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Need some wisdom from the crowd
My students, who don't have a spare $300-$400 for Edirol, Marantz or Zoom digital audio recorders have asked me for some recommendations for recorders that have a good combination of price and quality (say the $100-$150 range, or cheaper, although I doubt that's likely). Have to have: mic in, Mac compatability, good enough quality for internet delivery, decent amount of onboard storage or replaceable card.
In the past, I've used iRivers (iFP700s), but I've lost track of how the newer iRiver models perform.
Recommendations, anyone?
Thanks in advance
In the past, I've used iRivers (iFP700s), but I've lost track of how the newer iRiver models perform.
Recommendations, anyone?
Thanks in advance
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Doug Fisher on -
Mark:
We've had good results with a simple Olympus DS2. It records in WMA and the Olympus proprietary format (though the proprietary is only for the longer stuff, and the WMA gives you a good chunk of time). WMA is easily made ready for editing through a converter program like Switch.
Lately, we've been experimenting with iPods and the Belkin TuneTalk microphone. It works pretty well, and it has a plug for an extension mike, like an EV635. The iPod records in WAV, so it's instantly editable, and since iPods are so widely used, we can buy the mike attachments and let the students use their own iPods (regular, not Nano). Of course, we have a few iPod kits, too.
Here are our two types of audio kits, Both go for $200-250 total. Of course, the students wouldn't necessarily get the EV mike or the carrying case, so that would cut about $120 out of it:
Audio kit DS2
- 1 Olympus DS-2 digital recorder
- 1 Electrovoice 635 N/D-B microphone
- 1 six foot cable, XLR-to-1/8-inch “mini” plug
- 1 USB cord
- 1 pair Olympus “earbuds”
- Lowepro carrying bag
iPod kit
- 1 iPod (30GB)
- 1 black iPod carrying case
- 1 Belkin TuneTalk stereo plug-in microphone
- 1 Belkin USB cord, black
- 1 Apple USB cord, white
- 1 pair earbuds
- Lowepro carrying bag
Doug
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Permalink Reply by Noah Bombard on -
Just bought an Olympus WS-300M last fall with a Sony stereo microphone. Works great. Good stereo sound and it plugs right into your PC or Mac's USB port without the need of a USB cable. You definitely want the separate microphone, othewise the slightest touch to the recorder will be picked up.
It has a level meter on it, but I still find I get the best recordings by using headphones while recording. It enables you to really sense where you're getting your best sound.
I think I found ours on the Web for about $100 a piece.
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Permalink Reply by Mark Hamilton on -
Thanks, Noah. I'll check it out.
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