Topic: Looking for the most reliable Bit Bucket?

[spoolin]

Will be running  480>ps2>sbm1 mod{coax out}>?
looking for small unit, maybe tracker2, zoom?
limited budget.....
thanks jdm

[Jema]

Well, what does limited budget mean to you? In the audio world, reliability is something that comes with higher cost equipment, almost to a higher degree than sound quality. The most reliable bit bucket in the world might be the Aaton Cantar - the only recorder that is made to work in freezing cold and practically immune to humidity, rain etc.

I assume you only want two channels, and since you want digital in, that leaves three options in my book. The Marantz PMD661, the Sony D50, and the Tascam DR-100mkII. I don't know about the reliability of the last option, but the 661 and D50 are quite capable.

[twatts (pants are so over-rated...)]

Marantz PMD661

[jsfrank]

Marantz PMD661

Just got mine and it is perfect for my needs.

[runonce]

Will be running  480>ps2>sbm1 mod{coax out}>?
looking for small unit, maybe tracker2, zoom?
limited budget.....
thanks jdm

You have good mics - but you may want to consider ditching some of the DAT-era gear...and 20 year old 16bit A/D technology.

I'd be asking which of the newer recorders can handle the output from the 480s - drop the ps2/smb1 combo - and go direct.

[twatts (pants are so over-rated...)]

Will be running  480>ps2>sbm1 mod{coax out}>?
looking for small unit, maybe tracker2, zoom?
limited budget.....
thanks jdm

You have good mics - but you may want to consider ditching some of the DAT-era gear...and 20 year old 16bit A/D technology.

I'd be asking which of the newer recorders can handle the output from the 480s - drop the ps2/smb1 combo - and go direct.

He could use the PMD661 with or without the ps2>sbm1 combo.  More variety makes for more taping pleasure 

Terry

[Fried Chicken Boy]

He could use the PMD661 with or without the ps2>sbm1 combo.  More variety makes for more taping pleasure 

Terry

Agreed.  The 661 is a very good all-in-one deck that would give you the option of plugging your mics directly into it or using the outboard A/D and going digi-in.

[acidjack]

He could use the PMD661 with or without the ps2>sbm1 combo.  More variety makes for more taping pleasure 

Terry

Agreed.  The 661 is a very good all-in-one deck that would give you the option of plugging your mics directly into it or using the outboard A/D and going digi-in.

There is was an Oade Mod PMD660 in the Yard Sale for $250 which will eliminate the need for the PS/2 and SBM1 and be an all-in-one.  You could probably get some cash out of the PS/2, effectively bringing your cost down to the same as buying any of the digi-in bit buckets new. 

If I were dead-set on buying new, I'd buy the Tascam DR100mkII just on price/features alone.  It also will eliminate the need for the PS/2.

PMD660 is gone; I'd go with the DR-100mkII, sell the PS2 and SBM-1 for whatever you can get (probably $100-150 total) and call it a day.

[spoolin]

Thank Folks, whats would be the big difference between the Tascam DR100mkII and the 661? sound wise? lets say both have the oade concert mod..

[Fatah Ruark (aka MIKE B)]

Would there even be a difference in sound if it was just a bit bucket? I'm under the impression that once you hit the SBM-1 you're just having the recorder write the 1's and 0's.

I'll second getting rid of the SBM-1 and just going straight into something like the Sony M10. I understand that the SBM-1 is a pretty nice machine...but I think the added bits will help you more.

[stevetoney]

Thank Folks, whats would be the big difference between the Tascam DR100mkII and the 661? sound wise? lets say both have the oade concert mod..

The difference is the Tascam is $270 cheaper and comes with more accessories and better powering options.  See my reviews and sound samples in other threads in this recording gear forum.  The Tascam wins hands down on price and accessories, the Tascam has a slight edge on features mainly on the strength of smaller size (pocket-able) and powering options, although the main advantage of the 661 is digital compatibility with both AES/EBU and SPDIF signal standards. 

[Fried Chicken Boy]

Would there even be a difference in sound if it was just a bit bucket? I'm under the impression that once you hit the SBM-1 you're just having the recorder write the 1's and 0's.

That's what I'd think, too.

[dnsacks]

VERY off topic, but . . . I'd consider selling the ps2 and sbm-1 and instead purchasing this oade modded tascam hdp2 -- http://taperssection.com/index.php?topic=152988.0 -- I run an unmodded hdp2 and have been VERY impressed with its a>d section.  While I found its stock mic pre to be a bit thin, its a>d sounds fantastic behind our oade m148 mic pre and I've heard that the oade mods to the hdp2's mic pre bring about similar improvements.  At $475 for a high quality and high resolution one box solution, this is difficult to pass up.

[acidjack]

Thank Folks, whats would be the big difference between the Tascam DR100mkII and the 661? sound wise? lets say both have the oade concert mod..

The difference is the Tascam is $270 cheaper and comes with more accessories and better powering options.  See my reviews and sound samples in other threads in this recording gear forum.  The Tascam wins hands down on price and accessories, the Tascam has a slight edge on features mainly on the strength of smaller size (pocket-able) and powering options, although the main advantage of the 661 is digital compatibility with both AES/EBU and SPDIF signal standards.

This.  Also, dump the SBM-1. Kind of pointless. I hate to fluff Tascam- no love for them at all- but Steve has tested this thing pretty thoroughly, and equally importantly, it's a second gen deck, meaning it can correct the first gen's mistakes.

[it-goes-to-eleven]

The Tascam looks like a great box, and I'd strongly consider it.

Or, buy my Microtrack for $90.  A fair number of people consider them a very good solution.

http://taperssection.com/index.php?topic=153296.0