Topic: General purpose HD recorder

[Mus]

Hi guys,

I'm looking for a good hard disc recording machine to tape band rehearsals and I might try taping some shows later in the year.  I also want a general purpose MP3 player and the larger the hard drive the better.

The favourite here seems to be the Creative JB3, which seems bulky but available at a pretty good price.  What mics can I get at reasonable cost and where here in the UK?  I'm confused about the talk of needing a pre-amp and battery pack and suchlike so if you have time to recommend the most cost-effective and least bulky options I would be grateful.

Like a lot of people I was also attracted to the iRiver IHP series but I understand there are glitches in the realtime recording - has this not been fixed?

Are there any other contenders?  Oh, and will any of them take DRM MP3/WM stuff from any DD sites?

Many thanks for your help.

Regards

M

[RA]

Check out the JB3 FAQ: http://www.taperssection.com/yabbse/index.php?board=14;action=display;threadid=16338

[mlw]

I've been looking hard at the Neuros - http://www.neurosaudio.com/
There are a couple folks here who have been testing and posting, try a search.

[Mus]

Thanks,

I'll take a look at the Neuros - I couldn't find it available to buy in the UK, though.

Could anyone recommend any stereo mics with high enough output to drive the line in of the JB3 or another HD recorder?  Not sure I want to dive in and buy a pre-amp just yet.  I'm not looking for perfect results just taping band rehearsals for the time being.

Ta

M

[Sean Gallemore]

Thanks,

I'll take a look at the Neuros - I couldn't find it available to buy in the UK, though.

Could anyone recommend any stereo mics with high enough output to drive the line in of the JB3 or another HD recorder?  Not sure I want to dive in and buy a pre-amp just yet.  I'm not looking for perfect results just taping band rehearsals for the time being.

Ta

M

Neurosaudio.com doesn't sell to anyone outside the country

try
www.soundprofessionals.com
and
http://cool4u2view.com/

for international sales

[Mus]

I think the FM transmitter may be illegal here too.

Anyone got any answers to my specific Qs?

Cheers

M 

[Humbug]

Theres almost nothing available for UK tapers in this country. Soundprofessionals are recommended though. A Battery box is required for those mics, although this is small and relatively inexpensive.

One of those clip-on ECM Sony mics (exact model anyone?) will give decent enough results for a rehearsal.

[Mus]

OK thanks Humbug.  Do you mean the MS907?  Will that be OK for line-level? Any other models?

Surprised to see that Sound Professionals sell the iRiver IHP - do they not think that the WAV recording missed samples are a problem?

Any other contenders for a player?

Cheers

M

[Humbug]

Sorry I've not seen one of those:

http://www.sel.sony.com/SEL/consumer/ss5/home/accessories/microphonesfordigital/ecm-ms907_specs.shtml

my experience is only with stealth mics. I've used an ECM-717 for one recording, its a compact single point mic with an internal battery.

The Nomad is a fine Hard Drive recorder, which I use for stealth recording here in the UK. Its a little bulky, but fits perfectly in my jacket pocket.

[Sanjay]

the good thing about stealthing the jb3 is that if they ask you at security can say its a portable cd player, it looks the same.  Just remember to lock it while stealthing. 

[Mus]

Ok, others are welcome to add to the advice - no need to be shy now! 

Is the sample dropping on the iRiver just through the digital input?  I read somewhere that the analogue ins are OK.  So that leaves my question about whether the sub £100 ($180) sony mics can cut it through a line in (JB3 or IHP).

Anyone?

[Lee]

you might also look into the AT822 and 825 single point stereo mics... they often get overlooked in this forum but have plenty of bang for the buck.

[Mus]

Thanks Lee, I'll check those out.

So, Humbug, was the ECM717 put through the line in or the mic in?

Can anyone confirm that the sample dropping problem with the  iRiver just affects the optical in and not the analogues?

[Sean Gallemore]

Thanks Lee, I'll check those out.

So, Humbug, was the ECM717 put through the line in or the mic in?

Can anyone confirm that the sample dropping problem with the  iRiver just affects the optical in and not the analogues?

I'm pretty sure the sample dropping was for digital input tests.  Most people here don't see analog input recorders as significant.

[Humbug]

So, Humbug, was the ECM717 put through the line in or the mic in?

Line in, always line in. Its been a while since I used one, but its very easy to overload a minidisc recorder with mic-in, unless its an acoustic recording.