Topic: Need to Record College Lectures

[Mr.Fantasy]

Hey there everyone....

I have just started yet another semester of college and, as always, new needs present themselves....

I want/need to record my class lectures.

The rooms are all about the same size, and they are all medium sized rooms that seat say 25 people at the most. High ceilings, maybe 13 or 14 feet high. I sit near the front and can get as close as I need (I'm sure the rest of the class wouldn't mind as long as I burn a few copies.... )

But I want to record the lectures. I have no audio equipment to start this with. (Though you may have seen some of my posts, I am about to assemble a rig after I decide on the right equipment....) But I have nothing to start with right now.

I was thinking of using an Ipod with some sort of an attachment.......which would require the purchase of both the Ipod and the attachment....

But it occurred to me that this may not be the best/the only option......I have a budget of probably 300-400 bucks for this one.....

And who better to ask but you guys......

[rokpunk]

Edirol R09 with it's built in mic would do this job perfectly and fits within your budget.

[Mr.Fantasy]

Hmmmm.....Okay.

I hadn't really expected to spend that much on just a box....

.....this thing has decent mics? I mean 15 - 20' MAX and probably more like 10' to 15'....

I was just looking on FleaBay and I saw this...  http://www.tiny.cc/ChurchAudio  .....

Would something like that make a big difference....or would it just be overkill for my purposes...?

[Professor chaos]

i was thinking the same thing R-09. to take it a step further compress to mp3 and ask your professor if he'll host the lecture recordings on his web page. if not host them on your myspace or facebook. this might get you in the good graces with the prof. and the other students in the class. hope that helps

[Swampy]

I recorded a few lectures in school with the internal mic on my iRiver H120 from maybe 15'-20' away and the lectures were definitely audible even from that distance... The only problem I faced is that you can hear the HD ramp up in the iRiver, its really loud on the recording, but it only happens maybe once ever 10 or 15 minutes... The lectures didn't sound amazing, but were certainly audible which is what counts... YMMV

[BJ]

r-09 just popped up in the ys with 2 sd cards (4gb and 2gb)  even has the line-in mod for security.

[OFOTD]

http://www.officedepot.com/ddSKU.do?level=SK&id=335725&No=10&Nr=100000&N=301271%20100000&An=storeFront

Go to an office supply store and buy a fairly cheap digital recorder like a micro-cassette recorder  They probably even have them in your college bookstore.

You can find all sorts for under $50 that will work perfectly for college lectures.   Save the big guns (r-09, etc) for taping shows.  Sometimes things can very much be overkill (r-09, etc.).

[Mr.Fantasy]

Sweet,  I sent him a PM to hold it for me, but who knows...he may just want to get rid of it quick....

But either way...Is the R09 or the Microtrack automatically better than any Ipod setup possible?

And the R09 does not need external mics??

If not what kind of mics could I simply upgrade to?

[BJ]

Sweet,  I sent him a PM to hold it for me, but who knows...he may just want to get rid of it quick....

But either way...Is the R09 or the Microtrack automatically better than any Ipod setup possible?

And the R09 does not need external mics??

If not what kind of mics could I simply upgrade to?

i know nothing about recording with an ipod..so i can't help there.  The mt/r-09 are def the upperbounds of what you need to record lectures with (as OFOTD said)...you could get away with alot less.  you will not need external mics for the lectures.  If you ever wanted them...i think Chris (church) could set you up ith a pair that could be powered by the r-09 for a good price, but again..i do not think you will need them.

think of the r-09 as being dual purpose.  you can use it for lectures in the day...and run it as your recorder for shows also...just put mics and a pre in front of ..and you are golden.  2 birds, one stone.

You can see my r-09 when you come to fayetteville for the birthday bash (if you don't already have one by then)

[Mr.Fantasy]

Alright, I have decided to go ahead and look into a R09.

I think that I would probably be able to re-sell it if I just totally hated it right?

I mean it looks like a stand up product and it seems a few people on the board use them....

So I am ready to get started.....

Now what to do with the files once I have recorded them....

[rokpunk]

If you want a simple to run, all in one recorder/mic combo, the R09 is hard to beat. I'm not sure why some of the guys here think it's overkill....field recording and interviews is what this thing does best! Forget about hooking up external mics...who needs the hassle? You aren't trying to win a grammy for your college lecture recordings....are ya? This thing sounds good and will get the job done at a reasonable cost.

"The R-09 is perfect for recording live music events, recitals, and rehearsals. It’s also handy as a songwriter’s sketchpad, ensuring that no moment of inspiration is lost. But the R-09 has many valuable uses outside of the music world as well. Students can use it to record lectures. Broadcasters and journalists can throw away their antiquated cassette recorders and use the R-09 for in-the-field interviews — the audio-capturing applications are endless."

[Mr.Fantasy]

Well I still might get the R09 w/ two sound cards but I haven't heard back fro the seller since he told me he would hold it for a day. And I have sent my confirmatory PM's, as well as one e-mail.

It seems like two days is a long time with no contact, but then I think...I am 20, and I have grown up with a mouse in hand. It it strange for people my age to not check e-mail and all sorts of myspace/facebook/blog type sites multiple times daily...We expect everything yesterday and we want it at a huge discount. That is why I try and sit back and have some good old fashioned patience. Just as a philosophical and sociological view of my thoughts....

And now for my question...

If I don't go with the R09 w/2 Sound cards, or if I can't get it from the guy, I was thinking of going a little different.....like:

http://tinyurl.com/3xv6oe

maybe with one of these little things on there....

http://tinyurl.com/2mfqdx

I know the R09 is quality, and I could use it to record ANYTHING practically.....and I may still go that way....I just want to know my options....

[Mr.Fantasy]

I just looked....if I went with the equipment from my previous post I could get the total package shipped to my house by tomorrow for $190.....

.....I mean that is a pretty good deal right? I think so...

That little stereo mic got great reviews from people using it for classes......

[BJ]

I don't know that i would spend 190$ to record lectures.  That recorder that OFOTD linked to for 40$ should work perftect, esp since you said you sit near the front of class anyway.  The R-09 is the deal, if you can get him to respond.  Did you send him an email or just pm's? 

my .02$

#1  r-09
#2  sony recorder linked earlier


save your money for gear and shows!!! 

[Mr.Fantasy]

If I wanted to save the money wouldn't I go with the $190 deal as opposed to the $325 deal?

Or are you saying I would get that much more value out of the R-09?