Hi All,
I wonder if you can help me with some specifics. I am recording off camera (dslr video shoot on canon 5dmkii). I already have a small location mixer which I will continue to run my 416, sony lavaliers and my hypercardioid condenser through for the most part. I have looked at the tascam dr100, sony m10, the zoom h4n and the marantz pmd 661.
There is no point recommending more expensive decks to me right now, I can't afford them, but within that selection I have a few questions.
The Zoom has nicer sounding in built stereo mics, so occasionally recording a bit of stereo wild track/buzz track (cars crossing left to right in the stereo image etc) becomes a quick and easy option! However I have read some concerning things about it being noisy when using external mics, having consumer line level in etc. There is an option on the Twelco mixer to output an unbalanced signal at a level 3db lower than balanced using a TA 5 connector. I could make up a couple of cables to run line level to the 1/4" inputs into the bottom of the zoom and that might solve that issue. In addition, I could even occasionally run the signal from the mixer to the 1/8" mini jack and then I free up the two connections at the bottom and hey presto(!): 4 impromptu channels (am i right!?). I don't anticipate using this option a great deal since most of my film recording is one source at a time, the bread and butter work.
This is a wonky kind of versatility which is a bit more than I need right now, but might be worth trying. Otherwise I think it's a case of going for a marantz pmd661 which is a more solid option in many ways (mono facility, pro level line inputs etc.). I can just about stretch to a marantz for only a bit more than the tascam dr100 at the moment, so I have not thought about that option, as nice as it is.
Then I started to look at the sony pcm m10 (and a similar olympus)and heard that they are really clean sounding and have a reasonable internal mic for the once in a while I might want to make those wild tracks I mentioned. They are nice and small too so you could rig it up on a presenter with a lavalier as a dropout proof belt pack or hide it in shot once in a while(!). That and the fact that once I can output from the mixer through that previously mentiones output, I am getting good audio through the mixer so it puts less importance on what recorder I am going to be using because the pre-amps, limiter etc on the Twelco are so good.
Has anyone had any experience using these recorders in these ways? I know I am pushing the envelope of the original purpose of these recorders, but essentially I am trying to make my three hundred quid purchase as versatile a one as possible.
Maybe I need to just get that good deal on the marantz - after all, I guess part of doing sound recording jobs is not looking too hare brained and fly-by-night (no joke here!!) and the marantz is a solid unit.
Anyone have any experience to offer - I'd be grateful to canvas opinion on this one.
As you can tell, whatever I decide to get I'll exploit to its full potential (and become frustrated with the shortcomings I discover - as always!!), but I can't guarantee I'll be going out and getting another recorder any time soon since getting one at all is a bit of a stretch right now.
Topic: affordable location recorder for use with a mixer (Twelco 3ch stereo) (Read 4148 times)