Topic: Yamaha Pocketrak

[tedzepplin]

Has anyone use one of these? Do the internal mics sound good for recording a loud band?

[NOLAfishwater]

I would stay away from using those internal mics for any recording except for speech. For a little more than that, you could get everything you need from this board.

used recorder:$125
http://taperssection.com/index.php/topic,105311.0.html

new preamp + cardiod and omni microphones: $289
http://taperssection.com/index.php/topic,90474.0.html

right angle mini to min plug. Chris Church will build you one if you order those mics and preamp from him.

lightweight microphone stand: $40
http://www.mpex.com/browse.cfm/4,4729.htm

mount for mini microphones: $40
http://www.soundprofessionals.com/cgi-bin/gold/item/SP-GNA-3

thread adapter for mic stand to be compatible with your mount: $2
http://www.soundprofessionals.com/cgi-bin/gold/item/SP-3858-ADAPTER

good luck.

[tedzepplin]

I would stay away from using those internal mics for any recording except for speech. For a little more than that, you could get everything you need from this board.

used recorder:$125
http://taperssection.com/index.php/topic,105311.0.html

new preamp + cardiod and omni microphones: $289
http://taperssection.com/index.php/topic,90474.0.html

right angle mini to min plug. Chris Church will build you one if you order those mics and preamp from him.

lightweight microphone stand: $40
http://www.mpex.com/browse.cfm/4,4729.htm

mount for mini microphones: $40
http://www.soundprofessionals.com/cgi-bin/gold/item/SP-GNA-3

thread adapter for mic stand to be compatible with your mount: $2
http://www.soundprofessionals.com/cgi-bin/gold/item/SP-3858-ADAPTER

good luck.

All the things you listed might cost just a little more and sound better but I'm hoping for a small all-in-one unit.

I've got a Zoom H2 and the quality of the recordings is good enough for me. But I saw that the Pocketrak is smaller which is something I would like. It has a small speaker which would be good for me when I'm using it to record my band practice - the speaker would let me double check to make sure something got recorded or to play back several newly recorded guitar riffs in order to quickly pick the best one.  I know a cheap voice recorder can do that at a lower quality of recording but it would be great if I had one recorder that could do all that plus have internal mics that are good enough for recording band practice or a band from the audience without having to set up mics, mic stands, cables, preamps, power supplies.  My Zoom H2 fits in my front shirt pocket with the mic sticking out the top and records with an acceptable quality. 

So, it's the smaller size and built in speaker that interests me in the Pocketrak.

You say you would only record speech with the Pocketrak. Have you tried recording a live band with it? was the quality worse than a Zoom H2?
thanks

[flintstone]

Here's the original TS thread on this recorder
http://taperssection.com/index.php/topic,97238.0.html

Looking at the specs, three items jump out:
-- records for 9 hours on one AAA 
-- has no removable flash memory, just 2 GB built in 
-- records WAV at 16/44.1 only, also MP3   

As the earlier thread points out, Yamaha has licensed this
recorder from Sanyo.  There are 2GB, 4GB and 8GB Sanyos
sold in Japan, and available on eBay.

Flintstone

[tedzepplin]

Here's the original TS thread on this recorder
http://taperssection.com/index.php/topic,97238.0.html

Looking at the specs, three items jump out:
-- records for 9 hours on one AAA 
-- has no removable flash memory, just 2 GB built in 
-- records WAV at 16/44.1 only, also MP3   

As the earlier thread points out, Yamaha has licensed this
recorder from Sanyo.  There are 2GB, 4GB and 8GB Sanyos
sold in Japan, and available on eBay.

Flintstone

Thanks. I read that thread a few days ago. It was mostly people commenting about the recorder without anyone actually having used it.

I was hoping that maybe someone who has tried one might be able to comment on the quality of the recordings the internal mics make.

yeah more memory like the japanese Sanyo version would be better.
WAV at 16/44.1 is fine with me as I'm going to burn these files to an audio CD. Longer battery life is always a better thing but I'll never record a nine hour long concert without a break in which I can switch out batteries.

[sunjan]

Thanks. I read that thread a few days ago. It was mostly people commenting about the recorder without anyone actually having used it.

I was hoping that maybe someone who has tried one might be able to comment on the quality of the recordings the internal mics make.

These are the only real life reviews I've seen so far, but the tests weren't made in a concert situation:
http://forums.musicplayer.com/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=1952896
http://www.musictechmag.co.uk/mtm/reviews/pocketrak-2g

Unless you're totally paranoid, there's no need to pay a premium for the small size. I'm with NOLA here.
If you're dead set about an all-in-one, an R-09 with Church-modded internals are just as stealthable, and much better value. Use your jedi powers!

[flintstone]

Unfortunately, the Pocketrak preamp has a high self-noise level (lots of background hiss), in comparison with other recorders at the $350 price point.  So it's not the first choice if you're trying to make high quality recordings of live music.

There's a point where a recorder becomes too small to easily operate its controls.  I think the Pocketrak is a good example of this, at least for my fingers.  I could work the controls only by taking it out and looking at it.  That's not good if you're looking for a stealth unit.

Flintstone