Topic: Looking to record live shows - need a solid portable device

[deadjim]

So far I'm liking the ZOOM h4 or even the Sony PCMD50.. However, I have yet to order a device  I am only researching.

Basically I'm looking to record live shows of local bands, professionally, and am looking for a solid device. Preferably I'd like to use built-in mics. I will be holding the device and would prefer not to hold a mic. However if I go the Mic route, I'd assume any regular recording device would work as long as it could record the frequency I'd need as well be phantom powered. So I'd like to know what experienced users here have to recommend as far as portable recording. I'd like a nice fat solid sound, free of distortion, that captures a wide range of frequencies, in order to reproduce the live sound as accurately as possible

If anybody has any suggestions I'd greatly appreciate it! Thanks

[ArchivalAudio]

if you need the digital in the D-50 is fine
otherwise get s M-10

[deadjim]

I'm not sure if I like the mic placement on the M-10, but I'm adding it to the list of ones to look into. Thanks. The specifications on the two are nearly identical..

[aaronji]

Basically I'm looking to record live shows of local bands, professionally, and am looking for a solid device. Preferably I'd like to use built-in mics. I will be holding the device and would prefer not to hold a mic.

If I were in your shoes, I would scrap the idea of hand-holding and consider a stand or a tripod.  You'll get some handling noise and probably some movement issues holding it that you could eliminate in that way...I would also consider external mics.  You'll have more flexibility with a stereo pair (in terms of placement, polar pattern and configuration) than you will with built-ins.

As for solidity, the PCM-D50 is pretty well put together...

[TimeBandit]

3 advices for good reasonable. rig:

1. pcm-m10 + ext. preamp + mics
2. pcm-m10 + ext. preamp + mics
3. pcm-m10 + ext. preamp + mics

If you want to use  the internals use a tripod or something you can store safely the recorder. so it stays safe, no grabbling noise on the record and good sound.

trying to hold a recorder with internals with your hand on just one same position, i bet you´re calling the doctor because of stressed hand and arm after doing it for an hour or how long the event goes ;-)

[jbell]

I agree with the sony pcm m10 along with an external pre and mics!!  If you plan on using the internal mics on a recorder I would go with the D50. 

[F.O.Bean]

I agree with the sony pcm m10 along with an external pre and mics!!  If you plan on using the internal mics on a recorder I would go with the D50. 

[owainturner]

I agree... From my experiance you're recordings will be somewhere in the region of infinatley better with external mics + preamp... If you're lookin' at on-body, low-key recording CA-CAFS and UGLY with a M10 is mega and will turn out better than the internals of those devices.

[aaronji]

Really, you probably won't even need a pre for most situations.  A small, inexpensive battery box will do the trick nicely with a decent recorder, such as the M10...

[deadjim]

No vouchers for the Tascam DR-100? Looks comparable to the M10 as far as specs, but with decent internals - omni and cardiod, xlr inputs, phantom power. thoughts?

[aaronji]

^^^ I don't have any personal experience with the DR-100, but from what I have read (here and elsewhere), there are some issues with battery life and the pres aren't that great.  I have also read about some build quality issues.  Sort of big compared to something like the M10 or R09HR too.

Like I said, not from personal experience, so take it with the necessary grain of salt...

[techgui]

No vouchers for the Tascam DR-100? Looks comparable to the M10 as far as specs, but with decent internals - omni and cardiod, xlr inputs, phantom power. thoughts?

I would consider the Tascam Dr-2d.  The internals are cards and it brings some unique advantages to the table.  Like you can record dual stereo tracks with it.  You can record with the internal mics and external stereo mics / line input simultaneously to dual stereo tracks.  Battery life is about 5 to 6 hrs.  I just use rechargeables. 

[TimeBandit]

Dr-2d with newest firmware has nice running time too. if you want to do multichannel (SBD pull + internal mics) maybe thats a choice. or just being safe with the backup recording mode, you record with "hot" gain" and the recorder does simultanous recording of another track but -6 db lower.

[yltfan]

Basically I'm looking to record live shows of local bands, professionally, and am looking for a solid device.

What do you mean "professionally"?

[deadjim]

Basically I'm looking to record live shows of local bands, professionally, and am looking for a solid device.

What do you mean "professionally"?

Meaning I record their live shows for a price and they (the band) get a decent quality sounding recording as well as video if they choose. By professionally I just mean "not amateur" but I won't be charging an arm and a leg either, so I'm not going all out