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by Fingerstyle Productions®

• memory aid – lessons
• try-outs – ie experimenting and creating your own back-ups and solos
• record new tab pieces at slow speed – to learn the tune and tricky timings
• transfer mp3 files from computer onto mp3 player to enjoy later
• record jam sessions and band practices – as mementos, to review licks, solos and back-up techniques, to record someone calling out the chords, song sequence and endings etc
• send compressed files by email as attachments
• enable practice with other musos by ‘remote’ via email or web server
• slow down mp3 files using Windows Media Player for in depth study of licks, solos etc.

If you can operate a mouse and have an XP platform on your computer then mp3 player-recorders (PR’s) are an excellent and inexpensive boon to make progress learning any instrument.

The first recording device I ever used was 30 years ago – a reel-to-reel spool tape recorder that held 4 hours of recording, weighed 30 kilos, used an external microphone and cost a months wage.

Mp3 PR’s are portable, inexpensive and, with a bit of practice, relatively easy to operate.  Best of all, they’re tiny, store enormous quantities of data and can interface with computers.

I was given an iRiver for Xmas last year.  It cost $140, runs off a AAA battery, has built in condenser mic, and includes a USB lead and software package.

The software didn’t do anything that (Microsoft) Windows Explorer and Windows Media Player didn’t already do.  I found it downright confusing to operate and finally went into ‘Add/Delete Hardware’ and uninstalled it.  Fortunately, when connected to the computer, iRiver PR behaves just like one of those wonderful little memory sticks!  Hoorah for technology!

Using the PR can be broken down into 2 practical processes – recording, and file management.

Like any new techno gizmo, PR’s have a small display screen and a menu accessed by tiny buttons or touch screen and stylus.  Like most people older than 25 I find these things quite frustrating until I finally learn what button does what in which sequence.  Word from the wise – read the instructions for operation of the actual player of your choice. 

The mic is sensitive – position the unit about a metre away from the source to avoid distortion.  Set the PR to record, play your piece then stop the recorder just as you would with any other method.  Do this as many times as you need to get it right. 

You can keep recording these separate files for as long as the battery lasts or until the storage capacity reaches its limit. 

Mp3PR’s are quite well organised and use a browser to access the menus and folders within.  Once you’ve accessed the right folder, scroll up or down to find the recording you want to listen to.  iRiver uses an internal folder named “Voice” for these recordings.

At some stage though, you’re going to want to get rid of the trash, name the files you want to keep (iRiver gives each recorded file a number which eventually becomes inconvenient.) make a data CD for permanent storage, or email recordings to your mates.  That’s when you get out the USB cable and connect to the computer to start managing the files.

Recorded files can be moved or copied from the PR into computer folders for permanent storage, burning to CD emailing or future practice sessions. (To copy, click and drag to the destination, or right click on the file, choose ‘copy’, right click on destination folder and choose ‘paste’.)

(I’m going to talk about the iRiver here because of personal knowledge, but this process applies to several brands of PR’s.)
Attach the USB cable between the iRiver and a USB port.  Power up the iRiver and the display should state ‘USB’. 
Open up Windows Explorer and create a couple of new folders ready to receive the files. (File/New Folder – I have 3 folders called ideas, licks and events.)

Find the source by scrolling down Explorer - you’ll see a new drive.  (The iRiver is called T30).  Now access the recordings (iRiver calls it Voice folder) and have a quick listen by double clicking on each.  They’ll open in Windows Media Player.  Having recognised the recording, either delete or rename the file by right clicking and choosing either delete or rename.  Now when you browse through iRiver the files will have recognisable names, not numbers and all the trash will be gone.

This may seem like a laborious process but I guess it’s fair payback for the upside.  It’s one thing to record masses of music, it’s another to be able to retrieve the one you want!  Having said that, I confess to having batches of numbered files from when I recorded a huge catalogue of licks.  Because they’re in sequence I usually listen to them all one after the other anyway.  Songs or other events are named with short titles.

Mp3PR’s are quite well organised and use a browser to access the menus and folders within.

Part 3 – Emailing

Files copied to computer and renamed can be attached to emails like any other file.  The person receiving them will hear them through Windows Media Player.

Part 4 – Hi-Tech Practice Tips

Mp3’s take up far less storage space than .wav files.  Another added bonus is that Windows Media Player (WMP) can slow down an mp3 without changing the pitch. 

If you want to try slowing down ANY mp3, open the file in Explorer.  Once WMP is up, click on Play/Play Speed/Half Speed.  The ‘bee in a bottle’ sound takes a bit of getting used to at first, so recordings of single instruments will be easier to hear than bands.  However, listening skills will adapt. 

Headphones help to separate the instruments.  For instance, in the Del McCoury album “Del and The Boys”, Robbie McCoury (banjo) is always in the left channel so moving the headphones away from the right ear helps isolate the banjo part.

Part 5 – Getting the best value from tuition A recording device, audio or visual is a great way to maximise value from any tuition, jams or festivals. Most musos at festivals are kindly folk and music teachers will welcome your bringing this memory aid.  They’ll willingly record the same lick several times, or a whole tabbed solo.  Ask that they play first at the finished speed, then again at half speed.  Back at home, when you’ve downloaded the files to the computer and renamed them, the slider bar on WMP can be used to great advantage.  Repeat sections by clicking and dragging the slider to the precise point using the counter (displayed on the bottom right) – just like we used to do with tape players.

Part 6 – More practice tips

More advanced players will speed the creative process of developing new tunes/songs/back-up using a PR for later listening – what works, what doesn’t.  Modern computer CD/DVD players recognise several formats.  There are also CD players available for your vehicle that will recognise mp3 format.  Instead of just 15 tracks per CD, the compressed format of mp3 will allow 150 tracks!  These data discs can form a library, be reaccessed at any time and files loaded on and off your PR quickly and easily through Windows Explorer.  The downside is that mp3 is a lossy format – bits drop off when you save so try not to rename too many times.

Part 7 – Do your homework before buying

When considering purchase of an mp3PR get the facts on how it talks to a computer.  Some PR’s insist on their own software.

Thirty years ago we used to slow down recordings by resting a finger on the vinyl as it spun around the turntable.  Home recording was rough as guts and finished recordings complex to catalogue.  The techno combination of compact discs, computers, and mp3 format - once considered science fiction - are tools that maximise your valuable time and boost the enjoyment of making music.  An mp3PR is a such a versitile and inexpensive part of this combo - why wait for Santa!

(This article was written from a personal point of view, not intended either as an endorsement or review of iRiver specifically.)

Wendy Holman - Fingerstyle Productions 24 September 2007