Topic: Mid-priced Portable Recorders

[dominic]

Hello!

I realise portable recorder comparisons pop up alot, but I am looking to buy for the first time and am looking at a few newer models, which people haven't written so much about.

I was wondering if people could give me advice on the Tascam Dr-100 Mk2, Roland R-26 and the Marrantz PMD661.

I get the impression the Marantz is preferred by alot of people, but it is a bit more money.

I will be making use of both the internal mic's for field recording and also with a rode NTG-2 mic.

Would really appreciate any advice.
Thanks

[SmokinJoe]

Most people on this board don't use the internal mics much, so we may not have the best experience there.  If you are interviewing people for news, that's different from what many of us are doing (loud concerts).

<pure_speculation>
I kind of doubt the PMD661 has great internal mics, or that anyone here has used them much.  I suspect they are in designed for "put this thing in the middle of the conference room table to record this business meeting", and not really designed for music.  I suspect the R26 are decent.  Not sure about the DR-100.  I expect the Sony D50 mics are decent.
</pure_speculation>

Also consider the lower end Zoom H4 or H4n.  The internal mics on those are pretty good... because I know people who have used those internal mics, and I've been impressed with the results.

[flintstone]

Actually, the PMD661 a better design for operation while being carried than most other "midsize"  XLR recorders.  The PMD661 hangs from the shoulder, with the meters and gain controls visible at a glance.  Transport controls are large buttons. Designs like the R-26 and DR-100 are better used on a tabletop or tripod, or via a remote.