SLF's Bootleg How-To

I get a lot of mail from people saying "I don't have anything to trade but..." So I got to thinking, why not go out and tape a show of your favorite band for yourself and then you will have something lots of other people will want to trade for!

I guess most people just don't know how easy it is to record a show. So here's a quick how-to and a hope that more people will start doing it!

These are not instructions to commit a crime. If the artist, management, record label, or venue forbids taping, do not do it. It's as simple as that.

Please read my Bootleg Information Page before continuing!

Why be so sneaky? Here's a question I get a lot about this page: "OK, so if this isn't illegal (with the permission of the performer, of course) then why be so sneaky?"

The reason to sneak your deck in for an audience recording is simple: Many people may not understand that what you are doing is OK. Who can blame them? They have probably heard of the sleazy bootleggers who sell crummy copies of concerts and hurt the band's legitimate sales.

Of course, many labels do not want to give explicit instructions to the local security about allowing recording. They are more interested in making sure that the show goes well than your tapes. So the security guards are very often not informed that an artist allows taping. Who can blame them? If one artist doesn't allow it, why should another allow it?

Then there are the other paying concertgoers. They probably don't know whether taping is allowed or not. Plus, your taping may disturb them while they are trying to enjoy the show!

For these reasons, it is best to hide your deck when taping from the audience. You don't want to cause a stir about your taping, you just want a nice souvenir.

If the band explicitly invites taping (for instance by offering soundboard feeds or special taping areas) then by all means, make use of them! In these cases, the security guards (and probably other concertgoers, too) will understand and not bother with you or your gear.

Equipment

Let's get this out of the way: You don't need lots of expensive equipment. In fact, having a really expensive deck can be a real detriment to a recorder since you have to always worry about losing it or having it get damaged. Sure, a DAT deck with Core Sound Binaural mics will make a superior recording, but you don't need that if all you want is a listenable souvenir.

Here's a quick rundown of what you need:

The Deck

You need a stereo recording Walkman-type deck. Forget microcasettes; they just don't sound good enough. Forget the cheap full-size mono-recorders, too; you definitely want stereo sound. DAT and MD decks work great but cost a lot.

Analog Tape Recorders: Regular, Walkman-type tape recorders are the most common for the average fan. I use a cheap ($80) Aiwa recording walkman most of the time. Look for one without automatic gain control (AGC) if you can get it. This will cause the sound to fade in and out during the recording and make poor-quality recordings. It is best to get one that looks like a regular Walkman so if you are asked you can say it's just for playing tapes.
MD Recorders: The new MD decks look to be tailor-made for recording live performances from the audience. They record high-quality sound, they never need "flipping", they are shock-resistant, and most people will believe that they're "playback-only". Plus, the recorders and blanks are coming down in price, though a portable recording MD deck will still cost at least US$400. Make sure that the deck you buy will record as well as play since many of the inexpensive portable MD units just play! You could buy a couple of blank MDs, label them as some popular album, and should have no trouble convincing people that you aren't recording anything. Just get a good mic and hide it really well!
DAT Recorders: Not having one, I don't know too much about DAT recorders. People used to recommend the Sony TCD-D3 and TCD-D7, though. If you can, please let me know your experiences so I can post them here!

The Microphone

You need a stereo mic of some sort. The sound quality of mics vary widely. Make sure you buy one that you have heard or can return if you don't like it! I use the mic that came with my deck since it sounds pretty good. I find that the mics that come with Sony's D3 and D6 are way too trebbley to listen to. Find one that sounds good to you and use it. Mine has a little clip on it, too, which is really nice. I just clip it to my jacket lapel and I'm set.

Tapes

I always bring in two tapes, one in the deck with something you don't care about on it (but rewound) and one in my pocket. I use the reasonably good Maxell or TDK Type II tapes.

Batteries

Always bring in extra fresh batteries.

A Watch

You'll need this to know when to flip the tape. Make sure it glows in the dark so you can see it inside. The Indiglo-brand watches are way too bright, though, for use in clubs!

Headphones

You'll need headphones to check your recording. Plus, it's a good idea to have them with your walkman if you are asked about it.

Doing It

Once you've got your equipment, it's easy to record a show. Most large venues (Civic Centers and Theaters) will pat you down for alcohol and weapons. They aren't really looking for recorders, but they often do not allow recording. If they find your deck, some will refuse you entrance, make you return it to your car, or even take it or break it and you're done. Most smaller venues (clubs) don't care so much (if at all) about recording, but may still search for alcohol and weapons.

Be sure to find out the artist's attitude toward recording before you try to make a tape. Some bands encourage recording and may even let you hook your deck up to the soundboard or put it somewhere nice like the front of the stage. I've even seen a band stop playing and demand that the security guards leave a taper alone to record. Some will reserve an area for tapers to record.

If the band specifically forbids taping, don't do it. The music really belongs to them, after all, and they should be able to control it. If the venue or the band's management or record label disallows taping, make your own decision about it.

Even if the band, label, management, or venue does allow taping, the security guards or other concertgoers may not understand. Many people think recording is always illegal and will not be convinced. Recording can disturb or annoy other concertgoers, too. This is the reason that it's best to conceal your deck and mic. It's never good to detract from the music, which is the real reason everyone else came to a show.

Getting Set: Test out your equipment at home. Pack it all up nicely. Be sure to hide the mic really well since it's the only real giveaway that you're recording. I usually just stick the deck in an inside jacket pocket if I'm going to a club. Even if they find the recorder, most clubs don't care. If I'm going to try for a bigger place, I wear a long coat and stick it in the back of my waistband. Other good places are the crotch, the pant leg near the foot, and under your hat.; Many people have noticed that women are almost never searched, and even if they are, the searches are usually really light and quick. For this reason, if you want to hide the deck well, it's best to bring along (or to be) a female. Women can usually hide decks in their bras without much trouble from the bouncers. Strangely enough, women's purses are hardly ever searched!
Getting In: Keep your eyes open. If you see the bouncers pat down the people in front of you, watch where they pat. Usually they have a pattern to it and you can move your equipment to where they won't look.; Remember that smaller venues are generally more lax in their checking, or don't care, and usually have friendlier bouncers. If you're going to a small place, consider not hiding the deck at all. Put it in a jacket pocket and stick to the "playback-only" claim if asked. Make sure you have some headphones, too, and do hide the mic well wherever you're going!; If your deck is found, don't panic. Hang onto it and insist that it's just for listening to tapes. Play it for them to show that it's got a regular tape of music in it. If all else fails, offer to return it to your car. Above all, don't let the bouncers get their hands on it. Though taping isn't illegal in the US, many venues ban it and may confiscate your equipment. If it comes to it, just turn around and walk out. It's better to see the show and not tape it than to not see or tape it!
Getting Position: Make sure you memorize all the buttons (especially the mute and pause ones) so you can use them by touch. It's a pain to fumble and sometimes it ruins a tape. Record a couple of songs of the opening band and then go into the bathroom and listen to make sure your sound level is OK and your equipment is working.; I always record from the sides as close to the speakers as I can without getting jostled a lot. Be sure to avoid people around you who like to talk loudly or sing along to the music. They have a right to enjoy the show, too, so it's your responsibility to move away from them if you're recording.
Recording: Check your watch when the act goes on stage. Start recording just before they step up to the mic and don't stop it until your watch tells you that side of the tape is gone. When you've got about five minutes left on the side, start waiting for a song to end. The second it does, flip over the tape and start recording again. Don't bother rewinding the tape or you'll miss part of the show. When you get home you can re-record the show with equalization, stitch the blanks back together, etc...

See my Legal Issues of Bootlegging page for more info on that sort of thing.
Read my Bootleg Info page for more general information about live recordings.

And how easy is it to do all this? Let it be known that I've never been caught. I've recorded quite a few shows, sometimes very obviously, and I've never been stopped. Just don't break any rules and don't annoy other concertgoers and have fun!

Please let me know if you have any suggestions for taping equipment and techniques. Lots of people email me about specific tape decks, but I just don't know the equipment that well. I'd like to add some more specific information here for them!

Last updated: 11/20/98

sfoskett@slf.gweep.net