Portable Samplers?

[shamann]

This new forum came just in time.

I've been thinking about working with some field recordings, but don't have a portable, handheld digital recorder, and don't really know where to start.

So a few questions for anyone with some experience to share:

- is mini disc the way to go, what with this new hi-md format? The marketing of the new Sony ones looks to be aimed at the iPod customer, so I'm dubious about this solution.

- or DAT?

- or something else? I'd prefer a solid state recorder, but wanted CD-quality audio, and worried that storage limits on small solid state recorders would require some kind of lossy compression format.

- and what kind of a mic would be useful. I'd only need mono, as I'm just looking to get some new source material and not audiophile stuff.

[edit] And should mention I'd prefer a digital transfer to my computer over an analog out.

Cheers for help, pointers, reviews, etc,
Steve

[george]

http://www.core-sound.com/

[shamann]

http://www.core-sound.com/

That's some cool looking stuff. I don't have a PDA though, and seems cost-prohibitive to get one when their must be adequate alternate solutions.

Probably more equipment than I need, too. I only really need stuff aimed at the advanced hobbiest, and not heavy duty professional (on the semi-cheap).

Cheers,
Steve

[vurt]

if you just want field recordings minidisc is fine
i use a sharp thingamebob and a pc mic its doesnt capture sound perfectly ie some noise n stuff but it depends what quality your affter

also i think improving my mic would enhance the quality but for me it dont matter

[shamann]

Anyone tried one of those iRiver ihp-120s for field recording?

Minidiscs are on my things to consider list, but I'd much rather have a file transfer option to PC rather than real-time re-recording.

[DevonB]

MD? It's a compressed format, do I need to say any more? Do a search on CompactFlash field recorders. These record in 44.1khz WAV format, and are obviously solid state. Little pricy, but they do have XLR inputs.

Devon

[DevonB]

Here we go, a 'reasonably' priced one.

http://www.djmart.com/maprpmsostre.html

I've been eyeing one for awhile. I'd prefer lossless format myself.

Devon

[shamann]

Here we go, a 'reasonably' priced one.

http://www.djmart.com/maprpmsostre.html

I've been eyeing one for awhile. I'd prefer lossless format myself.

Yeah, I had a look over the specs earlier today for the Marantz one. From what I can tell, as far as portable solid-state goes, it's one of the most expensive.

Looks awful nice, but I want a portable that can fit in my pocket. The Marantz is something like 8"x10"x2" and 1.5 pounds. Not that much smaller than my laptop.

Considering one of the iRiver models. Can record to .wav lossless cd-quality, has usb, and analog/optical lines in and out, with 20GB hard drive. Had a look this evening in a store, bit fiddly menu system, but no worse than an iPod. Less than half the price in $Canadian than the Marantz model.

Cheers,
Steve

[vurt]

Here we go, a 'reasonably' priced one.

http://www.djmart.com/maprpmsostre.html

I've been eyeing one for awhile. I'd prefer lossless format myself.

Devon

see you say reasonably priced
my minidisc was somehwre between 80-90 dollars

it depends on the quality you need really
i record passing traffic
building sites
cows in fields kind of thing
quality is not an essential

[shamann]

Also very cool from Denon/Marantz is this live CDR recorder.

Considering how cheap blank CDs now are, I'd think it would be a very handy thing. Not for portable, though. It looks to be about 2 kilos.

[DevonB]

Here we go, a 'reasonably' priced one.

http://www.djmart.com/maprpmsostre.html

I've been eyeing one for awhile. I'd prefer lossless format myself.

Yeah, I had a look over the specs earlier today for the Marantz one. From what I can tell, as far as portable solid-state goes, it's one of the most expensive.

Ha! Most expensive? You need to look further! Most of them are $1200 and up, my friend. The usual 'DAT' Tascam DACP-1 is what? $1500? It's cheap in comparison.

Devon

[DevonB]

Anyone tried one of those iRiver ihp-120s for field recording?

Built in mic? Ick. Means you'll NEVER have control over what kind of mic you use with it. It also appears to record in MP3 format. Says nothing about recording .wavs, just playing back wavs. I'm talking for me, personally, here. Just my thoughts. Of course, I tend to stick to pro level stuff myself.

Devon

[shamann]

Ha! Most expensive? You need to look further! Most of them are $1200 and up, my friend. The usual 'DAT' Tascam DACP-1 is what? $1500? It's cheap in comparison.

I suppose 'most' was a bit of an embellishment, but still for solid-state portable recorders (DAT's aren't solid-state last time I checked ), not cheap.

The iRiver records in both wav and mp3, has a built in mic for voice recording memo things, but external mic jack supercedes it. Not sure about signal to noise, but I'm sure it can't be great.

I'm with vurt, though, just recording the air and such, so a portable hard drive recorder will be very useful for me. Suppose if I wanted to do audiophile nature recordings with one of those head mics, the Marantz would fit the bill nicely I think.

Cheers,
Steve

[steveholt]

shamann wrote:
Anyone tried one of those iRiver ihp-120s for field recording?


Built in mic? Ick. Means you'll NEVER have control over what kind of mic you use with it. It also appears to record in MP3 format. Says nothing about recording .wavs, just playing back wavs. I'm talking for me, personally, here. Just my thoughts. Of course, I tend to stick to pro level stuff myself.

According to a review in PC Pro "(there's also a bundled external microphone)" and "Sound can be recorded as WAV files".

I would like to hear from someone who's actually got one because it might just be a good option?

Steve

[dekky]

i do it the "vurt-way" as well.

been using the sony mz1 with a battery driven sony stereo mike for years now.

quality is perfect for me... even though the thing is quite heavy and needs more batteries than a big boombox