Portable Recording
Make the Most of Digital Recorders
by Jason Borisoff
Handheld recorders have come a long way from bulky cassette machines that record ghostly, grainy sounds, full of pops, hisses, and clicks. In the last decade, a large selection of high definition digital recorders that capture near-studio quality sound, at a reasonable price, have hit the market. Digital recorders are a major asset for musicians, journalists, and field recorders. The advantages over cassette recorders are many—they are more compact, have better mikes and sound quality, and are computer compatible for simple sound file organization and transfer.
Like most modern technology, every new generation of digital recorders gets smaller and more advanced. Most of today’s units fit easily in your hand, and can be stashed away in your gig bag, or even your pocket. They are typically very easy to use, and you don’t need to be a studio engineer to start making great recordings.
Features Rich
Most digital recorders use two condenser microphones, which are far more sensitive than the dynamic microphones found on older portable recorders. These two microphones can pick up a stereo pattern, recorded as a left and a right signal, adding depth to your recordings.
Digital recorders also can record to several different digital formats, most commonly WAV and MP3. WAV files offer the best sound quality, starting with 16-bit, or CD-quality resolution, with more advanced units offering higher quality 24-bit options. Keep in mind the higher the quality, the more space these files will take on your hard drive, and the less recording time you will have. MP3 files are great if you want to save space. Because they are compressed audio files, there is some degradation in sound quality compared to WAV files, however, depending on the setting, they take up as little as one-tenth of the space.
Another consideration is data storage and transfer. Many units use SD cards, the same that are used in digital cameras. They typically come with two-gigabyte cards, but you’ll most likely want to upgrade to a 16GB or 32GB for more recording time. Usually, you can transfer files to your computer using a USB port and cable, but some units have a built-in USB stick, making file transfer a cinch.
Musician’s Best Friend
A high-quality recorder is a huge asset for any musician. They’re great for recording practice sessions. After you’ve worked up a song or passage, recording it and listening back is the best way to objectively critique yourself. You can also use recordings to gauge your development over time, like an electronic practice journal.
Some music teachers throw a lot of information at you, and it’s hard to absorb all of it at once, but with recorded digital evidence, you can easily store each lesson on your computer and pull it up at any time. Lessons are expensive, so why not record them to get the most out of your teacher’s advice?
A lot of musicians use digital recorders for band demos and audition tapes. For the cost of a few hours of studio time, you can buy a digital recorder that will give you great sound quality, at least for a demo. If you play in a band, or as a solo musician, use a recorder to tape live shows. You may collect enough recorded songs to put a live CD together to sell at gigs and give to your family for gifts.
Have you ever had a musical idea for a song, but no way to record it? Inspiration can be fleeting, and if you don’t have a way to capture it, you may lose it forever. Carry around a digital recorder, and when these moments spring up, play or hum the idea so you can work on it later.
Social Media
Not only do they capture every nuance of a recording, the files can also be easily stored and organized on a computer for other uses.
For podcasts and posting to the web, nothing beats a digital recorder. For this application, a digital recorder that supports MP3 is important. The files are much smaller, meaning that you can easily upload them to your website, and your listeners can easily download or stream the content.
As you can see, the options with a digital recorder are practically limitless. This technology puts a lot of power in your hands for a reasonable cost. We’ve highlighted a few popular models in a variety of price ranges and features.
Line 6 Back Track + Mic
BackTrack + Mic offers a simple and intuitive way to capture your ideas and practice sessions. This recorder is excellent for electric guitarists and bassists, as it offers a quarter-inch input jack. BackTrack is always on and ready to record—just play or sing and it begins recording automatically. While listening back, you can use its Mark button to organize noteworthy ideas. Later, you can import the 16-bit or 24-bit WAV files to a computer via USB while recharging the battery, which runs for eight hours on a charge.
MSRP: $139
www.line6.com
Zoom H2n
Zoom’s H2n is loaded with five condenser microphone capsules with three settings for great sound. It stores 16-bit or MP3 recordings on a standard SD/SDHC card of up to 32GB. Additional features include easily adjustable analog gain control, oversized backlit LCD screen, internal reference speaker, USB jack, and Steinberg WaveLab recording software. It will run 20 hours on two standard AA batteries, or can be powered by an optional AC adapter.
MSRP: $349
Tascam DR-40
Tascam DR-40 can record with either its adjustable stereo condenser microphones, or through its two combo jacks. It offers four-track recording of 24-bit WAV/BWF or MP3 files. After recording, you can adjust EQ and volume, slow down the tempo without changing pitch, and even overdub, which are great features for practicing over and experimenting with song ideas. It has a USB 2.0 jack, plus accepts SD/SDHC cards up to 32GB. With three AA batteries it runs 15 hours or you can purchase an optional AC adapter.
MSRP: $279
Roland R-05
The R-05 offers flexibility. You can choose between stereo 16-bit or 24-bit recording, as well as seven types of MP3, or even record WAV and MP3 files simultaneously. Use the built-in microphones or line sources for added flexibility. A neat feature is Rehearsal Mode, which automatically sets the gain levels for recording your band’s practice, and then splits the songs for you into separate tracks. R-05 takes industry standard SD/SDHC cards and has a USB adapter. Two AA batteries can power it for more than 16 hours, or use its AC adapter.
MSRP: $299
www.rolandus.com
