I'm looking for advice for either minidisc recorders or digital recorders that easily download into the Apple computer. I'd like to hear pros or cons on anything you might be using or have tried.
Sony have a minidisc the MZRH1 that is just about to be released in the UK at £229 (sterling inc. tax.) This is made specifically to talk to Macs. I haven't got one yet but I'm hot on the chase.
MH
It's already available in Australia, Check www.minidisk.com.au They have one well priced at A$598.00 and advertise free shipping - but that might just be for within Australia.
MH
The fifth generatoion ipod (the ones that can do video) support high bitrate stereo recording, though companies have been slow to bring out the physical add-ons that would actually let you record. The only I I'm sure to come to market so far is the Bellkin TuneTalk, and you can use either the built in mics or plug your own in. Instant transfer of files back to your mac when you plug your iPod in.
Any of the newer generation of compactflash recorders (Edirol, Marantz, MicroTrac) will also interface with the mac and allow pretty painless transfer of files back to the mac. I don't have one, but most fo the folks I talk to who do say that they work well; The Edirol units (R-01 and R-09) get good word of mouth for letting you use replaceable batteries (unlike the MIcroTrac).
I've just started using the Olympus digital voice recorder to catch session tunes- for that purpose the quality is adequate and the price is much lower than some of the other devices mentioned here, if that is a consideration for you.
It is very tiny, and plugs right in to the USB port on my iBook.
The files are convertable from WMA to mp3 with freeware I downloaded called EasyWMA. So finally, I have session and workshop tunes in iTunes.
if you have a laptop.... I've been using my mac's internal microphone. Not the best you're gonna get but it's already there. (and you can search versiontracker for free recording software)
I have a couple of friends who have hot-rodded iPods or other mp3 players to record and they put data back onto a Mac pretty smartly, but I don't really know the details... it can be done, tho.
I've been doing pro audio recording on Macs for a long time, so the following may be colored by that experience...
I recently got an Edirol R-09, a miniature recorder that uses a USB cable, so that it shows up on the Mac (and PC) desktop just as any peripheral storage device. It may be more expensive than you're thinking of, at $400 new. It's a pretty recently new item, and very popular, so it may not be discounted much. I kept watching for The Deal when they first came out, but I gave up and just paid a very slightly discounted price for one, essentially $400... <GG>
I've used it for recording rehearsals, our band's gigs, tunes to learn in sessions, used it for news interviews, for saving phone numbers and addresses... even recipes! Using it for recording stuff like that, I record 128kbps mp3s, and I can email them to bandmates, session partners, news agencies, other foodies..., etc. It's paid for itself many times over in the couple of months I've had it, IMO.
And it's very easy to use.
It stores audio data to a "secure digital" memory chip, and these are available from 64mb to 2gigabyte. One-gig chips are around $40 and two-gig under $60, last time I looked.
in 16-bit resolution a one-gig chip will hold about an hour and a half of audio.
The R-09 has two onboard microphones. It runs on an AC adaptor (included) or two AA batteries. It can use an external microphone (mono or stereo) with a 1/8" mini-jack. There are lots of other features, but I won't list them all here...
The R-09 will record in five or six different resolutions of mp3s, and in 16-bit or 24-bit .WAV files. I first got excited about the R-09 because it would record uncompressed 24-bit audio so that I can make serious CDs from live recordings and it does that very well. As I said, I've found a lot of other uses for it other than that.
I have the M-audio microtrack and find it very easy to use with my mac. It has pretty much the same recording options as the edirol, but it has an internal battery that runs for 4-5 hours before needing a recharge. This is something of a disadvantage. You can find it for $ 300.+ a cf card. I am happy with it, but wish it had a longer battery life before needing a recharge.
I've read about a bunch of lower-cost options (and kludges that folks use, too) here and in places like the Mandolin Cafe website. I just never remember them because I wanted something that would do real serious work, and I have ways of making it earn its keep.
Folks will have other options for you. You might have limited your responses by making the subject Mac-specific... I'm sure that a lot of these things will work with either platform.
But this hasn't been up very long, there will be more responses.
A late thought... I used to use a mini-disk, but sold it some months ago. When I was ready to sell, I looked at auction prices and they were way below the price of the Edirol.
They have some limitations (at least they do for my uses...), but since Sony has announced that they are 'no longer supported' the prices will go down more.
I remember that a friend uses a very small voice recorder that he got at an office supply store for under $100. I didn't expect that it would sound very good, and it ain't 'CD-grade' but it did sound fine for capturing tunes to learn and so on.
Stv:
From whence or whereth comes the information that mini-disks are 'no longer supported'?
I've heard rumors like that, yet I still see new ones sold in several places on the web, including places based in the U.S. which are offering the newest model, the MZ-RH1, which is high density and also seems to finally allow digital uploading, including uploading the disks made with the older, non-HI md machines.
I have and like very much the Cowon IAudio G3 (1Gb) though I confess I rarely use it for recording sessions.
They cost less than $90 on Amazon in US. Here are the things I like about it (and that I think you should consider in any recorder you decide to purchase)
Pros
- Good mp3 playback sound quality
- Pretty good recording quality
- Records directly into mp3 (a number of setting are available)
- Self-contained condensor mike
- Small 2 1/2 X 1/2 X 1/2 I'd guess
- Uses a standard AA battery
- Appears as an external USB drive (therefore easy to copy files to/from Mac or PC)
Cons
- Complex and fiddly controls
- FM radio is is not that great
I suspect most of the above is true about the various IRiver players/recorders too.
Having owned an IPod Nano, I do agree that they're ten times easier to use - but having to get an extra device to record puts up the price even higher.
Question for Mac users that use recorders
Question for Mac users that use recorders
I'm looking for advice for either minidisc recorders or digital recorders that easily download into the Apple computer. I'd like to hear pros or cons on anything you might be using or have tried.
Thanks!
# Posted on September 24th 2006 by Anew
Re: Question for Mac users that use recorders
Sony have a minidisc the MZRH1 that is just about to be released in the UK at £229 (sterling inc. tax.) This is made specifically to talk to Macs. I haven't got one yet but I'm hot on the chase.
MH
# Posted on September 24th 2006 by MH
Re: Question for Mac users that use recorders
It's already available in Australia, Check www.minidisk.com.au They have one well priced at A$598.00 and advertise free shipping - but that might just be for within Australia.
MH
# Posted on September 24th 2006 by MH
Re: Question for Mac users that use recorders
The fifth generatoion ipod (the ones that can do video) support high bitrate stereo recording, though companies have been slow to bring out the physical add-ons that would actually let you record. The only I I'm sure to come to market so far is the Bellkin TuneTalk, and you can use either the built in mics or plug your own in. Instant transfer of files back to your mac when you plug your iPod in.
Any of the newer generation of compactflash recorders (Edirol, Marantz, MicroTrac) will also interface with the mac and allow pretty painless transfer of files back to the mac. I don't have one, but most fo the folks I talk to who do say that they work well; The Edirol units (R-01 and R-09) get good word of mouth for letting you use replaceable batteries (unlike the MIcroTrac).
jeff w
# Posted on September 24th 2006 by jeff_willner
Re: Question for Mac users that use recorders
I've just started using the Olympus digital voice recorder to catch session tunes- for that purpose the quality is adequate and the price is much lower than some of the other devices mentioned here, if that is a consideration for you.
It is very tiny, and plugs right in to the USB port on my iBook.
The files are convertable from WMA to mp3 with freeware I downloaded called EasyWMA. So finally, I have session and workshop tunes in iTunes.
# Posted on September 24th 2006 by fiddlercjp
Re: Question for Mac users that use recorders
if you have a laptop.... I've been using my mac's internal microphone. Not the best you're gonna get but it's already there. (and you can search versiontracker for free recording software)
but hey, I"m cheap.
# Posted on September 24th 2006 by Kriana
Re: Question for Mac users that use recorders
I have a couple of friends who have hot-rodded iPods or other mp3 players to record and they put data back onto a Mac pretty smartly, but I don't really know the details... it can be done, tho.
I've been doing pro audio recording on Macs for a long time, so the following may be colored by that experience...
I recently got an Edirol R-09, a miniature recorder that uses a USB cable, so that it shows up on the Mac (and PC) desktop just as any peripheral storage device. It may be more expensive than you're thinking of, at $400 new. It's a pretty recently new item, and very popular, so it may not be discounted much. I kept watching for The Deal when they first came out, but I gave up and just paid a very slightly discounted price for one, essentially $400... <GG>
I've used it for recording rehearsals, our band's gigs, tunes to learn in sessions, used it for news interviews, for saving phone numbers and addresses... even recipes! Using it for recording stuff like that, I record 128kbps mp3s, and I can email them to bandmates, session partners, news agencies, other foodies..., etc. It's paid for itself many times over in the couple of months I've had it, IMO.
And it's very easy to use.
It stores audio data to a "secure digital" memory chip, and these are available from 64mb to 2gigabyte. One-gig chips are around $40 and two-gig under $60, last time I looked.
in 16-bit resolution a one-gig chip will hold about an hour and a half of audio.
The R-09 has two onboard microphones. It runs on an AC adaptor (included) or two AA batteries. It can use an external microphone (mono or stereo) with a 1/8" mini-jack. There are lots of other features, but I won't list them all here...
The R-09 will record in five or six different resolutions of mp3s, and in 16-bit or 24-bit .WAV files. I first got excited about the R-09 because it would record uncompressed 24-bit audio so that I can make serious CDs from live recordings and it does that very well. As I said, I've found a lot of other uses for it other than that.
All the best,
stv
http://cdbaby.com/Culchies
# Posted on September 24th 2006 by stv culchie
Re: Question for Mac users that use recorders
I have the M-audio microtrack and find it very easy to use with my mac. It has pretty much the same recording options as the edirol, but it has an internal battery that runs for 4-5 hours before needing a recharge. This is something of a disadvantage. You can find it for $ 300.+ a cf card. I am happy with it, but wish it had a longer battery life before needing a recharge.
# Posted on September 24th 2006 by leoj
Re: Question for Mac users that use recorders
Thanks for all the information. It's a bit more costly than I had originally thought.
# Posted on September 24th 2006 by Anew
Re: Question for Mac users that use recorders
Don't give up yet!
I've read about a bunch of lower-cost options (and kludges that folks use, too) here and in places like the Mandolin Cafe website. I just never remember them because I wanted something that would do real serious work, and I have ways of making it earn its keep.
Folks will have other options for you. You might have limited your responses by making the subject Mac-specific... I'm sure that a lot of these things will work with either platform.
But this hasn't been up very long, there will be more responses.
stv
http://cdbaby.com/Culchies
# Posted on September 25th 2006 by stv culchie
Re: Question for Mac users that use recorders
A late thought... I used to use a mini-disk, but sold it some months ago. When I was ready to sell, I looked at auction prices and they were way below the price of the Edirol.
They have some limitations (at least they do for my uses...), but since Sony has announced that they are 'no longer supported' the prices will go down more.
I remember that a friend uses a very small voice recorder that he got at an office supply store for under $100. I didn't expect that it would sound very good, and it ain't 'CD-grade' but it did sound fine for capturing tunes to learn and so on.
stv
http://cdbaby.com/Culchies
# Posted on September 25th 2006 by stv culchie
Re: Question for Mac users that use recorders
Stv:
From whence or whereth comes the information that mini-disks are 'no longer supported'?
I've heard rumors like that, yet I still see new ones sold in several places on the web, including places based in the U.S. which are offering the newest model, the MZ-RH1, which is high density and also seems to finally allow digital uploading, including uploading the disks made with the older, non-HI md machines.
Could you clarify?
# Posted on September 25th 2006 by bogeyman
Re: Question for Mac users that use recorders
I have and like very much the Cowon IAudio G3 (1Gb) though I confess I rarely use it for recording sessions.
They cost less than $90 on Amazon in US. Here are the things I like about it (and that I think you should consider in any recorder you decide to purchase)
Pros
- Good mp3 playback sound quality
- Pretty good recording quality
- Records directly into mp3 (a number of setting are available)
- Self-contained condensor mike
- Small 2 1/2 X 1/2 X 1/2 I'd guess
- Uses a standard AA battery
- Appears as an external USB drive (therefore easy to copy files to/from Mac or PC)
Cons
- Complex and fiddly controls
- FM radio is is not that great
I suspect most of the above is true about the various IRiver players/recorders too.
Having owned an IPod Nano, I do agree that they're ten times easier to use - but having to get an extra device to record puts up the price even higher.
# Posted on September 25th 2006 by ampyjoe
Re: Question for Mac users that use recorders
The dimensions above should be 2 1/2 X 1 1/2 X 1/2
# Posted on September 25th 2006 by ampyjoe
Re: Question for Mac users that use recorders
I only get an hour and 45 mins out of my Microtrack - if I'm lucky. And I followed the instructions about battery charging.
Otherwise, it's a great bit of kit as it records well and has good input options, and you simply plug it into your Mac and use it like a digi cam.
# Posted on September 25th 2006 by Sugarfoot Jack