Handheld Recorder Usability

[peasywease]

I am in a class called "User Experience" and we are redesigning products for a class project. I have chosen to redesign a handheld audio recorder (the likes of the Zoom H4N and Tascam DR-07MKII).

I wanted to see what criticisms and praises gearslutz had on these types of recorders. Here are some things I would like to know:

1. What do you use it for (recording your band, voice memos, location recording, something else)?

2. What about these recorders do you like (feel free to be very specific)?

3. What do you dislike about these recorders (anything from minor frustrations to features that you think should be added)?

4. Any other thoughts.

Thank you so much!

[Mel Famie]

I have the Tascam. No balanced inputs, and the unbalanced inputs are mike-level only, no line level. Big problem for me. the built-in mikes are mediocre. It might be OK for a teenager recording himself banging away on his guitar, but the omission of reasonable inputs for external mikes relegates what COULD be a real bargain for location recordists to a nice toy.

[Howie J]

I have the H4n:

1.I have used it to record: Practice sessions (my trumpet/organ playing), as a secondary stereo recorder/backup to a multi-track session, conference recordings, field/sound design SFX sampling (water, nature sounds, theater FX), voice/meeting recording, lessons for students, dire emergency location recording.

2. Convenient. The H4n is really easy to navigate menu-wise. Very intuitive layout. Fits in a standard Pelican camera case. Has a lot of file options. Can be used stand alone OR as an interface. Quick USB download..and uses standard mini USB, not some proprietary cable. Only takes 2 AA's and runs a decent time on them. Can take a large capacity SD card...which is cheap and readily available. Good handling noise level.

3. Any line level signal slams the 1/4" ins. Mics are bright/hot. Case that comes with it is very easily snapped/damaged.

4. Nothing right now...maybe later...

Howie J

[Ozpeter]

There are probably more users of these devices at Recording Gear than here - might be worth asking there too.

[audioexmachina]

Using an H2 for quadriphonic field recordings of ambient tracks. Also used for quad captures of natural reverb through re-amping.

Pros: consistent acoustic performances with minimal effors, due to having the four internal mics always positioned at right angles and ready.

Cons: I'd prefer the user interface to focus exclusively on what a recorder is meant to: calibrating and monitoring the input signals. Most of the features on board are not needed (editing, file conversions,....) inside a recorder, inputs control (monitoring, gain calibration) is basic at best. Some features are even meaningless, such as limiting and compression implemented in software, thus AFTER the A/Ds.