Sound recorders round up

M

morgan_moore

Major Contributor
Could someone with more knowledge compile a list of of sound recorders. Pros and cons - mainly cons plaese

(Frankly I might wait til 5Dday)


4HN Digital Voice recorder
XLR
phantom power
2 batts


Sony
PCM-D50 Portable digital recorder
4 batteries
?
?

Any others

S
 
I would truly love to help you out, but I feel it's an impossible task without having the slightest idea about your budget and your requirements.

That said, many people say they'll never regret the purchase of their Sound Devices 702, a rock solid, bulletproof professional two track recorder with excellent mic preamps for (in your country) £1,695.00 ex VAT.
 
try TASCAN DR-100
i do not have any experience with it, but read, it is realy good.

here some basic and advance topic about audio with dslr:
http://www.cinema5d.com/viewforum.php?f=32

I have ZOOMH4n, and I love it, realy high quality sound, xlr etc...


read the link, I am sure U will find the best solution.
 
Re: Mr No Idea

Thats a little costly !

My requirements or dream list

To monitor sound
To drive my Sanken 48V condenser mic
To receive from my Sony URX P1 lavs
To record to CF or SD card
To have decent battery life or other power solution (like taking from EX1 sytle or 12v batts - 12v would be perfect becasue then I can seek a solution for my SmallHD and Recorder)
Pocket size
Low mass
Indestructible plugs
Weatherproof
Overcranking pitch converter
Flux Capacitor
and more

£500uk

S
 
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I have the Roland Edirol HR-09 and it has been rock solid...no sync problems at all. I use a SignVideo XLR-Pro when I need to input a couple of XLRs.
 
I went with the Sound Devices 702 and I would do it again in a heartbeat. If you need timecode (DSLRS do not have timecode) get the SD 702t.
 
I prefer user experience

Say the tascam - a proprierty battery

are there spares etc etc
windgfieild test does not discuss battery life with phantom power etc

S
 
If you don't mention budget you're going to get everyone and their mom recommending Sound Devices.

For most of the indie filmmakers here who want something at under 800 bucks, I feel the list is pretty firm and while the order comes down to preference, I think this order is the general concensus amongst the sound folks here:

1) Edirol R-44 (approx $800, 4 XLR input)
2) Fostex FR-2LE (approx $500, 2 XLR input)
3) Sony PCM D-50 (approx $450, 1/8" input)
4) Zoom H4 using line-in to bypass preamps (approx $275)
5) Tascam DR-100 (approx $300, 2 XLR input)
6) Zoom H4N (approx $300, 2 XLR plus good onboard mics)

The difference between the Edirol and the Fostex has little to do with actual recording capabilities and everything to do with having double the XLR inputs with phantom on the 44. If you don't need to use more than two mics at a time, the Fostex is solid and you can also invest in a transparent mod that will make it record better than what the Edirol can do. Additionally, the D50 is also comperable to the Edirol and the Fostex but you lose the XLR inputs and so will have to pony up some cash to make sure you don't create any noise between your, say, juicedlink and the recorder.

The Zoom line has been debated here heavily, and I hasten to add with regards the H4 being ranked above the H4N probably isn't accurate if you don't have a good mixer (like, say the Mixpre). The H4N, unfortunately, does not allow you to bypass its preamps like the H4 does, but the preamps on the H4N are much better than the H4, so it's kind of a pick your poison kind of deal. And, as mentioned, the onboard mics of the H4N have been used in a lot of indie productions for pristine ambient sound.

Every single one of these recorders will get the job done if they're applied in a professional manner (e.g. mic placement, mic placement, mic placement).

If you're doing shorts or webserials, the H4N or the Tascam are a fine choice and the cheapest for what you need to just get up and shoot. For no-budgie features, though, I'd go with the Fostex or the Edirol.

Of course if you have 4,000 bucks laying around, the SD 744t pretty well bends everything else over the bench.
 
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Marantz 660 I use works great.
2 xlr ins + onboard mic
XLRs sound is fantastic, I've never used the onboard mic.......
$600 ish
4 aaa batteries or ac power
A little more $ than most but the sound is flawless.
I think there is now a 661 model but I don't know what the update was.
 
Thanks for all opinions - Ill do a lot of reading up over the weekend

Tascam is the current leader

I have a shoot on tuesday but will onboard that and interview with the EX1 - too late to choose

S
 
I use a Sound Devices 744T it is a rock a true pro recorder have used ZOOMs one broke the other did not record right when I needed it. I know others who love their ZOOMs, but for me the Sound Devices recorders and mixers are solid and have never let me down.
 
Another vote for the SD702, I also use it for DSLR video shoots. Amazing in every way. I bought two other recorders first - cheaper ones, naturally - and I should have just saved, got the SD702, and I'd have saved hundreds of dollars.

There's PRICE, and there's VALUE. The Zoom H2 is an insane value at a low price, but you compromise in almost every way. The Sound Devices units are insane values at a higher price, but you don't have to compromise at all.
 
I think Im going with the Tascam -

available

affordable

AA and lithium

feed to camera

shoulder mount size / pocket size

should a client require better sound I will suggest them renting a sound op and their kit -frankly operating the cam and thinking about lavs and the on cam mic will be enough for me

thanks all for advice

S
 
So Ive had the Tascam DR100 for a month now

The 1/4 screw is plastic

I ended up tightening it so it broke

The buttons are all wobbly

Now the recorder is showing device error 2 and wont boot up

So Ive tried it on two shoots and been let down twice

What a POS IMO

Makes me appreciate the build quality on my nikon D3 which I have abused daily for three years

Any suggestions for a small light recorder that is not a toy ?

Ok my gear takes a beating but im not clumsy... things Ive never broken..
Laptop
Any lenses
Any cameras
I pod
Mobile phones
Etc

S
 
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I would second the h4 being a great deal for the money (especially finding used in the marketplace). I only use it for backup or say remote recording from a mixer... Haven't had any problems but it is pretty basic, if it was my only way to record audio I would be going h4n or better...
 
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