Here's a set of basic information and links to web sites to help
people choose an inexpensive field recorder. The recorders included are:
-- Sony MZ-RH1 (Hi-MD) $290
-- M-Audio Microtrack 2496 (Compactflash) $330
-- Edirol R-09 (Secure Digital) $350
-- Edirol R-1 (Compactflash) $340
-- Marantz PMD660 (Compactflash) $430 (modified $710)
Any of these machines can be used successfully for field recording.
They work best when your microphones draw power from another source.
--oryoki
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Product......Sony MZ-RH1
Web site......http://tinyurl.com/haluy
Manual online......http://tinyurl.com/qrtee
List Price......$350
Street Price 9/06......$290
Dimensions, mm......84 x 85 x 15
Volume, cc......107.1
Weight w/o batteries, g......96
Batteries required......one Sony LIP-4WM Li-Ion
Record time, internal batt......5-6 hours
External power......5V DC via USB
Recording formats......WAV, HI-SP, HI-LP
Recording medium......Hi-MD
Medium cost per GB.....$4.35
Fastest sampling rate......16/44.1
Pre-roll buffer......no
Preamp quality......very good
Preamp S/N, Mic input......-100 dB ?
Line input......yes
Mic input......yes
Digital input......yes
Mic power......Plug-In Power
Line out......yes
Digital output......no
USB......yes
Headphone jack......yes
Headphone Amp......5W
Internal Speaker......no
Comment......Compatible with PC & Mac (unlike most Hi-MD)
Comment......Preamp is best of this group
Comment......Uses standard MD discs, too ($1.80 for 300MB, 28 min)
Comment......Disc is cheap and durable enough to serve as archive
Comment......Battery is quickly repleacable in the field, costs $20 on
eBay
Product......M-Audio Microtrack 24/96
Web site......http://tinyurl.com/chp93
Manual online......http://tinyurl.com/ktjsf
List Price......$400
Street Price 9/06......$330
Dimensions, mm......57 x 105 x 29
Volume, cc......174
Weight w/o batteries, g......147
Batteries required......internal lithium-ion
Record time, internal batt......4-6 hours
External power......via USB
Recording formats......WAV, MP3
Recording medium......Compactflash
Medium cost/GB......$20
Fastest sampling rate......24/96
Pre-roll buffer......no
Preamp quality......good
Preamp S/N, Mic input......-90 dB ?
Line input......L&R 7mm phone
Mic input......L&R 7mm phone, 3.5mm stereo TRS
Digital input......SPDIF RCA coax
Mic power......~30v phantom or 5v plug-in power
Line out......RCA
Digital output......no
USB......1.1
Headphone jack......3.5mm minijack
Headphone Amp power...... ? watts
Internal Speaker......no
Comment......includes mini T-style stereo mic
Comment......30V phantom power not suitable for all mics (48V is standard)
Comment......M-Audio offers frequent firmware updates to fix bugs and
offer enhancements
comment......two 7mm and one 3.5mm mic input provides options if one
jack fails
Product......Edirol R-09
Web site......http://tinyurl.com/qnvax
Manual online......http://tinyurl.com/qv8xp
List Price......$400
Street Price 9/06......$350
Dimensions, mm......63 x 102 x 29
Volume, cc......186
Weight w/o batteries, g......145
Batteries required......2 AA
Record time, internal batt......4 hours
External power......via USB
Recording formats......WAV, MP3
Recording medium......Secure Digital
Medium cost/GB......$20
Fastest sampling rate......24/48
Pre-roll buffer......no
Preamp quality......good
Preamp S/N, Mic input......-85 dB ?
Line input......3.5mm minijack
Mic input......3.5mm minijack
Digital input......no
Mic power......~2.5V Plug in Power
Line out......3.5mm minijack
Digital output......minijack
USB......2.0
Headphone jack......3.5mm minijack
Headphone Amp power...... ? watts
Internal Speaker......no
Comment......includes 2 built in mics
Comment......mmic preamp noisy when recording in quiet environments
Comment......line input has less self-noise
Comment......works best if external mic has its own power supply
Comment......Much better battery life than R-1
Product......Edirol R-1 (discontinued)
Web site......http://tinyurl.com/qlnc8
Manual online......http://tinyurl.com/9dqxb
List Price......$400
Street Price 9/06......$340
Dimensions, mm......99 x 134 x 30
Volume, cc......398
Weight w/o batteries, g......205
Batteries required......2 AA
Record time, internal batt......2.5 hours
External power......USB
Recording formats......WAV, MP3
Recording medium......Compactflash
Medium cost/GB......$20
Fastest sampling rate......24/44.1
Pre-roll buffer......no
Preamp quality......very good
Preamp S/N, Mic input...... -95 dB ?
Line input......3.5 mm mini jack
Mic input......3.5 mm mini jack
Digital input......no
Mic power......plug-in power
Line out......3.5 mm mini jack
Digital output......SP/DIF 3.5 mm
USB......2
Headphone jack......3.5 mm mini jack
Headphone Amp power......? watts
Internal Speaker......no
Comment......Preamp is less noisy than R-09
Comment......Construction quality is weak, volume knob easily comes off
Product......Marantz PMD660
Web site......http://tinyurl.com/9jrz7
Manual online......http://tinyurl.com/797wp
List Price......$500
Street Price 9/06......$430
Dimensions, mm......113 x 184 x 47
Volume, cc......977
Weight w/o batteries, g......500
Batteries required......4 AA
Record time, internal batt......4 hours
External power......5V DC
Recording formats......WAV, MP3
Recording medium......Compactflash
Medium cost/GB......$20
Fastest sampling rate......16/48
Pre-roll buffer......2 sec.
Preamp quality......fair ?
Preamp S/N, Mic input...... -60 dB
Line input......3.5mm mini jack
Mic input......XLR
Digital input......no
Mic power......48v
Line out......3.5mm mini jack
Digital output......no
USB......1.1
Headphone jack......3.5mm mini jack
Headphone Amp......8 mW
Internal Speaker......150 mW
Comment......Larger size also means larger, easier to use controls
Comment......Build quality is very good, more durable switches
Comment......Preamp self-noise is high, so mic input has to be high
Comment......But preamp also overloads easily, so signal can't be too high
Comment......Oade Bros. preamp replacement greatly decreases input noise
Comment......Cost of Oade mod is $710, including recorder
Comment......see http://tinyurl.com/cv7tv
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