Topic: Best digital recorder under $150

[DaveH]

Yes, it went up a little. After thinking about it, it made more sense to put in a few extra bucks and not be sitting there a few months from now cursing myself out. This is exactly what happened with the mini disc and to a lesser extent the giant squid mics. I think I should finally be set; CA-1 mics, church audio bat 2b battery box and the sony pcm-m10. Of course I heard the battery box is optional depending on the genre.

[ArchivalAudio]

Your budget was $194.95. 

great you budget increased to over $150 - I think you'll be very happy!
 

[DaveH]

Just wanted to add I taped my first show yesterday worth the pcm-m10 and CA-1 mics. It was my daughters band concert and even without a battery box the sound is quite amazing. I have her chorus concert next week and possibly the high school band on sunday. Looking forward to it all, thanks for all the help and input.

[andromedanwarmachine]

Wow- that's great!!

I'm glad it's worked out for you in the end...

[PeteJE]

Just wanted to add I taped my first show yesterday worth the pcm-m10 and CA-1 mics. It was my daughters band concert and even without a battery box the sound is quite amazing. I have her chorus concert next week and possibly the high school band on sunday. Looking forward to it all, thanks for all the help and input.

Congrats.  Great purchase, best value at that price point and your didn't have to break the orig. budget too badly. 

[DaveH]

Suffice to say, I'm quite happy with the two concerts I recorded thus far. The second one was my daughters chorus concert so I had to set it on ten for the majority of the show. Of course the applause between songs goes over but the actual performance is quite good. Both shows I was able to run the CA-1 into the mic in, the band performance was set with the limiter on.
This brings up another question, I already have a Church Audio battery box. Would there be any need to look into one of his preamps? My recording tastes vary from bluegrass, country to metal, and of course school concerts. I'm bouncing between the idea of a preamp, a pair of cards (CA-14), or getting hit upside the head by my wife for spending too much money as is. I know chris is running some great sales until the end of the month, so it's something to consider.

[Hypnocracy]

I have a Church Pre - CA9100. I'm very happy with it...but I run a rockboxed iRiver...it doesn't have (much) of a mic preamp section...nowhere near that of the Sony if I was to guess...that said I did distort/overdrive the old Sony D8 mic Preamp with some lower sensitivity Nak Microphones back in the day...

Advantages:
Replaces Batterybox
Extra gain in low volume settings (acoustic music)
I feel that Chris uses better components in his Pre vs what goes into a $200 all in one...so better sound

Disadvantages:
Teh Wife's happiness...or lack of
Money spent on better microphones is usually better spent there than what comes behind it in the chain....

[andromedanwarmachine]

"Money spent on better microphones is usually better spent there than what comes behind it in the chain...."

really?- you think so? Would you always budget for the highest quality Mic affordable...?

And then spend less on the gear...?

JimP

[12milluz]

"Money spent on better microphones is usually better spent there than what comes behind it in the chain...."

really?- you think so? Would you always budget for the highest quality Mic affordable...?

And then spend less on the gear...?

JimP

Yeah I wouldn't agree with that completely either. Good mics and a decent preamp can sound amazing, but great mics and a shitty preamp can sound pretty bad.