Topic: Looking for a smaller recorder than my current Edirol R09

[AndyLGR]

I've been using an Edirol R09 for the last 6 years or so for stealth taping, but I was looking for something that was smaller in size,whilst still giving similar or better results and was relatively cheap.

Does anyone have any good suggestions for alternatives?

I use SP-CMC-4U cards and a sound professionals battery box with it through the line in if that makes any difference.

Thanks.

[yates7592]

Roland R-05, that deck is tiny, smaller than the M10 and cheaper as well.

[mec111272]

I have had good luck going line in from a UA-5 or CA-9100 to a yamaha c24 this thing is very small. 24-bit to boot. One AAA battery last the whole night.

http://usa.yamaha.com/products/music-production/recorders/pocketrak_c24/?mode=model

https://archive.org/details/furthur2012-07-05.e70.flac 

[Gutbucket]

Difficult to get a whole lot smaller.  Not sure, and not as common around here, but I think the Olympus recorders are narrower and thinner, may be the same length or a bit longer.  Check them out.

[TSNéa]

+1.
From this:
http://www.theatreofnoise.com/2010/04/sony-pcm-m10-versus-olympus-ls-10-ls-11.html
I decided to get an Olympus LS-5, which is more recent.

For some specs (dimensions, weight and EIN), see also:
http://www.theatreofnoise.com/2009/11/summary-of-portable-digital-audio.html

Hope this helps.

[earmonger]

I don't really want to rain on anyone's parade but I looked at the LS-5 specs.

http://www.olympus.co.uk/site/en/a/audio_systems/audio_recording/sound_music_recorders/ls_5/ls_5_specifications.html

I noted two things. Recording in mp3, even at 320 kbps, only goes down to 50hz. That's a deal-breaker for me, even if .wav recording does go down to 20Hz.  That may be of more concern for a music recorder than for a natural ambience or interview  recorder, but it is a limitation.

It also looks like you can only put in 16 "index" marks--track marks on the Sony--which also may not be enough. And one review said those track marks are audible. http://www.soundonsound.com/sos/nov10/articles/olympusls5.html For me that's absolutely a deal-breaker. 

Then again, the crucial thing is how you're going to use it. If you don't need those capabilities it might be the perfect gizmo.

[axomxa]

The only "stealth" taping I even consider these days (rarely) is with "modified" full rig such as this one:

http://bt.etree.org/details.php?id=568049

Easy with an extra 20 bucks spent for VIP (foundation room) entrance.  No search at all 

[yates7592]

I would point you back to the R-05 - it is on a par with the Sony M10, better than the R09, and smaller than both the M10 and R09. You aren't going to get that quality any smaller IMO.