Topic: New(ish) Taper, Looking for help.

[DaveG73]

Please forgive me if this has been answered elsewhere, but I don't get a great deal of research time online.

I have recorded a few shows for mainly personal use, some time ago using a Sony MZ-R30 MD deck and a variety of borrowed mics, preamps etc.

However the PITA that is transferring it to a computer for burning to disc/sharing and the fact that I would like to begin taping shows again, I feel I need to upgrade.

I am considering an Edirol R-09, available in the UK for around £200, which is probably the top end of my budget for a recording device, although upgrades to other items will be available in time.

I have listened to a variety of shows recorded on this machine and been pretty impressed by what I have heard, although some of the lineages have been a little vague.

I am hoping that you guys can answer me a few questions before I take the plunge.

-What is the quality of the inbuilt mic on the R-09?

-When using an external mic is a pre/battery box needed?

-As I have the opportunity for a few sbd recordings, how does this machine handle a direct line in? (I want a recorder that can handle both stealth and open recording).

-What is the battery life on this recorder? (I would prefer something with a rechargeable unit).

-Have any of you had any good/bad experiences with the R-09?

-Any alternative suggestions of machine/accessories etc would also be welcome.

If there has been a previous thread on this same topic which I have missed, as I said above, please forgive me and point me in the right direction.

Thanks in advance.

Dave.

[Church-Audio]

Please forgive me if this has been answered elsewhere, but I don't get a great deal of research time online.

I have recorded a few shows for mainly personal use, some time ago using a Sony MZ-R30 MD deck and a variety of borrowed mics, preamps etc.

However the PITA that is transferring it to a computer for burning to disc/sharing and the fact that I would like to begin taping shows again, I feel I need to upgrade.

I am considering an Edirol R-09, available in the UK for around £200, which is probably the top end of my budget for a recording device, although upgrades to other items will be available in time.

I have listened to a variety of shows recorded on this machine and been pretty impressed by what I have heard, although some of the lineages have been a little vague.

I am hoping that you guys can answer me a few questions before I take the plunge.

-What is the quality of the inbuilt mic on the R-09?

-When using an external mic is a pre/battery box needed?

-As I have the opportunity for a few sbd recordings, how does this machine handle a direct line in? (I want a recorder that can handle both stealth and open recording).

-What is the battery life on this recorder? (I would prefer something with a rechargeable unit).

-Have any of you had any good/bad experiences with the R-09?

-Any alternative suggestions of machine/accessories etc would also be welcome.

If there has been a previous thread on this same topic which I have missed, as I said above, please forgive me and point me in the right direction.

Thanks in advance.

Dave.

I would get the r-09 for sure.. As far as needing an external preamp that really depends on two things
what type of mic you want to use. And what you want to record if your looking to record quiet stuff an external preamp would be a good idea if you looking to record loud rock shows you can sometimes get away with not having one. You can get a pair of my mics for $89.99 + shipping they are Cardioid (directional) and they work really well or you can spend a bit more and get some Audio Technica 853 mics used around $150 to $200 they are nice mics but if you want to use them for loud shows you need a battery box or have them get modified by me so that they can handle loud sounds.... Or if your handy with a soldering iron you can do that mod your self.

I would start with out the external preamp and see how you do. if you find you have to boost your levels too much then you know its time to get a preamp. The rule of thumb is this the more you have to use the edirol preamp the more noise you will get in your recordings this how ever depends on what your recording if its a very loud show the noise that is generated by the recorders built in mic preamp will be masked.. If your recording acoustic shows it will stick out like a sour thumb I make some nice preamps but there are other company's like Sound professionals that also make very good gear so look around. And ask the users here what they think. You can some times find used gear in the Yardsale here at T.S I dont see edirol r-09's come up that often but when they do they are around $300US or so..

[dorrcoq]

I've had nothing but positive experiences with my R-09, and I use Chris's cardiods and pre-amp.

[gratefulphish]

You definitely do not want to use the built-in mic for anything, except maybe taping a lecture.

[divamum]

You definitely do not want to use the built-in mic for anything, except maybe taping a lecture.

I have to demur here. I have recorded several live classical performances (opera/voice recital/oratorio) using the internal mics on my R09 and - particularly in a wetter acoustic - they have actually outperformed my CMC8>Core 2496 combo, yielding a warmer, "rounder" sound. A

FWIW.

[Church-Audio]

You definitely do not want to use the built-in mic for anything, except maybe taping a lecture.

I have to demur here. I have recorded several live classical performances (opera/voice recital/oratorio) using the internal mics on my R09 and - particularly in a wetter acoustic - they have actually outperformed my CMC8>Core 2496 combo, yielding a warmer, "rounder" sound. A

FWIW.

I guess its all about placement But I don't want to say much about that because I already got into trouble over mic placement issues in live sound recording You are lucky to get good sound I am sure the built in mics are good. Its very hard to make a product that is that small and have the mics perform well. I think Edirol or Roland same thing... Has a long standing history of making good products. I think its very hard to make a set of external mics that do everything for everybody never mind built in mics.. The r-09 is one of the best products to come out in a long time IMO..

Chris Church

[twatts (pants are so over-rated...)]

I DLed a stealth show using the internal mics on the R09...  Sounded pretty good for what it was. 

But if you can use external mics, I would defintley do so...

Terry

[DaveG73]

Thank you muchly for your replies and advice.

I think the R-09 is definately the machine for me, although I am going to give it a few weeks so that I can get my full rig together in one fell swoop.

Chris I found your shop on eBay and given the very positive attitude of people on the board, I suspect you will be seeing some custom coming your way very soon.

Thanks again to you all for the advice.

Dave.

[divamum]

You definitely do not want to use the built-in mic for anything, except maybe taping a lecture.

I have to demur here. I have recorded several live classical performances (opera/voice recital/oratorio) using the internal mics on my R09 and - particularly in a wetter acoustic - they have actually outperformed my CMC8>Core 2496 combo, yielding a warmer, "rounder" sound. A

FWIW.

I guess its all about placement But I don't want to say much about that because I already got into trouble over mic placement issues in live sound recording You are lucky to get good sound I am sure the built in mics are good. Its very hard to make a product that is that small and have the mics perform well. I think Edirol or Roland same thing... Has a long standing history of making good products. I think its very hard to make a set of external mics that do everything for everybody never mind built in mics.. The r-09 is one of the best products to come out in a long time IMO..

Chris Church

Placement? Not sure what you mean in this context, because both my rigs were running side by side from the same location. In one instance, open about 10ft in front of the performers,  in the others, serious stealth (although I've got my bag rigged so the top is open and the mics are almost in the clear)  and a minimum of 35ft away. Halls of varying sizes and acoustics.

Maybe not to everybody's liking; maybe not so good for Rock n Roll. But I was VERY pleasantly surprsied with tthe mic performance on the R)9 and, for classical voice, they're actually rather flattering. 

Just my 2c, YMMV, FWIW etc etc etc. 

Edited to add: the main thing I DON'T like about the Edirol for classical taping is that the pre is too noisy. It seems bullet-proof as far as brickwalling (often a problem with operatic voice, as I've learned the hard way) but I can hear it too much.  But, again, it's a decent "color" to it and it imparts a nice warmth to the recordings.
 

[Church-Audio]

You definitely do not want to use the built-in mic for anything, except maybe taping a lecture.

I have to demur here. I have recorded several live classical performances (opera/voice recital/oratorio) using the internal mics on my R09 and - particularly in a wetter acoustic - they have actually outperformed my CMC8>Core 2496 combo, yielding a warmer, "rounder" sound. A

FWIW.

I guess its all about placement But I don't want to say much about that because I already got into trouble over mic placement issues in live sound recording You are lucky to get good sound I am sure the built in mics are good. Its very hard to make a product that is that small and have the mics perform well. I think Edirol or Roland same thing... Has a long standing history of making good products. I think its very hard to make a set of external mics that do everything for everybody never mind built in mics.. The r-09 is one of the best products to come out in a long time IMO..

Chris Church

Placement? Not sure what you mean in this context, because both my rigs were running side by side from the same location. In one instance, open about 10ft in front of the performers,  in the others, serious stealth (although I've got my bag rigged so the top is open and the mics are almost in the clear)  and a minimum of 35ft away. Halls of varying sizes and acoustics.

Maybe not to everybody's liking; maybe not so good for Rock n Roll. But I was VERY pleasantly surprsied with tthe mic performance on the R)9 and, for classical voice, they're actually rather flattering. 

Just my 2c, YMMV, FWIW etc etc etc. 

Edited to add: the main thing I DON'T like about the Edirol for classical taping is that the pre is too noisy. It seems bullet-proof as far as brickwalling (often a problem with operatic voice, as I've learned the hard way) but I can hear it too much.  But, again, it's a decent "color" to it and it imparts a nice warmth to the recordings.
 

Well what I mean is even an edirol built in mic can sound good if the placement is correct... Like any mic if you place it properly it will sound nice. That's what I meant by placement. I am not saying the edirol mics can not sound good. I was simply saying that any mic can sound better if placed properly... I have a Roland micro br with a built in mic and to be honest this thing is amazing! for a built in mic I have never heard such a good vocal sound.. So I definitely think built in mics on Roland products are very good. Like you said probably not a good choice for rock and roll.

Chris Church