Digital music recorder

Subject: Digital music recorder
From: folkwaller
Date: 01 May 06 - 05:18 AM

Can anyone please recommend a pocket size digital recorder suitable for recording songs and tunes when at sessions etc. Thanks.

Subject: RE: Digital music recorder
From: masato sakurai
Date: 01 May 06 - 05:55 AM

This may be one. I only saw it at a store, though.

EDIROL R-1 24-bit WAVE-MP3 Recorder.

Subject: RE: Digital music recorder
From: Leadfingers
Date: 01 May 06 - 05:57 AM

Sony AND Sharp both do a decent Mini Disc recorder - I use a Sony myself , has a neat stereo microphone (extra to purchase) and works VERY well . Probably find one on Ebay .

Subject: RE: Digital music recorder
From: stallion
Date: 01 May 06 - 06:09 AM

I had a Phillips MP3 Player, had, because we got burgled last Saturday, so, if anyone finds it , it has endless recordings of me singing on it! That should be enough to drive the thief mad!

Subject: RE: Digital music recorder
From: treewind
Date: 01 May 06 - 06:34 AM

Minidisc with a cheap eletret mic is a good choice, what I've used for a long time, though I don't bother much lately.

Has anyone tried the new(ish) iRiver T20? I'd like to know what that's like for mic recording quality. It's very compact and quite low cost, mainly sold as an MP3 player, but has a built in mic and choice of recording quality ("low/medium/high", whatever that translates to in bit rates)

Anahata

Subject: RE: Digital music recorder
From: GUEST,Scooby Doo
Date: 01 May 06 - 07:09 AM

I got a sony with external mic, works very well. Anahata i have not tryed the one you suggested but happy hunting for either recorders.
Scooby

Subject: RE: Digital music recorder
From: Grab
Date: 01 May 06 - 08:21 AM

We've got an iRiver T30, as one of the few decent MP3 players that has both a built-in mic and line input.

"Low/medium/high" on the built-in mic is 32/64/128 kb/s; on the line input, they're 128/256/384 kb/s. There's also recording level settings for both.

The built-in mic on that is pretty good - it tends to get overloaded fairly easily by amplified stuff (even if you turn the recording level down), but it's not too bad for recording acoustic stuff. Obviously we're not talking proper mic quality here, but it's good enough to tell what you're sounding like when you're practising.

For our band, we use a mini-mixer and separate mics to mic up the various amps. It takes a bit of faffing to get the levels right, but it's still a good bet. If there's only two of you (as with you and Mary) then you can probably just record one of you on the left channel and the other on the right, and balance it up later on the computer.

Graham.

Subject: RE: Digital music recorder
From: treewind
Date: 01 May 06 - 08:41 AM

Hi Graham
We've got a studio at home based on a HD multitrack recorder - my interest in the iRiver is for taking to tune sessions in pubs. The attraction is it's a little box you can put on the table and leave unobtrusively recording. Does it then look like a USB disk drive when you plug it in to the computer?

"Low/medium/high" on the built-in mic is 32/64/128 kb/s; on the line input, they're 128/256/384 kb/s.

Thanks - that's exactly what I wanted to know!

Anahata

Subject: RE: Digital music recorder
From: Gorgeous Gary
Date: 01 May 06 - 01:07 PM

I recently picked up an Edirol R-1 after being turned on to it by someone at the Getaway last year (I'm forgetting who now). It passed its first two field tests--a quick couple of MP3s for a friend I'm working on some songs with, and a full weekend filk convention. In both cases I used the on-board mikes, recording at 16 bit/128 kbps and got fairly decent results.

Will probably pick up an external microphone before my next use.

-- Gary

Subject: RE: Digital music recorder
From: GUEST,petr
Date: 01 May 06 - 03:50 PM

I use an Iriver fp760 (came out last year) so now probably the latest equivalent is here

comes with a voice recorder/line in/fm tuner etc..
nice thing is that it uses AA batteries..
although it comes with a mic I use an external sony stereo mic..

I use it at sessions all the time, came in handy at Fiddle Tunes last year. The recording quality is very good, the highest setting is 44khz 160kbs
and since no there are no moving parts theres no motor noise like some people get with minidiscs.

(you probably may get better quality with a minidisc but for recording tunes at a session the quality is excellent
- although as far as I know with minidiscs the only way to get the files to your computer is to convert to analog then back digital on your computer line in - I met a number of former minidisc users at Fiddle Tunes last year who were pretty happy with the Iriver.)

Ive also used it for transferring lps and tapes using the line-in
recording mode.
It has a USB connection with your computer - it records in its own rec format but the software that comes with it easily converts the files to mp3.

Subject: RE: Digital music recorder
From: Bardford
Date: 01 May 06 - 04:21 PM

Petr - is the Iriver software Mac-compatible?

Subject: RE: Digital music recorder
From: GUEST,pattyClink
Date: 01 May 06 - 09:20 PM

Ilove my Olympus DS-2, very unobtrusive, looks like a narrow cel phone, no noise. Downloads via USB and a small portable cradle. Great quality sound. I don't know what their current hot model is but they are good stuff.

Subject: RE: Digital music recorder
From: erinmaidin
Date: 02 May 06 - 06:15 AM

just out of curiosity...do you want "unobtrusive" for secrecy? Be honest, now. I have never recorded a session but have considered doing so..but would not venture forth unless asking all the musicians playing first. Some of them are very er....protective. I never mind if someone asks me...I always give full permission where I'm concerned but I do like being asked and have to admit I get a bit peevish when it's done w/out permission.

Subject: RE: Digital music recorder
From: Grab
Date: 02 May 06 - 06:53 AM

Similar to a USB drive - it pops up an "iRiver" icon rather than a drive number, but you can copy stuff too/from it just the same.

One warning with the iRiver is that you need Media Player v10 to make it work - WMP v10 adds support for the protocol it uses to transfer files. So you can't use it on anything before WinXP, and you probably won't be able to use it on Mac either. Although Linux *does* apparently support it (via Gphoto - it's the same/similar protocol that some cameras use), so more recent Macs might be OK. I've not tried it under Linux myself though.

I've never actually tried using the iRiver just sat on a table. I'll give it a go the next time we're out, and see how it manages. You probably wouldn't be able to touch the table without getting lots of noise on the recording - maybe sit the recorder on a little pillow or something?

Graham.

Subject: RE: Digital music recorder
From: Aaron Aardvark
Date: 02 May 06 - 07:28 AM

I'd second (or third) the Edirol R-1 as already mentioned by Masato.

Aaron

Subject: RE: Digital music recorder
From: AKS
Date: 02 May 06 - 08:23 AM

Roland has also a new, updated version (R-09) of Edirol, but I don't know about its availability right now - a month ago Thomann (eg.) had none in store.

M-Audio's MicroTrack 24/96 is of about the same size. It has no built-in mics, but its microphone connectors provide phantom power.

Now, after getting my hands on a "flash recorder" (Edirol R-1), I do not think of going back to minidisc any more...

AKS

Subject: RE: Digital music recorder
From: JudyB
Date: 02 May 06 - 10:07 AM

We're also very happy with the Edirol R-1. Did get external mics for it, but hardly ever use them. I like the part where I can just drag a GB of music onto the computer for editing!

JudyB

Subject: RE: Digital music recorder
From: Amos
Date: 02 May 06 - 12:07 PM

Specifications for the Edirol R-1

A

Subject: RE: Digital music recorder
From: GUEST,Doug
Date: 02 May 06 - 12:20 PM

"as far as I know with minidiscs the only way to get the files to your computer is to convert to analog then back digital on your computer line in"

no longer an issue with the latet generation(high MD)Sony format. high speed up and downloads, although you still have to use Sony software.

Subject: RE: Digital music recorder
From: GUEST,Sandy Andina
Date: 02 May 06 - 01:53 PM

I think WMP is available for Mac. (I'm pretty sure I've downloaded it on my OS X-running Powerbook). Also, if the Edirol records onto Compact Flash cards, there are cheap (under-$20) USB card readers (several formats in one unit) that work with Macs. The fact that the Edirol can record w/o compression is a plus, as Minidisc uses ATRAC proprietary compression.

Subject: RE: Digital music recorder
From: GUEST,petr
Date: 02 May 06 - 03:47 PM

the Edirol recorder sound good,
I do like the builtin stereo mic, the high quality 24 bit wav recording to removable compact flash card - and decent size buttons- I dont care for the tiny 4 button interface on the mpr players. Its listed at around $430 US, quite a bit more than what I paid for the Iriver (probably 2to 3times) and the battery life 5 1/2 hours for 2 AA's isnt quite as good as the Iriver (around 9 hours with one AA)

For now Im very pleased with the Iriver quality for recording sessions,
but would probably look at the Edirol in the future..

Regarding the Mac question I checked the manual and it comes with mac interface software, although it notes 'due to copyright reasons mp3 music files cannot uploaded to the mac -- although it does allow uploading of voice recordings or fm-tuner recordings on the iriver'

Subject: RE: Digital music recorder
From: Stewart
Date: 02 May 06 - 06:17 PM

I just bought a iRiver T30 512Mb for about $69 (after sale price and special in-store discounts). It was on sale since it is being superceded by newer models, so this would be a good time to pick one up at a good price. I would have gotten the 1Gb model but the store only had the 512Mb. Anyway, after a cursory look it seems to be worth the money and good for what I want to do - record sessions and practice in order to learn new tunes and songs.

Cheers, S. in Seattle

Subject: RE: Digital music recorder
From: Mo the caller
Date: 02 May 06 - 06:44 PM

I keep seeing this and thinking it's about my recorder. Well I play it with my digits

Subject: RE: Digital music recorder
From: Ebbie
Date: 03 May 06 - 11:13 AM

I use a Sony and have an external stereo mic. I'm still working on placement for getting the very best quality but I have never regretted buying. I use it a gret deal. In our monthly folk club performances I record everything of the five sets, clean it up (take out extraneous stuff) and then give each set a CD of the evening as a memento. I do get permission from each. It is popular.

Subject: RE: Digital music recorder
From: Stewart
Date: 03 May 06 - 12:27 PM

I just used my iRiver T30 (see my earlier post) for the first time at the open mic last night. I had to use the built-in mic since an external mic plugged into the line-in would need an external preamp. But it worked amazingly well - not CD quality by any means, but better than my little mini-casette tape recorder and even my old minidisc. And the size, about 1 x 2 inches is quite amazing. The tiny built-in mic picked everything up with good volume. And the controls are much easier to use than those tiny buttons and convoluted menus on my mini-disc. So for the price I paid (about $65) and for my purposes (recording sessions for learning tunes and songs) it's good.

Cheers, S. in Seattle

Subject: RE: Digital music recorder
From: Fidjit
Date: 03 May 06 - 12:57 PM

I/We use a Sony mini disc. Have had very good and disastrass results. It's all in the placing of the mike. Managed, just by chance to get enough for a cd of a live gig by attaching the mike to the back curtain on the stage! However, the actuall mini discs are getting scarce. Lots of shops are not stocking them. So we need to update the recording posibilties. (finished with cassetes years ago)This new thingy seems interesting. Been looking for a while. Seems it's all MP3s now. Other MP3s don't have microphone inputs.

Chas

Subject: RE: Digital music recorder
From: GUEST,pattyClink
Date: 03 May 06 - 01:12 PM

erinmaidin, I resent your implying I'm some kind of music pirate. By "unobtrusive" I mean: noiseless, small, does not attract attention to itself, does not need a lot of button-punching, changing of discs or tapes. Maybe when you say "unobtrusive" you mean "sneaky", I don't.

I use my recorder to record myself, my choir, people teaching harmonies, lectures, weddings, and people talking about geneaology and explaining medical orders. In the past I have used clunky tape recorders and minidiscs which became the center of attention with all the attention they can require.

Subject: RE: Digital music recorder
From: Ebbie
Date: 03 May 06 - 01:21 PM

Fidjit, I have a number of minidiscs, both HD and the other, smaller capacity kind. When I use the latter, I record on HD capability so that I can download it to the computer for making CDs, just as I do the HD original.

Then I erase the original disc. I keep the contents in "My Library" longer which gives me the option of changing the format somewhat.

I also keep a Master CD on hand of each recording so that if I want another copy of a certain event I can just copy from that CD.

Subject: RE: Digital music recorder
From: fi_in_nz
Date: 03 May 06 - 01:25 PM

We just got (what we think was) a great deal on a Sony HD recorder on ebay. Got to be there at the last minute though and put in a high bid. Pipped someone by a £ (hope it wasn't anyone on here). It just arrived this morning, v. exciting, brand new (lord knows where it came from, wouldn't want to ask). Will be able to record Holmfirth F of F stuff, yay, just have to decide now who gets to use it when. F

Subject: RE: Digital music recorder
From: Fidjit
Date: 03 May 06 - 02:34 PM

Yes Ebbie, I'm doing the same now as discs are getting harder to find. How long will the allow recording over???

Chas