RTP-area local music and culture

["Calvin Powers" <calvin AT cspowers.com>]

On 11/6/06, Koegler, Robert <Koegler AT ncssm.edu> wrote:
> Hello All,
>
>
>
> So, I want to get a portable recorder to record band rehearsals, shows
> (either from the mixing board or via a mic), and interviews.  I'd like
> them to sound pretty good, so this means recording at a pretty good
> sampling rate, bit rate, whatever.  What I'd prefer is an iPod that is
> set-up for recording but I don't want to try and hack an older one. Re:
> minidiscs--the older ones seem to require going Digital-Analog-Digital
> to get stuff onto the computer, and the newer fancier ones (Sony MZ100
> or MZM200) cost $300 and $400.  The Edirol R09 costs $400.  I know
> there's some other MP3 recorders out there like Archos, but I don't have
> enough info about them. It would be nice if I could also use it for
> other listening pleasure (like MP3's).


I have an edirol r-9. I like it.  I use it to record interviews and shows
for my podcast. I'm not an expert in sound engineering any more than I'm
expert at photography. I'm more of a point-and-record guy. But it's sounded
ok for my modest needs.

You can listen to an example of a show I recorded here.
http://cspowers.livejournal.com/173515.html. It's Junior Brown and Randy
Whit at the Cat's Cradle. I set up my recorder right in front of the sound
booth, adjusted the recording levels once at the beginning and just let it
go. Like I said, I'm no sound engineer, but I'm happy with the sound.

Good sampling/bit rate


44.1kHz or 48.0KHz Sample rate.
Formats:
WAV-24bit
WAV-16bit
MP3-320bps
MP3-224bps
MP3-192bps
MP3-160bps
MP3-128bps
MP3-96bps
MP3-64bps


Line in and Line out


Has Line in and mic-in and a line out


Easy to get stuff off and onto the computer w/out having to go
> Digital-Analog-Digital


connects to pc via standard A/B USB cable. Shows up in Wndows XP as a hard
drive. Drag and drop into Windows. I assume it works that way for Mac too.

It also uses standard SD  memory cards so you can take the card out and pop
it into an SD card reader.

Good, intuitive interface


not bad. I have some gripes but I had the whole thing figured out in 1/2
hour of playing with it.


Good battery life


hmm, two AA batteries seem to only last about 2-3 hours. I always start
recording a show with a fresh set. Also comes with an A/C adapter.


Maybe an internal mic preamp


Dunno about that. But it lets you adjust the recording levels and also has
an automatic gain control you can turn on (but my experience with that has
been mixed). It also has a "high gain/low gain" switch. Low gain seems to
work for interviews when the subject is very close and high gain is needed
when the subject is far away.


Could use as an MP3 player


You can plug in headphones to line out and play things you've recorded. I
assume you could drag MP3 files to it when it's connected to the PC and then
listen to them. But it doesn't really have a menu system for browsing the
files and picking them and playing them.


$250 or less


Nope. more like 300-400.