Alternative to Zoom and Olympus recorders

[Djembe-nerd]

Its looking better and better. I need one, and I am almost finalised on this.

what do you say about the extra card. The choice is between micro SD and micro stick M2.

I looked and found only micro SDHC with micro SD adaptor in 4 gb capacity, will this work, here is a link

http://www.amazon.com/Kingston-microSDH ... 301&sr=8-2

Or should a micro stick work better, here is a link

http://www.amazon.com/Sandisk-Memory-St ... 473&sr=1-3

[michi]

But this is also why I say that VBR won't make much difference - when you're recording mostly jembe music, and I have a sneaking suspicion that's what you're doing , there isn't much quiet or monotonous audio.

Yes, you are right about that. Lots of sharp transients, which eat bits. Looking through my iTunes library, most ensemble djembe/dundun recordings weigh in at 220-240kbit/sec with VBR encoding. Still, having VBR instead of 320kbit/sec fixed would save about 1/3rd in memory. We are truly into geek territory here now though--just buy another bloody 27 hours of recording capacity for $20

BTW Those are some nice looking mics...and I thought Neumanns were the most expensive mics I'd ever seen.

Schoeps is a Rolls Royce brand. Their microphones are considered among the best made anywhere in the world.

Cheers,

Michi.

[michi]

Iwhat do you say about the extra card. The choice is between micro SD and micro stick M2.

You really want an extra card? I would have thought that the built-in 4GB would be enough for almost any situation.

But, anyway, if you want to get another card, here is the relevant page from the user manual:

Compatible flash cards for PCM-M10

manual.jpg (256.04 KiB) Viewed 118 times

I looked and found only micro SDHC with micro SD adaptor in 4 gb capacity, will this work, here is a link

You don't need the adapter. It's useful only if you want to use a MicroSD card in a device designed for SD cards.

By definition, anything with 2GB or less is a MicroSD card, anything with 4GB or more is a MicroSDHC card. Both kinds (except 2GB) work with the PCM M-10. But I would stick with one of the recommended brands because there can be compatibility problems. You can find a 4GB MicroSD card on Amazon for around $12, and an 8GB one for around the same price (interesting, isn't it?), and a 16GB one for around $30.

Or should a micro stick work better

I would not buy a memory stick as a matter of principle. That is Sony's attempt to lock consumers into buying memory only from Sony, it has no industry support, and it doesn't work any better. Sony deserve to get punished for that. It was a stupid and anti-competitive idea from day one, and it was predictable that Sony would have to give up on the memory stick in short order. I predict that, two years from now, Sony will not make a single device that doesn't accept standard flash cards.

Cheers,

Michi.

[Djembe-nerd]

Thanks,

I am finalised on this one, unless somone changes my mind

I won't buy the card right away, but I will get it later with a free shipping deal from amazon with another item.

[bops]

We are truly into geek territory here now though--just buy another bloody 27 hours of recording capacity for $20

So true Jembe geek meets tech nerd.

I'd really like to get one of these for my next trip. The Hi-MD recorder I have now will do the trick, but it's just nowhere near as powerful or convenient as the PCM M-10. Now to try to fit it into the budget...maybe I can sell my MD...

[michi]

So true Jembe geek meets tech nerd.

I think it was e2c who just recently said that we are all geeks here...

I'd really like to get one of these for my next trip.

I've pretty much decided to get one. I can take advantage of the favourable exchange rate and sell my Zoom H2 here and buy the Sony in the US, so the upgrade costs only about $70.

The Hi-MD recorder I have now will do the trick, but it's just nowhere near as powerful or convenient as the PCM M-10.

Hi-MD is sooo retro... They work well, but the limited storage capacity, the fiddling with the disks, and the ATRAC encoding make them inconvenient.

Now to try to fit it into the budget...maybe I can sell my MD...

There are still enthusiasts who collect MiniDisc players, so I'm sure you'll find a buyer. I wouldn't expect to get all that much though--maybe $50-$80 or so, depending on model and condition.

Cheers,

Michi.

[Djembe-nerd]

I am looking at this tripod for the pcm m 10, I think that if I am putting the device in the center of the class and everybody playing around it, the microphones will be better facing up, i.e. recorder vertical, to catch the sound equally.

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/2 ... ripod.html


Any suggestions ?

[michi]

Looks like it'll do a fine job for that, and the price is right.

I have this one:

Mini tripod

310oRPP2UdL._SS500_.jpg (15.46 KiB) Viewed 98 times

I chose that one because it's small and light, and the price is hard to beat: $1.99

You can find it on Amazon if you search for "Universal Mini Spider Tripod Digital Camera Webcam".

Cheers,

Michi.

[Djembe-nerd]

How do you tilt it in case you want to put the recorder vertical.

The PCM M 10 has the tripod socket on the back, not bottom. I want to place it vertical for recordings to have equal volume from all directions. For thsi the head should be able to rotate, Or is this not revelavt at all.

[michi]

How do you tilt it in case you want to put the recorder vertical.

Bend one leg all the way down. Won't get it completely upright, but beyond 45 degrees. (Seeing that I don't have my Sony yet, I can't vouch for this completely, but it should work OK.)

The PCM M 10 has the tripod socket on the back, not bottom. I want to place it vertical for recordings to have equal volume from all directions. For thsi the head should be able to rotate, Or is this not revelavt at all.

The tripod you posted is clearly a more up-market version with its swivel head and the telescoping legs. It definitely would get the recorder upright, and is probably the better tripod all round. I chose the flexible mini tripod mainly because it's super small and light (and super cheap ).

I suspect though that it will make little difference (within reason) at what angle the recorder is. Also, when you look at the images of the Sony, the openings for the microphone capsules are on top, not the front or rear, suggesting that the recorder is meant to be used pointing horizontally at the sound source.

Cheers,

Michi.

[Djembe-nerd]

suggesting that the recorder is meant to be used pointing horizontally at the sound source.

Thats what the manual says too. But they give situations where the sound source is on one side and you face the microphones to the sound source.

Mt reasoning for vertical placement :

I was thinking when the sound source is a group of people playing in a big circle or semi circle (dunun and djembes) and I want to place the recorder in the center. Why in the center, cos if I place it further away pointing it to the circle, the nearest instrument will be prominent in the recording. In this case I would like to face the microphones upwards and put the device in the center. All the instrument at the same distance and will probably be recorded how they are playing.

Maybe I am going too deep and is not required, but small variables amount to a big differences, and I like to cover all bases

[Djembe-nerd]

Here is a good description with some features demo

[michi]

I was thinking when the sound source is a group of people playing in a big circle or semi circle (dunun and djembes) and I want to place the recorder in the center. Why in the center, cos if I place it further away pointing it to the circle, the nearest instrument will be prominent in the recording. In this case I would like to face the microphones upwards and put the device in the center. All the instrument at the same distance and will probably be recorded how they are playing.

I'd say try it out, that's the only way to be sure The microphones on the PCM M-10 are omnidirectional, so I wouldn't expect too much of a difference, but it might just make things sound a bit more balanced with the recorder upright.

Cheers,

Michi.

[Djembe-nerd]

Update:

I am posting a clip of the dance class warm up today. I recorded in 44.1 Khz/320 kbps Mp3. later took out a excerpt and saved as 256 kbps through the Audiostudio that came with it (Michi's problem partially solved) , the sound to my ear on headphone seemed the same. I recorded on manual, as in auto the recorder was giving message of "recording level too high" the auot was set on a -12 Db, so instead of changing the settings I changed to manual and adjusted.

What do you guys think

[bops]

Nice, thanks Adam. It sounds great. Seems to pick everything up pretty clearly. Where was the recorder placed in relation to the drums? I'm guessing near the dununs?