Thoughts on small recorder for FX recording

Check the firmware version when you get your recorder. When I bought mine, there were a couple of features (individual input level control, for example) that were not included. Those came with a firmware update last year... not sure what the machines are shipping with now.
 
Two functions on the DR40 that should help (providing the mics and pres are OK) is a mode where the unit will lower the level based on incoming peaks. It's not a limiter and it won't boost the gain back up, but since the limiter is in software it's not nearly as effective as the MixPres soit's probably not going to the lifesaver the MP's is. The other feature is you can do dual recordings with the second track recording at a fixed amount lower than the first. Both of these should go a long way into mitigating some of the draw backs to a tiny recorder with little controls and limited display. At least for FX recording. Setting levels in the h2 (for me) was a big PITA. Some of that had to do with it's ability to overload with any low end/ wind/ handling. I found my self often recording way lower than I normally would because of this. Also having to basically set it someplace and stay away from it really limited what you could record with it.

The Olympus I mentioned earlier had very little of these problems. We often took it hand held into crowds and such. we did have a big wind muf on it because it was pretty wind sensitive, but then so are most mics. I tried that a few times with the h2 and you would loose 50+ percent to odd rumbles and shmata that stomped on the recordings. Put it on a stand and it was mostly OK.

On the train there wont be any stable non vibrating surfaces to stick it on so I knew the h2 would be a waste.

I wasn't super happy about it's sound either, to be honest. It was noisier than I would like and for all it's low end issues it didn't record all that much low end. When I get back I'l do some comparison tests out of curiosity.
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I wonder if the dual mode uses two different AD-cards (each for two channels) and uses one for the louder and one for the safe tracks...

I owned the original H2 too, before replacing it with the olympus. The zoom was actually a few dB quieter in my tests and the stereo image was a little nicer, but it was a bit dark sounding and really sensitive to handling and wind. The limited level setting, sensitivity to overload, and plastic build were the main reasons though for replacing it.
 
It might since it has 4 channels of A/D converters. And it kind of doesn't make any sense to split it after the A/D conversion.

??
 
It might since it has 4 channels of A/D converters. And it kind of doesn't make any sense to split it after the A/D conversion.
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Exactly what I was thinking, but there are many "gimmicks" out there that doesn't really work as they advertise. I did a little searching for it, but haven't found anyone who actually did a test.
 
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