I have big headache right now trying to make custom solution.
The main idea was:
- Creative Zen V - it can record from line-in 160bps. Price on 1G is $55 right now. 1G means about 14hours of recordings on 160bps. More than enough to record the longest gig/jam in your life
- Amped Mic - here I just stuck. I bought Audio Technica PRO24 stereo mic and just because I'm lame enough I thought it doesn't require preamp because it has battery inside.
Right now budget of this project is 55 (Zen V) + 65 (PRO24) + 5 (2.5mm-3.5mm adapter) + tax = about 145 bucks.
Because we are splitting everything on 3 band members. this come to 48 bucks a piece and it doesn't work.
To make it work we need also preamp. This adds to budget another 60 bucks. and become 200+.
Where was my main mistake? It wasn't in my misunderstanding of condenser mic concept. I just didn't know about H2!
Amazing. 180$ ($60 a piece - add to 48 bucks one more 12pk of Heineken). And less than some garage project with mp3 player, preamp and mic putted together with duct tape
Will order H2 tomorrow (I need to tell the same to band members)
P.S. Of course there is always alternative solution - Laptop+Audacity+Mic. And budget comes to price of mic. But this means you have to bring laptop on every rehearsal and gig, put it somewhere.... etc... etc... I had enough.
H2 is the winner!
