Topic: i got new mics.. now i need help to decide about the recorder

[rolandx]

so.. i was looking for an upgrade for my old giant squid omni mics, and at the end i did a big effort and got this:

- SP-CMC-8 Cardioid with the low-sensitivity mod
- SP-SPSB-10 battery box (it's perfect for stealth recording)
- a pair of AT8109 locking windscreens

I'm using it mounted in a hat for stealth recording along with my iRiver h320 with rockbox, and I'm pretty happy with the result of the first recording with this mics:

http://www.sendspace.com/file/70oa71

Lineage :   SP-CMC-8 (AT943 Cardioid with low-sens mod) -> SP-SPSB-10 -> iRiver h320 (rockboxed) -> Audacity -> mp3 selected area
Details :   Wav 44.1kHz/16bit, AGC Off, Gain 15.00

that was recorded yesterday at the first Oasis gig here in Lima, Perú
here is where i was taping the concert:

http://img11.imageshack.us/img11/6130/sonido.png (it says in spanish: "Yo estoy aca!"/"I'm here")


the part in black is the stage, the red part is the first zone which is more expensive and full of screaming people so the sound isn't the best.. i think that i will try to be in that spot for future recordings in the same stadium...

i had a little problem.. seems that my beloved iriver h320 started to drain the battery even when turned off.. i did a full charge before going to the concert that was planned to start at 21:00, but i had to be in the stadium at 07:00 to find a good place in the arena.. and it worth it.. i was in the first row in the zone so i didn't had people in front of me screaming like crazy (they were behind me lol or at 5 meters in front of me in the other zone).. thing is that in 14 hours the battery had 40% of charge left :s .. so i was very scared that i would not be able to record the whole show because of the battery.. lucky me in the end i could record the whole show but after pressing the stop button for saving the file.. and navigate into the menus.. and suddenly the unit turned off because there was no battery left.. so.. maybe it's time to replace the battery with a new one, maybe one of 2200/2300 mHn, and also i found that there is a mod for using a CF memory for storage.. but before getting those changes i need help to decide if it's worth the investment in the new battery and the CF mod.. or if it's better to get a new recorder .. for this new mics is ok my actual iriver h320? or maybe i can get better recordings with another recorder.. i have 'til october to get a new one if that is the case.. but also i can only afford 200$ to 300$ max... i was also considering trying to get a iriver hp-120 but i'm not sure if there will be any noticeable difference, please help me to decide this.

[Belexes]

$300?

Edirol R-09HR is what I would recommend.

[pafnuzzi]

Edirol R-09HR 

[dorrcoq]

You got there 14 hours BEFORE show time?  Were there other bands playing earlier?  The R-09 or R-09HR are great, but you won't be able to get more than about 6 hours battery life with AA's.

[rolandx]

You got there 14 hours BEFORE show time?  Were there other bands playing earlier?  The R-09 or R-09HR are great, but you won't be able to get more than about 6 hours battery life with AA's.

there was a local band that played at 20:00 but i didn't taped that show, i had to go that earlier for get a good place in the arena.. some people was out of the stadium even from the night before the concert.. yeah.. crazy... but well most of the time it will be that way.. we waited more than ten years for that day.. and it will be the same for depeche mode in october and any other big band that finally are going to play here en Lima-Perú and i will have to be there very early for get a good place.

about the R-09/R-09HR it really beats the iriver options like h320 and hp120?.. regarding recording quality?.

Thanks for the answers.

[Arni99]

iriver rockboxed with cf-mod => more than 14 hours recording time...mine at least .
r09-hr offers 24bit resolution - iriver 16bit only.
DON'T geht the old R09 as its preamps are noisy and input jacks might break without warning!
I'd get a new battery for your 320 and do the CF-mod and use rockbox-safety-clip and taping will never be easier than with this setup.

[sunjan]

The R-09 or R-09HR are great, but you won't be able to get more than about 6 hours battery life with AA's.

The R09-HR will break your budget if you calculate another $50 for S&H to Peru (and maybe customs too?):
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=250379469397
So you either need to save up, or have a friend travelling to the US to pick it up for you.

If you're worried about battery life, there are external packs both for Iriver and the Edirol recorders.
I'd go for the CF mod and upgrade the battery of your Iriver, you won't regret it!

For the money you save, pick up hyper caps for stadium taping to cut out the "screamers". You'll need it for Depeche Mode :
http://www.soundprofessionals.com/cgi-bin/gold/item/AT-P12106

[rolandx]

many thanks for the answer, at this time i decided to get the upgrade of the battery and the cf mod, i already got the cf adapter.. and i ordered the new battery.. while i was on ebay looking for some stuff.. i found this:

http://cgi.ebay.com/Battery-Charger-Extender-Fits-Iriver-H300-H320-H340_W0QQitemZ110017044593QQcmdZViewItemQQptZOther_MP3_Player_Accessories?hash=item199d86e071&_trksid=p3286.m20.l1116

looks cool for have it "just in case"... my little doubt is if i can use the iriver for record while the battery extender is connected without any problem?

[Neilyboy]

I have the same setup H320 (now an H308) with a new 2200mah batt and 8gig cf mod. I also have the battery sled you list there from ebay. It works like a charm! I have never needed it since the battery upgrade went so well. I get 14+ like everyone else. It is a great little mod that you will be happy with!

Neil

[zzrck]

the edirol r 09 hr is the way to go , get a 16 gig card and have an extra set of batteries in you pocket and you can record all day long.

[su6oxone]

The R-09 or R-09HR are great, but you won't be able to get more than about 6 hours battery life with AA's.

I get 9+ hours on my R-09HR with 2700mAh Sanyo rechargeables.  About 6 hours for alkalines sounds about right.

[rolandx]

i have just got my battery replacement a CameronSino model: cs-h110xl ... this model doesn't need any change like the ipod batterys right?.... now a new battery charger is on the way.. but i was using the charger of my PSP and was working ok.. but i'm not really sure if is the best option for charge my iRiver h320..

... or if is ok to proceed with the replace of the battery and make the first charge with the psp charger?...

Thanks in advance