Whats a good quality portable Recorder so i could

[1ManBand]

record stuff from tv.. something that has audio inputs and can record at good quality.. anyone have any good recomendations?

[Shadow_7]

How are you wanting to record the TV audio? S-Video + RCA audio input? Mic in front of speakers? Cable connector? Psychic friends network?

[1ManBand]

whichever way would have best quality .. im guessing rca cables?

[Shadow_7]

You could put 1/4" adapters on the end of the RCA cable and plug it into pretty much any DI/preamp/interface. Although I wouldn't call it quality. Since you're making a copy of a copy of a copy. With various converters in the chain. Not to mention lower quality cables with adapters.

[1ManBand]

damn.. that isnt gonna work for me... im just looking for a high quality recorder.. it doesnt need to have a mic.

[Stevil]

can you be more specific as to what yer trying to capture?
will you be on the go?

a PCI Tuner Card would probably get you the best TV capture directly on to a computer.

if portability is the main goal i'd look @ something like the Zoom H4 & some rca to 1/4" cables. there are more expensive devices in it's product group if yer looking for higher specs.

[JEGG]

VCR's the way to go. Especially if you're on cable. You won't have to update when the freq's get reassigned.

Analogue, man. Infinite sampling rate. Ultimate technology.

[1ManBand]

im gonna check out that h4.. im jus trying to get samples from commercials and stuff. yeah i need it to be portable.

[goobersezhey]

Will the cable boxes in question have firewire jacks on the back? Most digital ones do.

If so, you could use a Mac laptop and the AVC Video Capture program, which is free in the Apple SDK download. This will capture HD video -- and audio -- which is editable with the MPEG Streamclip program (also free). While premium channels are scrambled, the basic networks are required by law to remain unscrambled. I think this would be your highest quality option.

[Shadow_7]

laptop + TV tuner card is probably the most portable. If you just want the audio, you can get RCA to 1/4" cables/adapters(or XLR connectors). Then plug that into something like a Zoom H4 or Fostex FR2LE. But in terms of portability, you may not always have RCA connectors to deal with. And then there's the issue if you want video and audio. At which point you'll need a capture card.

By portable do you mean:
a) fits in your pocket?
b) fits in a briefcase?
c) fits in a little red wagon? (or wheelbarrow)

[RBradley]

First Post on the board...

What do you think about this. Gefen just put this bad boy out. It has component, composite, and s video inputs.

http://www.gefen.com/images/ext-sd-pvr-back.jpg

http://www.gefen.com/images/ext-sd-pvr-front.jpg

They have an SD and an HD version...Pretty sweet

Get at me if you have any questions.

** Model EXT-SD-PVR

-Ryan

[Shadow_7]

Originally Posted by RBradley

What do you think about this. Gefen just put this bad boy out.

At $650, I'd rather not think about it.

SD Personal Video Recorder

I'd rather have one of the hauppauge cards.

Hauppauge Computer Works: WinTV-PVR-350

And buy $500 worth of beer with the money I saved. It's not like TV audio programming is coming in at 24 bit @ 192kHz and 7.1 surround. I doubt most of it is any better than 2 channels of 16 bit @ 48kHz. And depending on how you're receiving it, it may not even be that good.

[FrustiThaSnowman]

Originally Posted by JEGG

VCR's the way to go. Especially if you're on cable. You won't have to update when the freq's get reassigned.

Analogue, man. Infinite sampling rate. Ultimate technology.

Im not a Wizkid but I think I have to dissagree with that. Shure "some" VHS recorders will be of good help especially OLD betamax recorders.
But VHS totally sucks most of the time, He/she will be dissapointed.
You;d rather go with a portable recorder that records directly onto memory so you can plug it into your laptop or pc and just copy the audio directly1:1
If you use VHS you have to put up with noise and use a good soundcard te recapture the sound from VHS to pc. Been there done that.
I guess a portable digital recorder sounds best (never had one of those, would like to own one yes), and go with digital-satalite tv.

That VH4 got good reviews on turntablelab.com - butthat doesnt say shyt.
They also said event 20/20 speakers were good. The TR8XL's wich derived from the 20/20's totaly sucked. The only piece of gear I totally know and agree on with TTL are the Technics SL1200's ;)