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Started June 3rd, 2009 · 4 replies · Latest reply by NoiseCollector 15 years, 3 months ago
I'd like to make some ambient field recordings - the beach, forests, etc - and currently have access to a Marantz PMD660. I'm wondering how this compares to the Zoom H2 which I'm considering. I don't need the highest quality recordings - I plan on using them for background audio at home when I'm relaxing. Surround sound would be nice, as would binaural recording, but aren't absolutely necessary. Your advice would be appreciated, or perhaps a link that compares the two.
TIA,
Jim
I actually recommend neither and suggest looking into the Edirol R-09HR. I've recorded nature ambience with them using the built-in mics and the Sound Professionals SP-TFB-2 binaural mics. I love them!
Surround sound would be nice
Then the Zoom would be the obvious choice. By having 4 mics and using freeware to manipulate the files it produces good surround ambience. I have no direct experience of the Marantz but many reviews say it has very noisy pre-amps.
Read this:
http://www.freesound.org/forum/viewtopic.php?t=3675&highlight=marantz+pmd660
I like the Zoom. It is small enough to have with you anywhere,reliable and relatively cheap. Cons are it also has noisy pre's so if you do get the recording bug and wish to record with external mics, you might have to consider buying a better pre-amp to go with it. I use a FEL Battery Microphone Amplifier BMA1 to the Zoom's line-in.
http://www.felmicamps.co.uk/products/felbattpreamp.html
Whichever recorder you purchase, have fun !
Zoom for price sake...
I just bought a sony stereo electect for $8 to replace the failing stock olympus mic on my cheap ass DS-40 (that I got because I can't find my daddy's credit card... or my daddy for that matter...)
Anyway, if you live in the real world and cannot dish out hundreds of dollars for gear without causing an argument with your cohabitants over the budget for the month, Zoom is hands down the best bang for the buck.. that will be next purchase after I explain the digital MIDI drumset I got for a steal on Ebay and the near field powered monitiors that I am waiting for to come along for $80 or less...
Plus the H2 can do surround sound as mentioned above with freeware to boot.
Now if I can only get enough cash to recover 10 years of lost noises collected on my dead hard drive I can move on....