Gearslutz.com
All Advertisers

Go Back   Gearslutz.com > The Forums > Remote Possibilities in Acoustic Music & Location Recording

Tags: , , ,

Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
Portable Handheld Recorders: which one is the best? Jake Holland Remote Possibilities in Acoustic Music & Location Recording 37 30th October 2008 11:05 PM
new Korg portable DSD recorders.. T.RayBullard Remote Possibilities in Acoustic Music & Location Recording 65 1st December 2007 05:53 AM
new Korg Portable DSD/WDSD recorders T.RayBullard Remote Possibilities in Acoustic Music & Location Recording 7 12th October 2006 07:24 PM
Marantz portable cassette recorders petsematary Remote Possibilities in Acoustic Music & Location Recording 5 26th May 2005 01:41 AM
Portable field recorders excellrec Remote Possibilities in Acoustic Music & Location Recording 11 7th April 2004 08:11 PM

Reply
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread Rate Thread Display Modes
Old 30th March 2007, 05:07 PM   #1
ddeez
Gear nut
 
Join Date: Oct 2006
Posts: 116
Question What Are Some of the best portable recorders??

I'm looking for a recorder that i can take around with me to record sounds outside the studio...whether its in the car ..on the street....at a gym...etc.


Ideally i would like to take advantage of the u87 i have, so hopefully this recorder has phantom power.

But... maybe thats not the way to go for the best quality portable sound? Maybe i should look for a portable recorder that has a built in mic...? I don't really know so everyone please, suggest away.


I would like 1 suggestion that is 600 dollars or under and 1 suggestion where price is no object.

Thanks
ddeez is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 30th March 2007, 05:39 PM   #2
deethe
Gear interested
 
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Memphis, Tennessee U.S.A
Posts: 9
Maudio Microtrack 24/96

for small CF recording the Maudio-Microtrack 24/96 might have what ur looking, for $399 alone.

add a big fluffy windscreen

looks like:
u87/XLR to TRS/M-audio CF

hope my lingo's understood...
deethe is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 30th March 2007, 05:42 PM   #3
deethe
Gear interested
 
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Memphis, Tennessee U.S.A
Posts: 9
Price no object?

then you might want to add a field engineer mic pre/HD like Sound Devices MM-1. and HQ cables;
overall better power consumption by feeding phantom seperately from recorder, placing a seperate ADC after the mic pre to off load recorder cpu would also help but might tie you to the grid.

oh yeah theres two!
deethe is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 30th March 2007, 05:43 PM   #4
ddeez
Gear nut
 
Join Date: Oct 2006
Posts: 116
deethe:

have you had good experiences with the m audio piece?
ddeez is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 30th March 2007, 06:21 PM   #5
ddeez
Gear nut
 
Join Date: Oct 2006
Posts: 116
hey thanks a lot for the quick responses!


what do you mean when you say

"placing a seperate ADC after the mic pre to off load recorder cpu would also help but might tie you to the grid."

i assume you mean analog digital converter....but "off load recorder cpu"....huh?
ddeez is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 30th March 2007, 06:47 PM   #6
peritus
Gear Head
 
peritus's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Dayton, Ohio
Posts: 55
On the expensive side:

Basically any portable Nagra... check out the Nagra V and ARES-BB+

http://www.nagraaudio.com/pro/index.php
peritus is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 31st March 2007, 08:22 PM   #7
ddeez
Gear nut
 
Join Date: Oct 2006
Posts: 116
thanks for the heads up peritus
ddeez is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 31st March 2007, 09:21 PM   #8
dropblacksky
Gear addict
 
dropblacksky's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: San Francisco, CA
Posts: 410
You may want to check out the Zoom H4...cheaper than the microtrack with more features and equal, if not better, sound quality IME. Has built in mic capsues in an xy stereo config, can be switched into a 4 track, has two built in mic pres with phantom power, AND can be used as a direct audio interface...it's a very useful tool. Nagra is the way to go for highest pro quality converters and pres, but if you're gonna go pro-sumer, I don't know why anyone would choose the microtrack over the zoom..especially at $299 for the Zoom vs $399 for the microtrack...

It just so happens that there's a field recorder buyers guide at sweetwater.com at the moment....could be a good place to check several options out....
dropblacksky is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 31st March 2007, 10:17 PM   #9
MattiMattMatt
Lives for gear
 
Join Date: Aug 2002
Posts: 881
Quote:
Originally Posted by ddeez View Post
I'm looking for a recorder that i can take around with me to record sounds outside the studio...whether its in the car ..on the street....at a gym...etc.


Ideally i would like to take advantage of the u87 i have, so hopefully this recorder has phantom power.

But... maybe thats not the way to go for the best quality portable sound? Maybe i should look for a portable recorder that has a built in mic...? I don't really know so everyone please, suggest away.
The Sony PCM-D1 is a fantastic portable recorder with built in mics that are unusually good for "built-in" (which usually means bad). For recording sounds around town, it's just a great solution. Forget the u87 for that and lugging around heavy kit. The PCM-D1 is not cheap at $1700 or so, but considering the quality and convenience, it's well worth it.
MattiMattMatt is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 31st March 2007, 11:15 PM   #10
ddeez
Gear nut
 
Join Date: Oct 2006
Posts: 116
why should i ditch the u87?

let me know
ddeez is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 31st March 2007, 11:29 PM   #11
peritus
Gear Head
 
peritus's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Dayton, Ohio
Posts: 55
Quote:
Originally Posted by ddeez View Post
why should i ditch the u87?

let me know

I can think of one reason...

Moisture can damage condensers pretty easily... And I'm pretty sure lugging it around can't be good for the element..
peritus is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 31st March 2007, 11:34 PM   #12
deethe
Gear interested
 
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Memphis, Tennessee U.S.A
Posts: 9
Quote:
Originally Posted by ddeez View Post
hey thanks a lot for the quick responses!


what do you mean when you say

"placing a seperate ADC after the mic pre to off load recorder cpu would also help but might tie you to the grid."

i assume you mean analog digital converter....but "off load recorder cpu"....huh?

yea, a converter was the implication for better quality converters not cpu load, my bad. i'm considering using one with a mytek ad2021 to capture some live stereo soundboard recordings but might find a marantz more palatable; with xlr inputs.
deethe is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 31st March 2007, 11:41 PM   #13
Stitch333
Lives for gear
 
Stitch333's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Phila, PA/Upstate MA
Posts: 2,347
Quote:
Originally Posted by peritus View Post
On the expensive side:

Basically any portable Nagra... check out the Nagra V and ARES-BB+

http://www.nagraaudio.com/pro/index.php
Nagra is worldclass
__________________
www.myspace.com/stitchproductions

"Half shark, half man, skin like alligator...carrying a dead walrus..."

"I think this sheet metal that says NEVE on it can be made into a mic pre. It already sounds better than anything else I own." -D.W.
Stitch333 is online now   Reply With Quote
Old 1st April 2007, 10:16 PM   #14
ddeez
Gear nut
 
Join Date: Oct 2006
Posts: 116
peritus how sensitive is the u87 to travel.....any specific things i should advoid?
ddeez is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 1st April 2007, 10:40 PM   #15
MattiMattMatt
Lives for gear
 
Join Date: Aug 2002
Posts: 881
Quote:
Originally Posted by ddeez View Post
why should i ditch the u87?

let me know
Sure, if you want to use it with a Nagra or other high end rig you can make a great recording, but the Sony unit is so good, that if all you're doing is collecting samples (or even recording music here and there), it's a fantastic "portable" solution. No external mics to lug or damage, no cables, no muss, no fuss. Shockingly good sound for a totally self-contained unit.

So, to answer your question, ditch the u87 when you're in the field because life is too short.
MattiMattMatt is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 1st April 2007, 11:35 PM   #16
ddeez
Gear nut
 
Join Date: Oct 2006
Posts: 116
yeah its just thats out of my price range
ddeez is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 2nd April 2007, 06:19 AM   #17
niteflite
Gear nut
 
niteflite's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2006
Posts: 111
Quote:
Originally Posted by MattiMattMatt View Post
the Sony unit is so good, that if all you're doing is collecting samples (or even recording music here and there), it's a fantastic "portable" solution.
niteflite is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 5th April 2007, 01:43 PM   #18
peritus
Gear Head
 
peritus's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Dayton, Ohio
Posts: 55
http://cgi.ebay.com/NAGRA-III-PROFES...QQcmdZViewItem
peritus is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 5th April 2007, 05:48 PM   #19
synthetic
Gear maniac
 
synthetic's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2005
Posts: 213
Tascam HD-P2 looks really solid. I've used it a little, it sounds great.
synthetic is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 5th April 2007, 07:19 PM   #20
bcgood
Lives for gear
 
bcgood's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: West Coast
Posts: 3,114
Quote:
Originally Posted by synthetic View Post
Tascam HD-P2 looks really solid. I've used it a little, it sounds great.
+1

One of the really cool features of this unit is that it will automatically switch power sources for you. For instance if you have it plugged in to an outlet and the outlet looses power for some reason it automatically starts drawing power from the batteries inside the unit and will continue recording without interruption. I think Tascam makes some really cool products!

bcgood
__________________
bcgood

bcgood is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 5th April 2007, 10:42 PM   #21
neil33
Gear nut
 
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Virginia Beach, VA
Posts: 94
Take a look at the Edirol R-9.
neil33 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 29th April 2007, 11:27 AM   #22
Coyoteous
Lives for gear
 
Coyoteous's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 1,466
"I don't know why anyone would choose the microtrack over the zoom."

- because the MT has a digital input and the Zoom doesn't? Please correct me if I'm wrong. Now, if only the MT had digital out - I'd probably have one already! I may get one anyway, as they can be had for about $250 now.

Don't get me wrong, the Zoom looks great for the money - 4 track, built-in mics, etc., but I need a cheap silent recorder for indoor sampling/recording and to use as a saftey roll for location.

Quote:
Originally Posted by dropblacksky View Post
You may want to check out the Zoom H4...cheaper than the microtrack with more features and equal, if not better, sound quality IME. Has built in mic capsues in an xy stereo config, can be switched into a 4 track, has two built in mic pres with phantom power, AND can be used as a direct audio interface...it's a very useful tool. Nagra is the way to go for highest pro quality converters and pres, but if you're gonna go pro-sumer, I don't know why anyone would choose the microtrack over the zoom..especially at $299 for the Zoom vs $399 for the microtrack...

It just so happens that there's a field recorder buyers guide at sweetwater.com at the moment....could be a good place to check several options out....
__________________

itunes.com/coyoteoldman
Coyoteous is online now   Reply With Quote
Old 29th April 2007, 01:04 PM   #23
Robert Sands
Gear maniac
 
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: New Jersey
Posts: 262
I've been checking this out. PMD660(link below). It has a speaker which most if not all of the others don't have (along with built in mics) Just so convenient - you don't even have to lug headphones.. I was thinking of it as a songwriting companion instead of the small Sony cassette recorder I now use. Somewhere on the web I heard demo files of it and it sounded pretty good. Marantz has been making small field recorders for quite a while so maybe they're good at it. They have 2 more expensive units above this one. Worth a look see perhaps.

http://www.american-digital.com/prod...eFlashRecorder
Robert Sands is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 29th April 2007, 02:40 PM   #24
Fluxpod
Lives for gear
 
Fluxpod's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Hamburg
Posts: 748
Maybe a bit expensive..but totally amazing.

Cantar
Fluxpod is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 2nd May 2007, 08:22 AM   #25
sonidista
Gear interested
 
sonidista's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: Stuttgart, Germany
Posts: 16
Quote:
Originally Posted by Fluxpod View Post
Maybe a bit expensive..but totally amazing.

Cantar
it doesn't get any better than that one. Anything you could ever dream of, this unit has it. Costs a fortune though...
sonidista is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 30th July 2007, 03:12 PM   #26
jpoprock
Gear interested
 
jpoprock's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: indiana
Posts: 5
Hey guys. I'm looking to buy a field recorder to capture my band's performances. I'd probl set it up on a tripod and find a good spot in the center of the room we're playing and just let it rip.

I've done research on different types, but in all of the reviews and forums I've read, they all seem to always use quiet sources like nature, orchestras, acoustic stuff, etc.

I want to know which unit would best handle a loud rock band. And I'd like to know if the internal mic's would be ok, or if I'd have to invest in some external ones. And if so, which kind? A matched set of mic's (i.e. two of them spread out about a foot or so), or the single stereo kind.

If I just knew the answers to these questions, I could do some research on my own and make decision. But I just don't know how well these things handle loud music.

P.S. I'm talking your average weekend classic hits rock band type loud. Nothing punishing, but loud enuff to where audience members can still talk, they just have to talk loud if sitting real close to the stage.

Thanks!

Jason
jpoprock is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Bookmarks

Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search
Display Modes Rate This Thread
Rate This Thread:

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off


All times are GMT +1. The time now is 08:02 AM.


Powered by vBulletin®
Copyright ©2000 - 2008, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.
Search Engine Optimization by vBSEO 3.0.0