Best Under 3k Audio Recorder?

R

Robertofish

Active member
I am looking at getting a portable field recorder, and my budget is around 3k the less the better obviously, I do want bang for the buck, and I have looked at getting the Edioral R-44 however, its cheaper so I was thinking of getting something like the Roland R-88 8 track recorder, but I dont know if that will yield a lot better results in terms of quality? I will likely have some way always to power the field recorder off of ac, such as a generator or power pack solution, so power consumption isnt a big deal since I wont likely be running it on AAs, so,

I looked at the R-88 R-44 and Sound Devices 722, but am not sure which one to get, with the sound devices 722 my question is is the audio better quality then the R88 because I can deal with 2 mic inputs! I will be using boom mics and lavs, the boom mics have phantom power, and want the overall best audio quality I can get in a field recorder for the 3k price point, or around that (3200 and around there is fine as well)!

Suggestions?
 
You might want to consider a Tascam DR-680 with a Busman modification. For all 6 tracks, recorder and mod...about $750. Frankly, sounds really good and the price is excellent. If you want dedicated mixing pots, you can pick up a used SD 442 for around $1000 and pipe it in to the Tascam. Otherwise, if you are not doing much field mixing I don't even think you need it.
I don't like the Edirol's, but that's me. On the other end of the spectrum, the Zaxcom MAXX offers a mixer/recorder all in one combo, 4-6 tracks, Neverclipa, super clean noise floor and runs $2800 with the additional 2 tracks option and seperate ISO's option. Good alternative to the classical SD stuff.
 
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Before we talk about comparative audio quality, we must identify your needs. The recorders you mention are all very different in regards to number of channels, size and weight, materials and ruggedness, if they have timecode etc.

First question: How many channels do you need? No use getting a recorder with two channels or eight, if you need about four.

Second question: Do you need/want timecode?

Third question: In what environments will you be recording, and will you use it on a cart/table or in a bag over the shoulder?

Fourth question: What will you be recording? Movie dialogue, fx, interviews, and music all demand different things from the recorder.

Fifth question: Do you want an all-in-one box, or could you consider having a mixer as a front to the recorder?
 
Pre-owned 744's are going for around $2700-3000 USD these days, of course one would need two additional mic pre-amps for four mic level input/tracks. In any case, batteries and a charger should be factored into the purchase price.. which can add significant cost to a package price.
 
I'm seriously considering a Zoom H6. Sound on Sound, who I have always trusted reviews from rate it, and find no issues with preamp noise, so it would seem to be a useful device. I don't think I'd use the extra clip on shotgun mic and other mic elements, but it does seem a very cheap product for what it does.
 
Interesting. I haven't heard much about the zoom since it's release, but if it's preamps are a little better than the H4n (hopefully) and it can take a conumer line signal without a padded cable, I could see myself using it hooked up to a mixer or as a backup. I'll look into it.
 
paulears said:
I'm seriously considering a Zoom H6. Sound on Sound, who I have always trusted reviews from rate it, and find no issues with preamp noise, so it would seem to be a useful device. I don't think I'd use the extra clip on shotgun mic and other mic elements, but it does seem a very cheap product for what it does.
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It's form factor is a problem though. How are you going to mount this with wires that will be coming off of the microphone end? Either they are hanging directiy over a camera lens, or they are at the bottom of a mixing sack where the mixing pots are also located. In that case how do you access the mixing pots and further prevent them from moving on their own? Their is only a small lip and no locking mechanism for them.


By the way the best sounding mixing/recorder device I have heard in the small portable category hasn't even been mentioned. I have a Fostex DC-R302 and it sounds absolutely great. Very good noise floor and really a lot of clean gain can be added. You can really give something a lot of juice if you need to.
 
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Hi
I must confirm, as mentioned above, that without more knowledge of what you want to do my advice is general.
I use SD702, Zaxcom MAXX, Zoom H4N, Zoom H2N for field recording. SD and Zaxcomm are both terrific. Since you mention $3000 I will make a comment on those. The SD 702 is easier to use if you aren't using it every day. The Zaxcomm MAXX has more features, as mentioned above, but has a steep learning curve. If you use it regularly it is a wonderful tool and value. In the posts above everything has been mentioned from bottom end up to your budget at $3000. Borrow, rent, fiddle in the store, ask questions here until you are comfortable.

I make my decisions in the following order. Do I have the $$ to even think about it... What kind of jobs am I going to do. What is the workflow and working environment. What kind of investment. Own cheap? Rent? Own expensive? Maintenance, repairs, theft, credo.

Fortunately field recorders and mixtures still have a longer product cycle than cameras!

Best Regards
 
First question: How many channels do you need? No use getting a recorder with two channels or eight, if you need about four.
I'm not 100% sure on channels most of the time we use 1 but we may wanna in the future use more, I don't think I will need more then 2 however I don't want to have to buy another one if I do need more then 2 cause thats an extra 2,500

Second question: Do you need/want timecode?
I don't need it but of course it would be preferable to have, I use the HPX300s, and they have time code so its not a bad idea to have it!

Third question: In what environments will you be recording, and will you use it on a cart/table or in a bag over the shoulder?
Usually on our shoots, they are less demanding in terms of fast go go go filming, so we would usually have time to run it on a table and use a big ac battery pack that can run it for hours on ac. Thats preferable for us usually we don't usually have someone with it in a bag or over there shoulder for recorders anyway, at least on our shoots!

Fourth question: What will you be recording? Movie dialogue, fx, interviews, and music all demand different things from the recorder.
Mainly movie dialogue in fact that would be the majority(at least 95%, of what we are recording), but the other 5% would be interviews, I doubt we will record music, or fx.

Fifth question: Do you want an all-in-one box, or could you consider having a mixer as a front to the recorder?
I would prefer all in one box, as opposed to having a mixer and a recorder
 
A used Sound Devices 552 if you are looking for an all in one on the cheap.

Not to poo poo your choice of things, but if you don't usually have someone with the audio recorder, what's the point?
You might as well just pipe your audio into your cameras. And speaking of cameras, Shooting movies with HPX300s?
 
Ok, thanks for the answers to those questions. I also have to agree with Mr Jones above - as you mostly need two channels, is there a specific reason that you don't just run it into the camera? Using something like a sound devices mixer, even the smaller mixpre, you can still get very good audio quality.
 
yoclay said:
It's form factor is a problem though. How are you going to mount this with wires that will be coming off of the microphone end? Either they are hanging directiy over a camera lens, or they are at the bottom of a mixing sack where the mixing pots are also located. In that case how do you access the mixing pots and further prevent them from moving on their own? Their is only a small lip and no locking mechanism for them....
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Where do you mount your SD744?

Fran
 
Jema said:
Interesting. I haven't heard much about the zoom since it's release, but if it's preamps are a little better than the H4n (hopefully) and it can take a conumer line signal without a padded cable, I could see myself using it hooked up to a mixer or as a backup. I'll look into it.
Click to expand...

The H6 preamps are substantially better than the H4n, as is the A/D circuitry. The inputs include individual switchable 20 dB pads.

Fran
 
Is there any benefit of having a mixer in front of the Sound Devices 700 Series or is the 700 series good enough to eliminate the need for a SD mixer. If you don't need the mixer in front of it, the 700 series looks really appealing in my opinion.
 
I have a Audio Development "PICO" 6 channel mixer, one of the best ever built, modified for desert use. Recently I got a SD 302 and agree: superb quality. I use all sorts of recorders, Tascam, Olympus, Sony, IMO once the mic pre is top quality, the recorder doesnt make a big sound difference (unless they seriously screw up the signal path).
 
the new zaxcom maxx can be had for $3230 or so after tax, I just got mine two weeks ago upgraded from psc m4 mk2 and zoom h4n to that. Sound devices going to unveil something big or small, on nov. 19th, makes me wish I had waited a bit longer but I love the maxx so far.
 
Is there any benefit of having a mixer in front of the Sound Devices 700 Series or is the 700 series good enough to eliminate the need for a SD mixer. If you don't need the mixer in front of it, the 700 series looks really appealing in my opinion.
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If you're thinking about pure audio quality, then the SD recorders are just as good, if not better, than the mixers, and many users have no need for a mixer. That said though, a mixer is useful for other reasons, such as giving more flexibility regarding the number of outputs, extends the number of channels you can have (though some would have to share a recording track unless you actively mix them), and to make mixes for dailies etc (the 788 can do this on it's own though). The 744 only has two preamps, so it's usually used together with a mixer.
 
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