Topic: New recorder needed! What to buy?

[chunga1]

Im done dinking with the ZoomH2
Jb3 is dead...... So..

I have $400 to spend any suggestions,
For a new recorder?
I have mics and battery box already..

It will be used for stealth recording

[chinariderstl]

My vote is for the Sony PCM-M10.  Best bang for the buck IMO.  I love mine, it's super easy to use, runs on AA's batteries and the battery life is unbelievable.  Has 4GB (I think) built in storage and you can add a MicroSD card for added storage.  Copy files directly to your PC via USB.

[F.O.Bean]

Without a doubt the Sony m10

[Scooter123]

I have two Sony M-10s

[tim in jersey]

Ditto the M-10.

[Myco]

^ Yup, what they've said. M-10 is the best pocket recorder I've used/owned.

[Ultfris101]

Love my M10

[F.O.Bean]

i also own 2 m10s and after winter ill be purchasing  3rd. a white one this time so i know which is which. i will have aq red/blqack/white m10s

[achalsey]

Roland R-05 is another good option to look at.  Its a bit smaller than the M10.  Might actually be easier to control while "undercover" too.  Big record button in the middle, input gain plus/minus next to it.  On the M10 all the buttons feel the same.  I've never stealthed though so take that opinion with a grain of salt.

I've owned both, and while I generally like the M10 more (it felt more solid and was just sleeker looking), I was totally happy with the R-05.  Pretty sure its up to the same general standards inside.

[ljsurfer2002]

my Nomad Jukebox 3 is long been relegated to the problem / back drawer. I did tape one show 3 years ago (my last show) with a rockbox'd iriver from 2006 or so.

I too was wondering what the 'current' state of HD recording hardware decks were for the kids these days. I was waiting for a mod to get cranky and point to a FAQ but it is good to see everyone pointing to a Sony PCM-M10 .. http://www.amazon.com/Sony-PCMM10-B-PCM-M10-Black/dp/B002R56C4O $250 isn't bad!

I'm surprised the 2010 fan favorite Zoom H4n wasn't mentioned. has it been surpassed in technology / pocketability by the Sony M10 ?

[F.O.Bean]

what kinda price is the r5 compared 2 the m10?

[ljsurfer2002]

what kinda price is the r5 compared 2 the m10?

http://www.amazon.com/Roland-R-05-Studio-WAVE-Recorder/dp/B003IJ3WIW 

Roland R-05 = $200

Sony M10 = $250

[achalsey]

what kinda price is the r5 compared 2 the m10?

Also with "cyber monday" coming up (is that what its called?) or black friday, they might be on sale again.  There was the batch of them this time last year for like 90 bucks new.  Thats when I got mine.

http://taperssection.com/index.php?topic=151494.0

Edit to add this from the above thread:

The onboard pre should be just fine.  While obviously not on the level of something like Sound Devices, TS member Pnoman and Avisoft did tests and have specs on the R-05 and they look pretty good.  Avisoft notes lower self-noise for the R-05 than the R-09HR, and Pnoman puts it on par with the Sony M10.

Roland R-05 test - http://taperssection.com/index.php?topic=140726.0

Avisoft chart - http://www.avisoft.com/recordertests.htm

[F.O.Bean]

for $50 extra, its a NO BRAINER! get the M10. not knocking the r5, but almost every feature is better on the m10, at least IMHO

[Fatah Ruark (aka MIKE B)]

If you can go a little higher than $400 you might be able to add a Naiant Tinybox (depending on your mics). The pre-amp in the M10 isn't bad, but the Tinybox is much nicer.

Getting both the M10 and Tinybox into a venue isn't an issue for me. The Tinybox is about 2/3 the size of the M10.

In regards to running the M10 undercover it is the best deck I've ever used for it. My favorite feature is being able to get it recording, flip the switch to 'hold' so I can't accidentally stop the recording and still have the ability to change levels. I'll usually get it rolling 5 minutes before showtime, set my levels to close to where I think they should be and then adjust them once the band comes on. Some people are afraid their levels might get changed in their pocket, but the knob is tight enough and protected by a piece of the case that wraps around it that I've never had that problem.

The battery life on the M10 is unreal. Factor that into your cost. I can record well over 10 sets of music without changing them.

[tgakidis]

The battery life on the M10 is unreal. Factor that into your cost. I can record well over 10 sets of music without changing them.

I recordered 12+ hours of a m10/tinybox combo at a festival side stage this past spring with one set of batteries.

[Popmarter]

M10! not enough space or channels? 2x M10.

[chunga1]

Wow... Thanks for push..
Been eyeing the M10...sweetwater has a good
Price and free shipping...
Probably buy it tomorrow...
Thanks just in time to record show on the 16th
Here is DC...

As long as this and it appears to be great for stealth..
Usually have to "sack" my stuff..

Is it smaller than the zoom h2?

[chunga1]

If you can go a little higher than $400 you might be able to add a Naiant Tinybox (depending on your mics). The pre-amp in the M10 isn't bad, but the Tinybox is much nicer.

Getting both the M10 and Tinybox into a venue isn't an issue for me. The Tinybox is about 2/3 the size of the M10.

In regards to running the M10 undercover it is the best deck I've ever used for it. My favorite feature is being able to get it recording, flip the switch to 'hold' so I can't accidentally stop the recording and still have the ability to change levels. I'll usually get it rolling 5 minutes before showtime, set my levels to close to where I think they should be and then adjust them once the band comes on. Some people are afraid their levels might get changed in their pocket, but the knob is tight enough and protected by a piece of the case that wraps around it that I've never had that problem.

The battery life on the M10 is unreal. Factor that into your cost. I can record well over 10 sets of music without changing them.

Running this:
SP-CMC-2(AT-831>SP-SPSB-1

So i could replace the battery box with the
Naiant? It cleaner, more powerful?

Also looking at their site could I get it
To accept the 1/4 or 1/8 jack adapter on my mics?
 I dont really need the 6 pin male feature..

[jbell]

^You can get 1/8 in/out on the Tinybox!! 

[colinw]

Lots of votes for the m10! A fine machine.

I have a couple of Tascam machines I have been running and had no issues with them.

a Tascam dr07mkii which is fine for 2 channels, and I have had good luck with it.
I also run a Tascam Dr-2d whcih allows for 4 channels which is handy if you want to grab a board patch as well as an ambient audience recording.

I run both with a Tinybox which will provide better results than the internal eletronic of either the Tascams or Sonys.

The tascam's are very inexpensive, can record up to 24 bit/98Khz, use SD or microSD cards, and the battery life seems very good. Not M10 good, but certainly enough for 2-4 long shows. THere are some ridiculous deals on the Tascams down around 100 and even under. The DR05 is another unit that I saw the other day for about $50.

Good luck with your purchase.

[chunga1]

been looking at picture of m10..

does it have "lock" switch, so the recording won't be stopped while  s t e a l t h i n g
a show?

[Ultfris101]

M10 does indeed have lock switch. If you push the power button the opposite direction of the way you power on and off it clicks into locked position. The gain level is a physical wheel that can still be changed, but the stop, play, record buttons, etc aren't active. However if you want to check levels or something when you push one of the buttons the backlight comes on for a short time allowing you to observe and also reminds you lock is on.

I'm new to taping and always use a church audio preamp with my M10 and I'm getting progressively better results as I gain experience. I  a lot and it's been a great setup.

Good luck. There are some really good options for this stuff out there right now. What an amazing time to be alive!

 

[fmaderjr]

The gain level is a physical wheel that can still be changed, but the stop, play, record buttons, etc aren't active.

If that is a worry for you, you can put a bit of gaffer's tape over the gain knob, but I find my M10's gain knob doesn't move accidentally on me and love the fact I don't have to take the M10 out of hold to change levels. 

[F.O.Bean]

been looking at picture of m10..

does it have "lock" switch, so the recording won't be stopped while  s t e a l t h i n g
a show?

There is a LOCK/HOLD for all the front buttoms, but the gain wheel DOES NOT lock. No biggie IMO at all

[Fatah Ruark (aka MIKE B)]

The gain level is a physical wheel that can still be changed, but the stop, play, record buttons, etc aren't active.

If that is a worry for you, you can put a bit of gaffer's tape over the gain knob, but I find my M10's gain knob doesn't move accidentally on me and love the fact I don't have to take the M10 out of hold to change levels.

Exactly!

I like that I know I can't accidentally stop the recording, but I can still change the levels without taking it off of hold.

Also there are 2 tiny green lights that indicate you're in the clear with the levels (I think they come on at -6) and 2 little red lights that come on at 0db. I just take a quick glance into my pocket and adjust the levels up or down quickly if needed. It usually so quick that it just looks like I'm checking my phone.

[runonce]

The gain level is a physical wheel that can still be changed, but the stop, play, record buttons, etc aren't active.

If that is a worry for you, you can put a bit of gaffer's tape over the gain knob, but I find my M10's gain knob doesn't move accidentally on me and love the fact I don't have to take the M10 out of hold to change levels.

Exactly!

I like that I know I can't accidentally stop the recording, but I can still change the levels without taking it off of hold.

Also there are 2 tiny green lights that indicate you're in the clear with the levels (I think they come on at -6) and 2 little red lights that come on at 0db. I just take a quick glance into my pocket and adjust the levels up or down quickly if needed. It usually so quick that it just looks like I'm checking my phone.

Cell phones have made the stealther's task much less daunting...these days everybody is looking at some flashing light...you'd never be noticed.

[F.O.Bean]

The gain level is a physical wheel that can still be changed, but the stop, play, record buttons, etc aren't active.

If that is a worry for you, you can put a bit of gaffer's tape over the gain knob, but I find my M10's gain knob doesn't move accidentally on me and love the fact I don't have to take the M10 out of hold to change levels.

Exactly!

I like that I know I can't accidentally stop the recording, but I can still change the levels without taking it off of hold.

Also there are 2 tiny green lights that indicate you're in the clear with the levels (I think they come on at -6) and 2 little red lights that come on at 0db. I just take a quick glance into my pocket and adjust the levels up or down quickly if needed. It usually so quick that it just looks like I'm checking my phone.

Cell phones have made the stealther's task much less daunting...these days everybody is looking at some flashing light...you'd never be noticed.

Great point!

[adrianf74]

As far as the level "wheel" moving; it's *NEVER* happened to me.  That thing is so stiff that I have to really force it to move (my friend's M10 is the same way).  I wouldn't worry about that.   The display isn't that noticeable compared to cell phones (as was mentioned).  The M10 is a dream machine (and that's why many people on here have two or three of them).

[acidjack]

Not to stop the train of unrepentant fluffage of the M10 (I own one), but IMHO other than the battery life, it's nothing THAT special in terms of the sound.  The Roland R-05, for example, is pretty comparable, and can sometimes be had for less.  It also doesn't have the level wheel and, if it works like the R-09HR, DOES NOT permit the levels to be changed if HOLD is on. If that's important to you, then the R-05 may be the better choice.

I actually preferred the layout of the Edirol R-09HR a bit to the M-10, in terms of the button layout, and I the R-05 is more similar to that.  Nice to just have a huge REC button you could hit, turn on HOLD, and leave it.  I prefer the M10's level meters, and the nice blinking green lights that show you're over -12/not overloading.  And the amazing battery life.

[F.O.Bean]

not true at all. u can change gain while on hold i sold my 722 and bought schoeps and 2 M10s. never looked back

[robeti]

Not to stop the train of unrepentant fluffage of the M10 (I own one), but IMHO other than the battery life, it's nothing THAT special in terms of the sound.  The Roland R-05, for example, is pretty comparable, and can sometimes be had for less.  It also doesn't have the level wheel and, if it works like the R-09HR, DOES NOT permit the levels to be changed if HOLD is on. If that's important to you, then the R-05 may be the better choice.

I actually preferred the layout of the Edirol R-09HR a bit to the M-10, in terms of the button layout, and I the R-05 is more similar to that.  Nice to just have a huge REC button you could hit, turn on HOLD, and leave it.  I prefer the M10's level meters, and the nice blinking green lights that show you're over -12/not overloading.  And the amazing battery life.

Seconded. I'm very happy with my R-05. When hold is on, levels can't be changed indeed. I think the R-05 if even better than the R-09HR. Also, in Europe the R-05 is way cheaper than the M-10.

[acidjack]

not true at all. u can change gain while on hold i sold my 722 and bought schoeps and 2 M10s. never looked back

I was referring to the Roland R-05 gain, Bean. I believe it locks when on hold, just like the R-09HR

[F.O.Bean]

not true at all. u can change gain while on hold i sold my 722 and bought schoeps and 2 M10s. never looked back

I was referring to the Roland R-05 gain, Bean. I believe it locks when on hold, just like the R-09HR

Ahh gotcha. I like being able to change gain while hold is on

[H₂O]

Best handheld in regards of sound quality (not considering the Sonosax minir82) is the Korg MR-1.  It also offers balanced inputs.

[swordfish]

Best handheld in regards of sound quality (not considering the Sonosax minir82) is the Korg MR-1.  It also offers balanced inputs.

I owned a Korg Mr1...nice equipment but with a battery life of about 3 hours at the most recording 16/44.1..that's at least my experience I had with the equipment...battery can only be recharged and not be replaced at the venue/spot...that's why I moved on to a M10/R09HR....

[H₂O]

I agree on the battery life of the mr-1 - I have always run mine on an external battery