Which Digital Recorder for field recordings?

[Jeremy_NSL]

Hi Devon,

I have looked at the Marantz, but its quite large and it only records 16-bit audio. And I can't find it locally.

[Genetic_Junk]

Do you want the mics built into the recorder? Would you mind having to take two separate mics (probably condensers) out into the field?

I have one of these

http://www.oade.com/digital_recorders/h ... 0MODS.html

with the advance concert mod. I had a stock model and the mod lowered the noise level so much. The only thing I don't like about it is that it is 16bit. I've been trying to sell it for $500 with two mxl990 mics thrown in, but no one wants it. I made lots of nice samples with that setup (with the mxl990s) including the big rusty barrel stuff.

Also the Fostex on the this page ( not due until December) looks interesting

http://www.oade.com/digital_recorders/h ... R-2LE.html

[james0tucson]

Do you want the mics built into the recorder? Would you mind having to take two separate mics (probably condensers) out into the field?

I have one of these

http://www.oade.com/digital_recorders/h ... 0MODS.html

with the advance concert mod. I had a stock model and the mod lowered the noise level so much. The only thing I don't like about it is that it is 16bit. I've been trying to sell it for $500 with two mxl990 mics thrown in, but no one wants it.

That's a very good deal. I wish I could go for it but I'm house poor, car poor, school poor, and dirt poor.

[james0tucson]

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

Nope, still don't trust them, and never will again.

It was easy for them to get my business, easy to lose it, and it will *never* come their way again.

[Majken]

Keep an eye out for Zoom H4, looks very promising. Low price, XLR connectors, 48V phantom power, built in xy pair and so on.

/Majken

[james0tucson]

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

You don't *really* need "48v" phantom power with most mics. Lots of preamps operate with, I think 18v, and work just fine allowing for battery options that would otherwise be difficult (heavy, short).

[james0tucson]

Oh, stay away from MD, as it's a compressed format.

The compression never really bothered me much. The fact that the company is hostile to the idea of you having control of whats on the medium, did them in. Death penatly for the company, forever, as far as my wallet is concerned. If that company ever becomes the only choice, I'll still do without it. And I don't *care* if my former business is an insignificant drop in the bucket. It's *MY* bucket when the money is in *MY* pocket, and the music that gets recorded on my recorder is *MY* music, not anyone else's to put DRM on it, refuse to allow me to extract it except through a poor DAC, or tell me how many times I can extract in the digital domain or copy it.

[Mitch I.]

I'm really happy with my R-09. The built-in mics are great, and with a pair of fully-charged rechargeable AAs, I get 6-7 hours of recording. I bought a 2GB SD card, which I'll probably never take out of the device, since it's so easy to move files from the device itself.

Some possible disadvantages:

- The automatic gain control doesn't work very well for live music, so turn it off and get a level.

- The build quality doesn't inspire confidence, especially the door to change the batteries and access the USB connection.

- There's a little hiss in certain situations, but it's very easy to remove with an audio editor.

It's the portable digital recorder I've always wanted.

Mitch I.

[VicDiesel]

I've been happy with the M-Audio Microtrack. Haven't noticed much about noise, but I'm not an experienced field recordist. And it's pretty nifty with 24-bit sp/dif connection, et cetera. There is a review of it in some mag that's on the stands right now. Electronic Musician? Sound on sound?

Victor.

[Musicisbest]

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

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

Devon

These guys have been making good products for a long time.

[Mr. Tunes]

Oh, stay away from MD, as it's a compressed format.

The compression never really bothered me much. The fact that the company is hostile to the idea of you having control of whats on the medium, did them in.

It's not a compressed format any more! My minidisc records at 44.1 16 bit PCM Wave!
Anyways James did you not read my post about how the DRM is gone now?

[james0tucson]

Anyways James did you not read my post about how the DRM is gone now?

Do you not understand the concept of "death penalty?"

I don't care if the condemned found religion on death row, get it?

[Mr. Tunes]

Anyways James did you not read my post about how the DRM is gone now?

Do you not understand the concept of "death penalty?"

I don't care if the condemned found religion on death row, get it?

The grim reaper of audio has arrived

[james0tucson]

Anyways James did you not read my post about how the DRM is gone now?

Do you not understand the concept of "death penalty?"

I don't care if the condemned found religion on death row, get it?

The grim reaper of audio has arrived

You understand my position, right? Anyone who tries to put a barrier between me and my creative works, be it technology such as DRM or litigation, loses. That's why I don't do business with the Dongle people, and that's why I damn sure don't do business with the likes of Sony. It's that simple.

[gcsmoney]

Maybe you should specify what you are looking to record. That way, you know if you should go high end, or if a Strawberry Shortcake recorder/Mr. Microphone combo will do the trick...



Just another KVR'er, putting the "Pro" in Prozac.....