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Handheld digital recorders

Axtman

Axtman

Supporting Member
Mar 3, 2008
2,573
4,709
Seattle, WA
#1
I apologize in advance if this topic has been asked a billion times before.

What are your recommendations for a handheld digital recorder?

My worship band wants to record our practices and services, then use the recordings to refine our sound.

Thanks!
 
#3
We do this a lot in my band. Almost every rehearsal we get the hand-helds out. Our singer/songwriter has a ZOOM H2 and I have used an Edirol R-09 for a couple of years now.

The quality of these things on WAV format is pretty amazing given the prices. Mp3 is pretty good too.

The ZOOM's less expensive but to my ears it seems to be quite finnicky about levels. It seems difficult to find something in between "clean but can't hear" and "overdriven and distorted".

I think the new R-09 is brilliant. It has a remote so that you can position the unit for where the microphones are best situated and then record from wherever you are situated.

For worship situations I have often used the R-09 to play an mp3 of a song (either one we've done or a new one we want to do) right into the board. I used it for backing tracks for a couple of songs last Christmas too.
 
#5
Axtman,

I really wish I could find a link to the article, because it's been really helpful to me... but the December '08 issue of Bass Player had a soundroom roundup on handheld recorders. Lots of great info, it's still on my "reference shelf." lol They had reviews on 8 recorders that all seemed like they'd be great units:

Edirol R-09HR
M-Audio Microtrack II
Olympus LS-10
Sony PCM-D50
Tascam DR-1
Yamaha Pocketrak 2G
Zoom H2
Zoom H4

It's been a year since the article, so obviously there are some new ones on the market. There's a "guitar/bass version" of the Tascam DR-1 (the GT-R1) and they also have a couple new smaller models on their site. Zoom has the H4n. I've used a Marantz from my church's soundguy that sounded good but it's $599. The BP article also mentioned the Korg MR-1 but they didn't receive it in time for the article... but that one's $899. lol

Not sure if you need to do video too, but there's also the new Q3 from Zoom. The couple vids I've seen from this recorder (live concert settings) really seem/sound pretty sharp.

I think I'm finally narrowing down on which recorder I'll get. The Zoom recorders are currently at the top... they seem to be the best package when comparing price/sound quality/features/accessories.

Hope that helps a little bit. :)

I'd also be interested if anyone else has any more input! James, can you give us some "real world" pros/cons on the H2?

5sg.
 
#6
fivestringgecko said:
James, can you give us some "real world" pros/cons on the H2?
Click to expand...

I use mine simply for raw recordings. I turn off any processing that it can do, set it to work in the loudest environment and set it for all 4 mics and the highest bit rate MP3. It gets stuck on a mic stand in the middle of the room. I copy the files over to my PC for editing in Reaper. I cut up the songs, normalize and lightly compress.

Only con is it's tough to read / see the onscreen stuff (part of why I use the 'set and go' approach).

I bought it and use it for a digital music sketch pad of sorts... it's replaced the cassette boombox in the corner at rehearsals for me.

Here are a couple tracks I've posted before... real rough jam / writing season outtakes in a band I was in briefly last year and have just got back together with (no new recordings... next week maybe).

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#7
I have an H2 and it's great. I use it at rehearsals to record, then chop it up with Cakewalk Sonar and kick out mp3s to everyone. I do the same with live shows...just set it on a mike stand near the board and forget it.

Warning: If you get an H2, be sure to stop the recording BEFORE you power it off. If not, you will lose the current recording.
 
#11
I just got the Tascam Dr-07. It's really good for the money. $142 on Amazon. The first practice I had the gain structure set too high which resulted in a distorted sound. I was also in the highest quality wav. format and I noticed that half of the soundcard was used up by the 20 minute mark. I used the lowest gain this afternoon and it sounds perfect. This unit has a wheel on the side to tweek the gain while it's recording, very useful.
I noticed right away how we can tweek the songs. It's amazing how hearing it back can alter your perception. I play too hard at certain loud parts and it's totally unnecasary. on other parts I'm not ending the notes as evenly as I thought I was. Overall I think it's going to be the best money I've aver spent on equipment.
Another usefull aspect that will help the band, everyone can take home thier own copy of the practice if they bring a flash drive. i haven't done this yet but i read about it in a review.
Did I mention yet how I can practice at home with the band just by playing with the recording. It's really going to be a great tool.:cool:
 
#14
I just picked up a Zoom H2 after reading through each of the descriptions in the Bass Player Magazine article mentioned above. I was torn between the Olympus LS10 and the more affordable Zoom H2. My main drive to pick up a recorder was to be able to capture good quality recordings of gigs. My band is doing an unplugged set in December and I would really like to have some recordings for my own personal enjoyment. Now I'll just have to learn how to use the Zoom to its full potential (or as close as I can pull off). I'm looking forward to it. A larger SD card will definitely be in order. I was about to get one of those 32 GB cards from a seller on eBay. They're only $28 shipped from Hong Kong. From the picture, it seems like they resemble the Transcend brand, which is on the list of compatible cards. Would the Zoom really be that picky about the media used?

That article had a lot of great information. I also enjoyed the recording posted by DWBass. The quality is pretty impressive for such an affordable unit. :)
 
#18
I pretty-much live with my Olympus LS-10 in my pocket. All rehearsals, gigs, jams, etc, get recorded.

The LS-10 records in several formats, from WAV to MP3, so I also use it to convert stuff to MP3 if I need to.

The thing I liked about the LS-10 is that it runs on normal batteries, not a recharge cell, so I always have fresh power available and don't have to remember to recharge it. Super sound, tough as nails, easy to use, and with the memory card I added, I could practically record Woodstock. I got the power supply and silicone skin for it, and a tripod, so I'm set.

One of the best things ever to happen to musicians.
 
#19
Fivestringgecko,

YOU LIED TO ME!! It's in the October 2008 issue Bass Player Magazine! ;-)

I will read it and give a synopsis. The article is over a year old and hopefully technology has not changed THAT much.

Thanks for the heads up!
 
#20
I have the new R-09HR (better preamp, lower noise) and have used it with and without external mics. No complaints at all, and the 24-bit mode lets you set the levels conservatively so you don't get clipping and have plenty of room to normalize/EQ the recording later. The controls and display aren't perfect, but I cannot fault this unit on sound quality. I've taped everything from intimate acoustic sets to a very loud rock show and got clean results every time.
 

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