BS: Need digital recorder from Amazon

Subject: BS: Need digital recorder from Amazon
From: mg
Date: 06 Jan 11 - 11:03 PM

I just got a $30 gift card from Amazon and I think I want a digital recorder. I actually have owned one but I can't make it work...and others can't either so either it is too complicated or defective. I think it is a Sony.

Here is what I want to do...just record me or someone else singing a tune into it and then email it out so people know what the tune is. I am not planning on being a recording engineer or anything with it. I want it to be simple to use and have buttons bigger than the head of a pin. I want it to have a cable to get it onto a computer easily. I want it to be intuitive. It does not have to have super high recording quality, be super tiny or anything. Just workable.

I could go a bit over $30 and I do see some in that range but what would people recommend that is on Amazon right now, if you feel like going there and checking it out. mg

Subject: RE: BS: Need digital recorder from Amazon
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 07 Jan 11 - 12:36 AM

I expect you'll get some good answers to this one once the membership wakes up, Mary. I've read some interesting threads in the past where folks discussed digital recorders.

In this day and age, many devices record, so hopefully they'll compare the ability to get good recordings and to be able to set a few levels.

I use the Nero software and it is actually a whole bunch of programs bunded together in the Nero installation. I'm mentioning this because you'll need something in the computer to process the songs even after you've easily recorded them. There is a wave editor program in there that I've used for some of this, but my use isn't really sophisticated yet. A few weeks ago I got a new computer and I'm ready to start moving music from Dad's cassettes to the computer and then onto DVDs, and from there I'll be playing with emailing and/or posting a few individual songs or song bytes.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: Need digital recorder from Amazon
From: ChrisJBrady
Date: 07 Jan 11 - 02:24 AM

Try the audio apps. from HNC at http://www.nch.com.au/index.html, or maybe better the ubiquitous Audacity (with Lame codec for MP3).

For analogue to digital conversion I use Behringer bought from Amazon see http://www.behringer.co.uk/EN/home.aspx

Then research

F-CONTROL AUDIO FCA202
Ultra low-latency 2 In/2 Out 24-Bit/96 kHz FireWire® Audio Interface

U-CONTROL UCA202
Ultra low-latency 2 In/2 Out USB/Audio Interface with Digital Output

U-CONTROL UCA222
Ultra-Low Latency 2 In/2 Out USB Audio Interface with Digital Output and Massive Software Bundle

GUITAR LINK UCG102
The Ultimate Guitar-to-USB Interface to Jam and Record with Killer Modeling Amps and Effects

U-PHONO UFO202
High-quality USB Audio Interface with Built-in Phono Preamp and Massive Software Package for Digitalizing Your Tapes and Vinyl Records

Good luck.


.

Subject: RE: BS: Need digital recorder from Amazon
From: My guru always said
Date: 07 Jan 11 - 04:47 AM

I'm sure you know, but if you go to Amazon via the Mudcat link, Mudcat should get a cut!

Mudcat link from the UK - there's one from the USA too somewhere

I never seem to find the links here when I need them, perhaps Max could put them somewhere obvious, permanantly?

Subject: RE: BS: Need digital recorder from Amazon
From: Joe Offer
Date: 07 Jan 11 - 05:01 AM

If you click on the blue catfish on the forum menu, you'll get to the Support the Mudcat page. The US Amazon link is http://amazon.mudcat.org/. We do get substantial income from these links, so it's very good to use them.

This Amazon Search will take you to digital recorders, but won't give Mudcat credit for the purchase.

At $99, it's more than what you'd like to pay, but I think you'd find that the Zoom H1 Recorder will produce excellent recordings (I have the H2, but would have bought the H1 if it had been available at the time). The cheaper recorders are meant mostly for spoken word recordings, and won't give you very good sound quality. Maybe the cheaper recorders are all you need - and there are several brand-name recorders in your price range. To me, the cheaper ones sound "tinny."

-Joe-

Subject: RE: BS: Need digital recorder from Amazon
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 07 Jan 11 - 12:15 PM

Do any of the tiny mp3 players around these days make recordings worth listening to? Heck, you can even make a recording with a lot of phones, though the quality is probably quite low. But mp3 players? They're meant to playback a good quality sound, so do they record good sound through those tiny little mic holes?

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: Need digital recorder from Amazon
From: GUEST,Arkie
Date: 07 Jan 11 - 12:29 PM

I have a friend who has the Zoom H1 and he is very pleased with it. I have used it a little and was very impressed by ease of use and sound. The only cheap digital recorder I tried produced very disappointing results with spoken sound.

A less expensive alternative could be to record directly to the computer though the microphone input. Audacity is downloadable freeware that can be set to record any sound played through the computer and saves to wav and mp3 files. I am not sure what the best quality of mp3 may be but if not good enough you can export the wav file to be converted by any number of conversion programs.

Subject: RE: BS: Need digital recorder from Amazon
From: Bill D
Date: 07 Jan 11 - 12:33 PM

mg...any of the small recorders in the $30 range should do what you want, which you said is to just get a usable recording. Trust the ones from Sony, Olympus...though there are perfectly usable ones beyond 'name' brands. I have a 'teeny' thing that works fine, though you would not like it as it is small buttons and tricky menus.

http://www.amazon.com/Digital-Voice-Recorders-Audio-Video/b/ref=amb_link_354696322_49/180-8450346-3672649?ie=UTF8&node=227758&pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_s=left-2&pf_rd_r=1S7XZZMNGEZM3EVJZQGQ&pf_rd_t=101&pf_rd_p=1282664082&pf_rd_i=172630


The point is, the digital stuff is basically more reliable than all those with moving parts... and they hold more.

Now, it IS the case that 'small' will mean relatively small buttons, and usually buttons which do more than one thing depending on which way you push them..(left-right...etc.) It is hard to choose from an image on screen. If you know of a store near you that carries gadgets, it would help to go look...although the $30 ones will be in in plastic packages on hooks... but you could see the button size and read the package.

Subject: RE: BS: Need digital recorder from Amazon
From: Bill D
Date: 07 Jan 11 - 12:37 PM

Be sure to look for something which has a USB connector, as this is the preferred way to move stuff to & from the computer. (My teeny gadget was under $30 and has USB)

Subject: RE: BS: Need digital recorder from Amazon
From: Maryrrf
Date: 07 Jan 11 - 02:21 PM

I have the Zoom H4 (not available anymore, they've replaced it with the H4N) and I've heard very good things about the Zoom H2 and the Zoom H1. My model doesn't have very intuitive controls, but to make a basic recording isn't difficult. I've heard that they've improved the user interface on the newer models. One thing to keep in mind is that you probably want something that records MP3's. I had a small digital recorder, an Olympus, I think, but it recorded on some special format that would have had to be converted to MP3 in order to send it to others so that they could listen.

Subject: RE: BS: Need digital recorder from Amazon
From: GUEST,Jon
Date: 07 Jan 11 - 02:46 PM

You don't say if you need it to be portable or not. If not, I'd probably just plug a mic into the PC and use Audacity as mentioned before.

---
Re the Zoom range, I also have an H4 and am very happy with its recordings although like Maryrrf I don't find the controls/interface that easy to do more than a basic recording.   The (current model) H4N seems to be round about $300 at (US) amazon.com though.

Subject: RE: BS: Need digital recorder from Amazon
From: GUEST,Grishka
Date: 07 Jan 11 - 02:51 PM

Just in case you don't know: most computers have a plug for a mike (some have a built-in mike as well). Plug in your mike if necessary, start Audacity with Lame (this you need anyway), and start singing. The quality will be more than sufficient to recognize a tune, though far from professional standards.

Subject: RE: BS: Need digital recorder from Amazon
From: Joe Offer
Date: 07 Jan 11 - 03:03 PM

Hi, SRS-
I had a Sony MP3 player that was about the size and shape of a USB flash drive. It was supposed to be able to record, but I scrambled the drive's programming before I got a chance to try the recording function. Staples replaced the player, but I upgraded in the process of replacement, to a player that did not record.
I, too, wonder how well the other player would have done on recording.

-Joe-

Subject: RE: BS: Need digital recorder from Amazon
From: GUEST,mg
Date: 07 Jan 11 - 03:45 PM

Thanks for input. I definitely want it to record in MP3 format or some format that I can just email to people or send to someone for a web site or you tube or something. I definitely want portable, and I would prefer something with one of those flash drive like USB things so you don't need cable. Under $65 or so I think....sound quality is not of supreme importance..just ease of use and portability and right format. mg

Subject: RE: BS: Need digital recorder from Amazon
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 07 Jan 11 - 04:38 PM

I have a little Sanyo SansaFuze mp3 player with a recorder. I did record a bit as a test, at a Jed Marum concert a couple of years ago, and I could hear and recognize the songs. I'll have to hunt for that and give it another listen, or I can tape something new with my new one (the old one was loaned to my son and delivered back DOA).

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: Need digital recorder from Amazon
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 07 Jan 11 - 04:39 PM

Duh. Not Sanyo, typo there. SansaDisk puts out the SansaFuze.

Subject: RE: BS: Need digital recorder from Amazon
From: IvanB
Date: 07 Jan 11 - 05:31 PM

I have an Olympus WS-331 and have been pretty happy with it for recording songs I'd like to learn from song circles. The sound quality is even quite decent. Mine only records in WMA (Windows Media), but the newer ones seem to record in mp3 or wma. The WS models all seem to have the direct USB plug-in feature: the recorder pulls apart to reveal the USB plug. Many of the mp3 players on the market have recording ability and some of the have the added capability to use memory cards.

Subject: RE: BS: Need digital recorder from Amazon
From: GUEST,mg
Date: 07 Jan 11 - 05:50 PM

I should say that I have windows XP if that makes a difference. One I was looking at required VISTA at least. mg

Subject: RE: BS: Need digital recorder from Amazon
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 07 Jan 11 - 06:40 PM

Mary, you'll do yourself a big favor by skipping VISTA entirely. That said, if you upgrade to Win7 Ultimate (the most robust version of Win7) it doesn't play nicely with some older programs, and I find that new devices need to state that they work with it or they won't install or work properly. So you might look for that when you shop, assuming that eventually you will have the newer OS.

If you have a device that works with Win7 that doesn't exclude the older versions - see if there is a list of several operating systems in the device's list of system requirements on the package.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: Need digital recorder from Amazon
From: GUEST,mg
Date: 08 Jan 11 - 04:21 PM

I won't get VISTA..heard too much bad about it...and I won't upgrade until I get new computer...

I have limited search to Sony..don't want to mess with MP3 conversions and want a plug in USB plus big buttons..plus I am very attracted to the red recorders..so I am narrowing it down..plus buttons in front I think..that is compatible with ignorant person using it and windows XP and uses regular batteries but preferably with electric option. mg

Subject: RE: BS: Need digital recorder from Amazon
From: Bill D
Date: 08 Jan 11 - 06:18 PM

Stick to Win XP as long as your computer seems solid...

as to devices, No matter what format one records in, **it can be converted to any other format** ... but you are right to look for one which does MP3 right out of the box...