I have been attending accordion classes for a while and I find it useful to have a recording device to capture the tutor's playing of a tune so I can take it home and play it back again and again, thus getting the tune and the phrasing. I use my mobile phone for that but the reproduction is not great. Can anyone recommend anything better? I have been considering the Olympus DS-30 but it seems expensive, though the attraction is the stereo external microphone. Any thoughts? Constructive suggestions would be appreciated. Tahnks
If all you want it for is catching tunes, the Olympus works fine. Sony makes a few digital voice recorders that are similar--a stero model routinely sells here in the States for about half the price of the DS-30.
If you have an iPod there are several excellent devices you can use to record tunes. The advantage to that is that you can then transfer the files (tunes) to your computer and edit out the bits at the beginning and end (all the "oops, let me start that over" stuff) that can drive you nuts after you've listened to it several times.
The best thing you can get, IMHO, is the Zoom H4 digital recorder. I use one almost daily for practice and have used it to record multiple choir performances. The features are too many to list here - check out http://www.samsontech.com/products/productpage.cfm?prodID=1901 and look at some of the reviews on various sites.
I use the same thing as Hup but also attach a small sony stereo mic which gives a better result with sound. Can record multiple sessions from start to end and has a great battery life.
Hey Will - do you have a model number for the stereo Sony? I can't find it anywhere. They used to make a few dandy little stereo cassette recorders with built-in microphones, but those days are long gone, it seems.
polkas - like Greg said, if all you want to do is capture the lessons, anything'll do.
The Sony ICDUX70 is stereo and goes for as cheap as $60 through online vendors. Mind--I'm not vouching for it's quality or ease of use--just a less expensive option than the Olympus DS-30.
I use the cheapest recording device yet--my brain. Yes, it has its foibles (especially as I get older), but it's quite capable of storing a handful of tunes and replaying them at half speed without changing pitch. And no need to upgrade the software every 6 months....
for a long time I used a cheap portable tape recorder and then connected it to my computer and used Audacity (which is free) to capture the parts of the tape I wanted for reference. The whole process was a little tedious, but I was going to listen to that stuff again anyway. The sound quality was great. Now I have an ipod, which has all the convenience of not running out of tape but occasionally skips parts just where I wish it wouldn't
I have an Olympus DS-20, which is fine for what I want-- getting a tune from a friend. Sessions are too muddy to be very useful. But it's a handy little thing for not much money. And it's dead easy to use and downloadable.
I bet the DS-30 wouldn't be huge improvement.
I use an Edirol R- 09---it's not cheap but well worth the money . The recording quality is excellent and you can easily transfer files to a PC or use it as an Mp3 player. with a 2Gb memory card you have about 15 hours of recording time---enough for a week's long festival and workshops. I could go on ------!
I'm looking for something to record with out and about myself, but something much cheaper than some things mentioned here!
Also, not strictly related, how does the average session player respond to someone recording their session, if the person isn't in the group playing? Is it a bad idea or do you think they wouldn't mind?
I use an iRiver T30 mp3 player... the built-in mic is suprisingly good for an mp3 player, and the recordings sound much better than my friend's (more expensive) voice recorder (don't remember what brand hers is, though).
I picked mine up for $35 CDN (refurbished).. great little device if you can get your hands on one, as I don't think they're making this model anymore..
A couple of people mentioned ipod recording devices - are these built into the ipod, or bought separately? If bought separately, which do you recommend?
I also have the Edirol R-09. It fits in the palm of your hand and is very easy to use. I wouldn’t say the sound is excellent, but it’s pretty darn good, all things considered – probably as good as any of the competing products.
To anyone shopping for one, beware the mic stand adapter accessory. The ads imply that it attaches to the R-09, but in fact you have to buy the optional carrying case in order to attach the mic stand adapter. This means you’ll probably spend over one hundred US bucks just to attach the thing to a mic stand. I got around it by using a big rubber band.
I have an iPod Classic, and use XtremeMac's MicroMemo. It works great, and the sound quality is excellent for class/session/rehearsal type recording. Before my trusty 4G bit the dust I used, and equally liked Griffin's iTalk. The MicroMemo runs around $60, the iTalk quite a bit less, but the iTalk doesn't work with the newer iPods (5G and newer).
There seem to be sort of two philosophies about field recording:
(1) Trying to record with adequate fidelity to get the tunes so you can figure out what they are, learn them later, etc
(2) Trying to record a high fidelity recording of the actual performance/session/whatever, for future listening enjoyment
As far as I can tell, all these nifty new digital recorder gizmos in the $200+ range are trying to solve #2.
If you just want to solve problem #1, a much cheaper voice recorder works just fine. I have a Sansa Clip that I got for $60. It has 4GB of flash memory and has a voice recorder function that works just fine for capturing tunes. And the thing is tiny and you can just clip it onto your shirt sleeve. I could probably fit tens if not hundred of hours of voice recordings in 4GB.
You can try the Belkin TuneTalk for iPods - thats what I use. The quality is saleable it's that good, CD quality. It is brilliant, on a downside - it use quite a lot of battery power and space. Great to learn tunes with because you can hear every note.
I have an H2 too which I take to practices, singarounds, sessions, work, singing in the car, gigs - pretty much everywhere. I record at a level that doesn't clip and then use Reaper (or Audacity) to normalize it and occasionally tweak it a bit
It's very easy to use, light and small. For it's price (for me) the quality is fine for what I want it for. Here's an example recorded in the living room at home when a friend came round to sing and play - it's not Irish music and it's just an example - http://www.esnips.com/doc/6da42458-75d6-47c4-a73d-bf8564461a19/both2 . Two guitars, two voices recorded by popping the zoom on the coffee table about 6ft away and leaving it on (no effects or anything). As an easy way to quickly record a reasonable approximation of a tune or song it's great. Recorded at 320kbps to mp3 rather than a wav file
It doesn't have speed and pitch controls but you could always do that once downloaded via Audacity or any number of pieces of software
I use a minidisk recorder, and small cheap stereo mike, it records brilliant quality, and I connect it to my computers soundcard to edit tracks etc, and copy practice sets on to CDs for the members of our band to learn.
Although this thread's a bit old, I thought I'd add to it because I came across it again while searching for audio recorder recommendations - I'm in the market again after buying a griffin iTalk and finding it to be basically worthless.
I bought the iTalk because it is small and very cheap ($10). It seems to have worked for some people, but I found that any recording I tried to make would drop 2-3 seconds at least twice a minute. I tried the various suggestions in online forums (set it on low gain, leave extra storage space, reformat the iPod), but they didn't work for me - and this seems to be the experience of a significant portion of users.
Even if the thing had worked, the interface is darn annoying, and it takes a good 20 seconds to manually set it to low gain each time, and then go back to "record" mode. The thing eats batteries like crazy too. Grrr.
After reading various threads and trying one for myself, I think I'll bite the bullet and get an H2... seems you can hardly go wrong with that one, and I've found things in this town that are worth recording with high quality.
Recording devices
Recording devices
I have been attending accordion classes for a while and I find it useful to have a recording device to capture the tutor's playing of a tune so I can take it home and play it back again and again, thus getting the tune and the phrasing. I use my mobile phone for that but the reproduction is not great. Can anyone recommend anything better? I have been considering the Olympus DS-30 but it seems expensive, though the attraction is the stereo external microphone. Any thoughts? Constructive suggestions would be appreciated. Tahnks
# Posted on August 22nd 2008 by polkas
Re: Recording devices
If all you want it for is catching tunes, the Olympus works fine. Sony makes a few digital voice recorders that are similar--a stero model routinely sells here in the States for about half the price of the DS-30.
# Posted on August 22nd 2008 by Will Harmon
Re: Recording devices
If you have an iPod there are several excellent devices you can use to record tunes. The advantage to that is that you can then transfer the files (tunes) to your computer and edit out the bits at the beginning and end (all the "oops, let me start that over" stuff) that can drive you nuts after you've listened to it several times.
# Posted on August 22nd 2008 by aikifiddler
Re: Recording devices
The best thing you can get, IMHO, is the Zoom H4 digital recorder. I use one almost daily for practice and have used it to record multiple choir performances. The features are too many to list here - check out http://www.samsontech.com/products/productpage.cfm?prodID=1901 and look at some of the reviews on various sites.
Pat
# Posted on August 22nd 2008 by plunk111
Re: Recording devices
I use an old IRiver mp3 play with "voice" recording. It does a fine job
with no distortion or background noise
# Posted on August 22nd 2008 by Hup
Re: Recording devices
I use a 50 cent yard sale cassette recorder.
# Posted on August 22nd 2008 by Greg the Piano Tuner
Re: Recording devices
You win
# Posted on August 22nd 2008 by Hup
Re: Recording devices
I use the same thing as Hup but also attach a small sony stereo mic which gives a better result with sound. Can record multiple sessions from start to end and has a great battery life.
# Posted on August 22nd 2008 by davydd
Re: Recording devices
Hey Will - do you have a model number for the stereo Sony? I can't find it anywhere. They used to make a few dandy little stereo cassette recorders with built-in microphones, but those days are long gone, it seems.
polkas - like Greg said, if all you want to do is capture the lessons, anything'll do.
# Posted on August 22nd 2008 by tomw
Re: Recording devices
I have three kids in college and one more in high school, so I need to be as frugal as I can.
# Posted on August 22nd 2008 by Greg the Piano Tuner
Re: Recording devices
The Sony ICDUX70 is stereo and goes for as cheap as $60 through online vendors. Mind--I'm not vouching for it's quality or ease of use--just a less expensive option than the Olympus DS-30.
I use the cheapest recording device yet--my brain. Yes, it has its foibles (especially as I get older), but it's quite capable of storing a handful of tunes and replaying them at half speed without changing pitch. And no need to upgrade the software every 6 months....
# Posted on August 22nd 2008 by Will Harmon
Re: Recording devices
I'd recommend the H2 over the H4 - it's cheaper and (IMHO) better suited to knocking around in my box bag. I've been really pleased with mine.
# Posted on August 22nd 2008 by bc_box_player
Re: Recording devices
for a long time I used a cheap portable tape recorder and then connected it to my computer and used Audacity (which is free) to capture the parts of the tape I wanted for reference. The whole process was a little tedious, but I was going to listen to that stuff again anyway. The sound quality was great. Now I have an ipod, which has all the convenience of not running out of tape but occasionally skips parts just where I wish it wouldn't
# Posted on August 22nd 2008 by airport
Re: Recording devices
For the price you can't beat the Zoom H4.The Zoom H2 is good,but with less features.
http://www.zoom.co.jp/english/products/h4/
# Posted on August 22nd 2008 by dafydd
Olympus DS-20
I have an Olympus DS-20, which is fine for what I want-- getting a tune from a friend. Sessions are too muddy to be very useful. But it's a handy little thing for not much money. And it's dead easy to use and downloadable.
I bet the DS-30 wouldn't be huge improvement.
# Posted on August 22nd 2008 by David Levine
Re: Recording devices
I use an Edirol R- 09---it's not cheap but well worth the money . The recording quality is excellent and you can easily transfer files to a PC or use it as an Mp3 player. with a 2Gb memory card you have about 15 hours of recording time---enough for a week's long festival and workshops. I could go on ------!
# Posted on August 22nd 2008 by banjoian
Re: Recording devices
I'm looking for something to record with out and about myself, but something much cheaper than some things mentioned here!
Also, not strictly related, how does the average session player respond to someone recording their session, if the person isn't in the group playing? Is it a bad idea or do you think they wouldn't mind?
# Posted on August 22nd 2008 by dee.
Re: Recording devices
i use zoom h2 good for the amount of work i use it for but aunt has h4 way better especially if youhave a group rehearsal or antin
# Posted on August 22nd 2008 by Derek_22
Re: Recording devices
I use an iRiver T30 mp3 player... the built-in mic is suprisingly good for an mp3 player, and the recordings sound much better than my friend's (more expensive) voice recorder (don't remember what brand hers is, though).
I picked mine up for $35 CDN (refurbished).. great little device if you can get your hands on one, as I don't think they're making this model anymore..
Pat
# Posted on August 22nd 2008 by fiftymission
Re: Recording devices
A couple of people mentioned ipod recording devices - are these built into the ipod, or bought separately? If bought separately, which do you recommend?
# Posted on August 22nd 2008 by fuzzygreen
Re: Recording devices
I also have the Edirol R-09. It fits in the palm of your hand and is very easy to use. I wouldn’t say the sound is excellent, but it’s pretty darn good, all things considered – probably as good as any of the competing products.
To anyone shopping for one, beware the mic stand adapter accessory. The ads imply that it attaches to the R-09, but in fact you have to buy the optional carrying case in order to attach the mic stand adapter. This means you’ll probably spend over one hundred US bucks just to attach the thing to a mic stand. I got around it by using a big rubber band.
# Posted on August 22nd 2008 by Bob himself
Re: Recording devices
I have an iPod Classic, and use XtremeMac's MicroMemo. It works great, and the sound quality is excellent for class/session/rehearsal type recording. Before my trusty 4G bit the dust I used, and equally liked Griffin's iTalk. The MicroMemo runs around $60, the iTalk quite a bit less, but the iTalk doesn't work with the newer iPods (5G and newer).
# Posted on August 22nd 2008 by aikifiddler
Re: Recording devices
fleamaus - I use the Belkin mic with my 5G ipod. I've also tried the micromemo but it looks like xtreme stopped making it. It appears that the next trend will be an H4 type sleeve that fits on the ipod:
http://www.podcastingnews.com/2008/07/11/update-on-belkins-hot-gostudio-ipod-recorder/
# Posted on August 22nd 2008 by airport
Re: Recording devices
There seem to be sort of two philosophies about field recording:
(1) Trying to record with adequate fidelity to get the tunes so you can figure out what they are, learn them later, etc
(2) Trying to record a high fidelity recording of the actual performance/session/whatever, for future listening enjoyment
As far as I can tell, all these nifty new digital recorder gizmos in the $200+ range are trying to solve #2.
If you just want to solve problem #1, a much cheaper voice recorder works just fine. I have a Sansa Clip that I got for $60. It has 4GB of flash memory and has a voice recorder function that works just fine for capturing tunes. And the thing is tiny and you can just clip it onto your shirt sleeve. I could probably fit tens if not hundred of hours of voice recordings in 4GB.
# Posted on August 22nd 2008 by timmy!
Re: Recording devices
You can try the Belkin TuneTalk for iPods - thats what I use. The quality is saleable it's that good, CD quality. It is brilliant, on a downside - it use quite a lot of battery power and space. Great to learn tunes with because you can hear every note.
# Posted on August 23rd 2008 by camwebby
Re: Recording devices
I was looking at the Tascam DR-1 because it has speed and pitch controls. Does anyone know if the H2 or H4 can do this?
http://www.tascam.com/products/dr-1.html
# Posted on August 24th 2008 by drinkybanjo
Re: Recording devices
Although not relavent to this discussion, will somone kindly tell me what the acronym IMHO stands for ?
# Posted on August 24th 2008 by hauke
Re: Recording devices
In My Honest (or Humble) Opinion
# Posted on August 24th 2008 by wyogal
Re: Recording devices
I still swear by mini-discs and use a mini disc recorder. It also has a really good edit function so you can delete bits that you don't want.
# Posted on August 26th 2008 by Mando Deb
Re: Recording devices
My new Zoom H2 arrived today & I recorded a few songs at the session last night & they sounded grand.
It is so easy to use & to transfer to my Mac.
# Posted on August 28th 2008 by Ptarmigan
Re: Recording devices
I have an H2 too which I take to practices, singarounds, sessions, work, singing in the car, gigs - pretty much everywhere. I record at a level that doesn't clip and then use Reaper (or Audacity) to normalize it and occasionally tweak it a bit
It's very easy to use, light and small. For it's price (for me) the quality is fine for what I want it for. Here's an example recorded in the living room at home when a friend came round to sing and play - it's not Irish music and it's just an example - http://www.esnips.com/doc/6da42458-75d6-47c4-a73d-bf8564461a19/both2 . Two guitars, two voices recorded by popping the zoom on the coffee table about 6ft away and leaving it on (no effects or anything). As an easy way to quickly record a reasonable approximation of a tune or song it's great. Recorded at 320kbps to mp3 rather than a wav file
It doesn't have speed and pitch controls but you could always do that once downloaded via Audacity or any number of pieces of software
# Posted on August 28th 2008 by mactavish
Re: Recording devices
I use a minidisk recorder, and small cheap stereo mike, it records brilliant quality, and I connect it to my computers soundcard to edit tracks etc, and copy practice sets on to CDs for the members of our band to learn.
# Posted on September 3rd 2008 by tirvaluk
Re: Recording devices
Although this thread's a bit old, I thought I'd add to it because I came across it again while searching for audio recorder recommendations - I'm in the market again after buying a griffin iTalk and finding it to be basically worthless.
I bought the iTalk because it is small and very cheap ($10). It seems to have worked for some people, but I found that any recording I tried to make would drop 2-3 seconds at least twice a minute. I tried the various suggestions in online forums (set it on low gain, leave extra storage space, reformat the iPod), but they didn't work for me - and this seems to be the experience of a significant portion of users.
Even if the thing had worked, the interface is darn annoying, and it takes a good 20 seconds to manually set it to low gain each time, and then go back to "record" mode. The thing eats batteries like crazy too. Grrr.
After reading various threads and trying one for myself, I think I'll bite the bullet and get an H2... seems you can hardly go wrong with that one, and I've found things in this town that are worth recording with high quality.
# Posted on January 25th 2009 by fuzzygreen