Please recommend a great audio recorder for the field...

[stubbsonic]

On the topic of file compatibility; the H2n can produce files with the .WAV extension, and DP (v8, v9?) will want to see .wav (lower case). This may also be true of .AIF vs .aif

[Prime Mover]

On the topic of file compatibility; the H2n can produce files with the .WAV extension, and DP (v8, v9?) will want to see .wav (lower case). This may also be true of .AIF vs .aif

Ummm, I've NEVER encountered that problem. Case is completely irrelevant, and realistically, DP isn't even looking at the extension anyway, only OS X is, and passing it up to DP. If DP can read the file, it will import it. Different manufacturers like to use upper or lowercase extensions on a whim, there's no difference in file type. My H4n produces .WAVs, and DP imports them without fail.

If you're having trouble importing from your H2n, I suspect it's a different issue entirely.

[Prime Mover]

https://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail ... gIYEPD_BwE

The MixPre was the one I alluded to earlier, but the model above is the one I was familiar with. I didn't know about the even cheaper three-input version. I consider that VERY CHEAP for what it is.

I think I am now inclined towards the Sound Devices MixPre-3 over the other choices, for quick location work and live gigs, rehearsals, etc. But for foreign travel, I'd probably feel bound to an all-in-one type device.

I thought you mentioned $700? Which is what the MixPre-3 is. Yes, it's brand new. In fact, we were sitting on pre-orders for a good few months last summer waiting to get it. In any case, it's an amazing little unit. But even that "cheap" (paired with a, likely $400+ mic) we're talking a good 4x the price of an all-in-one Zoom or Tascam.

As for portability. I got THIS BAG. Which is just the right size to carry the MixPre, and my AT BP4025 on the blimp grip handle. When I travel, I'll often leave the full blimp at home, but you can detach the handle, and just use a dead cat on the mic for almost as good of results (unless you're in high wind). I also picked up a small travel tripod. I can throw all this in a carryon suitcase, and only fill about 1/3 of it. So I don't really bother bringing my H4n anymore.

[stubbsonic]

Case is completely irrelevant, and realistically, DP isn't even looking at the extension anyway, only OS X is, and passing it up to DP. If DP can read the file, it will import it. Different manufacturers like to use upper or lowercase extensions on a whim, there's no difference in file type. My H4n produces .WAVs, and DP imports them without fail.

If you're having trouble importing from your H2n, I suspect it's a different issue entirely.

Might be only related to drag & drop. I changed the extension from .WAV and to .wav and in it went.

[mikehalloran]

Case is completely irrelevant, and realistically, DP isn't even looking at the extension anyway, only OS X is, and passing it up to DP. If DP can read the file, it will import it. Different manufacturers like to use upper or lowercase extensions on a whim, there's no difference in file type. My H4n produces .WAVs, and DP imports them without fail.

If you're having trouble importing from your H2n, I suspect it's a different issue entirely.

Might be only related to drag & drop. I changed the extension from .WAV and to .wav and in it went.

DP is more finicky than other apps in this regard. I have used QuickTime and TwistedWave to strip and replace the headers on audio files so that DP will accept them.

[Prime Mover]

Curious. I wonder whether its the same dropping it into the window or onto the app icon? I've noticed some differences. I've never had a problem, though. Whatever method I use seems to be working.

But yeah, .wav and .WAV are identical files (considering the program making it doesn't do something weird). Reminds me of the old .html .HTML .htm extensions when doing web design. F**k the 90s.

[mikehalloran]

It's strange. I've never been able to ID the issue as .WAV vs .wav etc.

There's a studio that I do some work for. I might get, say 30 tracks and I'll have to strip and rebuild the headers for anywhere from 2 to 10. Before I discovered batch processing in DSP-Q, I would fix them one at a time in QuickTime Pro (5, 6 or 7 tells you how long I've been dealing with it). Batch processing in TwistedWave is faster which is why I prefer it over DSP-Q. Perhaps Stefano will give is 64 bit this year?

[mhschmieder]

I must have seen an open box unit listed then as I saw MixPre3 for $500. At $700, it's not much less than the next model up -- whereas the 10-channel unit is $1800.

[mhschmieder]

As for upper-case vs. lower-case extensions, I am only aware of not being able to mouse-drag upper-case ".MID" files and having to switch them to lower-case ".mid" first.

[monkey man]

I wanted to chime in earlier with this but haven't had an opportunity 'til now, when a 2-hour power outage meant there's a window available before I fire up the VPN again.

When researching this a few years ago I stumbled upon an assessment / comparison of the then-available (2 years ago) Zoom and Tascam units.

The Zooms where feature-rich and easy-to-use, but when it came to the quality of the noise they generated the Tascams won hands-down. Turns out the Zoom models' noise was harsh across the range and the Tascam units' smooth.

Just sharing this 'cause for some this stuff matters, even 'though the noise floors are very-low.

One thing about the H2n is that you HAVE to make sure the backlight for the display is off when recording something important. It does add a little noise-- but when the backlight is off, it's clean. I'm guessing the testers may not have known this.

Hey Stubbsy, it was the quality of the noise that was assessed, not the quantity. To some, it matters. Interesting factoid about the backlight 'though, so thanks mate.

I know I'm guilty of having assessed the quality of noise many times after purchasing synths. It always gave me a good feeling to know that low-level detail was being wrapped in a smooth coat of ocean-like noise. Occasionally one would find spitty, gnarly, harsh-sounding-and-inconsistent noise in off-the-shelf models, and I can tell you that in many cases I'd already decided they sounded hard-edged / a bit rough long before I became aware of the noise quality.

As I said, to some, it matters. I was immediately attracted to the Tascam after learning that, but ran out of funds, so still keen to grab a recorder one day. The last I had was the Sony portable DAT (TCD-D7 or something?) back in '94...

[dix]

Surprised no one has mentioned the Zoom H6.

I picked one up the other day for $350 and I'm super impressed. It comes with two capsules (XY and MS) that can be swapped for the onboard recorder (a shotgun is available too for $130) and then it has 4 more XLR inputs with phantom power. The pres are plenty clean and quiet enough for what I want to do. Not only is it easy use and sound good, it can also be used as a 6x2 I/O so you could record 6 channels directly into DP rather than to SD if you like. It does a lot more stuff too (separate line and headphone out, comp/limiters on all channels -20 pads to name a few)....plus it's solidly built in a rubbery housing with nice hardware dials to adjust input gains. Anyway, that's my reco.

[supersonic]

I have invested recently in the Zoom F8 and a Rode NT-FS1 Ambisonic Mic. I will let you know how that goes and can send you example recordings if needed. In fact, I also have a question. From what I can see, DP doesn't support 4 channel tracks and busses. I would need that in order to use the Rode and Facebook Plug-ins in order to produce the final product. Is there no such possibility in DP?

[EMRR]

The Polywav multi-channel files my Tascam DR-701D can store cannot be read directly by DP. Tascam does have an app that will either convert to mono or combine to Polywav, maybe it would work? PolyMonoConverter. I'm sure there are other options.

[mikehalloran]

Although the Zoom iQ mics still work, the Handy Recorder app does not in iOS 12.1. In 12.1.2, functionality is limited—mono only. Other iOS recording apps such as Music Memos work although direct headphone monitoring is not supported.

The Shure MV88 mic and the MOTIV Audio app still work well. You need an iOS device with a headphone jack to monitor since the mic does not have its own. The Limiter works pretty well, however, and my recent recordings have turned out fine.

Shure has a new MOTIV Video.app that looks promising as soon as they fix it. At the moment, though videos can be recorded onto an iPhone or iPod, there’s no way to retrieve them. Current instructions can only work on an iPad. I’m working with Shure on this one—apparently, they didn’t know this.

[mikehalloran]

Although the Zoom iQ mics still work, the Handy Recorder app does not in iOS 12.1. In 12.1.2, functionality is limited—mono only. Other iOS recording apps such as Music Memos work although direct headphone monitoring is not supported.

The Shure MV88 mic and the MOTIV Audio app still work well. You need an iOS device with a headphone jack to monitor since the mic does not have its own. The Limiter works pretty well, however, and my recent recordings have turned out fine.

Shure has a new MOTIV Video.app that looks promising as soon as they fix it. At the moment, though videos can be recorded onto an iPhone or iPod, there’s no way to retrieve them. Current instructions can only work on an iPad. I’m working with Shure on this one—apparently, they didn’t know this.

Updates:

Zoom's Handy Recorder app now works again in iOS 12.1.3, released this morning. There's a firmware update for the Zoom iQ5 microphone that's been out awhile—you update through the app.

Shure's MOTIV Video.app files can be retrieved through iCloud/Photos and can be renamed after the fact. They behave like any other video over iCloud—MOTIV Video is an API that lets you add the MV88's functionality to Photos video. This works only if you have the iCloud storage capacity however. I'm still working with Shure on this one and the documentation is still wrong.