Re: [microsound] solid portable audio recording

[Shanan <octif@xxxxxxxxx>]

Without meaning to do a "me too", I agree with Aaron's
HiMD suggestion.

I did way too much shopping around recently when
looking for something to take to away to do a whole
lot of field recording on a trip away. I currently own
a Tascam portable DAT and needed something far
smaller.

I looked at a lot of options and wanted something
solid state and reasonably cheap - including iRiver
and similar devices. Am not at all keen on Sony and
had heard nightmare stories about the software but I
did buy one and ended up with something pretty
suitable. 
A few good points:
- it does both uncompressed (cd quality) and
compressed recording. compressed turned out to be
handy for grabbing a couple of hours of environmental
sound to sort through later
- the HiMD discs have a decent capacity (1.5 hrs) for
uncompressed recording
- the MD discs are very cheap and fine for compressed
recording
- it's small/subtle/lightweight and not obviously a
recording device
- had no problems with batteries running out, which
always happens on my DAT

A few bad points:
- the unit clicks and whirrs for 6 secs every 20 or so
- you need to keep it away from the mic
- compressed recordings can't be captured to PC as
easily/quickly as uncompressed
- HiMD discs are relatively expensive
- the remote doesn't allow you to record - you have to
hit the actual unit

FYI the model I bought was the NH900, which is no
longer made but I picked one up quite cheaply from a
sale of outgoing stock. I just used a cheap ($150)
stereo Mic and left my good/large mic at home. Am
happy with results since I process the sound anyway.

In the future, cheap solid-state gear seems to be the
way to go. But IMO it's just not there yet.

--- Aaron Ximm <ghede@xxxxxxxx> wrote:

> > Goldwin Carlin wrote:
> > > Any recommendations for an inexpensive yet solid
> (stereo, good freq.
> > > response, etc.) portable audio (field) recording
> device?

....

> My $.02 is that for applications like mine Sony's
> HiMD is far and away the
> best of many imperfect solutions. Increasingly
> people think is a luddite's
> position but it is very highly motivated. To wit:


-
Shanan | octif.org

Send instant messages to your online friends http://au.messenger.yahoo.com 

---------------------------------------------------------------------
To unsubscribe, e-mail: microsound-unsubscribe@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
For additional commands, e-mail: microsound-help@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
website: http://www.microsound.org