What portable recorder to get.

Amadou

Amadou

Carbonite Member
We just completed a movie and need to go out and record ambience, sound effects etc. Before going out and purchasing an expensive Nagra and a couple of 416 microphones, we would much rather like to use one of these portable recorders and its internal microphones because they can record in stereo and even 5.1 without hassle.

Here is a webpage which allows users to listen to each model.

I have two questions: After hearing these samples, how would you rank some of these? Do you think any of these have good enough audio for professional recording?

Which one do you think you would use, if any.

Portable Recorder Noise: The Sounds of Silence

Thank you for sharing you impressions.
 
BRH said:
You will get exactly what you pay for.
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I wouldn't put it exactly that way but pretty close.

This is a topic that has been done to death so use the search function.

I'm also not sure if this is a serious post.

Before going out and purchasing an expensive Nagra and a couple of 416 microphones, we would much rather like to use one of these portable recorders and its internal microphones because they can record in stereo and even 5.1 without hassle.
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If I took this seriously the guy want's to know if he can get a $300 recorder to replace $10,000 or so of gear.

That is not a serious question.

It ranks up with "I all set to go out and buy a RED Epic and a set of primes but I was wondering if the T2i isn't a just as good?".

So maybe your tung was in your cheek and we couldn't see it. In which case do the search and you can find a lot of talk about this. There is actually a thread that refers directly to the link you posted.
 
None of those recorders with built in mikes is going to replace a Sound Devices recorder with external mikes, however, if you just shot a low/no budget feature you might get away with a H4n with external mikes through a preamp. If you shot a feature with a budget I assume that you wouldn't be asking here. I have a feeling we are talking H4n as a probable choice.
 
Amadou said:
How does the Tascam DR40 preamp compare to the EX1 preamp?
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Neither of them are notable for being better than your average pro-sumer mic preamps. That question, out of context, isn't really very useful.

Your choice of microphone will make an order of magnitude more difference to the final product than the difference in mic preamps between a DR40 and an EX1.

Both the test methodology and the statements on that Wingfield Audio web page are questionable.
 
Hi guys, after read alot of threads i still have a few question about recorders and preamp´s

Im looking for an recorder just to record digitally the sound that i get from some external Mics. I have an good quality preamp with phantom for my mics.

If i just record the data into an H1 or H4n will get the same audio quality? I really want an recorder to store the info, not to pre/effect.


So i already have an PREamps, now needs to store the sound into some kind of device, MD, SD, CD.... any advice will be appreciated



Hope that understand my poor english. Thanks in advance
 
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Well if someone dont undetsand i will try to give a little more info.
Im just asking if i use line in input from
Zoom H1
Zoom H4n
PDM-m10
Tascam DR-40
Tascam DR-100
will get the same audio quality/result.
Saying that just line input because i will be using PREamps from other devices, just looking some recorder to store the audio.
 
samsagaz said:
Well if someone dont undetsand i will try to give a little more info.
Im just asking if i use line in input from
Zoom H1
Zoom H4n
PDM-m10
Tascam DR-40
Tascam DR-100
will get the same audio quality/result.
Saying that just line input because i will be using PREamps from other devices, just looking some recorder to store the audio.
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It is not clear that ANY of those products have TRUE line inputs.
Repeating: Other choices (like microphone) will have a much more prominent factor in the quality of your recorded audio.
 
Richard Crowley said:
It is not clear that ANY of those products have TRUE line inputs.
Repeating: Other choices (like microphone) will have a much more prominent factor in the quality of your recorded audio.
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Thanks too much for your support. well, so i can save some bucks in recorder and purchase the cheapest (H1)! and maybe save some bucks to upgrade the mic. I was thinking about purchase an NTG-2 because i just do that as Hobby, think that the quality will be good enough.
 
Richard Crowley said:
It is not clear that ANY of those products have TRUE line inputs.
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I beg to differ. The TASCAM DR-40 has balanced, +4dB line inputs via 1/4" TRS.

As for the rest:
- The Sony PCM-M10, Zoom H1, and TASCAM DR-100 all have unbalanced, -10dB line in via 1/8" TRS.
- The H4n has unbalanced instrument level via 1/4" TS, which is unfortunately labeled as "line in".

The new DR-100mkII adds the same line inputs as the DR-40.

That said, any time you're using one of these as a line-level recorder with an external pre-amp, you're at the mercy of a few things: the quality of the pre-amp, the quality of the recorder's analog circuitry, and the quality of the recorder's A/D converter. And, of course, the recording can be only as good as the mic that's used.
 
Alex H. said:
I beg to differ. The TASCAM DR-40 has balanced, +4dB line inputs via 1/4" TRS.

As for the rest:
- The Sony PCM-M10, Zoom H1, and TASCAM DR-100 all have unbalanced, -10dB line in via 1/8" TRS.
- The H4n has unbalanced instrument level via 1/4" TS, which is unfortunately labeled as "line in".

The new DR-100mkII adds the same line inputs as the DR-40.

That said, any time you're using one of these as a line-level recorder with an external pre-amp, you're at the mercy of a few things: the quality of the pre-amp, the quality of the recorder's analog circuitry, and the quality of the recorder's A/D converter. And, of course, the recording can be only as good as the mic that's used.
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Thanks too much for that info!

Looks like DR-40 will be the one to purchase, main problem is that in argentina are a little overpriced 450USD hehe, looks like will purchase it trough ebay

170USD Recorder +30 shipping + 100USD customs TAxes

Or if cant get that, will purchase an simple H1 in my country at 145USD.
 
Are you certain that the DR-40 has genuine balanced, line-level inputs? Or is it just a pad in front of the balanced mic level input? (i.e. it goes through the mic preamp in any case).
 
Richard Crowley said:
Are you certain that the DR-40 has genuine balanced, line-level inputs? Or is it just a pad in front of the balanced mic level input? (i.e. it goes through the mic preamp in any case).
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Ok, im not sure either, will purchase the Zoom H1, because its the cheapest that i can found in my country, and an NTG1 Mic too.

Thanks for your support.
 
At this point, I don't know if the DR-40 line level is just attenuated prior to the preamp. I suspect it is, though I would like to see a block diagram or schematic that tells me for sure. Interestingly enough though, the DR40's record level adj. parameters are totally different in line mode than in mic .. for instance, there's only a rough trim adj. in line, whereas in mic, there's the usual Inf. to 50dB of gain. (or thereabouts) In addition, mic/line selection is via a hard switch.
Either way, it's the primary pre-amplification that makes the most difference in the mic/preamp interaction. Even an H2 sounds pretty decent fronted by high quality preamp... and a high quality mic as well of course.
 
Just posting a tidbit, don't know if it'll be helpful or not. I recently bought a Sony PCM-M10 for the purpose of recording ambiance, room tone, and SFX work. So far it fits the bill wonderfully. My only complaint is that the housing is made of plastic. Otherwise everything else feels solid and so far I have been blown away by the results I've gotten (disclaimer, I'm fairly new to audio however). In the future I might need more, but for now this works wonderfully for my indie film.
 
Hello,
I'm looking to buy a portable recorder but I'm undecided between dr-40 vs h4n. They both have the same features I need, but what I can't decide on is the quality of the built-in mics cause I'd love to use them to record ambient sounds. What do you think have the better AUDIO QUALITY for this usage? Can the dr-40 capture an audio as wide as the h4n?
 
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