Which portable audio recorder?

Granjow

Granjow

Active member
Morning,

Yesterday I tried to record the sound of this muscal box to a video. With the D90. I think I don't need to comment the result.

Then I switched to MiniDisc. I've still got an old one (MZ-R700 anyone?), and I've used it with an external microphone (not mine). Problem is, to get it on the computer I'll have to use Line Out. But still better than D90.

I also tried to record with the iRiver E100. The one that officially supports ogg, mp4, whatever. But only plays the pre-installed videos, takes 10 seconds for startup, records WMA only, and is broken. Its back usually was flat, now it looks blown up, and it is dead. Sucks. That much about iRiver.


Now I saw that you use to write about the Zoom H4n. How does it compare to the Olympus LS-11? Or the Edirol R-09HR? They're all in about the same price range.

Granjow
 
For really low budget recording I like the zoom H2. ymmv.
The mics in the Zoom will handle the harmonics of a music box OK.
You might be able to get a minidisc used with digital out for recordings you have made already--it is still compressed but you would not have the conversion issues.
 
Are there also other benefits compared to the Olympus LS-11? At the moment I don't really care about XLR yet. Don't have XLR microphones yet.

edit: Found this thread – I just wonder: What is the benefit of recording 4 tracks at the same time (and then possibly overlaying them)? Does this only make sense when using an additional external mic?
 
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Please, could you share your experiences? Just from reading the reviews they all sound good, and it is hard to decide. Why do so many here use the Zoom H4n?
 
Granjow said:
Please, could you share your experiences? Just from reading the reviews they all sound good, and it is hard to decide. Why do so many here use the Zoom H4n?
Click to expand...

Zoom h4n is the best, the best Jerry.

Cheapest one is Tascam DR-07 for $99 on amazon.
 
you might as well go ahead and get the h4n. buy right or you buy twice. you'll eventually need the xlr inputs.

tascam dr100 and zoom h4n are neck and neck. comes down to preference i guess. i own neither one tho but have used both. i own a microtrack II small recorder and fostex fr2le record for my full sound bag rig.
 
if u dont need xlrs get one of the cheap tascam or zoom, the new one H1 (? not 100% sure its the H1) seems to do a good job and its about 100$
but its very light and cheap plastic.
 
I read that the Tascam DR-100 isn't too great regarding built-in mics: click – only one opinion though. Is it the same with the Zoom H4n, that you should not touch it during recording?

edit: I just read as well that the Tascam should be ways better: click – seems not to be a pro opinion though. Regarding the fact that the Tascam costs about 50% more than the Zoom H4n here in Switzerland I think I will go for the Zoom.
 
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Just a quick note on the H2. I owned it for 2 years and just last week the batteries corroded and now it doesn't work. I'm pretty sure this is a result of bringing it to a beach for an extended period, it never got wet, it must have been the salty air. I noticed where the batteries go the board inside isn't protected very well. It is a little exposed which leaves it open to easy corrosion. I bought it and loved it, praised it here. It was cheap, it made great recordings, I am really upset it is broken, but the lesson here is u get what u pay for. And always be wary of salty air corrosion.
 
I now got the Zoom H4n.
Man, nearly more than I expected.

Here a D90 video with H4n sound of the muscial box: http://granjow.net/uploads/kdenlive/samples/Musical-box.avi

It just works. Even the high sounds are clear and not overdriven.
Your opinion? :)
The humming, btw, is caused by the «wind wheel».


@xgzt Regarding salty water, I just wonder whether there is anything you could do to protect gear. Is cleaning it afterwards the only possibilty?

Simon
 
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