Topic: Whats the best of these recorders(microtrack 24/96 ,R1 and R9) ?

[treydaman]

Thinking about getting a new recorder.
These 3 are in the same price range, the microtrack 24/96 ,R1 and R9
What one would you recomend?

[Brian Skalinder]

What's your budget?  Do you plan to run analog-in to start, or for the foreseeable future?  Any future plans to run digital-in?  What other gear?

[guysonic]

What Brian said, what kind of mics/preamp intended for recording what types of sound/music, and amateur/professional end purposes for the recordings is useful for determining best options? 

R-09 seems a far better quality/featured choice over R-1 that's now out of production, and R-1 likely more available on the second hand than found new in retail market.

[dorigatti]

What about a Sony RH1 MD? I read it has quieter pre-amps than the R9, 24/96 and R1.

With this choice would it mean I could use mics w/o pre-amp or maybe only a battery box and still get recordings free from hiss even in quiet acoustic/vocal musical peformances?

I am looking to purchase a stereo set of cartoids button mics. Budget around $250. Any recommendations? The whole idea is to keep the setup as portable as possible.

[Arni99]

What about a Sony RH1 MD? I read it has quieter pre-amps than the R9, 24/96 and R1.

With this choice would it mean I could use mics w/o pre-amp or maybe only a battery box and still get recordings free from hiss even in quiet acoustic/vocal musical peformances?

I am looking to purchase a stereo set of cartoids button mics. Budget around $250. Any recommendations? The whole idea is to keep the setup as portable as possible.

yes, the sony mz-rh1 is excellent for acoustic music on MIC-IN(low-sens setting) and for loud shows on line-in with a battery box.
Only disadvantage is the 94min 55sec limit when recording 16bit/44.1kHz.
HI-SP (ATRAC 3 256kbit/s) sounds good too...I don´t hear any difference to a wav recording....
It´s preamp has definitely less noise than the R09´s and high quality input-jacks...my R09´s MIC-In jack "broke" after 2 month of use, although I was aware of this problem and treated it like raw eggs .

[dorigatti]

94 minute recording limit is no problem at all. What I am after is hight quality, noiseless (no hiss) recordings of acoustic guitar/vocals especially on location (quiet environment).

MM-HLSC-1 cardioids are within my budget. What do you recommend for a Battery Box? Also, does an external Pre-amp include the function of a Battery Box? If so, why shouldn't I shell out an extra $50 for a Pre-amp. Any suggestions for a pre-amp?

Thanks a lot for the advice.

[Arni99]

94 minute recording limit is no problem at all. What I am after is hight quality, noiseless (no hiss) recordings of acoustic guitar/vocals especially on location (quiet environment).

MM-HLSC-1 cardioids are within my budget. What do you recommend for a Battery Box? Also, does an external Pre-amp include the function of a Battery Box? If so, why shouldn't I shell out an extra $50 for a Pre-amp. Any suggestions for a pre-amp?

Thanks a lot for the advice.

for acoustic to moderately amplified music: =>using HLSC-1 + RH1 on mic-in there is no need for an external preamp as the hlsc-1 are very HOT and the RH1-mic-in is very sensitive and has low and high gain settings.
you don´t need a bbox for silent to moderately loud amplified small club shows neither using MM-HLSC-1 on MIC-IN of RH1 with low-sens at 11-13 gain....used this setup yesterday when i recorded some kind of jazz-funk-latin group.
yes a preamp is a bbox(providing 9V to the mics) PLUS it has the ability of amplifying incoming signals.

"unwritten law" for recording on mic-in for Mini Disc recorders:
when you need to lower gain to 11(of 30) or even to 10 or below
=>switch to bbox+line-in to avoid distortion on mic-in at gain 10 or 11...the levelmeter doesn´t show distortion but the internal preamp distorts!

[dorigatti]

Thanks for the advice. I think I have my answer. My RH-1 + 10 HiMD disks will come tomorrow and I'll order the MM HLSC-1 mics and a battery box later this week.

In a couple of months I intend to get get the R09 as well. Hopefully by then the input jack problems will be resolved

[Dede2002]

Thanks for the advice. I think I have my answer. My RH-1 + 10 HiMD disks will come tomorrow and I'll order the MM HLSC-1 mics and a battery box later this week.

In a couple of months I intend to get get the R09 as well. Hopefully by then the input jack problems will be resolved

Way to go

[fmaderjr]

If you don't need bass roll off in your battery box, get this one from Chris Church:

http://cgi.ebay.ca/STEREO-MICROPHONE-BATTERY-BOX-4-MINIDISC-MD-MP3-EDIROL_W0QQitemZ5861399837QQihZ016QQcategoryZ3281QQcmdZViewItem

You do need to supply your own 1/8 male to 1/8 male output cable. I use the Headroom 4 inch mini to mini that you can get here:
http://www.headphone.com/products/cables-and-adaptors/interconnects/

The package is more expensive than some alternatives, but it is so small-I velcro the box to the back of the recorder and there is no excess cord to get in the way. Also, unlike other small boxes, the Church uses a regular 9 volt battery that lasts hundreds of hours.

The recorder & box fit in my shirt pocket, so I can see the levels. I cut a hole in the pocket for the mic cord and hide the mics in my hat. I've gotten incredible recording with this combo plus the MM-HLSC-1 cardioids into line in. It sounds great with the HI-SP mode (almost 8 hours) as well, when you don't want to change discs. I can't hear the difference. Absolutely incredible for stealth-easy to get into the venu & nobody can tell I'm recording.

The mic input of the MZ-RH1 is supposed to be excellent also, but if you have to turn the levels below 11 (or is it 10?), you will brickwall, so it would be dangerous not to use a battery box into line in for a fairly loud show.