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.
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Take a look, Harry
Thank you for the information David.
I wanted to ask you if you know how are these Hd recorders compared to the MD recorders, regarding the sound recording quality.
I'm a professional trombonist and used a Sony MD recorder for 8 years, and liked it very much. Now it broke down, and I have to decide which equipament to buy.
I'm looking for a portable audio recorder that records with samme or better quality than MD recorders, and have a mic input.
Thank you,
Bourak
Stritch said:
Am a journalism educator looking to buy a good quality recorder for student use. Was going to get the H2, but heard if you drop it, it's done....and we're talking students here. Need one that's EASY TO USE, STURDY, LARGE ENOUGH DISPLAY, GOOD QUALITY AUDIO (MP3, WAV FILES FOR WEB POSTING) AND CAN BE USED WITH AN EXTERNAL MIC IF NECESSARY.
Suggestions? thanks.
@Dave Harris: I was wondering when you might have time to review the CX ?
Thanks for the nudge. I just put in a review request today. Another reader tried one briefly and posted his notes in our forum.
Great reviews! I'm trying to decide between the LS-10 and the Yamaha Pocktrak CX... I was wondering when you might have time to review the CX ?
Thanks, Dave
@Anon:
I love these reviews...but I can't make a decision until he reviews the Tascam DR-1.
Good news! We got the new Tascam GT-R1 in; it's like the DR-1, but with a dedicated guitar input. Mark reports he's having a blast. Stay tuned.
Olympus has finally posted
a firmware update on their
site for the LS-10
http://www.olympusamerica.com/cpg_section/cpg_support_downloads.asp?id=1350&os=w
@Kit:
Yep; in fact, Mark's back in Hawaii with the MicroTrack II right now. The new Edirol R-09 HR is supposedly winging its way to him as well.
@Anon:
No word from TASCAM yet, alas. I just pinged them again this week.
and then there's the MicroTrack II. So many recorders, so little time eh!?
http://www.m-audio.com/products/en_us/MicroTrackII-main.html
I love these reviews, and I'm not one to look a gift horse in the mouth. But I can't make a decision until he reviews the Tascam DR-1. Thanks for the great info, though!