Topic: Noob question, choice of a recorder : Roland R-05, Tascam Dr-2D or Zoom H2 ?

[Trangsene]

Hello,

My first post here.
I'm searching for a good not too expensive solution to record live performance and I'm very puzzled.
My first choice was the Zoom H2. The built-in quality looks very poor but I hear some recordings with the internal mics and found them really good.

For better qulity I'm really hesitating with the Tascam DR-2D and the Roland R-05.
The Tascam seems interesting for being to record 2 files at the same time to avoid peeks. I didn't understand if it makes battery life shorter or not. Is it good enough for 2 hours recording in dual mode ?
The Roland seems quite easy to use, the "Rehearsal" button seems handy to adjust level of recording and the buttons at the back of the recorder, very pratical to make some adjustments without having to use the menus on the screen.
I'm also ready to buy an external mic to have better results.

If someone could give me some advice to choose one of these it would be very nice.
Thanks in advance.

[jbell]

I would get a sony pcm m10!  Great battery life and very reliable

[Trangsene]

I should have specified I've looked at the Sony which looks great but it is above my budget !

[jbell]

With the recorders you have listed I would save up some more cash and get an M10.  $229 at B&H

[darby]

With the recorders you have listed I would save up some more cash and get an M10.  $229 at B&H

I agree... I did buy a DR-2d for the 4 channel features, but it crapped out after the first use
I should be receiving the replacement this week, so I really can't comment much on it other than the crappy battery life compared to the M10

[flintstone]

Also consider the Olympus LS-7, about $169 delivered from Datavision
http://www.datavis.com/cgi-bin/product.cgi?prrfnbr=586409

The LS-7 has excellent build quality, very long battery life, a reasonably quiet preamp (R-05 a little better in this regard), and no more bass roll-off when using the built-in mics.

[Will_S]

The battery life of the DR2D is not as good as the Sony M10, but the two hours you require is no problem - with the latest firmware I feel confident about getting 4:30 per charge out of NiMH in good condition.  The dual mode is very handy for safety, or if you cwn also get a line feed from a mixer etc for a 4 track recording.

[earmonger]

Are you in the US, where you can get the PCM-M10 from B&H as above? Or in Europe, where others have suggested the R-05 is the affordable choice. There's a very thorough thread on the R-05 here:

http://taperssection.com/index.php?topic=140726.0

[Trangsene]

Are you in the US, where you can get the PCM-M10 from B&H as above? Or in Europe, where others have suggested the R-05 is the affordable choice. There's a very thorough thread on the R-05 here:

http://taperssection.com/index.php?topic=140726.0

Thanks for your answers.
I'm in Europe.
I've found the Tascam DR-2D at a special price 220$ with the shipping costs from US.
In France the Roland R-05 is around 255$ and the Sony PCM-M10 470$ !

I've read the topic about the Roland but it's a little too technical for me 

I wish I could find more tests like this : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=52efPmB6ECA
I don't care if the test is not technically well done, it allows me to hear the difference with a same source recorded with internal mics, and for me the Zoom H2, in this video, seems to gives the best result (more detailed sound).

I hope I'll have even better with a more expensive recorder ! 

[techgui]

I have a DR-2d, and I'm very happy with it.  The Sony has better battery life, but the Tascam has much more flexibility.  the Tascam has cards rather than omni's, so better stereo separation.  Also, you can record both from internal mic's and external mic or sound board.  I'm getting more than 4 hrs from rechargeables.

[tailschao]

I thought it was quite well established that the Zoom H2 has the best internal microphone performance of all recorders in a similar price range (including the M10, as far as I know).

If you use an external microphone into the Zoom H2 Microphone input, the quality is poor because for some reason the built in pre-amps when using the Mic In are poor. They perform fine when using the internal mics, but not when using mic in.

However, if you get an external mic and external preamp and run line-in into the H2, there's no problem. I've been using that setup for 3 years, I'm totally happy with it.

There is a lot of Zoom hate on these boards (and a lot of Sony M10 worship). The build quality of the Zoom H1 is terrible - the H2 is absolutely fine.

If you're not going to get an external mic straight away, then get an H2 and use the internals while you save up money for an external mic and external pre-amp. If you will get a recorder and external mic now (with no external pre-amp) then get one of the others - don't use an external mic with the H2 without an external pre-amp also. If you will get a recorder, external mics and external pre-amp now then get any recorder you like. But if you are planning on using internal mics, I'd get an H2.

[Trangsene]

Maybe you're the wisest tailschao, after all I'm completly new at this and I think it will be better to make my education with the Zoom H2 for a start instead of dreaming right now at expensive stuff 

Thanks again for your answers

[jamroom]

I use external mics (CA11 / CA14) and CA9100 pre. I replaced my Edirol R09 with the Roland R05 and I'm very happy with it and it's 24/96 capability. If you have any specific non-internal mic questions, ask away.

I'm in the UK and bought mine from Dolphin Music for the equivalent of €214. I have seen it cheaper on the web. Perhaps it's a French tax thing?

[nl]

On the French version of thomann.de the Zoom H2 is €166, the Roland R-05 €199 and the Tascam DR-2d €282. I think there is free shipping on orders of €199 and over, otherwise it is a flat €10. My French sucks so don't take my word for it...

I don't have any experience with the Tascam but I do own the H2 and R-05. The H2 really is a piece of crap. OK, the internals are decent at moderate volume but any set of eternal mics will be way better. The line in is too sensitive, the mic in is too noisy and to make matters worse, both of these jacks fail easily.

The Roland R-05 is better quality, the only thing I don't like about it is the layout of the buttons. I did try the internal mics once and I thought it sounded decent enough but for any serious taping you really should invest in some good mics. Battery life is awesome, in my unscientific test I got something like 16 hours on rechargeables.

My Marantz PMD620 is still my go to recorder though, especially since it can power all of mics just fine without a battery box (Sennheiser MKE-2 with 4.7K mod, CA-11 cards/omni's, CAFS), even at the super loud metal shows I tape.

[tom.lac]

Hi,

I had the same questions about which first recorder to buy.
Finally, as I am in France too, I bought a R-05 at about 190€ (via internet)
I hope I could help you

Cheers

Tom