Which Digital Recorder for field recordings?

[Jeremy_NSL]

I'm looking at purchasing a digital recorder for field recordings. They are all priced between $400-500 cdn. Does anyone have experience with these? How are the built-in mics? Products to avoid?

M-Audio MicroTrack 24/96
Edirol R-09
Edirol R-1

Or should I be looking at minidisc? Thanks,

Jeremy

[Spe3D]

http://samplesnippets.com/

[Spe3D]

I would write more about field recorders at samplesnippets - but does not seem much point due to the lack of interest in such stuff.

[Jeremy_NSL]

Thanks Spe3d. I had a look at the R-1 info etc. on your site. Is that the recorder you'd recommend?

[james0tucson]

How are the built-in mics? Products to avoid?

M-Audio MicroTrack 24/96

I keep reading reviews that suggest it is noisy.

Edirol R-09

I like the looks of it. I think it replaces the R-1, right?

Edirol R-1

I tried to buy one once. I needed it for location recordings during a summer trip.
I had months of lead time. The soonest I would have been able to obtain one from any vendor was going to be several *months* too late. Cooled me right off, and I never ended up buying one.

Or should I be looking at minidisc?

Portable minidiscs are noisy, they *all* put DRM on your track, and none of them actually has a straight digital IO. The Sony models force you to run Soundstage which has permission to erase your master. Some people are willing to participate in such shenanigans, but I am not.

Check out Len's PDAudio system:
http://www.core-sound.com/default.php

Turns out to be fairly expensive, but the preamp is a modular piece and is *very* good, the converters are good, pros are using it, and Len's service is legendary.

[laputa_sync]

I would write more about field recorders at samplesnippets - but does not seem much point due to the lack of interest in such stuff.

im interested.

thanks jamestuscon for the link, although the whole rig is expensive the mic2496 seems good value.

[Lagrange]

This one caught my eye especially for field recording applications.

Its a bit on the pricey side around 1200.00 us but the fact that you get a condenser in such a portable device sold me. Also I didnt have to buy an additional recorder so I overlooked the price.

C

[VeXKoN]

R09 EVERYTIME! its so sweet, stereo is a must for field.

[Mr. Tunes]

Portable minidiscs are noisy, they *all* put DRM on your track, and none of them actually has a straight digital IO. The Sony models force you to run Soundstage which has permission to erase your master. Some people are willing to participate in such shenanigans, but I am not.

SonicStage was updated

Sony have recently added the option to drop DRM on ripped files in Sonicstage V3.3+

SonicStage 3.4 includes an option to de-DRM your whole library (obviously the larger your library is, the longer this will take) allowing as many copies of files as you like, on as many players as you want, on as many PCs as you want. You can even share non-DRM files with friends or colleagues.

Anyways I think USB is pretty much a straight digital I/O for all intensive purposes of transferring. That being said I wouldn't recommend a minidisc these days with all those other recorders on the market except if you're on a really tight budget of around 200-300 they're a good deal.

[Jeremy_NSL]

This one caught my eye especially for field recording applications.

Its a bit on the pricey side around 1200.00 us but the fact that you get a condenser in such a portable device sold me. Also I didnt have to buy an additional recorder so I overlooked the price.

C

Thanks. I saw that before and it looks cool, but I need a stereo mic.

[telestich]

Never noticed Samplesnippets before, but I sure hope it will get more users and action in the future! I've recently been trying out field recording a bit (with a blasted MD and a dynamic non-stereo mic...) so hope to see some good tips there .

[nuffink]

Not cheap.

[Jeremy_NSL]

Yup I saw the D1 but thats out of my price range for now I'm afraid...

I'm leaning towards the R-09 right now. Any more comments?

[DevonB]

I've heard good things about the Marantz portables. You considered them at all?

http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/PMD660/

Devon

[DevonB]

Oh, stay away from MD, as it's a compressed format. Also, get one with XLR and suppies 48v power so you have flexibility with a mic. The one with the built-in mic limits your flexibility.

Devon