Topic: Getting my firs 550 $ rig - (Updated: Edirol R09HR arrived)

[fmaderjr]

Too many folks on this board that are timid based on size. Go big or go home.

I've been amazed myself at the desire for the tiniest equpment possible. I have no trouble stealthing with the CA-14s and I have no idea why anyone would prefer the CA-UGLY to the ST-9100. The ST-9100 is plently small enough to stealth with and the UGLY makes it almost impossible to change gain on the fly.

I agree with su6oxone that CA-14 > 9100 > R-09HR is an ideal stealth rig

[roxia]

I have now ordered a Edirol R-09HR from the US.

I wrote this as well in another forum and someone was asking me why I ordered it from the US when I live in Europe. "Now you will end up with a 110v" - What do he mean and will that be a problem ?

I found it much cheaper to order the device from the US instead of Europe.
About warranty questions I have no idea.. but I'll have to figure that out if the device would break down under the warranty year.

[su6oxone]

"Now you will end up with a 110v" - What do he mean and will that be a problem ?

He is referring to the AC adapter, which may or may not be 110V (I don't remember because I've never used it) only or universal (110/220V).  It doesn't matter though since you will likely be using this device mostly with batteries. 

[roxia]

Is it better to use battery than charing it or what?

I guess if it's 110v I could buy a adapter or convert of some kind?

[fmaderjr]

Is it better to use battery than charing it or what?

You don't charge the recorder. You can use the A/C adapter to run it on A/C power instead of using batteries.

If you don't want to run the recorder plugged in to A/C, you'll never need the adapter. Even if you use rechargeable AA batteries as most of us do, you can't charge them in the recorder with the A/C adapter. You need to remove them and charge them in a battery charger.

[roxia]

Hehe ok. Now I get it... Well I guess plugging in a A/C adapter while stealthing wouldn't be that easy and smart right ? hahaha

[phil_er_up]

CA11 are very small and easy to conceal. The bass for the CA11 is there but not as deep as the CA14's. This is not a huge difference thou as others have noted above. Nice to have interchangeable caps with the CA11's and just bring them to the venue and make a decision there. I've even changed mine in my seat at 1/2 time for the headliner before.

The CA14's have deeper bass and Chris says the high end goes to 20,000. When I look at the high end in wavlab for the CA11 it looks like it goes to 17000+. So you get slightly more high end and bass on the CA14 but a lot harder to conceal. Either rig is acceptable and you can't go wrong with CA gear for the price. They both make good to very good recording. I had the St9000 and st9100 and did not hear that much difference in sound but chris did some improvements with the St9100 and I would go with that.

The higher placmeent of the mics usually you get a better recording IMO. I have many example on Dime under blues with the rig CA11 omni and card caps -> St9000 -> edirol09hr.

[roxia]

So I got my Edirol R-09HR for a couple of days ago. I use it with GP Powerbank 2700 mAH battery's and a 8 gb Kingston Class 4 card. I've tried it at a bit and it works really good (not at a concert yet)

I'm a little curious though. How do you guys set the input levels so the peak light wont go on before the band starts to playing? It's kind of hard to do that before the band starts playing. Do you do it when there is a support act? Or you fixing it at the beginning of the first song of the band you actually want to tape?

[fmaderjr]

I don't have an HR, but with my recorders I start on the low side so I don't have to adjust during the first song (with 24 bit, it's no problem if you peak at -12 or so anyway).

Then if I want to change levels I adjust during the first applause or dead space between songs (makes it easy in post to hide where you changed your levels). With 24 bit, aim for peaks in the -6 to -12 dB range to avoid the chance of clipping.

Perhaps someone with an HR can suggest a good starting level depending on whether you are recording acoustic or something very loud.  With nothing else to go on, you could use an opening act to pick a starting level. The headliner may well be a bit louder.

[roxia]

It will be a rock concert indoors at a pretty small venue/club.