Recording listener clips at remote events, artist interviews and other "field recordings is now easier than ever IF you have the right portable digital recorders. But for most stations, these new digital mp3 "flash recorders" are a mystery." Now, we'll take the mystery out of the new generation of portable recorders.
1) FIRST: CASSETTE RECORDERS- if you have one, walk out to the parking lot. Gently lay it down and crush if violently beneath your feet. The analog era is over. Yep, there are still stations that use cassettes. That is lame.
2) WHAT NOT TO BUY- "personal digital recorders."
These are those little recorders from places like Office Max. These are "digital" and ok for personal dictation only NOT for broadcast. I knew of one station that thought this was a "digital" recorder. They were baffled at why the recordings sounded so bad.
3) The great thing about these "flash recorders" (a.k.a. "digital" or "mp3" recorders) is that you can drag the sound directly to a computer with a U.S.B connector or by removing the SD card.
It shows up as an external hard drive on your computer. Then just drag the files over. (So much for slow "dubbing." That word had gone the way of the T-REX.)
This is an easy one: It's the TASCAM DRO7. It's about the most inexpensive one out there. (Around $139) Having used it, I can tell you- though it's inexpensive- it certainly does not sound "cheap" The sound recording is great AND it's about the easiest one to use.
2 other popular digital recorders are the ZOOM H-4 and the Edirol R-09HR.
I've used both. I like them both. The Edirol: costs a little more than the ZOOM H-4. (Around $300) But the built in mic is better and the unit interfaces easier with your computer. It also lets you filter/ control background noise better.
The Zoom H4 looks cooler- and costs much less. (Around $300). But it's a touch trickier to figure out how to use its features.
Then there's the smaller ZOOM H-2. It's basically a microphone recorder. Cost: around $200. Great if you don't have much money. It works great- but is made of mostly plastic. But it works!
(To find out more online, you might to go a place like ZZ SOUNDs (www.zzsounds.com ) and type in these models in their "search" features.)
5) After you get one, I suggest you by a large SD card with several gigs of memory.
This is because I recommend you record in WAV. Don't record in MP3 mode.Oddly, their mp3 setting can at times still give you that tinty warbly mp3 sound. (Yes- even when it's even at 160kbps)
Record in "wav." It's cleaner and you'll get a predictable sound. Record in mp3 and it might sound a little "tinty."
There are digital recorders like the Marantz that can cost from $500 to $800. They don't offer any better sound. Just many more neat "features and bells and whistles" that you don't really need.
--Rick McConnell
(Articles provided by Rick McConnell. Starting in Christian Radio in 1978, he has been doing voice overs since 1986 through his company, Monumental Studios in Denver Colorado. Find out more about the Imaging Package called "Airshow", Voice and Production Depot and more, by CLICKING HERE)
1) FIRST: CASSETTE RECORDERS- if you have one, walk out to the parking lot. Gently lay it down and crush if violently beneath your feet. The analog era is over. Yep, there are still stations that use cassettes. That is lame.
2) WHAT NOT TO BUY- "personal digital recorders."
These are those little recorders from places like Office Max. These are "digital" and ok for personal dictation only NOT for broadcast. I knew of one station that thought this was a "digital" recorder. They were baffled at why the recordings sounded so bad.
3) The great thing about these "flash recorders" (a.k.a. "digital" or "mp3" recorders) is that you can drag the sound directly to a computer with a U.S.B connector or by removing the SD card.
It shows up as an external hard drive on your computer. Then just drag the files over. (So much for slow "dubbing." That word had gone the way of the T-REX.)
This is an easy one: It's the TASCAM DRO7. It's about the most inexpensive one out there. (Around $139) Having used it, I can tell you- though it's inexpensive- it certainly does not sound "cheap" The sound recording is great AND it's about the easiest one to use.
2 other popular digital recorders are the ZOOM H-4 and the Edirol R-09HR.
I've used both. I like them both. The Edirol: costs a little more than the ZOOM H-4. (Around $300) But the built in mic is better and the unit interfaces easier with your computer. It also lets you filter/ control background noise better.
The Zoom H4 looks cooler- and costs much less. (Around $300). But it's a touch trickier to figure out how to use its features.
Then there's the smaller ZOOM H-2. It's basically a microphone recorder. Cost: around $200. Great if you don't have much money. It works great- but is made of mostly plastic. But it works!
(To find out more online, you might to go a place like ZZ SOUNDs (www.zzsounds.com ) and type in these models in their "search" features.)
5) After you get one, I suggest you by a large SD card with several gigs of memory.
This is because I recommend you record in WAV. Don't record in MP3 mode.Oddly, their mp3 setting can at times still give you that tinty warbly mp3 sound. (Yes- even when it's even at 160kbps)
Record in "wav." It's cleaner and you'll get a predictable sound. Record in mp3 and it might sound a little "tinty."
There are digital recorders like the Marantz that can cost from $500 to $800. They don't offer any better sound. Just many more neat "features and bells and whistles" that you don't really need.
--Rick McConnell
(Articles provided by Rick McConnell. Starting in Christian Radio in 1978, he has been doing voice overs since 1986 through his company, Monumental Studios in Denver Colorado. Find out more about the Imaging Package called "Airshow", Voice and Production Depot and more, by CLICKING HERE)
