Topic: Help choosing portable recorder w/ best quality from internal mics

[Chimney Top]

The Olympus LS series is good.  I would get the LS-100.  If it recorded 4 or more tracks simultaneously I would have bought that instead of the Roland R-26.

[LikeASong]

I would like to thank everyone for the suggestions, with your support and reading a couple of other threads, I finally took my decision.

Even though I would like the idea of M50 (and even more of M1) I couldn't get any decent deal this side of the pond, so M10, CA14 cards + CA11 omnis are on the way 

And now I have to start to learn how to get the best out of this equipment... but I've found the best forum for that

Happy taping to everybody

Max

I would have done it the other way round, CA11 cards and CA14 omnis. But well done anyway - you'll be a happy taper in no time

Why?  I think I read somewhere here that Chris thinks the new CA-11 omnis are better than the 14s? Curious to hear them...

Aaaahh I think it was Old CA11s, not the new CA11 Series-II!! Then it's a completely smart move yup

[ghiromax]

Happy to hear that my rationale taking the decision was correct, I've read so many posts in the last 10 days that I could have easily misunderstood something  ... 

I missed to mention it, but I have ordered the Ugly Battery Box as well 

[LikeASong]

You will start pulling amazing tapes in no time. Congrats

[Scooter123]

Best Recorder with Internal Mikes

Is like trying to select the best microwave that has the best built in toaster oven. 

The internals on all these machines are all crappy cheap ominis that probably cost the manufacturer $5.

That said, pick the recorder for the recording quality, not the internals, because I don't think there is a difference and you will get externals soon.

[LikeASong]

I don't agree with that, Scooter.

Are external mics better than the internal? Yes. Are DSLR cameras better than cameras built into phones? Yes. So what? You can still ask for the handheld recorder with the best internal microphones exactly the same as you can ask for the cell phone with the best camera. Maybe the opening poster doesn't need the bit of extra quality that the external mics would provide, exactly the same as most of us don't need the extra quality that DSLR cameras provide and stick with our cellphones for the day photography.

[Ozpeter]

The internals on all these machines are all crappy cheap ominis that probably cost the manufacturer $5.

  Not the case as far as the pickup pattern is concerned.  I suspect that the majority of built in mics are cardioid pattern, which is the only way you can get a worthwhile stereo image if the mics are closely spaced (inevitable with such devices).  There are some exceptions, eg the M10, which does use omnis, and suffers accordingly.

[Chrisedge]

Is anyone modifying an inexpensive recorder like the M10 with better mics? (And battery power?)

[earmonger]

Much better to invest in external mics than a mod. I suppose if you were putting the PCM-M10 on a tripod mounted high you would want top-of-the-range mics in there but if you're just holding it and pointing it at the sound, handling noise is going to be worse than imaging problems.

Ozpeter, I know you think the M10's omnis are too close for good stereo but:

1) isn't there a simple plugin to fix it and
2) I've actually gotten decent stereo imaging with them. They don't feel totally mono to me on headphone playback.

[dogmusic]

2) I've actually gotten decent stereo imaging with them. They don't feel totally mono to me on headphone playback.

I have to agree on this. I use the M10 a lot for recording ambience and odd sounds and jam sessions. The stereo image is great for my purposes -- not at all too narrow -- and the mics sound good, i.e., a fairly realistic capture with a lot of bottom end.

Maybe the M10 mics need a burning-in period, and users give up on them too soon.

[Ozpeter]

Yes, there is a plugin which can improve matters, but I'd rather have a correct stereo image from the outset.  Yes, the M10 has plenty of bottom end but low frequencies are captured in mono so they clump to the centre.  High frequencies are captured with more separation (all of this being what you'd expect from angled omnis closely spaced) and therefore the stereo image is skewed by frequency (high to edges, low to centre).   No, you can't modify the device to use cardioid mics because the whole mic housing is designed for omnis (no access to the rear of the capsule).  Yes, I bang on about this far too much! 

[dogmusic]

high to edges, low to centre

Sounds like a hit record to me.