KVR Audio

fandango · Post by **fandango** » Mon May 14, 2012 12:32 pm

Since my tracking days (early 90s), despite having loaded up on sample libraries for Kontakt, I think I still miss sampling from the big wide world (or just pots and pans in the kitchen).

In days gone by I thought about having a MiniDisc player and some form of Mic with it so I could record samples easily on the fly. Just mono, at a reasonable quality. I always massacre later in a wave editor like Edison.

I would appreciate any advice on:

A) A good portable device for recording (mono's fine) uncompressed.
B) A mic of reasonable quality that would be reasonably powered and not make me look too much like a douchebag* wandering around with it.

* or not add excessive douchebagginess where previous douchebagginess may be already in effect.

edit - C) Some form of input signal monitor on the device would also be good.

UltraJv · Post by **UltraJv** » Mon May 14, 2012 1:11 pm

Your phone

VariKusBrainZ · Post by **VariKusBrainZ** » Mon May 14, 2012 1:24 pm

fandango · Post by **fandango** » Mon May 14, 2012 1:28 pm

Hmm, I have an iPhone 3GS. The mic on this I imagine is pretty atrocious. There's a facility on the phone for recording memos (it has an input monitor as well) but no idea what format it's recording in or the resultant quality.

Ned Bouhalassa · Post by **Ned Bouhalassa** » Mon May 14, 2012 1:29 pm

I use this Zoom recorder - so far, so great! And at a good price, too:

http://tech.spotcoolstuff.com/mobile-ph ... -recorder/

otristan · Post by **otristan** » Mon May 14, 2012 1:35 pm

zoom H2N, H4N or sony PCM M10 ?

fandango · Post by **fandango** » Mon May 14, 2012 1:38 pm

Ned: Excellent! That's exactly the sort of ditty I'm after. Seems to have a mic-in, but perfectly capable without it, and the size is right too.

Recording formats: WAV (44.1/48/96kHz, 16/24 bits) or MP3 (44.1kHz, 48-320kbps or variable bit rate), switchable
4 built-in electret microphones (2 each for front/rear in X/Y setup), sensitivity can be adjusted in 3 steps, recording modes: stereo front (90°), stereo rear (120°), stereo surround (360°), 4-channel surround (360°)
AGC function (automatic gain control), compressor function and limiter function, low cut filter

Perfect!

otristan: Thanks, I'm fond of Sony and will check that out as well.

kryptonaut · Post by **kryptonaut** » Mon May 14, 2012 1:47 pm

I've been playing with the Zoom H1 recently - for what it costs, I'm pretty impressed. It is somewhat prone to handling noise and wind, but you can stick it on a mini camera tripod and you'll be good to go for bashing your pots'n'pans.

For outdoor work you can get/make a windshield for it, and use the built-in low cut filter to reduce wind noise.

I'm really pleased with mine - listening to field recordings on headphones is like being there again. Records up to 96k at 24bits too.

Gone soft · Post by **Gone soft** » Mon May 14, 2012 2:15 pm

Is the pricedifference for the H2n worth it? Right now I'm thinking I wouldn't need some fancy mid/side stuff and it would inititally just confuse me, but perhaps it could be useful farther down the road? Where I checked the prices there's roughly 50 % extra for the H2n though that's because of a discount on the H2. Anyone?

UltraJv · Post by **UltraJv** » Mon May 14, 2012 2:17 pm

fandango wrote:Hmm, I have an iPhone 3GS. The mic on this I imagine is pretty atrocious. There's a facility on the phone for recording memos (it has an input monitor as well) but no idea what format it's recording in or the resultant quality.

The Mic is pretty good. There are loads of apps for recording in every imaginable format. There are even semi DAW based apps :

http://www.kvraudio.com/forum/viewforum.php?f=166

Dean Aka Nekro · Post by **Dean Aka Nekro** » Mon May 14, 2012 3:05 pm

Zoom H2N, I love it and its good VFM I reckon, Definately try one out if you are able to

Dean

fandango · Post by **fandango** » Mon May 14, 2012 4:07 pm

I've been reading up on the H2N, is it just the newer version of the H2 or is it missing something the H2 had? It seems to be cheaper than places that still have the H2 and I'm a bit confused. It certainly looks nicer and I've read reviews that say the interface on the H2N is much better (and the battery life).

hollowsun · Post by **hollowsun** » Mon May 14, 2012 4:14 pm

Tascam DR40.

I have one. Very good...

Self contained but with line and balanced mic in as well. Have used it to record all sorts of things with the internal mics and use it as a portable recording device through the line ins. Excellent results.

A bit more expensive than the Zoom (which I used to have) but better and worth the extra (IMO, of course).

Cheers,

Stephen.

zvon · Post by **zvon** » Mon May 14, 2012 4:54 pm

I am very happy with my Olympus LS-10 and the new LS-100 seems to be quite a beast and it's the same price I paid for the LS-10.

They have cheaper ones too.

tropicalontour · Post by **tropicalontour** » Mon May 14, 2012 4:57 pm

Ned Bouhalassa wrote:I use this Zoom recorder - so far, so great! And at a good price, too:

http://tech.spotcoolstuff.com/mobile-ph ... -recorder/

+1 Comes with a wind screen too. And lots of ways to mount it on a mike stand.

A reasonably priced solution for sampling "in the wild"?