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Gear / Technical Help => Ask The Tapers => Topic started by: ottomustaine on November 26, 2017, 10:05:25 AM
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Request recommendations for a digital recorder. I have been using a Tascam iM2 with iPhone 5, and am ready to graduate to better gear that can take stealth mics, but on a strict budget.
First criteria is no more than $200 for the recorder. I'm sure I can get a vastly better recorder for $50 more or whatever, but one has to set parameters. If I could just figure out how to use stealth mics w/ the iPhone, I wouldn't even buy a recorder, because you can always get an iPhone into a venue. I've been looking at the Zoom H4nSP and Tascam DR-40, but will consider others.
Second criteria is the recorder must work with Core Sound binaurals or cardioids, though I welcome recommendations for other stealth mics on a similar budget.
Finally, I actually don't much care about having 4 tracks, as I am not likely to spend much time mixing them except in extreme cases. So if there is some extremely good 2 track recorder that would take stealth mics and be an improvement over the iM2, then I welcome recommendations. But I don't mind spending $200, either.
Also, any recommendations about ancillary gear (pre-amp, battery box or whatever) would be appreciated. I don't fully understand what all I'll need to go along with the stealth mics. Basically, assume I am ignorant as hell (because I am).
Many thanks in advance.
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If you can find a Roland R-05, I'd recommend that plus a simple battery box (you could snag the Cyber Monday deal from Church Audio for one of his boxes...but be aware of the thread about CA shipping in the retail forum). If you can't find an R-05, maybe a Tascam DR-05 or DR-40 (I know you don't care about 4 channels, but the dual recording function could be great when stealthing).
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The DR-40 is too big for stealth (trust me, I had one.) Traded it in for a DR-05 and never looked back. Great deck for the price.
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DR-40 is a great unit and I personally can stealth it, but it does not have an 1/8" input. I got my Tascam DR-22WL new at Adorama for $81.50. I would keep an eye out for a deal like that. i also got my DR-40 for $159 and it came with a Sound Forge d/l that I sold for $50. DR-05 would also be fine unless you are taking a hot signal line in, which doesn't sound like what you are doing.
You should definitely be able to find something for under $200.
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Used Tascam Dr2d pop up around here with regularity for $150 or less. Small and easy to use but also with a full feature set.
The Sony M10 is also very popular - they have been popping up used quite a bit lately. Good onboard preamp and stellar battery life but closer to the $200 mark.
I recommend getting a battery box to power your mics if you don't have one. The plug in power provided by most recorders is inadequate. The exception - in my limited experience with small PiP mics - is the Marantz PMD620. It provides 5V of power which is enough for a lot of small mics. I would just bite the bullet and pony up the $ for a SP battery box that runs off 9V.
Decide what you want and put out an ISO thread in the Yard Sale section here. You can save money buying used.
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Used Tascam Dr2d pop up around here with regularity for $150 or less. Small and easy to use but also with a full feature set.
The Sony M10 is also very popular - they have been popping up used quite a bit lately. Good onboard preamp and stellar battery life but closer to the $200 mark.
I recommend getting a battery box to power your mics if you don't have one. The plug in power provided by most recorders is inadequate. The exception - in my limited experience with small PiP mics - is the Marantz PMD620. It provides 5V of power which is enough for a lot of small mics. I would just bite the bullet and pony up the $ for a SP battery box that runs off 9V.
Decide what you want and put out an ISO thread in the Yard Sale section here. You can save money buying used.
Seconding all of that, especially the need for a battery box. Doesn't matter which one, but having 9v of power for your mics is going to make way more difference than which recorder you have.
Also, IMHO as a longtime Core Sound mic user, the binaurals are fine but the low-cost cards have really crappy bass compared to other similar cardioid mics.