Need a Cheap but Good Portable Recorder (for MKE 400?)

Tom Lowe

Tom Lowe

Well-known member
I bought a Sennheiser MKE 400 to put on my Canon 5D Mark II, but the camera does not record sound well with this mic. There is a terrible hissing, no matter what I try.

Are there any cheap field recorders I could use to plug the MKE 400 into? Or should I just return it?

What I am looking for is the ability to record sound mostly outdoors, in the style of "Sunrise Earth." Any recommendations on $200-$300 field recorders?

Thanks !!

BTW, here is a link someone else did testing audio on the 5D2.

http://www.vimeo.com/2433559
 
Given your budget, you can find recorders, but they will tend to have hissing preamps and then you're back to square one, noise! You might look at this little FR2LE at around $500. Fostex makes high end recorders often used in pro location cart work; maybe this little guy has some of it's big brother's MOJO.

http://www.zzounds.com/item--FOSFR2LE
 
Check out the Edirol R-09HR or the Sony PCM-D50. These are great portable field recorders, including fantastic on-board mics, and I'd put them up against the H4 any day of the week. They don't leave much growing room if you're going to be upgrading to xlr mics and such, but they serve their purpose great.
Also, Beachtek is going to be releasing an XLR adapter specifically made for the 5D Mark11 around Jan 09. It will offer it's own headphone out (as the Mark11 doesn't have one) and gives you VU meters, phantom power, etc.. should be a great addition!
 
I have the Olympus LS10 and love it. Use it for all my radio stuff. While the Sony D50 might have better pre-amps, it´s also double the size...
 
if you want to go real cheap & slightly old school, you could buy a used MiniDisc recorder. they're all over ebay & you can pick one up for $50 easy

biggest downside is the fact that to transfer audio to an NLE is almost going to have to be linear
 
Do a search for the Zoom - it's been discussed many times in this forum.
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I would LOVE to do a search for "Zoom H4" or "Canon 5d mark ii" but the words H4, 5d and ii are all too short be be included in a search. I end up with posts about zoom lenses, canon rebels, and dudes named Mark.

Sorry to bring this up here. I've tried to figure out how to search for exact phrases. Any help would be appreciated.
 
mbwkrause said:
I have the Olympus LS10 and love it. Use it for all my radio stuff. While the Sony D50 might have better pre-amps, it´s also double the size...
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+1 :thumbup:

I agree with this exactly.

And I *do* have the Olympus LS-10, it's great.

Just you are aware, I have a £5,000 Nagra VI as well, but the LS-10 is small and portable, good quality and the batteries (2 x AA) last for ages.
 
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