I noticed that some players have small (cell phone size) digital recorders and tape or record the afternoon or evening session's music - perhaps to learn a tune or to listen to later for personal enjoyment.
For those of you who have and use one, is there one manufacturer (brand) better than another? And what features should I look for when purchasing a digital recorder? Will they record a whole two hour session?
Although if all you want is something to remind you of the tune for learning purposes, then an inexpensive mp3 player with voice recording will do an adequate job. Logik do quite reasonable ones - I won't mention a specific model because these things change almost on a monthly basis.
And further to my last comment, many mobile (cell) phones have voice recording capabilities, and are generally less fussy to use than an mp3 player/recorder.
I have used various devices over the years. It really depends on what kind of recording you're looking for. If you want it to sound good, the aforementioned Zoom H2 is probably close to unbeatable.
If you're only looking for a recording to learn tunes from, then there are numerous devices out there that are much cheaper that will record a whole session, and sound OK. I have had a couple that just have built-in mono microphones for the purpose of recording voice memos, but they generally do pretty well to record even noisy sessions without clipping, and giving you decent definition. I paid about $30 for a Creative Zen V Plus that works well for that.
I also have a Griffin iTalk Pro stereo mic that I can plug into my 3rd generation iPod Nano, which is ultra-portable, and sounds great! But you have to manually set the low gain input every time you want to use it, which is annoying. I have taken stereo feeds from the mixing board at a couple of gigs into the external jack on that thing a couple of times.
I also used to use a Sony voice recorder for a while, that would do slowed down playback on the device itself, which negated the need for transferring the file to computer to slow it down for learning purposes. But I don't really use the slowed down stuff much anymore, and that voice recorder broke after a while.
I had a Sony voice recorder like the Reverend's--one that has built-in slow-down capabilities--and I would still be using it if it hadn't been stolen out of my car. I replaced it with a Olympus digital voice recorder, about $US115, model DS-30, and I'm very happy with it: similar to the Sony, but much longer recording time. It records in stereo in WMA format and transfers to a PC via a USB cable.
I went for the Zoom H2 about a month ago - brilliant piece of kit, really easy to use, very user-friendly manual (rare!), and about the size of one of my early cell-phones!
Though not inexpensive (I got mine for $280-US) you might want to check out the new Olympus LS-10; it is very small (like a large cell phone), easy to use right out of the box (a friend's Zoom seemed inscrutable to me) and its recording sounds as good as many professionally produced CD's.
I take mine to each week's session, and during the week as I listen I feel as if I am reliving the session.
Big Dog
I use an Ipod Nano 3rd Gen with a Belkin tunetalk, cd quality recording and, if you manually turn the screen brightness to 0%, it can normally go for a good 3 hours.
I just recently sold my Edirol R-09 and bought the Olympus LS10. Both are great field recorders and can produce excellent recordings, but the LS10 is much more solid in construction. Either one is a excellent choice.
I have the Olympus WS-110...I love it because it is small, takes great audio in HQ, LP, & SP, 69 hours of recording time (yes, I take it to festivals!)...I record a session then plug in my earphones to listen to it while biking. Helps me recognize and learn new tunes. I paid a bit more for mine but now they are around $70. They plug right into your USB port w/ no cable needed, and one of my fav. things is it automatically shuts off if I forget to turn it off after playing a file (of course will not shut off while recording).
The R09 and LS-10 are very similar, I don’t feel I gave up anything, if anything the LS10 is a better sounding device.
Sonically, they are similar, the LS10 I think has quieter preamps and a bit better stereo imaging because of the mike placement. It definitely has a better auto-level control and better limiter for use with manual level control. Also, the LS10 has a speaker (small, but works) and the R09 does not.
I do notice that the LS10 attracts a lot of attention while the R09 doesn’t so much. The LS10 is a pretty fancy looking device.
i see in Canada they are selling the Tascam line of digital recorders quite cheap now [google Long & McQuade music stores]....they're similar to the Edirol...and the Edirol is now listed at $360 canadian...a good price and much down from what it was a year or two ago.
i'msure all this stuff is to be had cheaper in the States even than here.
The attracting attention thing with the LS10 isn't necessarily a good thing. It looks like some sort of alien medical probe device... The R-09 at least is black.
It is in the Windows Media Audio (WMA) format. It has great sound quality in all positions (back, front, sideways) no matter where in front of the sound source. I love mine! It's easy, small, convenient...and now much less than I paid for only 4 mths ago
Digital Recorders?
Digital Recorders?
I noticed that some players have small (cell phone size) digital recorders and tape or record the afternoon or evening session's music - perhaps to learn a tune or to listen to later for personal enjoyment.
For those of you who have and use one, is there one manufacturer (brand) better than another? And what features should I look for when purchasing a digital recorder? Will they record a whole two hour session?
# Posted on September 27th 2008 by Parlor Boyle
Re: Digital Recorders?
th H2 from zoom is very good for recording aldo very simple a little pricy but well worth the money.
# Posted on September 27th 2008 by beyonce 2
Re: Digital Recorders?
There was a detailed discussion and advice given on this topic quite recently on http://www.thesession.org/discussions/display/19072
# Posted on September 27th 2008 by lazyhound
Re: Digital Recorders?
Although if all you want is something to remind you of the tune for learning purposes, then an inexpensive mp3 player with voice recording will do an adequate job. Logik do quite reasonable ones - I won't mention a specific model because these things change almost on a monthly basis.
# Posted on September 27th 2008 by lazyhound
Re: Digital Recorders?
And further to my last comment, many mobile (cell) phones have voice recording capabilities, and are generally less fussy to use than an mp3 player/recorder.
# Posted on September 27th 2008 by lazyhound
Re: Digital Recorders?
I have used various devices over the years. It really depends on what kind of recording you're looking for. If you want it to sound good, the aforementioned Zoom H2 is probably close to unbeatable.
If you're only looking for a recording to learn tunes from, then there are numerous devices out there that are much cheaper that will record a whole session, and sound OK. I have had a couple that just have built-in mono microphones for the purpose of recording voice memos, but they generally do pretty well to record even noisy sessions without clipping, and giving you decent definition. I paid about $30 for a Creative Zen V Plus that works well for that.
(http://us.creative.com/products/product.asp?category=213&subcategory=214&product=15306)
I also have a Griffin iTalk Pro stereo mic that I can plug into my 3rd generation iPod Nano, which is ultra-portable, and sounds great! But you have to manually set the low gain input every time you want to use it, which is annoying. I have taken stereo feeds from the mixing board at a couple of gigs into the external jack on that thing a couple of times.
(http://www.griffintechnology.com/products/italkpro/)
I also used to use a Sony voice recorder for a while, that would do slowed down playback on the device itself, which negated the need for transferring the file to computer to slow it down for learning purposes. But I don't really use the slowed down stuff much anymore, and that voice recorder broke after a while.
(http://www.sonystyle.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?catalogId=10551&storeId=10151&langId=-1&XID=O:icd-ux70:dg_ggldf&productId=8198552921665363982)
I currently just use my iPhone to grab the occasional tune at a session.
Anyway, good luck!
# Posted on September 27th 2008 by Reverend
Re: Digital Recorders?
I had a Sony voice recorder like the Reverend's--one that has built-in slow-down capabilities--and I would still be using it if it hadn't been stolen out of my car. I replaced it with a Olympus digital voice recorder, about $US115, model DS-30, and I'm very happy with it: similar to the Sony, but much longer recording time. It records in stereo in WMA format and transfers to a PC via a USB cable.
# Posted on September 27th 2008 by boxist
Re: Digital Recorders?
I'm also going to direct you to the discussion referred to by Lazyhound above
http://www.thesession.org/discussions/display/19072
# Posted on September 27th 2008 by lazyhound
I went for the Zoom H2 about a month ago - brilliant piece of kit, really easy to use, very user-friendly manual (rare!), and about the size of one of my early cell-phones!
# Posted on September 27th 2008 by domnull
Re: Digital Recorders?
Though not inexpensive (I got mine for $280-US) you might want to check out the new Olympus LS-10; it is very small (like a large cell phone), easy to use right out of the box (a friend's Zoom seemed inscrutable to me) and its recording sounds as good as many professionally produced CD's.
I take mine to each week's session, and during the week as I listen I feel as if I am reliving the session.
Big Dog
# Posted on September 27th 2008 by Big Dog
Re: Digital Recorders?
The Zoom H2 is a really great portable recorder---and you can use it for a mic in and DAW stuff you do on the computer too!
# Posted on September 27th 2008 by samiam590
Re: Digital Recorders?
I use an Ipod Nano 3rd Gen with a Belkin tunetalk, cd quality recording and, if you manually turn the screen brightness to 0%, it can normally go for a good 3 hours.
# Posted on September 28th 2008 by camwebby
Re: Digital Recorders?
H2 Zoom definately! Best peice of kit for the money I ever bought.
# Posted on September 28th 2008 by tctelboy
Re: Digital Recorders?
Oh sh*** "piece"
# Posted on September 28th 2008 by tctelboy
Re: Digital Recorders?
Another Zoom H2 user and fan here. Simple to use. Good quality recordings. Great value for money.
# Posted on September 28th 2008 by ocarolan
Re: Digital Recorders?
I just recently sold my Edirol R-09 and bought the Olympus LS10. Both are great field recorders and can produce excellent recordings, but the LS10 is much more solid in construction. Either one is a excellent choice.
# Posted on September 28th 2008 by Michael Eskin
Re: Digital Recorders?
Michael - what (if any) do you feel you have given up by switching to the LS10 from the R-09?
Avi
# Posted on September 28th 2008 by improziv
Re: Digital Recorders?
I have the Olympus WS-110...I love it because it is small, takes great audio in HQ, LP, & SP, 69 hours of recording time (yes, I take it to festivals!)...I record a session then plug in my earphones to listen to it while biking. Helps me recognize and learn new tunes. I paid a bit more for mine but now they are around $70. They plug right into your USB port w/ no cable needed, and one of my fav. things is it automatically shuts off if I forget to turn it off after playing a file (of course will not shut off while recording).
# Posted on September 29th 2008 by Celticmermaid
Re: Digital Recorders?
Celticmermaid, what is the sound quality like on the Olympus WS-110, and what format is the sound file saved in?
# Posted on September 29th 2008 by amongthelilies
Re: Digital Recorders?
In those heady days of analogue recording, lads with cassette recorders at sessions used to be known as 'tape-worms!'
What would be the modern, digital equivalent?
# Posted on September 29th 2008 by banjoburger
Re: Digital Recorders?
Hi Avi,
The R09 and LS-10 are very similar, I don’t feel I gave up anything, if anything the LS10 is a better sounding device.
Sonically, they are similar, the LS10 I think has quieter preamps and a bit better stereo imaging because of the mike placement. It definitely has a better auto-level control and better limiter for use with manual level control. Also, the LS10 has a speaker (small, but works) and the R09 does not.
I do notice that the LS10 attracts a lot of attention while the R09 doesn’t so much. The LS10 is a pretty fancy looking device.
Cheers,
Michael
# Posted on September 29th 2008 by Michael Eskin
Re: Digital Recorders?
Thanks Michael. I'll add it to my short list
Avi
# Posted on September 29th 2008 by improziv
Re: Digital Recorders?
the sony SX-46 worked well for it's time.
i see in Canada they are selling the Tascam line of digital recorders quite cheap now [google Long & McQuade music stores]....they're similar to the Edirol...and the Edirol is now listed at $360 canadian...a good price and much down from what it was a year or two ago.
i'msure all this stuff is to be had cheaper in the States even than here.
best,
# Posted on September 29th 2008 by mtodd
Re: Digital Recorders?
The attracting attention thing with the LS10 isn't necessarily a good thing. It looks like some sort of alien medical probe device...
The R-09 at least is black.
# Posted on September 30th 2008 by Michael Eskin
Re: Digital Recorders?
Hi Amongthelilies
It is in the Windows Media Audio (WMA) format. It has great sound quality in all positions (back, front, sideways) no matter where in front of the sound source. I love mine! It's easy, small, convenient...and now much less than I paid for only 4 mths ago
# Posted on October 7th 2008 by Celticmermaid