On 07.05.2008 Darcy James Argue wrote:
And I'm sorry, but the idea that "there is no way something this small could sound great" is absurd. It's the microphones used that make the most difference -- the recorder itself makes comparatively little difference.
This is definitely true to a certain extent, but on the other hand a lot depends on the mic pres in the unit, certainly if you don't want to carry your own mic pres around with you.
Years ago I purchased one of the very first portable DAT recorders (an AIWA) unit which promised me to make "CD-Quality" recordings. Well, it is certainly true that the unit could make CD-Quality recordings, but only if you fed it digital signals. The mic pre it included was terrible, and it certainly made me learn quickly that a digital recorder is not the definitive answer to recording quality.
Meanwhile I run my own CD label, and I record using a pair of Schoeps mics. I use a digital desk made for a very short time by Fostex, a professional producer gave me that tip. Fostex only sold it for a very short time, mainly because it only has four mic ins. But the quality of the pres is really amazing. I also sometimes use the two mic pres in my MOTU unit.
I am not in the market any more for a portable recorder, as I take the computer with me most of the time anyway. However, one of the newer portable MOTU units really appeals to me.
Personally I do no longer believe in portable recordings with the microphone placed "anywhere". I find anything recorded with less than good pro mics unsatisfying. When I want to have a recording of a concert I set up the Schoeps on a high stand, feed them into the MOTU (the mic pres are pretty good) and run that into my iBook. Not as portable as a zoom with a clip on microphone, but many many many times higher quality.
Johannes -- http://www.musikmanufaktur.com http://www.camerata-berolinensis.de _______________________________________________ Finale mailing list [email protected] http://lists.shsu.edu/mailman/listinfo/finale
