Topic: Zoom H1 for around $100, or....?

[tailschao]

-Line In.
-No limiter/AGC/anything like that.
-Record in 24 Bit. 44.1 KHz or 48 KHz is up to you. 44.1 is CD standard so it might be easier/faster to post-produce than dithering 48 down. Either way you will have to convert from 16 to 24 - but there is a good reason to do that. I record in 24/48 but that's just because I like whole numbers...
-Recording Level totally depends on the volume at the show. Eventually you will be able to roughly guess based on experience with your gear and listening to the support act, but for now - switch gear on during support act, experiment with levels (and look at them). Try to get them peaking at -10dB ish. Leave them in place. When headline act comes on, check your levels again - if they look OK still (and the volume in the room sounds the same as support act), put the deck away and leave it alone. You don't have to monitor levels constantly, but you will have to check at least once at the start of the show. Recording in 24 Bit allows you to be more careful with your levels and set them lower to be sure against clipping. The 24 Bit increases the dynamic range of the recording so you can boost the volume in post-production with fewer problems than 16 Bit.
-Sensitivity - no idea, but I'd guess it's not relevant/used if you're using Line In.
-24/48 takes roughly 1GB per hour, 24/44.1 slightly less - but only slightly. Internal space is 4GB I believe.

[marsev]

thanks tailschao.

i'm printing this stuff out and taking it with me.

[earmonger]

AGC is a definite no-no but it doesn't hurt to put the Limiter on. Callahan is relatively quiet but you never know when there will be a huge spike.

[marsev]

thanks again earmonger. i'm guessing the limiter is independent from the Rec Level.
the limiter just prevents spikes?

if i have an extra memory card in, does the M10 record to the card first?
do I select where it goes via the menu?

is it easy to know where the data is stored (internal or card)?

i'm not a total dummy, just trying to prepare. when i have the M10 in hand,
i'm sure many things will be obvious.

"levels peaking at -10dB ish" is superb info. i've never, ever concerned myself with levels before.

[cybergaloot]

You'll hear some people say to set the levels so they just hit the 0dB level. This would be wrong, go for the -10dB as previously stated. The reason is the meter on a digital recorder stops at 0dB for a reason, that is when the digital "word" is full. If you are running 24 bit, all 24 bits are used up. Its a brickwall. In old analog recorders the practice was to let the needle go past 0dB occasionally and that idea is stuck in some people's heads.

[earmonger]

You tell the PCM-M10 where to store via the Memory choice in the Menu. It's very obvious.

Its format  puts 10 folders on the machine and 10 on the card. The folder button on the upper left chooses where the recordings are stored.

The recordings will be date-stamped as their filenames. Very easy to search via computer.

[marsev]

got the M10.

not clear on this - is the MIC SENS switch only for the internal mics?
i'm using externals, CA-11's.

so, should i be using HI or LOW mic sens (ATT)?

is there a good way to make sample recordings?
i'm making sound samples from my stereo, but my stereo is weak
(not comparable to a club PA, obviously).

earlier it was said to NOT use the limiter...but it sounds like a good idea
to me, based on reading the manual.

my first time dealing with levels, not sure if I have the hang of it.
-10 db should be the peak, what is the norm?

this is my last day to ask questions, going to the front lines for war tomorrow!

[aaronji]

^^^ The mic sensitivity switch is for internals or externals going into the mic input.  It doesn't affect the line input.  You'll probably want low, if you're going mic-in, unless it is a really quiet source...