Seeking Advice on Portable Recorder

[terryc]

just looked at that site..so 'money' was looped on the same machine I have..they look real funky and retro, ideal for film scenes..it just wouldn't cut it with a digital recorder..no revolving reels to create the atmosphere...

[kmh364]

Bill,
 
How about this? It sounds like it's right up your alley:
 
http://www.rolandus.com/products/productdetails.aspx?ObjectId=757&ParentId=114
 
I have this:
 
http://www.bossus.com/index.asp?pg=1&tmp=157
 
It makes a decent live recording. I bought it to record my jazz guitar lessons to get a chord melody down and then improvise over the top. It record on cheapo memory cards (SD?).  
 
Both are made by Roland in Japan so the quality is high.

[lbpesq]

With all of the info you folks have graciously provided, and a little poking around on the net, I believe I've narrowed my choice to two units:  the Edirol R 09 and the Zoom H2.  Anyone have any experience, insight, opinion, etc. about either or both of these units?
 
Bill, tgo

[phylo]

i have experience with neither, but I believe the Edirol allows for external mics, which would be a selling point for me.  
 
A good friend/recording engineer uses a regular PDA for his portable rig - along with some seriously expensive mics - with great results.

[jbybj]

FWIW, the H4 has 48volt phantom power and XLR mic inputs. Besides, I like saying zoom better than edirol. I mean, what the heck is an edirol anyway!

[alembic_doctor]

Edirol was the European Division of ROLand.  It has more recently become known as the 2-track digital side of Roland.  I have the Edirol.  I like the Zoom too.

[lbpesq]

So Doc, how do you like your Edirol?  My basic requirement is easy to use to record rehearsals and the occasional gig.  Easy to export file to computer.  From what you know of the Zoom H2 (NOT the H4 - too many geegaws for my taste) and the edirol, how might you compare and contrast?
 
Bill, tgo

[lbpesq]

Well, I made a decision and bought the Zoom H2 today.  So far I'm VERY impressed, but I haven't actually used it yet. lol  I'll be messing around with it at reheasal next Wednesday and Thursday, then I'll report back.
 
Bill, tgo

[bsee]

Let us know once you've spun it around the block a few times.  Good luck with it!

[David Houck]

Yes, I'm looking forward to your review!

[Bradley Young]

I know that small and portable were two of the guidelines, and Bill looks to have found a workable device in the Zoom, but I thought others might be interested in a new device from Alesis called the iMultiMix 8 USB.
 
It is a multi-channel mixer, with inputs from guitar or line in sources, a USB out to your computer (I'm assuming it shows up like a soundcard, and you can record from it), and an iPod dock.
 
It can both play back from and record to the iPod, so this might be a good device for the soloists out there.
 
http://www.alesis.com/product.php?id=113
 
$299 at Guitard Center.
 
Bradley

[lbpesq]

Well, I've messed around a little more with the Zoom.  So far WOW!  This thing is REALLY small, only about 1/3 again bigger than a pack of cigarettes!  It kind of looks like an electric razor!  It has 4 mics, one pair points towards the front of the unit at a 90 degree angle.  The second pair points out the back of the unit at a 120 degree angle.  You can choose either set, or both.  If choosing both sets simultaneously, you can choose to record in stereo or 4 channel.  This feature seems especially useful in a rehearsal where everyone sets up in a circle.  Just put the Zoom in the middle.  The controls seem VERY easy and intuitive.  It comes with a 512 mg SD card, but accepts up to a 4 gig card. (The Edirol only accepts up to a 2 gig card).  In addition, you can hook this up to a computer by USB and record directly to the computer's hard drive.  You can record in wav or mp3. convert to mp3, and set the recording quality at 16 or 24 bit, and from 44 to 96 khz (can someone please explain this to me?)  I tried a few recordings of me on acoustic guitar (the Zoom also has a tuner in it!) and it sounded very good.  I'm really looking forward to testing this thing out with the full band.  Overall, for only $199, I am extemely impressed.  It comes with everything, you don't need to buy any accessories, other than a larger capacity SD card, if you want.  (I got my 4 gig card at Radio Shack for $45).  More reports to follow.
 
Bill, tgo

[bsee]

Bradley-
 
Took a look at the Alesis and I see two issues that aren't obvious up front.  First, you have to have the latest 5th generation iPod to record.  Second, it looks like it only records stereo in spite of the four mic preamps, though I am not positive about this.  Not sure if it lets you pass the individual channels to a computer via USB.  I would love it for easy gig recording if it did four individual tracks for later mixing.

[bsee]

Bill, that four mic feature sounds really cool!

[jbybj]

recording quality at 16 or 24 bit, and from 44 to 96 khz (can someone please explain this to me?)
 
Wordlength, 16bit or 24bit primarily affects the dynamic range of your recording. (the difference in volume between the quietest and the loudest signal that can be captured). 16bit will give you about 95db of dynamic range, and 24bit will give you about 106db.  
Sample frequency, 44.1Khz, 48K, or 96K primarily affects the frequency response of your recording. The frequency response being half the sample rate. i.e. 48K will record audio up to 24Khz.
 
The higher the rates, the bigger the resulting files for any given minute of audio. If you are recording live amplified music, you will find 44.1K at 16bit, (the CD standard BTW) to be quite sufficient. It also simplifies any post production you might do. No conversions required when you burn cd's for your bandmates. Have Fun!