I'm currently trying to plan for a film I'm going to make later this month. I've decided to run a boom through a portable recorder as opposed to connecting it to the camera, and am looking for a relatively inexpensive recorder (100-200 USD). Does anyone have any suggestions? I apologize if this post is particularly naive in anyway, but I'm completely new to working with audio. Thanks.
Separate rig
- Thread starter shelgnat
- Start date
You aren't going to find much for $200 or less... especially if you're planning to rely on the recorder alone. That requires XLR inputs with reliable pre-amps. If you have a field mixer and can send a line-level feed, you can get a way with a less expensive recorder. Just make sure that it is capable of recording 16-bit, 48kHz WAV.
JordanBlock
Well-known member
I picked up a Tascam DR-07 the other day for around $150 Canadian. I've only used the line in so far, but that sounds clean. I'll see if I can rig up an adapter and test it out with an NTG-2 in the next day or two and report back.
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Richard Crowley
Veteran
Is recording directly into the camcorder not meeting your expectations? It may be tough to find a sub-$200 recorder that is better than just recording into the camcorder.
JordanBlock
Well-known member
I whipped up a crappy little adapter and did a quick test. This is a battery-powered NTG-2 connected to the Mic in on the Tascam DR-07. I was speaking at a normal level just over a foot from the mic. I've got a pretty bad cough, so all you get is "Testing, 1,2,3,4,5" and a couple seconds of silence on either end.
I recorded in mono mode, 24/48, with gain set to 'mid' and the rec level around 9.
Raw Recording (In mono mode, the 07 still records a stereo file, I dropped the extra channel to make the file smaller, but otherwise this is untouched.)
Amplified (Amplified in audacity with peaks at -3dB)
Amplified with NR (Amplified as above, run through Audacity's default NR settings)
Watch your volume level if you crank it up for the raw and then listen to the amplified versions
Obviously the thing doesn't have stellar pre-amps, but they're not as bad as I expected.
I recorded in mono mode, 24/48, with gain set to 'mid' and the rec level around 9.
Raw Recording (In mono mode, the 07 still records a stereo file, I dropped the extra channel to make the file smaller, but otherwise this is untouched.)
Amplified (Amplified in audacity with peaks at -3dB)
Amplified with NR (Amplified as above, run through Audacity's default NR settings)
Watch your volume level if you crank it up for the raw and then listen to the amplified versions
Obviously the thing doesn't have stellar pre-amps, but they're not as bad as I expected.
Chamber005
Carbonite Member
I whipped up a crappy little adapter and did a quick test. This is a battery-powered NTG-2 connected to the Mic in on the Tascam DR-07. I was speaking at a normal level just over a foot from the mic. I've got a pretty bad cough, so all you get is "Testing, 1,2,3,4,5" and a couple seconds of silence on either end.
I recorded in mono mode, 24/48, with gain set to 'mid' and the rec level around 9.
Raw Recording (In mono mode, the 07 still records a stereo file, I dropped the extra channel to make the file smaller, but otherwise this is untouched.)
Amplified (Amplified in audacity with peaks at -3dB)
Amplified with NR (Amplified as above, run through Audacity's default NR settings)
Watch your volume level if you crank it up for the raw and then listen to the amplified versions
Obviously the thing doesn't have stellar pre-amps, but they're not as bad as I expected.
Wow, the cleaned up version sounds sweet for sub 200 bucks!
Gives me hope for what can be done with the H4N's preamps with some clean-up. Anyone have any experience as to whether to not the raw preamps in an H4N is better or worse than this?
(Also, does Adobe Soundbooth have a similar auto clean up capability or should I pick up Audacity for better clean up?)
JordanBlock
Well-known member
I assume Soundbooth should have similar noise reduction, I know that Audition does. I'm not generally a big fan of audacity, but I do keep it on my netbook for quick-and-dirty things like this test.