Portable recorder recommendation?

[mhschmieder]

I was surprised by how small it really is, once I saw one for real. Usually, ads are smaller than what they show. In this case, the ad is larger.

Yes, Yamaha has a reputation to stand by, and it is rare that they make an actual piece of junk. Not every decision or design they have is stellar, but they almost universally make good to excellent decisions on how to deliver good bang for buck. Build quality is a big part of this; they are the least likely of the Big Three to make compromises in such a critical area.

They also are the only major company to stand by everything they've ever made, long after it's cancelled. They publish on-line user manuals for literally everything they've made from the late 1960's onwards, if not even earlier.

That said, this is a new foray for Yamaha, and until a good solid review comes through, it is hard to make assumptions about the actual audio quality. But most of the other specs and characteristics are fairly evident visually and via the PDF manual.

Korg still seems to have taken the boldest approach with their recorder line, and are even venturing into true high-end markets with their rack-mount recorders. It's almost as though they are aiming squarely for the Sound Devices audience, at the pro end.

[MIDI Life Crisis]

No one has mentioned total record time. I routinely do 2-3 hour performances without a break, so this is important for me.

TIA.

[mhschmieder]

Well, just remember that there are generally two separate factors that determine total recording time. Well, three, when you think about it.

1. Battery cycle
2. Actual storage capacity
3. Recording format (including sample rate etc.)

I think most if not all of the devices list total recording time for various combinations of capacity and recording format, alongside expected battery cycle.

In the shootout that was done in one of the US pubs a few months ago (maybe EM; I forget), this was a major criteria in the review and was one of the many reasons for the brands that I listed as being surprised by their positives here, didn't get such high marks.

The review used these recorders both outdoors (location recording) and for recording long classical performances.

I think it was the July or August 2008 cover date. Might have even been Recording magazine. I do have it at home so can check if you don't find it on-line.

Of course, a few additional models have come out since that article was written, but most of them are modifications of earlier models.

[MIDI Life Crisis]

I bought a micro recorder for my wife's research last year and used it to record a concert (just on the piano bench next to me) and was really impressed by the quality. Tiny little mic and about the size of a pack of gum. Sony or Panasonic, I think. But I am looking for something more robust since my portable DAT went south (at a critical concert, of course). GRRRRR.....

[monkey man]

Mike, I'd check out the Yammie then. You'd surely be aware of the company's track record in terms of reliability and all-'round toughness.

Mark rightly pointed out that the jury's still technically out until more data comes in, but I'd take a punt on Yamaha any day.

[mhschmieder]

I just want to apologise if some of my responses seemed cavalier -- I'm under PHENOMENAL time (and money) pressure these days, and am balancing WAY too many things at once. As a result, I try to minimise my internet sessions. This means I am expressing some of my opinions far more strongly than I actually mean them, for expediency (Nuance takes longer ).

[glsimonsen]

I have the Zoom H4. It's fine and suits my purposes; mostly sound effects, ambience, interviews. Kind of boomy sounding sometimes but it is cheap. I hate the transport controls which are a menu system with little tiny jog wheels. Very annoying. I wouldn't buy another one. Lots of effects, good batt. life, lots of recording time w/ 2gb card.

[glsimonsen]

Here's exactly what the Zoom H4 sounds like:

http://www.archive.org/details/GlennSim ... ywithBrian

[mhschmieder]

BTW a recent Gearslutz discussion mentions there's a $175 mod for the A/D on the Korg MR1000 that takes it up to the next level. Most say the Tascam is better before the mods but that the Korg pips it out after the mods. This is mostly in regards to recording quality, not playback quality or flexibility etc.

[mhschmieder]

Last night, I came across a vendor that sells many of these portable, table-top, and rack-mount recorders with modded pre-amps, for barely more than $30 over normal street price.

I came across them quite by accident, while researching the Edirol R44, which I didn't know about and which has four XLR inputs and four channels of output -- making it unique (and quite valuable for stereo backing tracks plus a separate click track, vs. dual-mono as most of us are forced to accept when using iPod's etc.).

My recollection is that the warranty period still holds, so either they're authorised or simply provide new warranties of their own.

[mhschmieder]

Here's the link for the vendor that sells portable recorders with mic pre-amp modes for practically no extra charge:

http://www.oade.com/

Oade Brothers mods several of the portable recorder brands out there, not just Edirol, and at several price points in each product range.

[zaster]

This whole video is recorded on a Zoom H2, in this case acting as an audio interface, plugged directly into a MBP. I think the sound quality is identical to recording straight to the SD. ("Records in WAV 96kHz/48kHz/44.1kHz at 16-bit or 24-bit, MP3 to 320kbps and Variable Bit Rate (VBR) data formats") Not bad for a $150 thing.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sJJyXnnHtQw