Sony, Zoom, Tascam portables recorders

[hombre]

of the sony pcm-m10, tascam dr-08, and zoom h1,2,4 series which have the better on board microphones?

also, can any of these accomodate a ribbon microphone with their on board preamps, or with a fethead?

[mgoorevich]

Originally Posted by hombre

of the sony pcm-m10, tascam dr-08, and zoom h1,2,4 series which have the better on board microphones?

also, can any of these accomodate a ribbon microphone with their on board preamps, or with a fethead?

- Fiat , Peugeot 107, Opel corsa - which one has the best wheels?

- Can any of them accommodate a new mercedes titanium magnesium wheels?

All of these recorders have a low fi cheep microphones. So the comparison which is the best of these junkies is hardly fair and useful.
Try to raise your threshold at least to Sony PCM-D50 $500 or Marantz Pmd 661 $600 in order to "seriously" judge the quality.
Although it will be still relative seriously (I have Sony PCM-D1) if you compare it to any Sound Devices recorders (or such) with external Sennheiser/Schoeps/DPA microphones.

But it's up to your needs. So maybe a simple toy like PCM-M10 will serve your well. You get what you pay for.

[sheetKnows]

Well it really depends on what you do
I worked on films in which i recorded 90% of the sound effects with an h4
and it worked great!

Right now i'm really really happy with my sony m10 to record ambiances of
all kinds, urban and nature; i was concerned with the stereo width but it hasn't disappointed yet. And i wouldn't want to walk around New York with a "proper" recorder and mics with zeppelins. Seriously!
I would like to use a d50, but when i was using the h4 may people on the street asked me if it was a taser! the m10 just looks like a cellphone
And it definitely doesn't sound like a toy

[hombre]

which of these recorders offer true 48v phantom?

[Boschen]

Originally Posted by hombre

which of these recorders offer true 48v phantom?

The zoom h4 has it, but it's a battery hog, and the preamp is noisy.
Still as the other poster put it, depends on what you want to do.

I get very good results recording band rehearsals for reference purposes on my h4; I use one channel with a naiant omni, another with a board mix feed.
I usually mix to mono on editing, but the split sounds surprisingly good as well, even with phase /stereo issues.

Here's a link to a 5MB wav file clip of my h4 with a naiant omni on one side and a board feed on the other. Pretty easy to guess which is which:

http://www.bluesun.name/jam clip.wav

And my h4 would be useful for FX capture, if uber preamp quality wasn't essential.

[mgoorevich]

Originally Posted by sheetKnows

I wouldn't want to walk around New York with a "proper" recorder and mics with zeppelins. Seriously!

Why not? Why to hesitate to do your job well?
Yes you will experience some questioned sights on you but this is it.
Many atmos recordings has been made in NY with proper zeppelin equipment. I did it my self in many cities in the world incl NY with no problem.
You should be smart of course and not risk yourself to get into the trouble.
But this is correct toward any big city in any country.
I live in Tel Aviv which is often called mid east New York. If I have time and not lazy I go down the streets with my SD744T and Sennheiser/DPA rig and get it. I only had to run once from the market when someone thought that I am "filming" their activity (lots of cash is there).
And I am not the person who is chasing for adventure and having extra level of adrenaline.

Anyways, when I go for vocation and I am lazy enough to carry my rig with me - a PCM-D1 is the answer.

[Shy]

Originally Posted by mgoorevich

You should be smart of course and not risk yourself to get into the trouble.
But this is correct toward any big city in any country.
I live in Tel Aviv which is often called mid east New York. If I have time and not lazy I go down the streets with my SD744T and Sennheiser/DPA rig and get it. I only had to run once from the market when someone thought that I am "filming" their activity (lots of cash is there).

You have much more luck than some other people . In Tel-Aviv the damn cops often question people and even confiscate if they point a tiny mic at anything or an SLR camera at a building. Much less of a problem in Ashdod.

[mgoorevich]

Originally Posted by Shy

You have much more luck than some other people . In Tel-Aviv the damn cops often question people and even confiscate if they point a tiny mic at anything or an SLR camera at a building. Much less of a problem in Ashdod.

Well thats right - you must be reasonable.
I said, try avoiding troubles. It's possible. If you try to record anything next to the defense ministry or government buildings or embasies or save God American consulate it TA....well you will see security guys immediately next to you. But in this situation even Sony M10 will put you under suspect.
The question is why you should want to record exclusively next to these kind of objects? I never felt that I have to. Often you should only step back couple of meters to avoid questions. For instance I recorded great intensive traffic next to Azrielly center, although I was asked not to point the mic on the Kiria government building.
C'mon security might be annoying but they are human and they do their job. And yes they are not always smart...
But you should be smart. Smile, show your ID, and explain what you do and why. As I said - don't get your self into the troubles.
BTW In Ashdot - I was asked not to work anywhere near the port.
Also if you really want to record something you can arrange it with the mennagement by phone calls and sending/fax some proper papers.
Its all possible.

[Shy]

No goverment buildings, ports or anything remotely like that, and you still are very likely to be harassed. They're only "human", well yes, but often the crappiest kind. Even if you've arranged a specific recording with the authorities, you always have to act and feel like you're a criminal for merely recording any audio, video or still pictures. I know people who even work for TV channels who are constantly forced to feel the same way. Some asshole is always out to get you. I'm sure it's not unique to here. In short, the less conspicuous, the better.

[mgoorevich]

I work for 12 years in film and TV productions in Israel.
Just filmed for whole day today in Ben Gurion international airport.
I recorded sound everywhere I wanted without a single question.
Because a permit was arranged in advance.
Here are some pics you to prove:

[SDDP]

Originally Posted by mgoorevich

I work for 12 years in film and TV productions in Israel.
Just filmed for whole day today in Ben Gurion international airport.
I recorded sound everywhere I wanted without a single question.
Because a permit was arranged in advance.
Here are some pics you to prove:

Thanks for your reviews, I am also in the market to get a portible recorder and had the same questions as I know buy cheap buy twice. So willing to buy what ever it takes to get the job done. But you mentioned that the Sony PCM-D50 is by far the best, is that what you used in the airport?
I see you have a mic in a zepplin hooked up to it, the PCM-D50 doesn't have XLR inputs that I saw or does it?

Would like a recomendation for one that has XLR input, but what I care more about is the best AD conversion I can find to use with a Sennheiser 416 mic. Mostly to capture ambiences, foley work and have the optio to use the built in mics for stereo feild too. Can never have enough restaurant amb or street amb in my library.
Tired of trying to find the right sound and making it fit or buying expensive sound libraries when I can get one of these and just record it myself for free lol.

[joelpatterson]

I always feel like I get that "little extra" measure of respect from people who think my Sony PCM-D50 is a taser, especially cops.

[ray_subsonic]

Originally Posted by joelpatterson

I always feel like I get that "little extra" measure of respect from people who think my Sony PCM-D50 is a taser, especially cops.

Joel, does your D50 have a leather holster? That might explain it ..

At Heathrow Airport in 2008 the charming young security guard was convinced that my wee Zoom H4 WAS a tazer, and no amount of protest from me was going to sway her. The unit was confiscated and inspected for well on 90 minutes before they would admit error .. I nearly missed my connecting flight for Germany. DoH!!

[Brackish]

[QUOTE=SDDP;5835119]Would like a recomendation for one that has XLR input, but what I care more about is the best AD conversion I can find to use with a Sennheiser 416 mic.QUOTE]


Are you open to an over-the-shoulder sized model? Or must it be something
to hold in the hand? If you're open to over the shoulder, there's always
stuff like the Sound Devices, which is going to be better analog to digital than the smaller decks.

[mgoorevich]

Originally Posted by SDDP

Thanks for your reviews, I am also in the market to get a portible recorder and had the same questions as I know buy cheap buy twice. So willing to buy what ever it takes to get the job done. But you mentioned that the Sony PCM-D50 is by far the best, is that what you used in the airport?
I see you have a mic in a zepplin hooked up to it, the PCM-D50 doesn't have XLR inputs that I saw or does it?

Would like a recomendation for one that has XLR input, but what I care more about is the best AD conversion I can find to use with a Sennheiser 416 mic. Mostly to capture ambiences, foley work and have the optio to use the built in mics for stereo feild too. Can never have enough restaurant amb or street amb in my library.
Tired of trying to find the right sound and making it fit or buying expensive sound libraries when I can get one of these and just record it myself for free lol.

No, I don't use Sony PCM-D50.
On this specific situation (pics above) I use Sound Devices 744T paired with MS rig - Senheiser MKH30 and Sennheiser MKH8040. I customized the Rycote zeppelin in order to accommodate this MS setup.

I also have Sony PCM-D1 but I record with it only when I am really lazy to get my pro rig with me (vocations or unexpected situations). And its always in my backpack with me.