Topic: Zoom H1 or Yamaha W24 or ..?

[Ach3r0n]

I'm looking for a small, user-friendly recorder w/ quality on-board mics for indoor and outdoor concerts, as well as smaller venues (e.g. live music clubs).  I was considering the Zoom H1 or Yamaha W24, though I'm open to other suggestions also.  Thanks for any help/advice you can offer.

A couple things I am also curious about:

- What effect will the difference in mic placement have?  I noticed there is a space in between the Yamaha mics, whereas Zoom has one above the other.
- Is an X/Y configuration the right way to go for my needs or should I be looking at a different type of configuration?

[aaronji]

What kind of music?

Personally, I doubt the built-ins on either of those recorders will give really great results (but maybe sufficient for your needs).  Both may be prone to overload at high SPL.  For a fairly modest increase in cash outlay (~$50) compared to the W24 ($299.99 on B&H), you could get a Sony PCM-M10 (~$200) and a Church UGLY battery box and CA-14 mic package ($149.99).  You will probably get much better recordings and will have considerably more flexibility... 

[F.O.Bean]

What kind of music?

Personally, I doubt the built-ins on either of those recorders will give really great results (but maybe sufficient for your needs).  Both may be prone to overload at high SPL.  For a fairly modest increase in cash outlay (~$50) compared to the W24 ($299.99 on B&H), you could get a Sony PCM-M10 (~$200) and a Church UGLY battery box and CA-14 mic package ($149.99).  You will probably get much better recordings and will have considerably more flexibility... 

[Ach3r0n]

Thanks for the quick reply.

Varied types of music, but mostly all some type of rock.  I would be recording from up near the stage btw.  I don't need great results as it will just be for personal use, but I would like results good enough that they are still enjoyable to listen to.  I'll check out the CA Ugly/mic package and M10.  I only see the CA-10 and 11 on their website.  Do you have a link to the package?  Thanks again.

Thanks to you also Bean.  I see that's 2 votes for M10 and CA-14 mic.  I'll definitely check out those samples also.

[jibooer]

http://taperssection.com/index.php?topic=141135.0

this is a link for chris's packages

[TimeBandit]

 i ran the Pocketrak CX before the Tascam DR07 and yes the onboard mics harm to overload, but they are quite good maybe on Events where the SPL is limited to around 100db this is a quite good recorder.

It can run very long on one AA Eneloop battery, and when you switch it off, its is really OFF - The Zoom had a bit issue, when switched of it took the battery out of juice, maybe they fixed it now with update.

Pro Zoom: it can do seamless recording for 2 GB file split, the yamaha can´t (all manuals say it need 2 seconds), so the 24 / 96 Mode on the Yamaha W24 is rather useless for concert recordings. or maybe has to tested out with an fast SDHC memory card - before recording some important things.

[aaronji]

^^^ A max of 100 dB SPL is sort of useless for recording many rock shows, which can easily top that.

Also, there are lots of options other than the PCM-M10/Church stuff I mentioned above.  I just thought that set-up would provide good quality for not much more than the cost of the W24...

[Ach3r0n]

Regardless of recorder, based on the replies and some other posts I have read since, those CA-14 mics seem pretty popular for this application.  I think I waited too long to snag them for this months' concert, but I'll probably pick them up shortly anyway so I have them next time around.  I appreciate all the feedback.  I was looking to keep it under $500 so aaronji, that was a good suggestion.

Bean: just listened to Falling or Flying (my fav GP song) and I would be quite happy with that quality for my personal use.  I realize that's open though.

What about something with a good built-in preamp?  Anything affordable and portable?

[aaronji]

^^^ With a budget of around $500, you'll have some more options.  You might consider a small pre-amp (such as the Church Audio 9100 or 9200 or the Naiant Tinybox); although the built-in pre on the PCM-M10 is pretty quiet you might want to run line-in with an external pre.  You'll also have some additional flexibility with mics (for example both card and omni CA-14s are available as a package or maybe the MM-HLSC-1 cards from Microphone Madness or the Audio Technica's from Sound Professionals)...