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Thom · lamp Joined: 20 Apr 2006 Posts: 5198 Location: Exeter, UK

Any of you guys got any experience with a pocket recording device?
Basically I want something small that I can turn on and dump in the middle of the room during practice to record ideas.
Only criteria really is that it has to be digital so I can send out the MP3s to the band, so I guess that 80s style dictaphones are out Wink

And it has to be able to cope with the noise levels in a band practice and not just turn everything to distorted clipped mush.
Any ideas?

James · Posted: Tue Mar 09, 2010 7:46 pm Post subject:

You can get digital dictaphones now. They probably work with a SD card or similar.

You could also use a tape one and record the mixed to computer fairly simply but the downside to that is that you'd have to do it in realtime so unless you already have one it's not worth it.
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Shabba.

robroe · Posted: Tue Mar 09, 2010 8:17 pm Post subject:

I OWN A ZOOM H2 RECORDER ITS THE SIZE OF A MP3 PLAYER, HAS 4 MICS IN IT.

SEARCH SHORTSCALE FOR THREADS I HAVE CRONICLED IN THE PAST ON MY RISE TO POWER

stewart · Posted: Tue Mar 09, 2010 8:19 pm Post subject:

Thom · lamp Joined: 20 Apr 2006 Posts: 5198 Location: Exeter, UK

Cheers, I only worry about whether a regular dictaphone can cope with the volume.
Just saw this in the Dolphin email: LANK

Thom · lamp Joined: 20 Apr 2006 Posts: 5198 Location: Exeter, UK

Too slow in posting my reply - will check out the Zoom H2 - thanks guys.

James · Posted: Tue Mar 09, 2010 8:27 pm Post subject:

yamaha review (though SoS are very much a 'buy everything' type of reviewer)

I'd say you'd want something with an internal mic that can take 120db or so. Maybe just 100db. That would cover a band adequetely.
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Shabba.

stewart · Posted: Tue Mar 09, 2010 8:30 pm Post subject:

that seems fairly similar in spec to the H2, except the H2 has 4 mics like robroe mentioned. it gives you a pretty full stereo image and the input level is extremely fine tuneable. it has various built in compressor things too which automatically stop it clipping, supposedly (i've just set the level beforehand though).

bit of a price difference between those two though. i might have thought twice about the zoom if i'd had to pay new price for it (£160 retail, i think).
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Thom · lamp Joined: 20 Apr 2006 Posts: 5198 Location: Exeter, UK

Cheers, was just reading that SOS review when you posted it. Seems decent enough and should do the job.
The H2 does look better, but thinking about what I want to do with it - not sure I want to pay full price as you say Stewart.

lorez · Posted: Tue Mar 09, 2010 9:52 pm Post subject:

years ago I used to use an old Tascam 4 track. they have now gone digital and worth a look in my book dp800 lank review or if you want a hand held DR2 lank review
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Thom · lamp Joined: 20 Apr 2006 Posts: 5198 Location: Exeter, UK

lorez · Posted: Tue Mar 09, 2010 10:24 pm Post subject:

Thom · lamp Joined: 20 Apr 2006 Posts: 5198 Location: Exeter, UK

avj · Posted: Tue Mar 09, 2010 10:45 pm Post subject:

stewart · Posted: Tue Mar 09, 2010 10:49 pm Post subject:

dawnofzion · Posted: Wed Mar 10, 2010 2:26 am Post subject:

I have the Zoom H4n and I can't say enough good things about it. The sound quality of it is great. I have recorded a couple demo songs recently with the Zoom H4n. You can hear the two songs at my sound click. These were recorded strictly on the Zoom H4n and EZdrummer for the drums. I used a combination of the on board mics and a couple cheap MXL condensor mics to record everything.

http://www.soundclick.com/beasyourfather
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Thom · lamp Joined: 20 Apr 2006 Posts: 5198 Location: Exeter, UK

I got the Yamaha in the end, largely due to not wanting to spend any more than that. The reviews were good and I tried it out at practice last week. Was really impressed and did exactly what I wanted. Adjusting the mic sensitivity was really easy and the definition was really good.

James · Posted: Tue Mar 23, 2010 10:59 pm Post subject:

I'm not sure how into it you are but that sort of thing makes an excellent field recording device. If you make video you can recording your own foley or you could use it to record background sounds for songs if you do any production.

G;ad you got something that does exactly what you want and ticks all the boxes in terms fo size, functionality etc.
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Shabba.

robroe · Posted: Tue Mar 23, 2010 11:02 pm Post subject:

where / why are you paying 160 pounds for an h2 ???

they have them for 129 USD at my local best buy. isn't that like 70 pounds ?
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lorez · Posted: Tue Mar 23, 2010 11:10 pm Post subject: