chassis Posted March 25, 2015 Share Posted March 25, 2015 So I was thinking about getting a dictaphone for sample recording. Want something small easy to carry around and handy to import samples on to my PC. Anyone had any experience with using them for field recordings? Quality isn't a massive issue for me but I'd like something ok. I presume a 100 quid dictaphone would be higher res than my phone. Have people had any more fruitful methods of sample collection? I'll be mostly interested in impact sounds for drums and such but occasionally longer audio too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mcbpete Posted March 25, 2015 Share Posted March 25, 2015 If 100 quid is your absolute limit for your budget go for a second hand Zoom H2. Perfick Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chassis Posted March 25, 2015 Author Share Posted March 25, 2015 If 100 quid is your absolute limit for your budget go for a second hand Zoom H2. Perfick Great suggestion, looks fantastic, all positive reviews. 100 quid sterling might be a bit more than I wanted because I'll get murdered on the Euro but I might just bite the bullet. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Perezvon Posted March 25, 2015 Share Posted March 25, 2015 Got myself a Tascam DR-05 for a 100 quid and it does the job. I think buying high end stuff is a waste of money for this, unless you want really really pure recordings of isolated sounds or something like Amon Tobin. If you're okay with "unwanted" texture, a dictaphone is pretty much perfect. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chassis Posted March 25, 2015 Author Share Posted March 25, 2015 I'm probably actually looking to keep the texture. I was considering getting an old dictaphone with the tapes, but the hassle of importing them would be a nightmare. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hello spiral Posted March 25, 2015 Share Posted March 25, 2015 Lots of texture with the tape based ones, mainly because if you use the built in mic it's recording the sound of the mechanism too. I'm actually pretty happy with the field recordings I make with my iphone tbh. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kakapo Posted March 25, 2015 Share Posted March 25, 2015 You can get stereo mic attachments for iPhones too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zkom Posted March 26, 2015 Share Posted March 26, 2015 Zoom H2 has worked for me as well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
purlieu Posted April 3, 2015 Share Posted April 3, 2015 H2 is as good as you'll get in that price range and, unless you want to do professional sound design / foley or are working in the area of entirely field recording-based music, you're not going to need much better. One of my favourite pieces of kit. Get one of these for it and you're sorted. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hello spiral Posted April 4, 2015 Share Posted April 4, 2015 ^Now I wanna get a H2 just so I can get one of them lol Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Danny O Flannagin Posted April 4, 2015 Share Posted April 4, 2015 I have a Tascam DR 05 and it's my most used piece of gear besides the computer. Awesome little thing that picks up everything in the area. It is kind of a pain to use when i'm trying to get an isolated sound because it really does pick up everything that is audible. A little noisy at high gain, just like anything else. Very durable, my friend has beat the shit out of his for more than a year and it's still recording like a champ. IDK much about the zoom h2 but the tascam is a bit cheaper Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nickthefish Posted April 5, 2015 Share Posted April 5, 2015 Also in the market for a recorder. Anyone had any experience with the Roland R-05? http://www.roland.co.uk/products/r-05/ Cheers Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Polytrix Posted April 5, 2015 Share Posted April 5, 2015 Zoom all the way. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nickthefish Posted April 5, 2015 Share Posted April 5, 2015 Zoom all the way. Fuck it. Just grabbed a refurbed Zoom H2n off ebay for £80. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Polytrix Posted April 5, 2015 Share Posted April 5, 2015 Enjoy. I'm a fancy H4N man myself. I'm actually trying to get a little tripod thing for it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nickthefish Posted April 5, 2015 Share Posted April 5, 2015 I basically spent the money I saved by getting a refurb on this (inc. tripod)... http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Zoom-APH2n-Accessory-Pack-For-H2n-Digital-Recorder-/400895562625 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sweepstakes Posted April 8, 2015 Share Posted April 8, 2015 I've got an H1 and I'm pretty happy with it although if I hold it in my hand I can often hear the rattling of the plastic chassis. I can only imagine that the H2 is an upgrade to that. I'm also pretty happy with recording from my phone mic, so take that into consideration. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Berk Posted April 8, 2015 Share Posted April 8, 2015 Get one of these for it and you're sorted. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tricone RC Posted April 12, 2015 Share Posted April 12, 2015 I have an Olympus DS2500, cost me $80, first such device I've really used properly. It's designed as a dictaphone but it's served me well enough recording sound indoors and in the field. Used it to make myself a whole library of kicks and snares using cupboard door slams etc Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nickthefish Posted April 12, 2015 Share Posted April 12, 2015 I'm happy with £80 Zoom H2n purchase. Haven't been out in the field but have played around with it and seems ideal for my needs. Wavelab SE included, which was a bonus. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cear Posted August 26, 2015 Share Posted August 26, 2015 anyone here knows if the Zoom H1 can automatically name it's file with date/time in em? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TubularCorporation Posted August 26, 2015 Share Posted August 26, 2015 For what it's worth, an engineer bandmate of mine a few years ago compared all of the portable recorders he could find in the $150-$200 USD price range and ended up liking the sound of the built in mics on the Radio Shack model best. I forget the specific version he had, but it was the 2011 or 2012, 16/44.1-only version of this. The ban we were in recorded all of our shows on this and the bass player's comparable Zoom and I never noticed a big difference one way or the other but if nothing else the Radio Shack brand is kind of a built in theft deterrent, right? EDIT: Poking around a little more, it was definitely an Olympus LS-11 which have apparently gotten a bit of a reputation since then so he was probably on to something. The down side is now that they're discontinued the prices are rising and it probably doesn't make sense to get one when it's almost twice as expensive used as it was new a few years back. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rotwang Posted December 30, 2016 Share Posted December 30, 2016 So I was thinking about getting a dictaphone for sample recording. Want something small easy to carry around and handy to import samples on to my PC. [...] I'll be mostly interested in impact sounds for drums and such but occasionally longer audio too. I have pretty much the same question. Want to record mostly short, percussive sounds at close range, and transfer them onto my laptop with the minimum of fuss (I don't have an audio interface or any means of reading SD cards). Does anyone have any opinions on the relative merits of the Zoom H2n/H4n Pro/H5/Tascam Dr-40/Olympus LS-14/LS-P2? Or am I barking up the wrong tree entirely in looking at portable recorders? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
msalami Posted December 30, 2016 Share Posted December 30, 2016 Very happy with the Zoom H1 ! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xox Posted December 31, 2016 Share Posted December 31, 2016 Take a look at the new Olympus LS-P2. It's the smallest recorder in the professional quality range. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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