Good all-around audio recorder?

[John Willett]

Originally Posted by Steve Oakley

for a budget, these would get my vote, or a used 702 if the price is right. FR-2 and HD-P2 units can be had for well under $1k new.

The original FR-2 is actually very nice - I have used this for three years before I upgraded to the Nagra VI.

[Petri Kaipiainen]

I also had FR-2 for some time, before realizing that it gives only 16-17 bits worth of dynamic range even at 24 bits*. Upgraded to SD722, which gives 20 at 24 bit sample depth. Worth remembering when getting all exited about 24/96, no field recorder gives more than 21 bits equivalent dynamic range in real life. All cheap ones basically just add 8 random bits to each sample when supposedly recording 24/96...

*) we should also be gratefull of honest 16/48 resolution. Better than human hearing or any playback equipment. Much better than any glorious analog Nagra of days past. 20 bits of real DR just makes levels setting safer, does not really improve the quality.

[Jon Fairhurst]

Originally Posted by Petri Kaipiainen

...20 bits of real DR just makes levels setting safer, does not really improve the quality.

Exactly true. Not having to do another take because the actor screamed louder than expected can be worth it.