Digital audio recorders? at DVinfo.net

Joe Barker · August 5th, 2006, 01:20 AM

Whats the best digital recording device to use for backup sound? I'm looking at purchasing something to use for backup sound as well as recording interveiws,with lav mic etc. I have heard many differant oppinions,Mini disc recorder, i river, i pod ,digital voice recorder etc.I have hired a Dat recorder on occations,but found it expensive and cumbersome .I am looking for something that's small,reliable and will record quality digital sound .What have you guys found works the best?

Allen McLaughlin · August 5th, 2006, 04:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Joe Barker

Whats the best digital recording device to use for backup sound? I'm looking at purchasing something to use for backup sound as well as recording interveiws,with lav mic etc. I have heard many differant oppinions,Mini disc recorder, i river, i pod ,digital voice recorder etc.I have hired a Dat recorder on occations,but found it expensive and cumbersome .I am looking for something that's small,reliable and will record quality digital sound .What have you guys found works the best?

I've been using a portable mini disc recorder for years and I'm very happy with it.

Bruce S. Yarock · August 5th, 2006, 06:40 AM

Edirol R-09. It's fantastic.

Bruce S. Yarock
www.yarock.com

Julian Fox · August 5th, 2006, 03:49 PM

I have a portable mini disc recorder but would like to know the best way of transferring the sound to a PC. I am currently using the XL2 for a digital pass through.

Joe Barker · August 8th, 2006, 06:32 PM

Thanks for the information guy's.

Glenn Davidson · August 8th, 2006, 07:06 PM

I use the HHB 500 minidisc and think it is great. I also have a Marantz 670 CF recorder that is nice. But I really want a http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/cont...goryNavigation

Jeff Phelps · August 8th, 2006, 07:26 PM

The latest generation of MD are able to upload to a computer in digital form. They also record in uncompressed format. They are called Hi-MD. The price of Hi-MD is lower than the Edirol and the quality is very hard to beat. IMO there is no competition for what you describe at this point.

The flash memory recorders that record in uncompressed format will likely eventually surpass the Hi-MD but at this point when you compare price and quality Hi-MD is the clear winner.

iRiver recorders are cheap when you can find them and they record pretty decent sound but they are not the quality of a Hi-MD. I have seen comments from people who own both and they say there is no comparison in quality.

I have a MD recorder. They are nice machines but they are very much inferior to Hi-MD. I expect to be getting a Hi-MD soon. I see Hi-MD recorders sell on eBay for under $100 on a regular basis. That deal is very sweet IMO.

Allen McLaughlin · August 9th, 2006, 03:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Julian Fox

I have a portable mini disc recorder but would like to know the best way of transferring the sound to a PC. I am currently using the XL2 for a digital pass through.

I use a Casablanca system and simply connect the mini disc via line out to the L-R audio input ports on the system. Presumably you could do the same if your PC audio card has phono/RCA inputs ?

Lonnie Bell · August 13th, 2006, 03:54 AM

for dialog, i use a Marantz PMD670, records to CF cards - love it. get em on ebay for decent price (got mine there almost brand new). when used with highest recording settings 48k/16bit/pcm/wav and a nice low self noise mic (recommend a good condensor), almost zero hiss... better recording this way than by using the same mic into the xlr's of the xl2 (which are still pretty decent)...

but there's a little trick when you set up the 670 - if you're interested - let me know and i'll eloborate...

good luck

but if your budget can allow for it the fostex fr2, sounddevices 722, are superior...

Andreas Griesmayr · August 13th, 2006, 10:24 AM

you could check out: http://taperssection.com/index.php ( must become member to view though. )

my view with minuses and pluses:

Hi-MD ( only Sony HiMD, don't even consider other MD recorders! ): very good quality recording (+), records to HiMD discs of 1 GB, must use Sony software for file transfer ( - )
iRiver H120/140 H320/340: with Rockbox firmware very useful recorder, live levels, life adjustment etc...but quality of analog/digital converter and preamp inferior to the HiMD (-), have inbuilt 20 or 40 GB (+)
Edirol R-09: the new love affair of the stealth recorders, very good quality recordings arguably same as HiMD ( + ), quite good inbuilt stereo mic ( + ), record to max 4 GB SD cards, prize high ( - )

Andy Joyce · August 13th, 2006, 02:55 PM

You can probably find some good portable DAT recorders around, even on eBay.

I have had a nice Sony model for years. I use it a lot with my Sony parabolic microphone for bird recordings.

If you don't mind using another tape machine, they are fun to use and the sound quality is very good. I never liked the old 12-bit mini discs, but if they have a new higer quality version out now, that might be a way to go.

Glenn Davidson · August 13th, 2006, 03:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lonnie Bell

for dialog, i use a Marantz PMD670, but there's a little trick when you set up the 670 - if you're interested - let me know and i'll eloborate...

Please tell us more. I like my 670, but I find the menus, options and defaults a little complicated. Any tips to improve it's use in the field would be helpful.

Lonnie Bell · August 15th, 2006, 06:28 AM

hey Glen - been busy, but here it goes,
& some of this i'm sure you know, but i'll try and cover the bases...

i'm coming straight from my AKG into the xlr-in (L) on the PMD670...

Menu:
Algor/file:
Stereo/PCM/48/wav

Input Button Selections:
Input device and Channel:
to DLmono w/Mic input - DLmono records regular levels on the left
channel, and the right channel is reduced by -15db. this acts as a
safety, in case someone yells or levels get to high for channel one
(L).
Recording Parameters:
Stereo.

Here's the problem as i see it when people are reporting hiss... if you use DLmono, and use the "mono" setting (seems intuitive), regardless of whether you set it to record PCM/WAV/48, the recorder defaults to an MP3 (compressed) recording - more hiss... if you use "stereo" in conjunction with DLmono, it will record in the highest settings of PCM/WAV/48 (uncompressed) if you used these settings in the first place - hiss is almost non-existant...

and of course use a good condensor mic...

any q's, just ask,
Lonnie

Chris Hurd · August 15th, 2006, 06:41 AM

Moved from XL2 to NHT.

Tim Gray · August 15th, 2006, 08:06 AM

How did M-Audio's microtrack 24/96 ever pan out? The ~$350 flash recorder? Might make for a nice little backup recorder if it is half decent.

Tim

August 5th, 2006, 01:20 AM	#1
Joe Barker Regular Crew Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Perth WA Australia Posts: 124	Digital audio recorders? Whats the best digital recording device to use for backup sound? I'm looking at purchasing something to use for backup sound as well as recording interveiws,with lav mic etc. I have heard many differant oppinions,Mini disc recorder, i river, i pod ,digital voice recorder etc.I have hired a Dat recorder on occations,but found it expensive and cumbersome .I am looking for something that's small,reliable and will record quality digital sound .What have you guys found works the best?

August 5th, 2006, 03:49 PM	#4
Julian Fox New Boot Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Ashford, Middlesex (England) Posts: 22	Mini Discs I have a portable mini disc recorder but would like to know the best way of transferring the sound to a PC. I am currently using the XL2 for a digital pass through.

August 13th, 2006, 03:54 AM	#9
Lonnie Bell Major Player Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Las Vegas, NV United States Posts: 361	for dialog, i use a Marantz PMD670, records to CF cards - love it. get em on ebay for decent price (got mine there almost brand new). when used with highest recording settings 48k/16bit/pcm/wav and a nice low self noise mic (recommend a good condensor), almost zero hiss... better recording this way than by using the same mic into the xlr's of the xl2 (which are still pretty decent)... but there's a little trick when you set up the 670 - if you're interested - let me know and i'll eloborate... good luck but if your budget can allow for it the fostex fr2, sounddevices 722, are superior... __________________ Lonnie Bell mamas boy productions Las Vegas, NV

August 13th, 2006, 10:24 AM	#10
Andreas Griesmayr Regular Crew Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Amstetten Austria Posts: 140	you could check out: http://taperssection.com/index.php ( must become member to view though. ) my view with minuses and pluses: Hi-MD ( only Sony HiMD, don't even consider other MD recorders! ): very good quality recording (+), records to HiMD discs of 1 GB, must use Sony software for file transfer ( - ) iRiver H120/140 H320/340: with Rockbox firmware very useful recorder, live levels, life adjustment etc...but quality of analog/digital converter and preamp inferior to the HiMD (-), have inbuilt 20 or 40 GB (+) Edirol R-09: the new love affair of the stealth recorders, very good quality recordings arguably same as HiMD ( + ), quite good inbuilt stereo mic ( + ), record to max 4 GB SD cards, prize high ( - ) __________________ video: NV-GS400 (black jap), Raynox HD-6600 and XL-3000, VW-LDC10 V.light, Velbon C-400, Slik monopod, Hama Hood audio: SP-CMC8+AT853 cards+omnis / AT822 > DIYpreamp > iRiver iHP120rockboxed, Giant Squid Omnis > iRiver iFP-799

August 13th, 2006, 02:55 PM	#11
Andy Joyce Regular Crew Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Silicon Valley Posts: 61	You can probably find some good portable DAT recorders around, even on eBay. I have had a nice Sony model for years. I use it a lot with my Sony parabolic microphone for bird recordings. If you don't mind using another tape machine, they are fun to use and the sound quality is very good. I never liked the old 12-bit mini discs, but if they have a new higer quality version out now, that might be a way to go. __________________ ----------------------------------- XL2: power to go, quality to impress

August 5th, 2006, 06:40 AM	#3
Bruce S. Yarock Trustee Join Date: May 2004 Location: Pembroke Pines, Fl. Posts: 1,842	Edirol R-09. It's fantastic. Bruce S. Yarock www.yarock.com

August 8th, 2006, 06:32 PM	#5
Joe Barker Regular Crew Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Perth WA Australia Posts: 124	Thanks for the information guy's.

August 8th, 2006, 07:06 PM	#6
Glenn Davidson Major Player Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Nevada City, California Posts: 499	I use the HHB 500 minidisc and think it is great. I also have a Marantz 670 CF recorder that is nice. But I really want a http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/cont...goryNavigation

August 8th, 2006, 07:26 PM	#7
Jeff Phelps Regular Crew Join Date: May 2006 Location: Franklin Furnace, Ohio Posts: 74	The latest generation of MD are able to upload to a computer in digital form. They also record in uncompressed format. They are called Hi-MD. The price of Hi-MD is lower than the Edirol and the quality is very hard to beat. IMO there is no competition for what you describe at this point. The flash memory recorders that record in uncompressed format will likely eventually surpass the Hi-MD but at this point when you compare price and quality Hi-MD is the clear winner. iRiver recorders are cheap when you can find them and they record pretty decent sound but they are not the quality of a Hi-MD. I have seen comments from people who own both and they say there is no comparison in quality. I have a MD recorder. They are nice machines but they are very much inferior to Hi-MD. I expect to be getting a Hi-MD soon. I see Hi-MD recorders sell on eBay for under $100 on a regular basis. That deal is very sweet IMO.

August 15th, 2006, 06:28 AM	#13
Lonnie Bell Major Player Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Las Vegas, NV United States Posts: 361	hey Glen - been busy, but here it goes, & some of this i'm sure you know, but i'll try and cover the bases... i'm coming straight from my AKG into the xlr-in (L) on the PMD670... Menu: Algor/file: Stereo/PCM/48/wav Input Button Selections: Input device and Channel: to DLmono w/Mic input - DLmono records regular levels on the left channel, and the right channel is reduced by -15db. this acts as a safety, in case someone yells or levels get to high for channel one (L). Recording Parameters: Stereo. Here's the problem as i see it when people are reporting hiss... if you use DLmono, and use the "mono" setting (seems intuitive), regardless of whether you set it to record PCM/WAV/48, the recorder defaults to an MP3 (compressed) recording - more hiss... if you use "stereo" in conjunction with DLmono, it will record in the highest settings of PCM/WAV/48 (uncompressed) if you used these settings in the first place - hiss is almost non-existant... and of course use a good condensor mic... any q's, just ask, Lonnie __________________ Lonnie Bell mamas boy productions Las Vegas, NV

August 15th, 2006, 06:41 AM	#14
Chris Hurd Obstreperous Rex Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: San Marcos, TX Posts: 27,368 Images: 513	Moved from XL2 to NHT. __________________ CH Search DV Info Net \| 20 years of DVi \| ...Tuesday is Soylent Green Day!

August 15th, 2006, 08:06 AM	#15
Tim Gray Regular Crew Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Media, PA Posts: 144	How did M-Audio's microtrack 24/96 ever pan out? The ~$350 flash recorder? Might make for a nice little backup recorder if it is half decent. Tim