Portable Audio Recorder Comparison Chart

Wondering which handheld digital audio recorder to buy? Guitarist and recording engineer Mark Nelson just compiled this helpful comparison chart based on his detailed reviews. Mark is one of the few people on the planet to have used each of the top recorders extensively, recording everything from Hawaiian surf to wild coyotes, so he has an especially deep perspective.

As the guy who edits Mark's reviews, I read every word, so I especially enjoy how he turns each review into a story. Consider this passage, from his review of the Edirol R-09. It's miles from the typical lab-coat test:

My review unit arrived just days before I left for Moloka'i, Hawaii, where I help run the Aloha Music Camp. A week of camping by the ocean, with guitars and ukulele playing ’neath swaying palm trees while tropical birds keep time. What better test, eh?

One morning I came across Big Island guitarist Chris Yeaton playing on the lanai of the Kaupoa Beach House. Just the kind of recording situation I love: no setup, no hassles, just a handheld recorder and a great musician playing from the heart. In the background, you can hear the ocean, a bit of wind, and a group of hungry campers.

As that passage suggests, another highlight of Mark's reviews is the wonderful sound files he includes. Here's an excerpt from his review of the Zoom H2, which uses four internal mics for 360° recording:

Enough with the suspense! What happens if you record to four tracks using the H2's front and rear mics? Is it surround sound? I set up a pair of powered monitors directly behind my usual listening position and connected them to a pair of aux outputs on my mixer.

Boy howdy, does it sound cool. The first thing I listened to was the thunderstorm recording. In stereo, it sounds like your average sound effects track — not much excitement, not a great sense of place. When I unmuted the rear tracks I found myself reaching for an umbrella! Now I could hear the thunder moving across the sky while the rain drummed on my tin roof. I have uploaded two short WAV files so you can hear it yourself.

Portable recording is tremendous fun. Thanks, Mark, for showing us so many ways to get started.