Freesound Forums

Hi everyone. First off, I'd like to say that this website is just phenomenal.

I am really intrigued by this realm of "field" recording, and would like to get started recording some of the random sounds in my daily life that I come across. The problem is that I am a graduate student and really don't have any money to speak of. After doing some looking around, it seems like most of the good digital recorders such as Edirol R-1, Marantz PMD660, and the M-Audio MicroTrack, while inexpensive to some, are still out of my league in terms of cost.

I was wondering if any of you have recommendations on equipment that would get me started without too much expense. For instance, it seems that the minidisc isn't quite the type of technology that I am looking for because of the difficulty in getting useful PC formats from it, but would the md recorders be my best option?

Anyhow, thanks for any comments and insight you might have

many people here use mini disc. i'd say the majority of us do. i'd go with the mini-there's also a few new recorders in the mini disc field-that do more-but they'd probably be out of your range as well-but they won't cost you much more than a mini disc. only thing i was confused with about your questions is

what do you mean by

" the minidisc isn't quite the type of technology that I am looking for because of the difficulty in getting useful PC formats from it" i dont understand your "useful pc formats" wording. With the minidisc one can easily transfer the mini to a wave or mp3 or so on. so i don't get your point-can you explain more?

you could get a HiMD... while pricier, they allow you to record in uncompressed wave format, and they allow you to use a USB cable to transfer the wave files to your PC. As you can erase the disks, you'd only need one HMD disk.

- bram

LS
many people here use mini disc. i'd say the majority of us do. i'd go with the mini-there's also a few new recorders in the mini disc field-that do more-but they'd probably be out of your range as well-but they won't cost you much more than a mini disc. only thing i was confused with about your questions is

what do you mean by

" the minidisc isn't quite the type of technology that I am looking for because of the difficulty in getting useful PC formats from it" i dont understand your "useful pc formats" wording. With the minidisc one can easily transfer the mini to a wave or mp3 or so on. so i don't get your point-can you explain more?

What I meant is that it seems that in order to get an mp3 file of what you recorded, you need to first transfer the file to the computer and then convert it to mp3. At least that is what I have read.

It sounds like this might not be true, however. Can you give me the names of a few of the mini disc recorders that you are talking about? For instance, will NetMD recorders work for this, or does it have to be hiMD?

no - unfortunately NetMD's don't. you can only transfer files onto them, not off them. As for the mp3 file bit, to get the files onto my computer, i go through my line in, record it in audacity and then save as an Mp3 or Wav (and then in turn convert it to flac...)

Streety
no - unfortunately NetMD's don't. you can only transfer files onto them, not off them. As for the mp3 file bit, to get the files onto my computer, i go through my line in, record it in audacity and then save as an Mp3 or Wav (and then in turn convert it to flac...)

I see. Well, that really doesn't seem so bad. It might not be super fast, but for short sound files, it probably is pretty easy to do.

BTW, guys, while searching around the net, i found minidisc.org which has a complete guide for buying minidisc players. Quite an excellent find!

here's one that i know of off the top of my head.

zoom's-H4 handy recorder

check it out. there's a few others out there that are simliar but i don't have their info in front of me right now. this one is gonna run ya about 250 (us dollars)-its not out yet that i know of but it should be.

as for tranfering files from the mini. yes you will have to convert-but is that really hard? i transfer my wave files (i have a HiMD) with no prop. if use my old mini-i simly transfer and convert-it 2 minutes!. its a easy process. but either way good luck hunting! there's so much to choose from out there. keep asking and we'll keep trying to help.

LS
about 250 (us dollars)

err dude, just checked the internet....

Zoom H4 - Handy Recorder - £248.99 - Life Is Music
Zoom H4 - £239.99 - www.soundslive.co.uk
Zoom H4 Handy Recorder - £239.99 - Musicstreet Guitar

you got me excited...

thing looks pretty damn nice doesn't it? its a 4 track recorder as well! with usb audio interface-24 bit/96khz a pair of built in condenser mics and xlr jacks. etc etc etc.

there's an even BETTER ONE but i can't remember the name of it-its something like 4 hundred bucks-but its similar and i believe it does more-i think its from sony-it supports memory cards and all that.

i am getting one for x mas. hell maybe 2!

i want one...may have to save up...was gonna buy an audio interface anyway and a mic....why not get one that covers all three (audio interface, built in mics and able to plug a mic in!)

there's many of these new smaller recorders coming out. its gonna be a boom this year watch. they will get cheaper and cheaper with even more features. hell there are cell phones and pda's now that will host progames like cubase and flstudio CELL PHONES MAN!!!!

for use sound guys-the sound world is about to go crazy!(and cheap)

Well guys, after doing a lot of reading, I think I am going to try to get something like a Sony mz n707, or mz n1 from ebay as my first recorder. I'll probably then try to find an inexpensive, but good microphone. I was thinking about the giant squid microphones. I read some good reviews and they aren't too expensive. I figure I can probably pick up a complete starter set for around $150.

What do you guys think?