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Stand alone audio recorder

matteusclement

matteusclement

macrumors 65816
Original poster
Jan 26, 2008
1,144
0
victoria
I am looking for good stand alone audio recorders of two varieties:

1. The kind that you have to record a professors lecture but with a little more gusto, maybe takes an SD card. Need it to record the audio at weddings.

2. one that taps into a sound board using either RCAs or 1/4" plugs

suggestions?
 
Sorry, I should have mentioned that I no longer want to lug around my laptop.
I need something that is able with OUT a computer on site.
 
There are plenty of options and prices. From a simple Olympus or Sony handheld recorder, to something in the pro level- like the ones Marantz manufactures... prices go from ca. 50 USD to around 800 or more.

For what you describe, I'd recommend something in the Zoom line... check them out here and here.

I don't know if you'd need the multi-track recording or external mic inputs - so maybe the Zoom H2 works for you. I have the H4 and it's a good one; my only complain is the plastic enclosure and the short life battery (so I use it with it's included adapter or connected via USB as an interfase). Other than that, the H4 has very good audio quality and flexibility. Zoom issued a newer model (the H4n) from which I've seen good reviews.

Hope this helps. cheers!
 
oh!
I would SO have the H4 if I could afford it as it is truly the all in one deal.

Maybe I should mention that I am looking at these as seperate options. The all in one package for me would be the H4, but I am looking at other SEPERATE options... my bad
 
I am looking for recommendations on:

1. A standalone recorder with a mic to record speeches from the podium
2. I recording interface that doesn't need a computer to record off sound boards
3. A combo of both

Sorry to have made that a total mess.

$200 is my budget... Canadian
 
Well... for that money, the Zoom H2 may be a good deal for you. Functions and audio quality are great, and if you're planning to combine it with a mixer, you can record audio coming it using the line in input.

With the H2 you don't get the built-in XLR mic inputs as with the H4, but the mic preamps are not meant to be a permanent substitution for a standalone mixer with better preamps anyway.

I guess there are cheaper options (in the 100 usd range), but the built-in mics in the H2 are far better that anything you'll find in a handheld recorder, most of them designed to take simple voice notes or dictation, rather than record the audio around a table or a whole room.

As for the "all-in-ones"... something that combines a handheld recorder, a mixer and/or an audio interface, there aren't any respectable options in that price range - mostly because the preamps would be really noisy and pure trash, the onboard mics very bad, and/or because the audio analogue-digital converters would be very low quality, making it not worth it at all... so you'd end up with a piece of junk.

Hope that helped.
 
thanks Diaz.
You're right.
I was looking more for seperate options.
Either the H2 or there's the tascam D7 (i think).
those are the two options.
 
I use iRiver h340 with Rockbox firmware and mic made out of old Canon MM200(just the electret capsules that are large and excellent quality). The result is not pro by any means (I think pro starts from pro mics and preamps), but for collecting sounds on field it is more than acceptable. To get files into mac is just drag them from mounted iRiver hard drive. From there Audacity for edit.
http://www.m-audio.com/products/en_us/MicroTrackII.html
This would be a portable recorder to look for, but it is 500USD.
 
yep... the Tascam and iRiver might be good options too (a bit more expensive though). I'm not familiar with Tascam's audio quality, but be sure to read some reviews online before purchasing- I'm sure there are plenty, as there are of the H2 (this one I know, and it's really great). I've heard good things about iRiver, except for the mic quality (but the again, none of these are meant to be pro).

This is a great source for audio gear reviews - including simple equipment as the Tascam or the H2... look there, and if there aren't any, you can ask in the forums- lots of people with experience will help you out.

cheers!
 
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