Topic: Current (Dec 2012) 'List' of available recording devices for live concert taping

[ljsurfer2002]

Edited to just put a 'quick list' here at the top in case a moderator wants to copy / paste the list to a sticky or something:

Edirol R-09 ~$140 on ebay
Fostex FR-2 LE ~$600
iRiver iHP-120 (Rockbox'd) ~$80 on ebay
Marantz PMD661 ~$500 - $650
Marantz PMD661 MKII ~$?
Nomad Jukebox 3 (JB3) ~$200 on ebay
Olympus LS12 / LS14 ~$150
Roland R-05 ~$213
Roland R-26 ~$470
Sony PCM-M10 ~$250
Tascam DR-680 8-Track ~$520
Tascam DR-05 ~$81
TASCAM DR-40 ~$150
TASCAM DR-07MKII ~$124
Tascam DR-100mkII ~$250
Tascam DR2D ~$150
Tascam/Teac VR-10 ~$65
Zoom H1 ~$95
Zoom H2n ~$146
Zoom H4n ~$239
---------------------------
Original Post:

I figured this was an easy question but looking at the pinned FAQ page http://taperssection.com/index.php?topic=119056.0 but that seems quite old (2009) and only covers:

Edirol R-09
iRiver 120 HD (Rockboxed)
Nomad Jukebox 3 (JB3)

None of which are being sold 'new' these days (December 2012). I taped with the Nomad JB3 from 2002 - 2008 or so (MiniDisk before that). I'm hoping in 2013 to come out of retirement and do a few more shows. I have a rock-boxed' iRiver 120 HD that I taped one show on in 2009, but I figure for a few hundred bucks, I should just get a 'current day' all in one unit with the mics / SD-based memory / etc.

However, I cannot find on the boards any simple 'list' of the current models / brands from which to choose. Can others help make this list or point me to where it is? It seems that currently, in Dec 2012 we have a good list of fairly cheap decks that take mic's as input but also have L / R built in (which is great!). Here's the current list it seems: 
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Edirol R-09 ~$140 (used on ebay)
http://www.amazon.com/Edirol-R-09-WAVE-MP3-Recorder-Black/dp/B000FPQFKO/ref=sr_1_13?s=musical-instruments&ie=UTF8&qid=1356386468&sr=1-13&keywords=Roland+R-05

Fistex FR-2 LE - $600
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/432017-REG/Fostex_FR2_LE_FR_2_LE_2_Channel.html

iRiver iHP-120 (used on ebay)

Marantz PMD661 ~$500
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/594741-REG/Marantz_PMD661_PMD661_Professional_Portable_Flash.html

Marantz PMD661 MKII ~$? (Not out yet?)
http://taperssection.com/index.php?topic=158819.0

Nomad Jukebox 3 (JB3) ~$200 on ebay

Olympus LS12 / LS14 ~$150
http://taperssection.com/index.php?topic=158647.0
http://www.getolympus.com/us/en/audio/ls-12.html

Roland R-05 ~$213
http://www.amazon.com/Roland-R-05-Studio-WAVE-Recorder/dp/B003IJ3WIW

Roland R-26 ~$470
http://www.amazon.com/Roland-r-26-R-26/dp/B005P4OPDO/ref=sr_1_20?s=musical-instruments&ie=UTF8&qid=1356386560&sr=1-20

Sony PCM-M10 - Black - $245
http://www.amazon.com/Sony-PCMM10-B-PCM-M10-Black/dp/B002R56C4O

TASCAM DR-680 - $600
http://www.amazon.com/Tascam-8-track-Portable-Digital-Recorder/dp/B0036VC3I2

Tascam DR-05 Portable Digital Recorder - $81
http://www.amazon.com/Tascam-DR-05-Portable-Digital-Recorder/dp/B004OA6JW0/ref=sr_1_1?s=musical-instruments&ie=UTF8&qid=1356287108&sr=1-1&keywords=tascam

TASCAM DR-40 4-Track Portable Digital Recorder - $152
http://www.amazon.com/DR-40-4-Track-Portable-Digital-Recorder/dp/B005NACC6M/ref=sr_1_2?s=musical-instruments&ie=UTF8&qid=1356287108&sr=1-2&keywords=tascam

TASCAM DR-07MKII Portable Digital Recorder - $124
http://www.amazon.com/TASCAM-DR-07MKII-Portable-Digital-Recorder/dp/B004TE5HBU/ref=sr_1_3?s=musical-instruments&ie=UTF8&qid=1356287108&sr=1-3&keywords=tascam

Tascam DR-100mkII ~$250
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/832911-REG/Tascam_DR100MKII_DR_100mkII_Portable_Linear.html

Tascam DR2D Portable Digital Recorder - $100
http://www.amazon.com/Tascam-DR2D-Portable-Digital-Recorder/dp/B003838PHQ

Tascam/Teac VR-10 Digital Recorder - $65
http://taperssection.com/index.php?topic=159584.0
http://www.amazon.com/TEAC-VR-10-Portable-Digital-Recorder/dp/B0041CSLVI

Zoom H1 - $95
http://www.amazon.com/Zoom-H1-Portable-Digital-Recorder/dp/B003QKBVYK/ref=sr_1_2?s=musical-instruments&ie=UTF8&qid=1356386244&sr=1-2

Zoom H2n - $150
http://www.amazon.com/Zoom-H2N-H2n-Handy-Recorder/dp/B005CQ2ZY6/ref=sr_1_3?s=musical-instruments&ie=UTF8&qid=1356386244&sr=1-3

Zoom H4n Handy Portable Digital Recorder - $240
http://www.amazon.com/Zoom-Handy-Portable-Digital-Recorder/dp/B001QWBM62/ref=sr_1_1?s=musical-instruments&ie=UTF8&qid=1356287064&sr=1-1


Are any of these the 'go to' for people at shows these days? It seems the Sony is pretty popular...

[adrianf74]

Sony PCM-M10. 

I moved from an Edirol R-09 (not HR) and had some problems with that device occasionally "acting up."  The Sony has never let me down.  Before that, I've run MD, DAT, pro-walkman's etc.

If you're gonna make a move (soon), B&H has the M10 for $199.99 right now after you add it to your cart.  Many people in these parts are running $2000 mic setups to the M10; I think that says A LOT.

Best of luck.

[LikeASong]

I would add the Roland R-05 to that list. Reliable and cheap, and in my opinion a great value for the money. It would cost you a 50% or less than a M-10, which is highly appreciated over here (and I'm sure that they're all right), but if you're on a budget, spending 90 instead of 200 bucks is something to be considered.

[jagraham]

Not a bad price on the DR-05, which is my current go to.  I really need a PCM M 10 though.

[flipp]

Fostex FR2-LE should be on the list. More expensive than many already listed but can be had in the yard or on ebay for $3-400 quite regularly. Built in omnis (which I can't recommend except as a last resort) or 1/4TRS/XLR combo jacks, 48v phantom, records to CF cards. My main back-up deck as I prefer the FR2 to the LE.

[Ultfris101]

Another Sony vote. I'm very happy with an M10 for open and less than open recording. Other than to experiment, I don't need any thing else other than a second M10 which I'm hoping I get from Santa. I've only been recording for a year so consider the source, but it's a pretty safe choice for minimal fuss recording in my experience.

I am considering a dr-680 to let me easily run multiple sets of mics at the same time to experiment, but if pressed to choose I must have an M10.

But I also have a Tinybox And  church audio preamps which are great. If you want something to also power mics then you might need something which provides P48.

What mics are you going to run?

[yltfan]

I would add the Roland R-05 to that list. Reliable and cheap, and in my opinion a great value for the money. It would cost you a 50% or less than a M-10, which is highly appreciated over here (and I'm sure that they're all right), but if you're on a budget, spending 90 instead of 200 bucks is something to be considered.

This.

I got one on a crazy good deal, and it has served me well.

[ljsurfer2002]

excellent. thanks for all the reply's. Am I right in that there is no current 'list of decks' ?  I feel bad for the n00bs that show up wanting to know what to buy for a simple starter rig.

back when I got started I was told to get the Audio Technica 831's, the SP- battery box with the bass roll off and the Sony Mini Disk 15 or so and hit record! I still use the mic's and love them. Who is running the admin stuff here these days? Last time I was here it was m0ke, but I think he took a break. Is there an admin that should compile the FAQ sticky to list the current best list of recording hardware?

I guess the rockbox'd iRivers are no longer really needed now that there are so many new hardware devices for so cheap, huh?

I really do like the built-in mics on these things in case you want to go super low-tech / low-headache.

[ljsurfer2002]

P.S. I swear the last time I was around here (2010 or so?) the Zoom H4N was being fluffed massively. I guess it has lost it's luster to the Sony PCM-M10 huh?

[robeti]

I would add the Roland R-05 to that list. Reliable and cheap, and in my opinion a great value for the money. It would cost you a 50% or less than a M-10, which is highly appreciated over here (and I'm sure that they're all right), but if you're on a budget, spending 90 instead of 200 bucks is something to be considered.

I agree. The R-05 is great.

[rastasean]

I think the Marantz PMD661 should be listed: http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/594741-REG/Marantz_PMD661_PMD661_Professional_Portable_Flash.html

and add Marantz in front of the existing one on the list. We know model numbers but its very hard for a new person to identify brands just based on model numbers.

Also, there's the Tascam DR-100mkII: http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/832911-REG/Tascam_DR100MKII_DR_100mkII_Portable_Linear.html

[yltfan]

Some of us got great deals on the R-05, but it looks like it's $199 everywhere, so not that great of a deal compared to the M-10.

[F.O.Bean]

Sony PCM-M10. 

Many people in these parts are running $2000 mic setups to the M10; I think that says A LOT.

Best of luck.

100% agreed! I have well over 5k retail in my gear and I run 2 x M10s

[darktrain]

What about Sound Devices? Korg? Edirol? Those are some big omissions

[TAlderson]

I think it'd be nice to put together a "rig list" for various price points. Transom does a "Good, Better, Best" list that gives you a good starter rig, a step-up rig, and a "perfect" rig. I know it's pretty subjective, and people have different needs for different situations, but it might be helpful to make one and sticky it for all those "I have X money and want to do X" posts.

Here's the Transom piece, to give an idea:

http://transom.org/?p=30163

-Tyler