• TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
    Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
    Join free Log in
    Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.

Portable recorders...best bang for your buck?

panama

panama

May 26, 2009
1,070
185
Detroit
#1
I'd like to use one of these gadgets for recording my band practices.

I've never heard any examples of one being used, but I imagine the sound quality would be better than what the macbook mic currently offers.

Also how well do these work for recording track by track? Could you hang one over a drum kit and get something decent?

I know absolutely nothing.
 
#3
Olympus LS-10. A few bucks more than some recorders, but bullet-proof and easy to operate. From full WAV to MP3 formats. Two decent built-in condensors, with external dual-mic jack. Takes line inputs (which I use to grab suggested songs off of peoples phones, etc., with just a TRS 1/8-TRS 1/8 cable). Hooks to USB as an external drive--no funky software. Runs about 12-15 hours on 2 AA batteries (also has external power supply available). Auto level with optional limiter, or manual level setting.

I also got the remote control. I put the LS-10 on a tripod and then just hit my remote button from stage.

We record everything now. I just set it to MP3 (very good sound quality for MP3, and much smaller files to send) and record all rehearsals and live gigs. Then I just stick it into my pocket and listen to the shows in earbuds while walking the dog. (After uploading the MP3s to our FTP site for the other band members, of course.)

One of the best gizmos I have ever purchased. Highly recommended!
 
#11
NOLA Bass said:
We just got the tascam and it did a nice job.
Click to expand...


+1 i shopped long and hard, listening to examples of all of them under $350, and the tascam won hands-down for sound quality for me...

pros: it's easy to use, simple usb connection as an exernal drive...comes with an 8gb card, upgradable to 16 i believe...good battery life, changeable mic orientation, 1/4 and 1/8 inputs...high quality wav or mp3 format, easy clipping meter, overdub feature with wav files (like a 2-track)

cons: deleting from the unit is a 2-step process, so when i thought i was freeing up space, i actually wasn't...this could be a pro too, since it's a backup of songs if you accidentally deleted one...uses tascam battery pack...takes a looong time to fully charge...haven't been able to figure out how to use a DI into it
 
#12
Disregarding sound and features, the Zoom H2 is the 'best bang for the buck' IMHO. You get quite a lot for less than $200!! My H2 sounds pretty damn good and can't conceive how much better any of the other units can sound!

Below was recorded on an H2.
stats.png
 
#13
Another H2 user, can't really compare it to anything else, but it's great for the price and portability. I think it sounds excellent, actually. Really picks up the bass and kick drum well, not tinny at all. An added bonus is that it fits nicely in your breast pocket, with only the actual mic poking out, so I've got quite a collection of live music going.

Last night we were recording drums and came up a mic short for the overhead, so I just put it on monitor and ran it through the mixer and it worked well. That's the first time I've used it in that capacity.

Everything you could ever want to know is answered here: http://www.2090.org/zoom/bbs/viewforum.php?f=15
 
#14
I picked up a used H4 recently. It rocks! Super easy to use. Smokes the H2 sound wquality wise. A little more finicy as it is an XY stereo recorded and the H2 is more omni, or has that ability anyway. With the H4, I set the mic emulation to the neuman U87 model, turn on the limiter and auto gain setting. Plunk it down out front and damn ... it's crystal clear. Used I paid $160 with a 1 gig card and added a 4 gig card for dirt at Best Buys.

I'm working on a demo for my acoustic reggae thing. Instead of going full tilt in my studio, I'm capturing rough tracks in the field with the H4 and then using ProTools LE, I import the wav right off the H4. Then I can use Pt to clean stuff up if necessary. My folks are not recording literate and this is a lot less intimidating than walking into my project studio apparently. I seem to be getting a lot less 'red light' jitters...
 
#16
Regarding the Zoom H2 -

I recorded our last rehearsal using the video feature of my Fujifilm Finepix camera.
Our drummer brought a Zoom H2.
We recorded the same songs with the devices sitting side by side.

The drummer sent me the files that he got off the Zoom.
I was stunned by the results!
The sound quality from the Finepix video was considerably better than from the Zoom. I really expected better sound quality from the Zoom recorder over the Finepix which is primarily a still-image digital camera with limited video capability.

I don't know why I got those results, it could be something that my drummer did in the processing of the files (he uses a Mac, and the files he sent are MPEG-4 AAC LC, 256 kbps, 44100 Hz.) It could be something in the setup of the Zoom.

My files were AVIs, Audio info is listed as 16000hz, 8bps, 1ch.

Specs aside, the files I made sound much better than the ones he made.

I don't know what all that means, but I'm just passing along what I experienced.
 
#17
He must have had the limiter setting set to high. It's trial and error to figure out the best settings and actual placement. I've found the opposite using digital cameras. First...they record in mono and there is no limiting so there is a lot of distortion if you're up close. The H2 records in stereo or 4 channel. Listen to my recording in my first post. The unit was placed in the center of the room on a mic stand raised up all the way. I recorded in 4 channel and the merged the 4 tracks to stereo. There was no PA. All the voices you hear are natural. Granted that band was not a loud band at all. I can't fathom a digital camera having a better sound file than the H2.
 
#18
I got an older Iriver HD-20 on the local craigslist for 80 bucks. It records in .wav or .Mp3.
All the recordings here are done with the HD-20;
Link Removed

Note:some of the levels were a bit hot on some of the tunes - no fault of the HD-20
 
#19
+1 on the h2 or h4, depends on what you need. The h2 is very good sizewise, small enough to have with you more or less all the time. The H4 (and the H4n looks even more promising) is more versitale but bulkier and feels more fragile with the mics sticking out.
 

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back