I started this thread over at the taperssection forum, as that's where I came up with the idea for it, but it's more suited here. You can find the other thread at:
http://taperssection.com/index.php?topic=153576.new;topicseen#new
My hope for this thread is to try to gather as much information and user experience as possible about using different models of recorders in less than ideal environments, instead of having such information spread out as a sidenote in many long threads about them individually. How do they do in extreme heat and cold, moisture, problems with dust/sand etc? Maybe also a discussion of different remedies such as heat or cooling packs. This can be a help for anyone choosing equipment for such occasions, or what to expect/be aware of with the equipment they have.
For instance, the DR-680 is documented to be quite susceptible to heat over the value of 40 degrees Celsius that is given by the specifications, especially if it's not given some air around it. In cold, the LCD-screen, as is true for all I think, slows down, and might get damaged if left in such temperatures for a long period of time.
I heard quite recently from an experienced film sound technician, who often records in extreme cold and rain, that the sound devices recorders does not stand up to moisture very well. Maybe not nearly as bad as lower priced alternatives, but they are not as fool-proof as I had been given the expression of. They are also not specified to be used them in sub-zero temperatures. The only recorder I know of that is built to endure in extreme cold and high moisture is the Aaton Cantar.
Maybe it's better to have something like a SD mixer that is documented to handle extreme temperatures and moisture quite well, and several cheaper recorders, than one more rugged expensive one? Or maybe the cheaper ones deteriorate that much faster that it's not an alternative?
From the examples, I don't want to give the impression that only the more professional recorders are in discussion here, but also the smaller like the DR-100, FR2-LE etc.
I would especially like to hear from long time users who have spent several days or weeks using them in these conditions and can give some information about the long term reliability.
The small contribution I can make myself, is that the school I'm attending have an R-4 Pro that is used mostly for short films. During the winter it gets between -15 and -25 degrees Celsius, and it sees about 1-3 days of recording in these conditions for about 2-3 projects every winter. It's been used for a few years (I'm not sure exactly how long, but at least three), and it has never shown any problems that I know of.
http://taperssection.com/index.php?topic=153576.new;topicseen#new
My hope for this thread is to try to gather as much information and user experience as possible about using different models of recorders in less than ideal environments, instead of having such information spread out as a sidenote in many long threads about them individually. How do they do in extreme heat and cold, moisture, problems with dust/sand etc? Maybe also a discussion of different remedies such as heat or cooling packs. This can be a help for anyone choosing equipment for such occasions, or what to expect/be aware of with the equipment they have.
For instance, the DR-680 is documented to be quite susceptible to heat over the value of 40 degrees Celsius that is given by the specifications, especially if it's not given some air around it. In cold, the LCD-screen, as is true for all I think, slows down, and might get damaged if left in such temperatures for a long period of time.
I heard quite recently from an experienced film sound technician, who often records in extreme cold and rain, that the sound devices recorders does not stand up to moisture very well. Maybe not nearly as bad as lower priced alternatives, but they are not as fool-proof as I had been given the expression of. They are also not specified to be used them in sub-zero temperatures. The only recorder I know of that is built to endure in extreme cold and high moisture is the Aaton Cantar.
Maybe it's better to have something like a SD mixer that is documented to handle extreme temperatures and moisture quite well, and several cheaper recorders, than one more rugged expensive one? Or maybe the cheaper ones deteriorate that much faster that it's not an alternative?
From the examples, I don't want to give the impression that only the more professional recorders are in discussion here, but also the smaller like the DR-100, FR2-LE etc.
I would especially like to hear from long time users who have spent several days or weeks using them in these conditions and can give some information about the long term reliability.
The small contribution I can make myself, is that the school I'm attending have an R-4 Pro that is used mostly for short films. During the winter it gets between -15 and -25 degrees Celsius, and it sees about 1-3 days of recording in these conditions for about 2-3 projects every winter. It's been used for a few years (I'm not sure exactly how long, but at least three), and it has never shown any problems that I know of.
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