.

[quote]well, i don't have one of those, and neither do any of the clubs i play @, and we record with minidisc all the time, and just watch the levels like most djs do. [/quote] I wish, mate. I fucking wish! ;)

DI-20 from Behringer: [url]http://www.behringer.com/DI20/index.cfm?lang=ENG[/url]

[img]http://www.behringer.com/DI20/DI20_medium.jpg[/img]

[quote=GrantT]I wish, mate. I fucking wish! ;)[/quote]

Sort your djs dude. lol. Next time James goes 3 bars in the red, smack the back of his head and tell him, "HEY...LEVELS MAN, LEVELS!!"

[size=1]Just kidding james if you're reading this, grant is a wuss, max the shit out of the levels!!![/size]

:P

By the way, if you wanted to be extra-careful when you're doing a recording I'd use a combination of the DI box with auto-level control as well; assuming it's a quality ALC. This means that as the night or set progresses, and the DJ is increasing the gain, that your recording will be consistently the same level.

This is also particularly helpful if you're unable to be next to your recording gear at regular intervals (smaller DJ booths etc) and want to err on the side of caution.

The downside is that ALC's sensitivity plays a big part in how it comes out. eg: Zabiela 2004 Lot 33 set. I put ALC on that and you can hear it with build-ups. The parts where there's no kick drum or significant bassline get slightly louder and a bit too bright... then the bass kicks back in, and it corrects and makes it significantly softer and then averages out. It disrupts my listening; so it's a matter of experimenting with your gear.

I didn't use it on the NYE set for this reason.. but I had clear access to the stage where he was playing, so I could visually check the rec levels on the DAT and correct afterwards. I kept my DAT rec level at about 60% which gives plenty of headroom for upwards movement, and since DAT is high quality I was less concerned about digitally amplifying it later on to give a more uniform sound.

I've sunk god knows how many hours and how many dollars into getting the product I wanted. I'm happy to help others if they want to head down the same road.

It really depends on how picky you are. I'm just fairly picky, but the results - for me - are worth it. :)

Never done that, and never will. I respect artists.

Plus I do not steal. Thank you.

No different from the assholes that RIP music and share a good production with no cost. We all need money to live. Point in, and point out.

Re: share your attempts to sneak recording equipment into a

ugh, i never have a problem with going into crobar with stuff. i never get checked at the door. just walk right past them. and i brought a recorder in once. by mistake, during last year's sasha and digweed @ crobar. but the recording sucked, so not really worth all the trouble. and it used to be that you could just step out of crobar for a bit, make sure you get the smokin stamp and walk right back in. my friends and i have even gone back to apts, chilled for a bit and then returned to the club...myabe things have changed?

You know the really painful thing though?

My DAT recorder died while I was recording Desyn Masiello the other week. The good news is that it died after I'd recorded the first 2 hours of a fucking wicked set.

The bad news is that 7 days from now I'm meant to be recording Dave Seaman and will be going back to laptop-based recording (not so bad - I have an Edirol USB sound card) but I'm thinking of buying an Archos Gmini 400 rather than replacing aging DAT equipment.

Decisions, decisions!

Ethics aside - you [i]can[/i] get half-decent quality bootleg recordings if you invest in shithot mics and understand the limitations, as well as the environment. Personally, I don't think it's worth it because it completely ruins your night, and is genuinely a rip-off.

To be honest, the hardest part of doing recordings is going through the approvals process both before and after the events. It does get easier as you build a respectable reputation.

I did two dodgy recordings (of the same person) earlier on of someone that did not give me prior approval. That was the last time I've done it and even though they're two of the best sets I've ever witnessed (one's been released, the other not) I wish I never did it.

The DJ in question is (still) a huge name and would have almost definitely said yes... it was a bad combination of promoters not doing what they said they would, and me being a bit naive and believing what I wanted to believe.

Live and learn!

[quote=th33f]

dunno... i heard it sraight from the guy who worked with JZ before and he said James' mixing always makes the levels go through the roof...

anyway, just called Crobar and they said NO CAMERAS! of ANY kind![/quote]

I bring my camera every week and make no secret of it, and at the end of sander it was like everyone was havin a kodak moment... a tresor minimalist edgy one, but kodak nonetheless

[quote=miketpoto][quote=th33f]

anyway, just called Crobar and they said NO CAMERAS! of ANY kind![/quote]

I bring my camera every week and make no secret of it, and at the end of sander it was like everyone was havin a kodak moment... a tresor minimalist edgy one, but kodak nonetheless[/quote]

maybe it's just this night or something, but a lady picked up the phone today and told me absolutely no cameras. whatever... it's not like i won't be able to use my phone for that.

i was at their 4th floor office today as well, and left a message for a guy who books their DJ's, so by tomorrow i'll know if i should bring my laptop and direct box, or go with a stealthy setup.

Grant, i invested into a little gadget by Microphone Madness, that people say works very well for doing crowd-rips. two condenser mics with excellent stats, and VERY small. though i hope i won't have to use that... i'll send you another PM in a few minutes.

just 3 words, it wont work, sorry mate, i give you no chances for this one, surely you will enter with you MD, but anyway, havent you watch/listen any videos from the gigs, the only thing that can be heard is distorsion :? , but good luck anyway

she said no cameras without you asking? when she answered the phone? You are bringing your laptop to crobar? Do you actually like sasha, or are you the fucking papparazzi?