Sound on sound
June 15, 2011 12:27 AM Subscribe
I'm looking to buy a good quality digital audio recorder, mainly for recording gigs and rehearsals. I already have a little Olympus voice recorder - is upgrading worthwhile?
I have the Olympus WS-300M, a fairly straightforward digital voice recorder that's about five years old and was bought primarily for recording voice. It makes decent, if tinny and trebly, recordings of a noisy guitar-bass-drums set-up in a small rehearsal room. My question is whether a newer, more sophisticated unit will give me a noticeable improvement in sound quality for this kind of quick and dirty recording? The end result is for archive and reference purposes and is very unlikely to be processed or overdubbed, etc. I plan on using a device's internal mics for simplicity's sake and have been looking at the Sony PCM M10 but am very open to any recommendations. Or should I just stick with the old Olympus?
I have the Olympus WS-300M, a fairly straightforward digital voice recorder that's about five years old and was bought primarily for recording voice. It makes decent, if tinny and trebly, recordings of a noisy guitar-bass-drums set-up in a small rehearsal room. My question is whether a newer, more sophisticated unit will give me a noticeable improvement in sound quality for this kind of quick and dirty recording? The end result is for archive and reference purposes and is very unlikely to be processed or overdubbed, etc. I plan on using a device's internal mics for simplicity's sake and have been looking at the Sony PCM M10 but am very open to any recommendations. Or should I just stick with the old Olympus?
Seconding the Zoom H4; I have the H4n, use it a lot and quite like it. i have used it with the built-in stereo mic and also with two separate mics plugged in. memail me if you'd like to hear some recordings done with it.
If you're only ever going to be using the built-in mics and can't forsee a world in which you'd ever need or want to plug in two more mics, there is also the H2 for a bit less.
If it were me, i'd want the option to point the h4n at the drums and plug in two additional dynamic mics for guitar and bass, then record 4 tracks at once.
posted by dubold at 1:56 AM on June 15, 2011
If you're only ever going to be using the built-in mics and can't forsee a world in which you'd ever need or want to plug in two more mics, there is also the H2 for a bit less.
If it were me, i'd want the option to point the h4n at the drums and plug in two additional dynamic mics for guitar and bass, then record 4 tracks at once.
posted by dubold at 1:56 AM on June 15, 2011
Tascam makes a range of portable recorders comparable to the Zooms mentioned; they also make things like the DP-004 Pocketstudio 4-track recorder that might be better suited to your needs if field recording isn't a priority.
posted by unmake at 2:24 AM on June 15, 2011
posted by unmake at 2:24 AM on June 15, 2011
Yes, you will notice a big difference in sound quality. A voice recorder like that doesn't have the frequency range to really capture the bass and drums. I have a zoom H2 (goes for about $150 these days), and I am generally quite pleased with it, though I have used the Sony PCM M10 and it is better still.
posted by idiopath at 3:11 AM on June 15, 2011
posted by idiopath at 3:11 AM on June 15, 2011
Wouldn't a voice recorder use compression algorithms specifically designed to work with human voices, not instruments? I've used several voice-specific codecs in cell phones and VOIP software. They all pretty much butchered music.
I'd avoid devices designed specifically for dictation.
posted by ryanrs at 4:01 AM on June 15, 2011 [2 favorites]
I'd avoid devices designed specifically for dictation.
posted by ryanrs at 4:01 AM on June 15, 2011 [2 favorites]
I like my Sony PCM-D50. It costs more but sounds unbelievable.
posted by Murray M at 7:40 AM on June 15, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by Murray M at 7:40 AM on June 15, 2011 [1 favorite]
I would have to agree with Murray M on this one. I really like my Sony PCM D50. It does still cost an arm and a leg, but it sounds great. I also like the true line in/outs as well as the two mics on top.
I have used it to record all kinds of things. People talking, music, industrial applications, and it has come through with flying colors each time.
posted by rudeness at 7:50 AM on June 15, 2011
I have used it to record all kinds of things. People talking, music, industrial applications, and it has come through with flying colors each time.
posted by rudeness at 7:50 AM on June 15, 2011
I have a TASCAM DR-07 that works really great for recording shows and rehearsals (or at least it did until it got dropped last week and broke.) Here is a sample of how it sounds. It has 3 different mic sensitivity levels and a built in limiter, and will record in WAV and MP3 at 16 or 24 bit. I think they are going for a bit over $100 right now.
posted by InfidelZombie at 12:53 PM on June 15, 2011
posted by InfidelZombie at 12:53 PM on June 15, 2011
Another vote for the Zoom H4. I've used it at live gigs and at rehearsals and it sounds phenomenal. The H4 also doubles as an audio interface for your computer, so that's a bonus.
Last but not least it has a very capable 4-track recorder built in, complete with very decent effects and digital amp simulators.
posted by monospace at 3:59 PM on June 15, 2011
Last but not least it has a very capable 4-track recorder built in, complete with very decent effects and digital amp simulators.
posted by monospace at 3:59 PM on June 15, 2011
Response by poster: Thanks everyone for help and suggestions. It seems like upgrading is a good idea and the many additional functions of the Zoom H4N look like they might win me over against the rather more attractive looking Sony M10 (the D50 is a bit too pricey). Thank you all.
posted by jonathanbell at 4:29 PM on June 15, 2011
posted by jonathanbell at 4:29 PM on June 15, 2011
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by krilli at 1:25 AM on June 15, 2011