Pocket Recorders for Sessions

[fearfaoin]

Where does one buy such devices? I've
been calling various outfits in St. Louis,
music stores, stereo stores, electronics,
and they know nothing.

What were you asking for? Maybe you worded it in a way they didn't
understand. My local radio shack had a small selection. They were
surprisingly absent at Best Buy, but I think Circuit City had them.
Or, the internets:
http://froogle.google.com/froogle?q=aud ... ch+Froogle

[jim stone]

I asked for a digital recorder that I could take places
to record live music. I said that I was after something small that could
run on batteries, and that Marantz and Roland
make them.

Anyhow I did manage to contact a music store here that says
it's getting in a new recorder, small, hand held,
by ZOOM, which is a four-track, for 200 dollars.
Sounds too good to be true.

Yes, Radio Shack has 'em but I have had bad
experiences with their stuff.
Found Roland online, thanks.

[peeplj]

The local Wal-Mart has quite a selection of inexpensive to mid-range digital voice recorders, though I don't remember specific models or prices, as it's been better than a month since I've been there.

Most days I'd almost rather take a beating than have to go to Wally-World.

--James

[jim stone]

Thanks. Yes, it's another world.

[monkey587]

I've been using an Olympus WS-320M. I bought it to take to Friday harbor because the quality is pretty good and it had enough record time for the entire weekend (about 32 hours of stereo audio... not CD quality but not bad. It also goes for about 7 hours on 1 AAA battery.


Here's a recording of me playing "Devaney's Goat" and "The Concert Reel" into it. I think it was on my lap as I was playing. As you can hear, the sound quality is good enough that it doesn't cover up my mistakes.

[fearfaoin]

I asked for a digital recorder that I could take places
to record live music. I said that I was after something small that could
run on batteries, and that Marantz and Roland
make them.

Ah, you used too many words. This is how I've had to deal with the
current Radio Shack staff: "Ugh. Me want digital recorder. That one
crappy; give me expensive one."

[jim stone]

Gotcha!

I did have some prolonged conversations
with these folks trying to get the idea across;
an interesting experience.

[crookedtune]

FWIW, I bought one at Radio Shack about four years ago that has worked flawlessly ever since. The problem is it was four years ago, so $99 only got me 8M. Holds lots of voice-quality sound, but not many tunes. Time for a replacement!

[jim stone]

Worth thinking over. The last two things I bought
from RS broke immediately after the warranty expired.
Both recorders, in fact, but cassette recorders.

[fearfaoin]

Worth thinking over. The last two things I bought
from RS broke immediately after the warranty expired.
Both recorders, in fact, but cassette recorders.

The digital recorders that RS stocked were mostly the name brands
mentioned here: Sony, Olympus, etc. No knock-offs in that section,
at least.

[peeplj]

monkey587, I enjoyed those! The sound quality was great--how much do those little recorders go for?

On your playing, you've got great tone, and there's one thing in particular that is really nice that's going to really put fire in your playing as you gain speed--you've got a great attack on some of the notes, once you are at session speed it's going to give you a great "crunchy" sound I think...sort of like some of Noel Rice's work.

What kind of flute, by the way?

--James

[monkey587]

monkey587, I enjoyed those! The sound quality was great--how much do those little recorders go for?

On your playing, you've got great tone, and there's one thing in particular that is really nice that's going to really put fire in your playing as you gain speed--you've got a great attack on some of the notes, once you are at session speed it's going to give you a great "crunchy" sound I think...sort of like some of Noel Rice's work.

What kind of flute, by the way?

--James

I paid about $150 for my WS320M. My fiancee has the WS300M (same thing, smaller storage) and she paid about $100.

Devaney's Goat was recorded for my fiancee to learn, so I was just trying to get all the notes as I normally play them, and I wasn't nervous about recording. It sounded very restrained, so the other was recorded to show how I sound when I'm just going for it, which of course made me really tense and consequently my rhythm went south. Neither of them reflect my normal state very well, but I accept them for what they are.

The flute's an old german 1880s 8-key, sans foot keys, with a Jon C headjoint. I have a clip of Catherine McEvoy playing a phrase and then me immitating it, from Friday Harbor this year. Her tone is of course more powerful and clear, but I was surprised by how much I liked my tone. Of course, that was my OTHER Jon C headjoint that I don't use so much now...

[BoneQuint]

here's a link to a page which answers the question at length, more or less.....

http://www.recorderhomepage.net/medieval.html

Sometimes I see something labeled as "More than you ever wanted to know about...", but rarely does it end up being true. However, scanning this page revealed several interesting bits, such as:

Phil Bleazey makes a cylindrical bore recorder with open voicing which plays over two octaves with accurate tunings and is available in simple, Dordrecht or Göttingen profiles. Bleazy notes that the dents around the bulbous end of the original Göttingen instrument may indicate it's possible use as a drum beater.

Modern players play on couches instead, as they leave no dents.

[Tony McGinley]

Thanks Guys for your time, your input,
and your suggestions.

The Edirol and Roland gear sound the biz
but budget wise are way out for the present.

Beir Beannacht!

[Thomas-Hastay]

maybe this???

http://digitalmedia.oreilly.com/2005/11 ... eview.html