Small Audio recorder for Lavs

egproductions

egproductions

Veteran
Are there any good audio recorder that are tiny? I saw a promo for the rode smartlav which gets plugged into an iphone and it got me thinking.

I'm looking for something even smaller than a smartphone and would have decent auto levels and could have manual levels as well (obviously I wouldn't be able to monitor levels like this). This setup would be for events where my primary audio isn't the lav but would use the lav as a backup for situations where I can't get my mics close enough. Obviously i'm not expecting super pro quality pre's here just something that could pickup intimate audio that I wouldn't have otherwise. I'd be interested in hearing expensive and cheap options for this. I might even be more open to something cheap so that I can get a bunch of them to give out at weddings. Essentially looking for the GoPros of Audio.
 
Zaxcom makes a 'recording' wireless transmitter... . Nagra also makes a very small recorder.. neither is 'cheap'.($$$) I think the smallest budget portable one will find is the Zoom H1 or competitively sized Tascam DR-xx. I wouldn't use a 'phone' to record anything but an audio note where quality is not an issue.
 
Now that I think of it, one of my gopros might even be an option although it would waste a lot of battery life and memory on video which I would just toss. Normally not a good investment for just audio but since I already have it, it might be all I need.

What would be a good lav to pair with a GoPro 3 Black+ that wouldn't be overkill. The GoPro uses all AGC and it requires a USB to 3.5mm adapter.
 
egproductions said:
Are there any good audio recorder that are tiny?
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Smallest I can think of is the Zaxcom. The recorder in the transmitter is meant for backup purposes, but it's supposed to be every bit as good as the "normal" audio out of the receiver.

But really, why not just use a set of radio mics, move the audio to where the recorder doesn't have to be small, and record it there? You know, the way the manufacturers like Sennheiser and Lectrosonics intended for their equipment to be used? The reason this is done is to make it easy to monitor the audio, so you'll know when something bad happens and can stop and correct it without loosing too much.

Because we all know what happens when you don't monitor the audio. Failure to monitor is a recipe for no usable audio at all.
 
I do the same thing! SmartLav+ plugged into a Tascam DR-05 by way of Rode's SC3 TRRS > TRS adapter.

Your options (in my opinion) are either the Zoom H1, or the Tascam DR-05... I've heard too many wedding videographers swear because their H1 has frozen and missed the crucial "I do." A few of these videographers have since switched to the similarly priced DR-05 and have since had no such issues.

Haven't personally experienced the H1 freezing issue, but google it... it's certainly a problem and the recorder definitely doesn't have the trustiness of the H4n that we all know and love.

Best of luck... the SmartLav/recorder combo is a great cheap alternative to a wireless set-up, and one that I still use to this day (too paranoid about interference and people with their phones on during recording!).
 
I have 4 x Zoom H1's and I've never experienced freezing in years of use. I always record in WAV and a quick Google seemed to indicate that where people have experienced freezing it has been in the MP3 format and before an old firmware update. I'm sure you're already familiar with its virtues - effective auto-levels as well as full manual, low-cut filter selectable using one sliding switch, Hold to stop unintended adjustments, onboard mics physically protected (unlike the H4n), tripod 1/4x20 bush in the rear, pretty decent results (especially for weddings where the ambient sound may mask any preamp shortcomings, plugin power for lav etc, compact size etc.

You mention weddings. The H1 may be too large to slide into some talents pockets and the H4n certainly is. There is a shedload of mini audio recorders really intended for dictation but are fine for weddings where often you only need to allow enough range for voices as gorgeous music is not that relevant. And of course there is only so much you can do at weddings if you spot a problem whilst monitoring in real time. I always feel very virtuous using my three Senny G3 kits but I do know that really I don't need them at weddings.

I recently bought an Olympus VN-733PC when it was on a lightning deal on Amazon. Its specifically for taping to a handheld mic when there is no other option. Its small enough to work well and I attach it using an old GoPro velcro wrist strap. It does not have manual levels but it does have various other useful choices. It easily fits in a talent pocket. There are loads of others like it.

Pete
 
I'm actually in the same boat as the OP and have been looking for an ultra small recorder that I could hook up to a lav and use for secondary/backup audio. 24 bit lossless recording and manual gain control ideally. I already have sets of G3's when I need wireless, but have been using Tascam DR 05's with Rode Lavaliers for the pocket recorders when needed. Except while the DR 05's are small, they aren't exactly 'pocket-friendly'.

The Zoom H1 is of course on the list, but would actually still prefer something even smaller. I've been trying to round up an older Tascam PR 10, Teac VR 10 or Tascam DR 03 as they seem like they could work nicely. There are plenty of voice recorders / dictaphones that are tiny, but most only record MP3, crippled by auto gain control, and have suspect preamps. I may try a Olympus WS 802 just to see how I like it and since you can find them for $50, but I'm not exactly hopeful.
 
I would only ever use the Zaxcom ZFR200 for something like this. I has never clip, so you you'll never distort the input. You'd more likely to distort the mic at that point, so that means worrying about levels is less of a concern. I wouldn't trust anything else. Yes, I've used it. Yes, it's awesome. No, I don't work for them.

http://zaxcom.com/products/zfr-200/
 
davefisk said:
I would only ever use the Zaxcom ZFR200 for something like this.
http://zaxcom.com/products/zfr-200/
Click to expand...

Definitely nice and perfect size for what I'm looking for. The price is too much at this point and it even requires a receiver to monitor levels plus I don't need timecode. For this application I actually consider AGC a requirement because its really just safety audio that I don't have to think about.

I might consider this for serious lav or unterthered work instead of a wireless transmitter, really interesting product!
 
Rick R said:
i think the smallest budget portable one will find is the Zoom H1 or competitively sized Tascam DR-xx.
Click to expand...
I use the Tascam DR-05 when using my lavalier (Azden EX-503) and it usually works pretty well when you can put it into your pockets. I wouldn't need anything smaller.
 
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