Topic: Recommend recorder to buy?

[sgtcampsalot]

I need a recorder to record a band I'll be seeing next month. [They're as taper/trading friendly as you can get]. My budget is around $300. I assume there's no way I can get a good full set-up for that budget so I'm probably going to get a recorder/storage device that I can plug into the soundboard. But I don't know where to start in terms of knowing what to look for in one. When I search for them most don't even explain their recording capabilities. I'm not sure how to choose one.

They're a hard rock band and I hope to get one that's good enough so that it might compensate for the potential lack of instrumental sound from the feed, which many of their fan recordings suffer from. But I've heard that the quality of the recorder device has no effect over that when picking up the soundboard feed, no matter how good it is. Is that true?

Any advice on what soundboard feed recorder to get would be great. [Or if it's possible to get a full set up with my budget]
Thanks!
Mark

[guysonic]

Within $300-$400 budget is Edirol's R-09HR.  Also seems one of the best models fully capable to handle line-levels from any board (with appropriate patch cord), and on-board mics are quite good sounding likely handling most live rock louder bass levels cleanly. 

See technical review at: www.sonicstudios.com/r09hrrev.htm

And other more or less interesting model reviews/thread links at: www.sonicstudios.com/tips.htm

[ScotK]

I'd search the yard sale for a used R-09. Should be able to pick one up for somewhere between $200-$300.

You can use the soundboard, or the internal mics, if necessary. And if you get it for more like $200, you can pick
up a decent set of external mics for ~$100 and have a pretty nice system.  Add money for a memory card, but
see the retail forum for a recent 8GB for $26 deal.

good luck,

scot

[sunjan]

But I've heard that the quality of the recorder device has no effect over that when picking up the soundboard feed, no matter how good it is. Is that true?

Generally speaking this is wrong, but the difference is less using line in than relying on mics+mic in.
The onboard components on your recorder do matter, especially the A/D converter. Since you have to convert the analog SB feed to digital, you need to go for a unit with a good A/D.

I agree with the R09/R09-HR recommendation. It's an ideal upgrade path too, if you want to add mics later on.

If you don't mind carrying around more gear, an alternative would be UA5 (digimod, $120 or so on ebay) > used MT or MT II as a bit bucket (I think I've seen them around $200). Add a few bucks for powering and cables though. IIRC you're restricted to 24/48 though, but that should be sufficient for you.

But maybe most people here would still say that you'd get better sound with the R09(-HR), than with the UA5>MT combo... Opinions?!

[sgtcampsalot]

Thankyou for the responses!

I can't find anywhere: Does the R-09/HR have multi-channel recording, like if I wanted to get the board feed and use a mic?

Also it's rough finding one of them cheap. Looks like they're a hot seller!

[Dede2002]

Thankyou for the responses!

I can't find anywhere: Does the R-09/HR have multi-channel recording, like if I wanted to get the board feed and use a mic?

Nope

[ScotK]

Thankyou for the responses!

I can't find anywhere: Does the R-09/HR have multi-channel recording, like if I wanted to get the board feed and use a mic?

Nope

Yup- that's a lot to ask for $300!

s

[skotdee]

You could buy my UA-5 for $250 and pick up a jb3. That would set you up for SBD recording, plus you can add mics and get that multi-channel mix you asked about...

http://taperssection.com/index.php/topic,108526.0.html

[sgtcampsalot]

Well I looked all around and settled on an Edirol R-09. Just got one used today for lower $200's. After I do these shows I'll certainly look into working with external mics.

Thanks for all the advice!

[ScotK]

Great! Good luck and be prepared to spend more money!

[guysonic]

Well I looked all around and settled on an Edirol R-09. Just got one used today for lower $200's. After I do these shows I'll certainly look into working with external mics.

Thanks for all the advice!

Good choice!  Use one myself, but mostly LINE input with external preamplifier avoiding noisy mic input. 

Be very gentle when plugging cables in, NOT tugging on connected cords, and when unplugging.  The MIC/LINE jacks are way too fragile and, with least amount of stress have been known to rip the jack off the internal board initially causing the left channel to disappear.  That is unless someone has epoxy-glued these jacks down.

Technical review for this model at: www.sonicstudios.com/r-09revw.htm

[sgtcampsalot]

Sorry to bring this up again, but I just spoke with the manager of the band I'll be taping and they just recently stopped allowing soundboard feed recordings. So now I have to buy some mics, with 5 days left.

Unfortunately, I know even less about this than what recorders to buy, ergo I don't really understand any of the technical jargon in the Stickies that suggest gear.

So I have the Edirol R-09 recorder. How should I decide what mics I should get for a decent recording?
And for stereo sound, would I just get (at least) two mics and Y-split them into my recorder?

m

[rastasean]

Sorry to bring this up again, but I just spoke with the manager of the band I'll be taping and they just recently stopped allowing soundboard feed recordings. So now I have to buy some mics, with 5 days left.

Unfortunately, I know even less about this than what recorders to buy, ergo I don't really understand any of the technical jargon in the Stickies that suggest gear.

So I have the Edirol R-09 recorder. How should I decide what mics I should get for a decent recording?
And for stereo sound, would I just get (at least) two mics and Y-split them into my recorder?

m

Get a pair of Church audio CA11s. They can be had for less than $100 I do believe.

[MSTaper]

I think I've seen some in the yard sale. You would get those quicker than ordering new ones. I can vouch for Chris' stuff, especially with an R-09 and a Church Audio pre.   MSTaper

[cybergaloot]

Get a pair of Church audio CA11s. They can be had for less than $100 I do believe.

Good mics for the money, I have a pair with both Cardioid and omni caps and like them but I'd recommend spending the little bit extra and get his new CA-14-cardioid mics. They really do sound great.