Equipment for recording Rav Vast Drum , Handpan

Home studio equipment  

It would be so great to be able to remember all these beautiful melodies and the music you create with your handpan or RAV Vast drum! It’s so frustrating when you improvise and get a really good melody but just a moment later you can’t remember even a note. It is a common issue for the handpans while musicians improvise a lot with the instrument. The recording equipment could help here, as you can always be sure all your experiments and melodies are stored safe and sound.

A recording music studio right at your home sounds exciting, doesn’t it? But is it possible to get a professional-quality sound when recording at home without breaking the bank? Yes, it is! You do not actually need to have the best recording gear on the market, but here is a starter pack for a home studio you will require.

1. Your PC, just an ordinary one that you have. Even a tablet or a smartphone will work, however, you will be of course limited in music editing features when using those.

2. Audio recording software or DAW (Digital Audio Workstation).  Here we are talking about the software that is designed to record, mix and make edits of the sound on your computer. You can search for some free apps on the Internet if you are the beginner (there’s an abundance of options), or download the professional software if you are ready to take a step further

3. Audio recorder. As an alternative to the previous two options you can use a dictaphone. These differ as some of them have a built-in microphone and some require an additional mic. A great perk of it is that you can start recording right away when you have inspiration without. There’s no need to spend time turning on your PC and launching the software. However, the disadvantage is the same as with smartphones. You’ll have to buy a new device to get a better sound as the technical progress moves on.

4. Mic. This is a core element of your home studio that will transfer the sound from your drum to the PC. If you want to get a stereo effect, you will need 2 mics. There are two types of microphones - dynamic and condenser. The condenser microphone is highly sensitive and is able to pick up the tiniest modulations. If you choose the condenser type of microphone, you’ll also need a stand and a cable. (Check out more about choosing the mic for your RAV Vast here). The dynamic is stuck to your drum and will work great if you plan to make records outside.

5. Drum stand. Handpans and tongue drums are not as loud as violin or guitar for example. They usually have a very soft voice. When recording the sound, you’d like it be loud and clear. Most of the times the RAV steel tongue drums and the handpans are put on the knees. The soft texture of your clothes and your whole body are dulling the sound. To let your drum sound at the top of its voice, use a special stand. It’s a wooden tripod that places the drum at a comfortable altitude and let you move and play freely.

6. Headphones (optional)

Professional studio equipment

If you don’t want to waste your time (and money) for creating a home studio, you might like to go to a professional one that is already fully-equipped. This will also be a good option for professional handpan players who require high-quality sound records. The equipment positions will be pretty the same, just the range will be greater and the quality will be better. As for the mics, most professional studios have condenser microphones because of their fidelity and sensibility. Unlike the dynamic mics the condenser mics are able to pick up more of the input signal and do it faster. Good professional studios possess a few condenser mics that are hardly affordable to have in your home studio.

In addition, as well as for a home studio, it’s better to use a drum stand to make the sound louder.

How to record your play

If you are recording a solo on your steel drum, set up the equipment and start by improvising. Don’t try to make it all perfect, simply play as if you are practising as usual. The recording time is endless, you don’t need to hurry up. After you think you are done, listen to the record you got. You can cut out the most appealing pieces and create a library of your best samples. You can experiment with mixing these pre-recorded pieces using the software or play them again and make another record. You can also try to repeat after other musicians and recreate their music. There are multiple records of the musicians playing the RAV drum on Youtube.

Keep on practising to get the best sound and get ready to record your own album one day!