Freesound Forums

Hi guys,

- want to buy a portable recorder for both indoor and outdoor use. Since I'm on a budget, I've narrowed my choice down to two recorders: the M-Audio Microtrack and the Edirol R-09. I know that both aren't as good as more expensive recorders, for my needs, however, they suffice. But I have a hard time choosing between them. I read a couple of reviews, and both seem to be great. Also, I listened to some Microtrack recordings here (such as junggle's awesome water drops) and they sounded great.
Has anybody experience with one of those recorders (or, ideally, with both)? Any suggestions or things I should look out for? Obviously, I'm looking for the best possible sound quality as well as the possibility to "expand" the system, i.e. connect external mics (such as binaurals)

Thanks in advance!

Alex

I absolutely love my Edirol R-4, which is a different beast, but it is almost perfect for my needs, and of course allows 4-tracks which for doing live shows is necessary. My buddy traded his M-Audio in for a Edirol R-09. He uses mostly the built-in mics which are actually really good. I don't have experience of my own with M-Audio, but the buddy was saying it had some frustrating user-interface issues. It wasn't as easy to use as the r-09 in his opinion, and the built-in mics of the M-Audio were prone to distort no matter what gain settings one used. (He uses it for band practice mostly and high levels)

My main recommendation goes to the Edirol in any case.

Don't forget to have a look at the Zoom H-2 and H-4 as well. I also have the H-4 which another friend of mine successfully used with a Speiden Ribbon Blumlein mic, which is shocking, because cheap preamps do not normally provide the gain needed to work with Ribbon microphones. I will be buying an H-2 as well since a handheld Mid-Side unit is just too useful for me to pass up. The H-4 has built in X-Y array and does support external microphones.(XLR or 1/4". Only two channels at a time however, no using built in and external at the same time.

Sweet! Thanks for the reply, lonemonk. I've taken a look at some of the more expensive units (such as your Edirol R-4 or a Fostex), but they seem to bulky for me; I need something lighter.
The Zoom H4 looks great, however. It seems to be the only one with two XLRs, 48 phantom power and the ability to record 4 track. But unfortunately I don't know how the sound quality is... Do you know where I might find some samples?

EDIT: One more thing: from what I know, most binaural mics use mini jack. I guess I can still use them with a mini-jack-to-jack adapter?

awe
The Zoom H4 looks great, however. It seems to be the only one with two XLRs, 48 phantom power and the ability to record 4 track. But unfortunately I don't know how the sound quality is... Do you know where I might find some samples?

Just do a search on freesound for "H4" and you'll get tons of samples people (including myself) have recorded.

The Glock and acela train samples under gezortenplotz are from my Zoom H4, just using the onboard mics.

I'd like to reiterate a previous question posed from AWE that seems to have gone unanswered. I'm looking for a handheld recorder with built in mics, but also with the ability to plug in binaural mics, which from what I can tell all come with a stereo minijack and need power. I know that the R-09 can handle that (and the microtrack too, but I've read mixed reviews of that, and it has no built in mics), but I don't think the H4 has a minijack. Can you split the minijack into 2 mono 1/4 inchers and get the phantom power and decent sound? Also, I know that the H2 will have a minijack input, but the website says 'On the right side of the H2, you can plug in a powered 1/8" external stereo mic.' Sounds like you need an external power supply for the H2. Any thoughts or ideas?? THANKS!!

A quick follow up: the description for the M-Audio Microtrack says it has an 1/8 inch mic in with 5V of power for the little mic it comes with. Does anyone know how much power would be needed for most binaural mics, like the SP-TFB-2?

Zuelito,
I have the Zoom H4 with the SP-TFB-2 binaural mics, you need to also buy from the Sound Professionals a special made H4 adapter:
http://www.soundprofessionals.com/cgi-bin/gold/item/SP-ZOOM-PHANTOM

You can listen to my field recordings, many of them are recorded with this setup (as noted in the description) so you can judge the quality for yourself.

Very nice Corsica, thanks for the info. I wonder though with the added expense of that H4 adapter whether it wouldn't be pretty much the same to just go with the Edirol R-09. Have you had any experience with that piece?

Also, I was wondering if anyone out there had used the SP-TFB-2 with the MicroTrack, and whether the 5V minijack that piece uses to power the included mic would be able to power the SP-TFB-2's.

Thanks!

Yes, I suppose the added cost of the adapter could go towards an R-09, though for me when I got the H4 I wanted to use it with XLR mics and the 4 track ability, so the R-09 wasn't really something I considered so I can't reallly comment on it.
Good luck.

My cousin owns an Edirol R-09 and he has great things to say about it. He uses it quite extensively as far as I know. I asked him about which of the two he'd recommend as he had also done plenty of research before buying and he said Edirol R-09 hands down.

The Zoom H4 looks great

it might LOOK great, it sounds terrible, not to mention the lousy menu structures...
no way.

The menus are a little funky, but like anything you get used to it pretty fast. I really wish rockbox would make a replacement OS for it!

Do you have an example of a sound you recorded that is 'terrible' klanks? The recordings I've made have come out decently. Not as good as my R-4 by any means, but quite acceptable for the price. I think we're mostly still all in agreement that the Edirol R09 is the better choice.

lonemonk
Do you have an example of a sound you recorded that is 'terrible' klanks?

lonemonk
I think we're mostly still all in agreement that the Edirol R09 is the better choice.

Yes. the R09 is good.
The upcoming H2 might work too. I don't know yet.

awe
Hi guys,

- want to buy a portable recorder for both indoor and outdoor use. Since I'm on a budget, I've narrowed my choice down to two recorders: the M-Audio Microtrack and the Edirol R-09. I know that both aren't as good as more expensive recorders, for my needs, however, they suffice. But I have a hard time choosing between them. I read a couple of reviews, and both seem to be great. Also, I listened to some Microtrack recordings here (such as junggle's awesome water drops) and they sounded great.
Has anybody experience with one of those recorders (or, ideally, with both)? Any suggestions or things I should look out for? Obviously, I'm looking for the best possible sound quality as well as the possibility to "expand" the system, i.e. connect external mics (such as binaurals)

Thanks in advance!

Alex

Alex:
A new version of the Microtrack will be released soon, so if you buy it now you should be able to get it at a discount.
Though you might want to wait and see what has been added to the new version (yet to be announced) before
buying the current version.
Hope this helps.
andrew