Portable Digital Recorders (for live use)

[PintoMusic]

I've been wanting to get a portable digital recorder to tape some of my gigs. A friend of mine recorded a live performance of mine with his Sony MD player a couple of weeks ago (you can hear it at http://www.pintomusic.com/sound/sunshine.mp3 - I'm the guy singing) and I was really impressed with the low noise, stereo image, and the frequency response (you can hear the low-frequencies of the washtub bass).

I went out shopping and found that the only digital-recorders that Sony offers with the stereo-mic/line input are their Hi-MD players. I'm considering getting one but I would also like to know if there are any other alternatives that offer the same level of portability and sound-quality.

Does anyone have any exprerience or suggestions?

Thanks in advance. :)

[tedm]

I haven't used one of these, but it sure looks interesting:

http://www.edirol.com/products/info/r1.html

I've used a Sony D-8 DAT with Core Sounds mics for years, but DAT technology is getting old.

[PintoMusic]

I've decided to go with a Sony Hi-MD recorder/player and I found my old Realistic (Radio Shack) 33-1065 stereo mic. I used to use that mic to record band rehearsals to cassette but I've never used it for a higher-fidelity application like this. I'm curious to hear how it works.

Anybody have any experience with using the 33-1065 to record to digital media?

[PintoMusic]

Originally posted by cpokay
I'm not sure the catalog number designation

It's the one that looks like this:

http://www.gbprops.com/ref_images/6/2/4.jpg

[fatang]

Here's a cool option, about 1/2 the money of the Edirol unit above, and it's available. (Edirol isn't out until next month sometime)

http://www.d-mpro.com/users/folder.asp?FolderID=1582&CatID=19&SubCatID=180


Robert

[PintoMusic]

Originally posted by cpokay
That's a nice looking microphone! I bet they don't make that anymore - you probably will get outstanding results from that, as my stereo lapel condenser isn't nearly as well-engineered.

It's tough to predict how good it will be. Radio Shack still has the specifications for download off their site so, on paper, it peforms better than the Sony or Audio-Technica binaural mics that are out there.

I've heard that this mic was considered a "classic" among people who bootleg live concerts. I'm not sure whether this is because of its sound-quality or because it was one of the only affordable stereo-microphones at the time. :(

I'm going to test it at my gig tonight and compare results with my friend's Sound Professionals SP-BMC3 mic that was used to record the clip at the top of this thread (we'll have both mics on hand).

[PintoMusic]

Here's the recording we did with the Radio Shack mic. I had to EQ in some bottom-end and it looks like we bumped the auto-level-control on the MD player while recording but I guess the quality is okay:

http://www.pintomusic.com/sound/shdvlive.mp3

[PintoMusic]

Originally posted by cpokay
the sound quality of that recording is excellent for a noisy bar/party! your voice and big acoustic guitar sound reminds me of warren haynes, live at bonaroo -- nice job!

Thanks man!! :)

Originally posted by cpokay
here's a link of our band covering Stone Temple Pilots last summer, recorded live to minidisc through the radio shack stereo microphone:

http://fileserv6.soundclick.com/fastk9/HiE/gypsyhillreunion+plush.mp3

I'm sorry I haven't been around this board in a while but I can't seem to open that link now. :(

Have you moved it or can you re-post it? I'd like to hear it.

[Martyk]

Originally posted by fatang
Here's a cool option, about 1/2 the money of the Edirol unit above, and it's available. (Edirol isn't out until next month sometime)

http://www.d-mpro.com/users/folder.asp?FolderID=1582&CatID=19&SubCatID=180


Robert

I have it and use it for every gig - it's just great. I bought a 1 gig card to go with it so I never run out of memory, has lots of recording programming options, easy outs with digital or optic or analog outs. It's a great unit and I can only assume it will outdistance DAT soon enough - no moving parts!

[tedm]

i would love a version of that, if it could handle 24-bit

Originally posted by Martyk
I have it and use it for every gig - it's just great. I bought a 1 gig card to go with it so I never run out of memory, has lots of recording programming options, easy outs with digital or optic or analog outs. It's a great unit and I can only assume it will outdistance DAT soon enough - no moving parts!