[Birding-Aus] Bird recording equipment - Minidisc?
Colin Trainor
I'd like to update my recording equipment for bird calls.
I currently use a large-heavy Sony Professional Recorder with Sennheiser
ME 66 Mic.
I'd like something lighter, with long battery time (and preferably AA
batts and nothing chargeable for long field visits of >3 weeks), and can
record up to 10 hrs or so.
I've looked on the internet (and Birding Aus archives) for Minidisc
recorders and then Hi-MD recorders, but these seem to be heading towards
extinction.
Is there something small, light and new on the market to replace
Minidiscs.
Any advice would be appreciated.
Thanks,
Colin Trainor
www.birding-aus.org
birding-aus.blogspot.com
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Colin Trainor
Hi all,
Based on Carl's suggestion, I've honed in on the Sony PCM-D50 handheld
audio recorder.
I've read some reviews, but not by birders.
Does anyone have comments on this recorded, with external mic, for
recording birds.
Thanks,
Colin
Russell Woodford
student performances, where a good quality audio recording is needed
without having to lug equipment from venue to venue.
It's powered by a li-ion rechargable battery, but it also has a
battery pack so I can use rechargeable AAs - much more convenient.
THere is a 5v DC input as well. This model has a long play feature and
I've been very impressed with its quality and ease of use. I bought a
couple of small microphones, one mono, one stereo - they are
incredibly sensitive, but clearly not as good as a top range
directional mic. Sony make a good stereo mic that plugs into the unit
without the need for cables. This model also has an optical line-in
socket. Its portability is one of the best features - it all packs
up, cables, spare batteries, 3 or 4 spare disks, and fits into a
medium sized digital camera case.
My only disappointment is that this unit doesn't record in MP3 format,
and I can't do a data dump to my computer - all recording and playback
has to be in real time.
You can still buy these units new, but they are usually overpriced and
hard to find. I got mine on eBay for about $150. It had been used for
a research project and wasn't needed any more. At the time I bought
mine it was about twice that for a new one. I've seen blank discs at
big electrical chainstores - often in the bargain bin!
Good luck - they are great little devices.
Russell Woodford
Birding-Aus List Owner
rus...@birding-aus.org
Geelong Victoria Australia
http://www.birding-aus.org
On 15/05/2008, at 1:43 PM, Colin Trainor wrote:
> Hi all,
>
> I'd like to update my recording equipment for bird calls.
>
> I currently use a large-heavy Sony Professional Recorder with
> Sennheiser
> ME 66 Mic.
>
> I'd like something lighter, with long battery time (and preferably AA
> batts and nothing chargeable for long field visits of >3 weeks), and
> can
> record up to 10 hrs or so.
>
> I've looked on the internet (and Birding Aus archives) for Minidisc
> recorders and then Hi-MD recorders, but these seem to be heading
> towards
> extinction.
>
> Is there something small, light and new on the market to replace
> Minidiscs.
>
> Any advice would be appreciated.
>
> Thanks,
>
> Colin Trainor
> ==============================www.birding-aus.org
> birding-aus.blogspot.com
>
> To unsubscribe from this mailing list,
> send the message:
> unsubscribe
> (in the body of the message, with no Subject line)
> to: birding-a...@vicnet.net.au
> ==============================
===============================
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===============================
Andrew Taylor
> Based on Carl's suggestion, I've honed in on the Sony PCM-D50 handheld
> audio recorder. I've read some reviews, but not by birders.
> Does anyone have comments on this recorded, with external mic, for
> recording birds.
Raimund Specht, who really knows what he is talking abou,t has
has good info on nature recording equipment here:
http://www.avisoft.com/tutorial_field_recording.htm
http://www.avisoft.com/recordertests.htm
You should compare with the Fostex FR-2LE, the Olympus LS-10 and
Marantzs. You can often get good prices on ebay - if you are willing
to buy there. I have seen little about the Sony but you could search
the naturerecordist list archives:
http://bioacoustics.cse.unsw.edu.au/archives/html/naturerecordists/
or ask on the list. If you aren't using an external preamp, the noise
floor of the recorder preamp is important in nature recording.
Andrew
===============================
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Natalia Atkins
There are a lot of options, but if you want something really great that is
not too expensive, have a look at the Iriver H340 (Iriver is the brand
name, h340 is the model name) . Its a MP3/ hard disk recorder with a
connector for an external Mic as well as very decent inbuilt mic.
They cost about $300 on ebay second hand, with a 40GB Internal hard drive
(that is replaceable). It has a line input (mini-RCA jack) and it will work
well with your Seinheiser Mic if you get a female XLR to male minijack
convertor (thats what I use with my Sennheiser mic)
This particular model of MP3 player is highly sought after by DJ's for
recording their live music sets in a high quality format. They are very
fiddley about quality and the Iriver h340 is the one they all use.
Hope that helps!
Cheers,
Bel