Musician Forum - Band Discussion Board - BandMix

I wonder if anyone can advise me here? I am a learner Celtic harp player and I would like to record my own playing - not for public consumption but just to keep an eye on my own progress. I'm looking for a digital recorder that will cope well with this - max of 2-4 players in a domestic setting. Are the little machines sold as dictaphones adequate for what I want (esp re sound quality) or should I be looking at something more expensive? It would need to have a good length of recording time, of course, and not turn itself off after a minute or so. Do any of you use something similar? What would you recommend? Thank you for any replies!

For your application, I'd say you don't have to go with anything too expensive or fancy, but the personal recorders meant to record voice notes won't do it for you.

There are many choices - take a look at this Sweetwater webpage: http://www.sweetwater.com/shop/studio/recorders/

For best bang-for-the-buck (or Euro) I'd recommend the new Tascam PR10: http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/PR10rec/
The lead singer in my band picked up one and we have been using it to record our rehearsals, the sound is pretty good for such a cheap device. You can export the recorded tracks to a computer via USB or pop the memory card out if your computer has a card reader. Note that the 'built-in speaker' is fairly useless, terrible sound from it, but you can plug in headphones.

i use a Sony Mini-Disc Walkman for on the go recording. it records to 2"x2"x 3/16" minidiscs.

i'd recommend looking at one of the now very popular handheld portable digital recorders made by both TASCAM and ZOOM. they have dual (stereo) mics built in and boast very good recording quality and easy transfer of music files to your computer.

they range antywhere from around $75 - $300 depending on the amt. of bells and whistles.

http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_ss_i_ ... 2Cmi%2C178

Thank you Mike, I'll check those out, though I am in the UK so hope I can find them over here without too much trouble!!

Don't need multitrack? Zoom H1. It's cheap as dirt, butt simple to use and sounds fantastic.

http://www.audionewsroom.net/2010/10/zo ... r-for.html

ZOOMs are the ticket, especially if watching your technique is also as important to you as listening.

I use apps on my iPhone for "remembering" parts because it's so portable.

Depending on how you record with it, they can be transferred to a computer for more expansion of the ideas.

What a helpful bunch - thank you all! That Zoom H! looks just the ticket. Time to start writing my list for Santa, I think

lyn85968 wrote:What a helpful bunch - thank you all! That Zoom H! looks just the ticket. Time to start writing my list for Santa, I think

If George (SansouHeil) see's this I am sure he will chime in. He has one of those Zoom recorders and loves it! If memory serves me correctly?

They also make one that has the stereo mike and records video too!

Now you're just being cruel - I have no will power.

The Zoom's work great! I have the H4 and R-16, and I've worked with the H1. As the others here say, H1 sounds perfect for what you describe.

Thank you Vinny!