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Post by Stephen Scott on Oct 29, 2007 19:56:13 GMT
I need a new 2 track recorder, mainly to use for live recording off the desk. A lot of people seem to be using minidisc recorders to do this. Is this (a) because they bought them 5+ yrs ago when they were just about the only option for decent low cost digital recording, and the recorders are still going strong, (b) because you can still pick them up for a good price, and it still represents vfm or (c) because the quality is significantly better than a comparable MP3 or wav recorder (I'm thinking of the Boss BR micro, which you can get for £130 now). Can you recommend a suitable minidisc recorder. As far as I see it, the specs have to include manual setting of record levels, 44.1k sample rate, ability to fast DL to a PC via USB. Anything else I should be looking for? Or should I go for the Boss ? Stephen
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Post by nick robinson on Oct 30, 2007 12:22:57 GMT
Can you recommend a suitable minidisc recorder. As far as I see it, the specs have to include manual setting of record levels, 44.1k sample rate, ability to fast DL to a PC via USB. Do you mean minidisk? Part of the technical spec for minidisks was to prevent digital download (some kind of copyright thing from sony) whihc means you have to transfer from minidisk as analogue, ie play them into the pc as audio. I reckon something that records onto flash cards is best, if I had the dosh. Been looking myself, although the mixing facilities n my MD8 are excellent. |
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Post by Stephen Scott on Oct 30, 2007 19:18:30 GMT
Can you recommend a suitable minidisc recorder. As far as I see it, the specs have to include manual setting of record levels, 44.1k sample rate, ability to fast DL to a PC via USB. Do you mean minidisk? Part of the technical spec for minidisks was to prevent digital download (some kind of copyright thing from sony) whihc means you have to transfer from minidisk as analogue, ie play them into the pc as audio. Ah yes, I'd forgotten about that. Some sony minidsics come with some sw called NETMD, or some such thing, which seems to allow one digital copy from MD back onto the original source PC, I think. Anyway, that's no good to me. I think that I will be looking at some sort of flash card based recorder after all. |
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Post by nick robinson on Oct 30, 2007 19:38:13 GMT
I think that I will be looking at some sort of flash card based recorder after all. I checked the new boss - it's 4 track playback, 2 record, so there goes 2 inputs from your desk, 2 from live mikes  |
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Post by Stephen Scott on Oct 30, 2007 20:35:29 GMT
Yeah, it's a bit of a shame but I'm not overly bothered by not being able to have a pair of mics in+stereo mix. I suppose I could always plug a pair of mics into the mixer, mute them to the main output and route them to the recording mix, that would work. But, as I said, I'd only really want to take live mix without any mic ambience. I can't afford good enough mics to do that justice.
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Post by nick robinson on Oct 30, 2007 21:40:30 GMT
But, as I said, I'd only really want to take live mix without any mic ambience. I can't afford good enough mics to do that justice. I know what you mean. Although some of the churches I play have such an awesome ambience, it would be great to capture some of it. |
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Post by Stephen Scott on Oct 31, 2007 7:09:49 GMT
Yep. I've just been looking at the Zoom H4. Disappointingly, I think that can also only record 2 tracks at a time.
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Post by nick robinson on Oct 31, 2007 12:33:45 GMT
Yep. I've just been looking at the Zoom H4. Disappointingly, I think that can also only record 2 tracks at a time. I've searched in vain for a pocket sized 4 track recorder that uses SD cards or the like. This is why I still lug the MD8 around. |
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Post by Bob Amstadt on Oct 31, 2007 15:05:41 GMT
I have the Zoom H2 which will record 4 tracks simultaneously. However, two of those tracks have to be from the built in microphone. There is only one stereo plug on the side. However, it does do a good job of recording if it does what you are looking for. I own one and took it to practice. I was able to get a good recording of practice with no wiring. I just put it on a mic stand and had it on battery power.
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Post by Stephen Scott on Oct 31, 2007 16:27:20 GMT
I'd assumed that the Zoom H2 was only a stereo recorder, I didn't know that it had a 4 channel mode. Hm.. this makes it a much more interesting prospect.
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Post by nick robinson on Oct 31, 2007 16:33:39 GMT
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Post by andybutler on Oct 31, 2007 16:42:18 GMT
Indeed, the problem with MD is that no portable recorders have a digital o/p.
I get round this by having a non portable machine with an spdif out, which is how
I always transfer to pc. (not a cheap solution, but I had some amazing field recordings from Turkey that I wanted to transfer)
MD isn't an ideal format by any means, and when my current MZ-35 portable gives up for good (and it's starting to get flakey) I won't consider another MD.
I keep looking at the new recorders which work with Flash or SD, but always get scared away for some reason.
M-Audio looks fantastic, but when the rechargeable battery dies you have to ship it to US for replacemnt (and 30V phantom power is a total joke)
H4 also looks amazing, but is plagued with an audible 700Hz tone whenever you record using the internal batteries.
Edirol R09 doesn't look bad, and the R01 (previous model) seems better, but the inbuilt mic has 2 capsules pointing at 180 degrees ( = totally useless except for conferences)
I don't know about the Boss unit Stephen mentions, but the Roland web page for it has got "don't buy this, it's a toy for idiots" written in big letters.
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Post by Stephen Scott on Oct 31, 2007 19:28:37 GMT
I don't know about the Boss unit Stephen mentions, but the Roland web page for it has got "don't buy this, it's a toy for idiots" written in big letters. Right, that settles it, I've definitely gotta have one  |
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Post by Bob Amstadt on Oct 31, 2007 19:48:50 GMT
I don't know about the Boss unit Stephen mentions, but the Roland web page for it has got "don't buy this, it's a toy for idiots" written in big letters. Would it have killed them to allow 4 track recording? |
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Post by andybutler on Nov 1, 2007 16:36:58 GMT
I don't know about the Boss unit Stephen mentions, but the Roland web page for it has got "don't buy this, it's a toy for idiots" written in big letters. Would it have killed them to allow 4 track recording? Well Bob, I think you're much better qualified to work that one out than me. How much cost for two more connectors, another A/D and a cheap dual op amp? I don't know whether the website is accurate in it's indication. |
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