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Portable recording units
| Message Board > General Chitchat > Portable recording units |
| Matteus User Info... | Any suggestions on a decent portable system that is small and compact? I am looking to stop lugging around my laptop to record. I would like something that can: 1. record audio for an event like WEDDINGS (place it on the podium) 2. patch into a sound board using RCA's or 1/4" - Sun, 6 Sep 2009 8:38pm | ||
| Vincent F. Evans User Info... | Hi Matteus. We had a similar need and, after much research, purchased a Yamaha Pocketrack 2G (http://pro-audio.musiciansfriend.com/product/Yamaha-POCKETRAK-2G-POCKET-RECORDER?sku=241828). It records CD quality (16KHz) and MP3. Uses stereo 1/8' mini-plugs for input and output. Is smaller and weighs less than a cell phone. Even comes with Cubase AI and other software. The manual doesn't explain that, to get the best direct (wired) recording, set it on mic (not line) input and set the input level to 1 or 2. You'll be amazed at the quality - even the built in stereo mics can capture very nice reference recordings. The Yamaha Pocketrack 2G is available from Long & McQuade. Here's a link to a pro review: http://www.musiciansfriend.com/document/yamaha/pocketrak_pocket_recorder?doc_id=103481 - Mon, 7 Sep 2009 8:34am | ||
| Tyler User Info... | you should get either a minidisc recorder or marantz flash recorder. both are able to record WAVs at cd-quality sampling rates and can tend to last a long while on the batteries. many minidisc recorders can take line-in or mic-in and use mini mics that work with the preamp. there's also manual gain adjustment which is a huge plus since many recorders do "on the fly" gain adjustment (which it can also do) which often results in distorted recordings of loud events. the marantz flash recorder has xlr inputs and some have two, which is all you need for a proper recording of nearly any event. audiophile recording standards usually lean towards a two microphone configuration anyway (XY, ORTF, etc, read up on them). so either of these should do what you want and cost a LOT less than most of these overpriced digital recording devices that don't have mic preamps or record mp3s only (yech!) or die fast. - Thu, 10 Sep 2009 2:24pm | ||
| Vincent F. Evans User Info... | Mini discs DO NOT record CD quality, i.e. 16KHz. The Yamaha Pocketrack 2G records in either MP3 (yuk) or at 16 KHz. The Pocketrack has No Moving Parts and does not require any recording medium (such as discs or smart cards, etc.). - Thu, 10 Sep 2009 3:57pm | ||
| Tyler User Info... | you're confusing sampling rate and bit depth. you're thinking 16 bit quantization and probably referring to 44.1 khz sampling rate, yet somehow you managed to combine these two ideas into some kind of freaky hybrid monster. a bunch of HI-MD recorders ARE able to record with a linear PCM codec (like your "Yamaha Pocketrack" - again, I think you made a mistake and you mean Pocketrak), though the compression using atrac codecs will allow for longer recordings and the difference would be negligible for something like a wedding field recording. I will admit that my original writing was misleading. Also that this Pocketrak is much more portable. I'm all about saving money and removable media and defending what I like, I guess. how's the gain adjustment on this thing? it has a manual mode, I hope. - Mon, 14 Sep 2009 2:23pm | ||
| andy hank User Info... |  Of all of the recorders I've tried so far, this one was the easiest to use, most solidly built, and had the best sound. Good luck with your purchase. ** sorry, couldn't resist adding the pic ** - Tue, 15 Sep 2009 9:19am Edited: Tue, 15 Sep 2009 9:21am | ||
| lonemonk User Info... | My suggestion is either a Zoom H2 (http://www.samsontech.com/products/productpage.cfm?prodid=1916) or the newer H4N (http://www.samsontech.com/products/productpage.cfm?prodID=1994). I use the H2 exclusively for anything that must be either portable or discreet; I have about 400-500 hours of use on the thing. If there is any chance the events you will be recording are going to be more than two hours, you need something with (Large capacity) removeable media. Nothing is cheaper right now than SD cards. There is no way you will have time to download the device to your laptop in between songs or something. I use an 8GB SDHC card and get about 12 hours of stereo or 6 hours of 4-channel surround on it. The Zooms are simple to use, very versatile and the H2 is only like $210 or so. (H4N is more due to XLR inputs and other stuff). I have even got into doing 4.0 and 5.1 recordings with the H2, very interesting stuff. My other portable rig is an Edirol R-4 which I love to death (4 XLR inputs, 24/96, etc); it has been superceeded by Edirol R-44. I'm thinking about picking one of these up as well for times when it doesnt have to be pocket-sized. You being also a video guy Matteus, the Edirol R-4 Pro has smpte timecode for sync with camera. (Its a tad costly though) Check this link for the best comparison I have ever seen of portable devices online: http://www.sweetwater.com/feature/recorders/chart.php Also check my Freesound.org page for some examples: http://www.freesound.org/usersViewSingle.php?id=230160 (No weddings in here, but lots of environments. In particular the train, subway and typewriter ones are very nice.) - Wed, 16 Sep 2009 1:10pm Edited: Wed, 16 Sep 2009 5:08pm | ||
| Mr. Horse User Info... | http://www.usedvictoria.com/classified-ad/10320397 - Thu, 8 Oct 2009 8:53pm | ||
| Matteus User Info... | Is that your unit Mr. Horse? If so, email me please. - Sat, 10 Oct 2009 1:24pm | ||
| Mr. Horse User Info... | Nope, I Just remembered this post when I found this unit on Used Victoria. - Wed, 14 Oct 2009 10:09pm | ||
| Joe Strummer User Info... | I have the Zoom H4n. It's larger than many of the mentioned models, but does have XLR inputs, records at up to 24bit/196k and records it built-in mics and line/mic inputs on separate stereo tracks (great for recording gigs, getting the board and the room, sync'd on their own tracks). Very good sound, I really like it. It also acts as a 4 track multi-tracker, and usb audio interface. With a 16gb card it can record 24 hours of stereo 24bit/48kh broadcast wave. I have read good reviews of the Marantz equipment, just depends. I have used Zoom H2 & H4, like them both, H2 is a very nice size. I got a bad Tascam so got rid of it. I have also read lots of good about the Olympus, if one or both girls came with it I'd get it too. - Thu, 22 Oct 2009 4:42pm Edited: Thu, 22 Oct 2009 4:44pm | ||
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