Portable Digital Recorders

I have a Zoom H2 that works and sound good uses SD cards and can be used as a interface. But pretty much all the new mini mobil recorders work good. If you have a ipod check out the Alesis Pro Track.

Patrick Mullaley1 wrote:
Thank you. I was looking at the Zoom H2 yesterday. Reading reviews etc. Just wanted to hear from some Mac users and see. Again. Thanks for the info.

Sweetwater is always a great reference to see what's out there and compare by popularity, price, etc:

http://www.sweetwater.com/c1006--Portable_Recorders

A lot of the flash recorders are fundamentally similar, so there shouldn't be incompatibilities using them with Macs. When you plug one into your computer, the computer sees it as a drive, and you simply slide your audio files from the recorder to your Mac.

As far as preference goes... I love the Sony recorders best. They sound amazingly good, they're easy to use, they're well built, and I've never had a problem with one on a Mac. The only caveat is they're more expensive than some of the others, so if all you're recording is lessons and you're on a budget, it may be overkill.

Also, since you're interested in making recording to help with practicing, there's an application that can be really useful for that as well: Amazing Slow Downer. You can use it to slow down your recordings without changing the pitch, and do some related things that can help you zero in on your work: http://www.ronimusic.com/

I have used a Sony PCM-D50 and Zoom H2 & H4. The Zooms are cheaper, but the quality of the Sony was better.

JG

I have a sony recorder also but it records in MSV file format that needs conversion. I haven’t been able to find anything that would convert that file format for me on my Mac... I’ve read about something called “Switch” but I’m not sure if it will work for MSV format and the Switch Pro (which say’s it does work for MSV) I’m not to sure if it’s a Mac program.

I’m now ready to look for another recorder.

Catharsis,

Which sony recorder do you have? I don't know what msv files are!
The Zoom H2 & Sony PCM-D50 are pro portable audio recorders. The Sony records to wave format. At high sample rates 44.1 +.

If you don't tell us the model of the Sony recorder you have, it's difficult to help you - but I think the msv file is used by sony dictation machines which are very different to the M-Audio, Zoom and Sony and Marantz portable audio recorders.

This thread has very useful info. Look at the link above to help with finding the right recorder for you.

JG

I’ve been a year now running in circles...

Your right it is a Dictaphone recorder and I’ve looked at the video’s on You Tube at the recommendations - really some professional stuff...

But at this point I don’t know what else to do as long as it records my voice and I can use it on my Mac... I’ve even tried VMWear to use an XP program (windows) so I can use my Sony recorder but that‘s just one big headache after another just to use a recorder.

I have a Sony ICD-SX57 - quite complicated for such a small device, overall I really don’t like it and I’m willing to look for something else. But being that I have it already it would be nice if it was compatible but I’m afraid it’s “proprietary” and no way around that...

So now I’m so afraid to buy into anything Olympus or whatever because of my experience with my recorder... So is it safe to say that “it’s just this” recorder that’s not compatible with Mac when most all recorders do fine with Mac?

Hey,

It's important when choosing a recorder to know the file format it records to. JG is correct, that recorders using professional standards such as wave (.wav), aiff, mp3 etc would be better to look into. Naughty Sony for using such an obscure file format!

I have heard that "Switch" is an app that can convert between many different file formats:
http://switch-mac.en.softonic.com/mac

I have not tried this software, and to be honest, have not come across the .msv format before.

Good luck 🙂

Catharsis wrote:
I have a sony recorder also but it records in MSV file format that needs conversion. I haven’t been able to find anything that would convert that file format for me on my Mac... I’ve read about something called “Switch” but I’m not sure if it will work for MSV format and the Switch Pro (which say’s it does work for MSV) I’m not to sure if it’s a Mac program.

I’m now ready to look for another recorder.

When I recommended Sony's, I was thinking of the recorders they make for recording music, like the PCM-50 and PCM-D1. I didn't even think of the dictation recorders which are sold to a different market, although I should have specified!

I’m looking at Hammacher Schlemmer’s Catalog and would like to order their recorder....

But they don’t wanna tell customers the brand name or model number so I can look into the codex, they just tell you they will accept any returns for any reason (type of thing)...

But it’s a Olympus (I’m dead sure of it) and I think I can get it cheaper at Amazon...

Would Olympus brands work with Mac? The brand seems to get talked about rather well...

I’m certainly open to suggestions - the one all you guys like seems a little more than I need but if it’s all that cool then I might be up for it... How about synthesizer? Any budget synthesizers out there?

Message was edited by: Catharsis

Catharsis
you have now officially hijacked this thread 😉

What exactly do you want to record? what is the purpose for the recording, what do you want to do with it? Do you want to record your voice for dictation purposes? Do you want to record ambiences and sounds for use in music or sound design? Do you want to record nature and foley to be used for film or commercial purposes?

Sony and Olympus and others produce dictaphones and prosumer and professional portable recorders. The quality of the hardware, compatability etc will be very different as will the cost.

Is the Zoom H2 or Yamaha Pocket Track outside of your budget? Why not look at the link posted by MattiMattMatt on April 14? It's very useful!

For information about budget synths could be better to start a new thread and specify your budget and what you want from a synth.

JG

To those who it may concert - just get a load of this - they gotta know exactly what I need to do?

Nothing but 20% of the market double talk.... Mac S *cks