Survey of Portable 24bit Audio Recorders

Started by clearlight, January 09, 2015, 08:49:52 PM

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clearlight

So I've been looking at field recorders lately and wanted to see if any of you had thoughts on a preferred model.
I'd like to get out under 200 as its for field recording/sampling etc...and I may move on to some other obsession quickly.

Also I have a SONY ECM-MS957 stereo mic so i could maybe get away with just the recorder part?

Any thoughts appreciated



My Music
My Band Website
GUITARS: 2x RG1521, 3x RG321 w/gk, Rg721 Fretless Modified, AmStd FatStrat w/gk, various others....
XV5050,Triton etc..
KOMPLETE 7
VGUITAR Stuff: VG99, FC300, RC5-

gumtown

I have a Boss BR-80, as well as a stereo field recorder,
it is also a multi-track recording studio with guitar and vocal effects, a guitar effects processor for real-time practicing with backing tracks, drum machine, MP3 player.
It also works as a USB audio I/O interface.

The field recording is pretty decent, I think the two built in mic's are condenser type.

http://www.bossus.com/gear/productdetails.php?ProductId=1167

Free "GR-55 FloorBoard" editor software from https://sourceforge.net/projects/grfloorboard/

Elantric

I use Zoom H2N, (own two) they record clean, and very long battery life. I have many 3-4 hour 4channel recordings. Very easy to use
Had bad luck with most recent Tascam recorders  8)

supernicd

I can second the Zoom H2N.  It makes really good recordings, and is very low fuss.  Affordable too.
Strat w/ GK-3, Godin LGXT
VG-99, GR-55, GP-10
---------------------------------------------------------------

DreamTheory

I use a Tascam DP-008, and love it. I got it on clearance for under $100, right when the DP008 "EX" came out.  The EX version has more FX, including normalization. I think the EX can be had for $150 new.

Good points- lots of connectivity, reverb is very smooth as butter, mics are perfect for acoustic guitar. The knobs are short, so they do not stick out (tall knobs make me feel like they will  break easier). The construction is durable. Has tuner, metronome. Fits in guitar case neck. Battery life good, and you can get a 3rd party power source for $10 and a small electronics case from Amazon fits it perfectly. It is really easy to use, and has lots of dedicated knobs and buttons.

Bad points- the mics are OK but not great for vocals (but it has XLR inputs and phantom power). This does not function as an interface, like the Boss recorder mentioned above. But I think the Boss recorder has less input options and it is made of plastic that looks somewhat less sturdy. It depends on how you will use it.

This little unit is like a throwback to cassette 4 track days. Having grab and go knobs is soooo convenient. This is my go to for song creation with no tech wrangling. It does well with near/intimate and far/ambient outdoor recording like the ocean and forests too.
electric: Epiphone Dot semihollow body, acoustic: mahogany jumbo, recording: Cubase Artist 11 or Tascam DP008

clearlight

So I am leaning towards a DR007 mkii from Tascam for a cheap way out.
If i want to spend more, the Zoom h4n and h5n are looking very nice.

Any had these and know why I should avoid any of them?
The 007 is on sale for 100 dollars and its pretty hard to resist as it also has plugin power for my Sony stereo mic in case the onboard mics are less than great..

??
My Music
My Band Website
GUITARS: 2x RG1521, 3x RG321 w/gk, Rg721 Fretless Modified, AmStd FatStrat w/gk, various others....
XV5050,Triton etc..
KOMPLETE 7
VGUITAR Stuff: VG99, FC300, RC5-

Elantric

#6
I'd steer you away from it
I've had some recent Tascam field recorders and end up with hours of distortion

Save up for this B stock Zoom H2N for $129 has plug in power for your Sony Stereo mic too

http://www.zzounds.com/item--ZOMH2N?siid=107892&gclid=CIW9yLTZksMCFa5zMgodxyYAIA

Even this Zoom H1 $99 is better than that Tascam- and longer battery life too

http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B003QKBVYK/ref=mp_s_a_1_12?qid=1421211550&sr=8-12&pi=AC_SX110_SY165_QL70


If you want recordings that always sound great  - step up to the Sony M10
https://www.vguitarforums.com/smf/index.php?topic=13331.msg132186#msg132186



Toby Krebs

It's not something I use a lot but my little Tascam DR-07 has given me a lot of very good live recordings.Surprising results with no problems.
My experience has been the opposite of Elantrics as I know a few friends who have not enjoyed the Zoom recorder experience.
I dont need a recorder to have effects and more than 2 tracks as I only use it to hear what I am doing live so for my needs the Tascam has been great.Bought it new at GC for $70 dollars when they were giving them away so my cash outlay was low.
I use it when drummers want to argue with me about time.
I use it when other players who know nothing about chord theory want to argue with me bout the correct changes to a tune.

One listen to the little Tascam and the argument is over.

clearlight

Wow. I had the dr05 for a while and it was ok. Maybe you b got a bad one? I know I found the handling noise to be a problem.  My thought is to try and make some sample instruments in kontakt. That and general usage/outdoor recordings etc... I have a day or two before the 07 is no long on sale. If money was no problem I'd get one of the zoom ones. Either the h4n or h5n. Thanks for all your thoughts by the way.
My Music
My Band Website
GUITARS: 2x RG1521, 3x RG321 w/gk, Rg721 Fretless Modified, AmStd FatStrat w/gk, various others....
XV5050,Triton etc..
KOMPLETE 7
VGUITAR Stuff: VG99, FC300, RC5-

Elantric

#9
Here an independent review
http://www.dslrfilmnoob.com/2011/09/30/field-recorders-short-up/


My #1 field recorder for recording practices and live show test recordings is the Zoom H2N - its easy and reliable and clean recordings  - unlike the Tascams, the H2N  even doubles as a USB audio Interface with ASIO driver and has long battery life
Read the reviews
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/811053-REG/Zoom_ZH2N_H2n_Handy_Recorder_Portable.html/?m=Y&gclid=CjwKEAiAodOlBRDCjr-UlJDjtVUSJABR7fxym-VMM5-OvPStpZ0_DImIFQC9ePz0z8g5AlH62ZvS6RoCc-bw_wcB
http://www.zoom.co.jp/products/h2n



Zoom H2N Manual
http://www.zoom.co.jp/download/E_H2n.pdf


The Zoom H4N,  H5N or H6N are very different, and bit complicated for my rehearsal recording needs   -



The Tascam Tascam DR-2D Ive had various problems myself

http://tascam.com/product/dr-2d/



QuoteIf money was no problem I'd get one of the zoom ones. Either the h4n or h5n.

Those are good too - but a bit complicated and error prone - what I love about the Zoom H2N is I can pull it out of my guitar case and record a 4 hour pre gig rehearsal and concentrate on playing guitar - not worry about the recorder's controls  - Easy and reliable good recordings always with the Zoom H2N.

I got a H1 on sale last year for $69  0 and was surprised how good that one is too - but I prefer the H2N

I also have a H4N - and that requires more baby sitting and verification with headphones  - and then it must be setup each and every time you power it on - and battery life is worse compared to H2N 

ALl depend on what your needs and application is.

Lately if I'm recording the whole band - I use the QSC Touchmix 16 Mixer/ Multitrack Recorder

But the H2n gets 90% more use  - I record every rehearsal anywhere anytime with only 15 seconds setup.

clearlight

Thanks for everyone who helped out. This has always been a great place for me to ask an even off topic question.
My Music
My Band Website
GUITARS: 2x RG1521, 3x RG321 w/gk, Rg721 Fretless Modified, AmStd FatStrat w/gk, various others....
XV5050,Triton etc..
KOMPLETE 7
VGUITAR Stuff: VG99, FC300, RC5-

clearlight

So despite Elantrics objections and no doubt sagely advice I pulled the trigger on the DR07mk2 for 99 bucks.  A bunch of anecdotal evidence from friends, the moveable mics, comparisons  and reviews and the percentage off swayed me enough to give it a chance. I will put i through the paces in the first few weeks and look for the issues mentioned here in which case I will send it back and go for a ZOOM H4N.

Once again thanks a bunch for all your thoughts,
Ed Clearlight
My Music
My Band Website
GUITARS: 2x RG1521, 3x RG321 w/gk, Rg721 Fretless Modified, AmStd FatStrat w/gk, various others....
XV5050,Triton etc..
KOMPLETE 7
VGUITAR Stuff: VG99, FC300, RC5-

Toby Krebs

My main problem with these little recorders is to remember to bring the damn thing with me!
I usually wish I had brought it after a gig when I think I played well lol!
I have CRS!

Elantric

#13
Thats why I own so many

I have two Zoom H2Ns - and one is in my Acoustic Guitar case - the other in my Godin LGX-SA gig bag

I attend the Live Oak Music Festival
http://www.liveoakfest.org/
  - where I typically play guitar for 3 days / night straight in a campground - and the H2N records hours and hours and hours  - I use a 64GB SDHC card and EneLoop NiMH rechargable AA batteries 

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B009LU9150/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o03_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

clearlight

I was surprised I couldn't find an attachable mic for my galaxy note 3 phone. I think iPhone has stuff like that.  >:(
My Music
My Band Website
GUITARS: 2x RG1521, 3x RG321 w/gk, Rg721 Fretless Modified, AmStd FatStrat w/gk, various others....
XV5050,Triton etc..
KOMPLETE 7
VGUITAR Stuff: VG99, FC300, RC5-

admin

#15
QuoteI was surprised I couldn't find an attachable mic for my galaxy note 3 phone. I think iPhone has stuff like that.
Since 2013 - Android uses sames TRRS 4 conductor Headset jack as Iphone / iPad

Of course the  Headset jack only supports Mono mics ( need a USB Class Compliant Stereo Mic)

http://www.amazon.com/Movo-PM10-Omnidirectional-Microphone-Smartphones/dp/B00N0EPZU8/ref=pd_cp_MI_0


http://www.amazon.com/Rode-smartLav-Lavalier-Microphone-Smartphones/dp/B00EO4A7L0/ref=pd_cp_MI_0




read
http://www.wildmountainechoes.com/equipment/audio-recording-with-a-smartphone/


Trying to find an oddball (Smartphone Headset) cable Adapter
https://www.vguitarforums.com/smf/index.php?topic=8613.msg61712#msg61712

and read attached Mics for Ipads  - as this is now 100% Android applicable too.


off topic - I use this with iPhone 6 :

* Line-6 SonicPort VX as a Stereo / Vocal Mic using Lightning cable connection - its also USB Class Compliant so with a recent Galaxy Android phone and Samsung USB OTG adapter - is should work for Galaxy Note 3 too - it works for my Note 2 


Toby Krebs

Quote from: Elantric on January 15, 2015, 10:07:23 AM
Thats why I own so many

I have two Zoom H2Ns - and one is in my Acoustic Guitar case - the other in my Godin LGX-SA gig bag

I attend the Live Oak Music Festival
http://www.liveoakfest.org/
  - where I typically play guitar for 3 days / night straight in a campground - and the H2N records hours and hours and hours  - I use a 64GB SDHC card and EneLoop NiMH rechargable AA batteries 

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B009LU9150/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o03_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1




Sounds Like Fun!!!

supernicd

Quote from: Toby Krebs on January 15, 2015, 09:53:01 AM
My main problem with these little recorders is to remember to bring the damn thing with me!
I usually wish I had brought it after a gig when I think I played well lol!
I have CRS!

I have the same problem.  But on the bright side, there is something to be said about just remembering a gig as a great show where I played so well.  Sometimes a recording of it can convince me that it wasn't as great as I remembered it the night before. :)

And in truth I could have played well and got lots of compliments.  But we're our own worst critics and with recordings our minds focus on every nit-picky thing we played and didn't like.  I don't record all shows anymore.  Just sometimes.  Sometimes I just enjoy the memory.  Maybe I should record every show and just not listen to them anytime soon.
Strat w/ GK-3, Godin LGXT
VG-99, GR-55, GP-10
---------------------------------------------------------------

Toby Krebs

I will record live gigs for a while get an idea of where I am at as a player and then stop.
I find that helpful. If I am doing a lot of studio work like I did last year I wont record myself at a gig until the recordings are being mastered and I know I can let what I committed to tape lol! go.
Tape ha ha! Man I am getting old!

Chumly

#19
Quote from: Toby Krebs on January 13, 2015, 09:16:09 PM...I use it when drummers want to argue with me about time. I use it when other players who know nothing about chord theory want to argue with me bout the correct changes to a tune. One listen to the little Tascam and the argument is over.
Hello TB,

That's intriguing using a recorder to end a dispute, with the caveat being (I might assume) that the musician in question has to ability to understand the point you're trying to make!

It would seem to me (at least some of time) that if the musician in question had the ability to understand the point you're tying to make (that being time signature, music theory, chord changes, etc.) it would have been apparent prior to the need to do so.

And if the musician in question did not already have the ability to understand the point you're tying to make, it might be a tough row to hoe.

I've been a full-time teacher at a large technical institute for the better part of 10 years, and I can attest first hand as to the types of people that rarely (never?) learn more than they think they need to just get by, even if they could easily enough surpass that level of accomplishment, without undue extra effort.

I must say, that the people that populate this forum are great in terms of their willingness to change/learn (hopefully for the better but of course that's an open question).

I have given considerable thought to videoing / audio recording both myself and the class (in part for somewhat similar reasons to your initial point) however I feel that if I did, it would be considered onerous by (perhaps some of) the students, irrelative of how I presented it, because for many people, the learning process is a time in which they are very sensitive to anything that might be even remotely construed as critical or negative.
I think it's much more interesting to live not knowing than to have answers which might be wrong. - Richard P. Feynman

Elantric

#20
Often its a lack of common musical reference point.

I work with a few drummers. And some simply can't play a blues shuffle beat for SRV Pride & Joy,

While others with ears instantly "get in the groove" when I say:

" Boom sha-boom, sha-boom,  sha-boom, Boom, " Boom sha-boom, sha-boom,  sha-boom, " Boom sha-boom, sha-boom,  sha-boom, "

And some Bass players never played the opening riff to Barnie Miller TV show from the 70s . So they are lost when I tell them :

"just play a variation on the opening bass riff to Barnie Miller, but in a Major scale before every chorus on Elton John Rocket Man cover tune,

Chumly

#21
Quote from:  Elantric
...just play a variation on the opening bass riff to Barnie Miller, but in a Major scale before every chorus on Elton John Rocket Man cover tune...
Hello Elantric,

Funny stuff (!) and I do not mind saying that had you asked me to do that, I would have understood exactly what you meant / wanted in the context given, but I would still have been unable to play the parts as asked because I would not have not memorized them (I've never practiced bass guitar very much).

Which brings up the (I would suggest rather unanswerable) question of defining knowledge and/or understanding and assessing it, thus I'll leave you with the "I know it when I see it" phrase famously used in 1964 by US Justice Potter Stewart  to describe his threshold test for obscenity, but could aptly be used in reference to musicality.
I think it's much more interesting to live not knowing than to have answers which might be wrong. - Richard P. Feynman

Elantric

#22
This arrived yesterday  - just in time for a gig with my new band
( Killer deal last Tuesday the ATH-M50X with DR-22 for $149!)

Now back to $300 
http://www.adorama.com/ATATHM50XC.html?emailprice=t&utm_term=wchRGBy4CxkMRT4X7:1SfRaWUkV14bXlQx3nRo0&utm_source=rflaid68275&cvosrc=affiliate.68275







https://www.facebook.com/events/451445555014380/

Update  - the Tascam DR-22 user interface is still a bit more fiddly compared to the far easier to use Zoom H1, H2n.
On the Zoom's - you simply turn them on - then press record Once - and it starts recording  - press record again and it splits the recording into separate Wav/MP3 files press and hold record and recording stops  = very easy to use at the gig

By contrast the Tascam DR-22 requires the user to pay more attention to the units controls  and the only control that is legible in the dark is the Record button - but the user interface is the same as other small Tascam recorders:

if you press Record once  - it simply displays the VU meters
. It does not start recording until you press Record button a 2nd time  - which was sad, because the bulk of my first two sets at gig last night were not recording  - despite seeing dancing VU meters and a lit up Red  Record button.

I had a more difficult time on the DR-22 stopping recordings   - you must press "Stop" button - but this is not labeled well  or legible in the dark - only has a molded icon of the typical tape recorder "stop" control - but its impossible to read in a dark room

But I can see where the DR-22's Wi-Fi interface will allow me to place the DR-22 remotely off stage, and control it from my iPhone  - but I did not have time to set that up

Bottom line - if I have a crucial gig or new band rehearsal I need to easily record with 100% confidence  - I prefer Zoom H1, H2n 


whippinpost91850

Other then the first 2 sets recording, I hope the GIG went well with the new band

Elantric

#24
Very well - comprised of best veteran musicians in my area and we are all the same age - so we have a ton of tunes we can play and a common reference for communication.

Used Godin LGX-SA, Squier Jazzmaster for the Surf tunes , and my 63 Strat in open F tuning for a song called  Late at Night by The Iguanas  - Guitar > Fender Tube reverb > typical  stomp FX pedal board and into Roland Cube 80XL  - but will eventually use the 13 pin gear with this band

Had numerous compliments on my Guitar playing  - and thats always nice to hear.