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Gear / Technical Help => Recording Gear => Topic started by: nicegrin on November 12, 2024, 08:46:45 AM
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Hey!
Havn't bought a recorder in a while so need some help from the community.
I need a recorder with 2 XLRs in.
I need the recorder to ideally record 3+ hours on phantom power (without the need of USB power) and have great sound quality. Doesn't have to be super small but handy.
What are my options? Budget ideally under $700.
Thanks
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Hey!
Havn't bought a recorder in a while so need some help from the community.
I need a recorder with 2 XLRs in.
I need the recorder to ideally record 3+ hours on phantom power (without the need of USB power) and have great sound quality. Doesn't have to be super small but handy.
What are my options? Budget ideally under $700.
Thanks
used MIx-PreIII ?
Tascam DR100MKiii?
I have a Marantz PMD 661 which does this but folks think it is "less than". Def could be found used for less than your price point.
edited to add others are probably most correct- get a 32 bit float device if the XLR ins are available.
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What about the zoom F3? Seems it can get up to 6 hrs 48V phantom on rechargable AAs, or any better options out there?
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In your situation I would be very tempted to buy the new Tascam FR-AV2.
I don’t own it yet, but thinking about it. I have on order the Zoom H1 XLR but don’t think the batter life will match your requirement, although the price might make it worth a try, otherwise the F3 as mentioned.
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I'd defenetely go for 32-bit float with multi-ADC these days, so you won't have to worry about record levels anymore. I am pleased with my Tascam FR-AV2, but I guess the Zoom F3 also checks your boxes and is a bit cheaper.
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if you stretch your budget a smidge, the nagra VII is a contender.
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^ Ha! Satisfies the subject line request!
Primary constraint is likely will to be real-world run time with phantom using internal AA's.
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The Zoom H1 XLR will meet your battery power requirements. I recently tested it with a pair of ordinary supermarket alkaline batteries. In other words, they are unlikely to have unusual capacity. The continuous recording from a Superlux S502 stereo mic, phantom power on, ran for 4 hours and 6 minutes. It created two files of almost 1 hour 34 mins each, and one file of 59 mins. But the same batteries had also done some previous tests, which perhaps accounted to 20 minutes of intermittent use. Of course with more fancy batteries you'd get longer time.
Is it the best recorder within your budget? No. Would it fulfill your requirements? It could, but I don't know what they are. These days when comparing recorders, it seems to me that the input frequency response is essentially flat for all of them. For the majority of real world uses, the self noise of the mic inputs of most 32 bit float recorders is unlikely to be a problem. (Note that I am not conflating 32 bit float A/D converters with low noise preamps - I'm just referring to a class of devices). I am assuming the use of condenser mics with reasonable output levels. So the decision comes down to the feature set, reliability, and whether you want to spend all your budget, or save a bit. And also, whether you simply want the best, whether you really need it or not!
So if you care to expand on your requirements, you might get more targeted advice. However, the most likely contenders for the title 'best' have been mentioned in the previous posts.
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PMD661 is a nice cheap unit these days.
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I've had 2 outings with the new Tascam FR AV2. Easy to use, sounds good and it checks all your boxes. Last night I recorded 5 hours with P48 on with Powerex rechargeable AAs and still had half left on the indicator. With tax it was $438 at B and H Photo.
I have an Oade modded DR100mkii in the YS that also fits your requirements if you don't mind swapping a LiIon internal battery after a few hours. It sounds fantastic.
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I have an Oade modded DR100mkii in the YS that also fits your requirements if you don't mind swapping a LiIon internal battery after a few hours. It sounds fantastic.
I keep trying to talk myself into buying this, but--like the V2 I just tried out--I just can't come up with enough of a use-case to justify the expenditure.
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For some reason my wife never feels that I have come up with enough of a use case for any of my audio related purchases... She's probably right but...