Everyone Help me choose from this selection of gear.

rundavids

rundavids

Well-known member
Hey guys, below I have three options to choose from. Please give me advice Onto which selection would be the best. Also add other gear or your preferred gear to the list. Thanks.

1. Fostex fr2le + rode ntg2

2. Tascam dr100 + rode ntg3

3. Zoom h4n + rode ntg3
 
From a strictly hardware point of view, I would recommend the DR-100 + NTG-3. I am not familiar with the Fostex, so there may be a feature on that recorder worth looking at, but the NTG-3 is hard to beat, and the DR-100 is a very good small recorder. I own this setup.

Grant
 
Indie film: = Fostex FR2-LE + Rode NTG3... You're going to appreciate the quiet preamps & menu structure of the Fostex quite a bit more than the Tascam. Also- the Fostex has a better physical layout (ie: the inputs are on the side & not the bottom- makes it easier to use in a bag, or around your neck/over the shoulder). The NTG3 is a great mic, and an excellent replacement for the Sennheiser 416.

I would add a HyperCardioid, such as the AKG CK93/SE300B combo or the Audio-Technica 4053b for indoor dialog- you'll find you like the sound of a hyper indoors rather than the shotgun (NTG3).
 
I can't say anything about the H4n, but when I had the H4, I was trying to record some ambiance for a few scenes using the built in mics and external mics and I was NOT happy with the A/D converter noise. Maybe they have fixed that. For dialog it was absolutely fine thought.
 
You get what you pay for...sometimes. Let's be realisitic ... it's not just the name on the labeling that makes a Sound Devices recorder cost 10 times a Zoom.
 
Steve House said:
You get what you pay for...sometimes. Let's be realisitic ... it's not just the name on the labeling that makes a Sound Devices recorder cost 10 times a Zoom.
Click to expand...

I agree - If you are serious I would go for an SD 702 or 702T or a Nagra LB.

Solid and professional and will last years - but not too expensive at around the £1,600 mark - reliable and safe and less likely to get damaged than a plastic machine.
 
Not to mention, when you hear the difference between most of the better equipment and cheaper equipment (obviously there are exceptions to the rule) it's like a huge boost to production quality requiring no extra effort.

I do audio as well for music and I can say once I bought a good pre-amp for my microphones, the difference was NOT even subjective. Of course, going from a $100 pre-amp to a $1999 preamp (which is still not top-end) should have a difference! :) I am always HIGHLY skeptical about equipment and test thoroughly.

This is true for microphones as well. I always try to test my gear before I buy it at high price points if I can. But now adays, I will buy cheap if I have NO other option (like zero budget projects), but many times I postpone the project, save up a little more, and buy something I wont have to upgrade.
 
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