Preferred Audio Recording Device

[BonnutFilmStudio]

So I know this is a topic that has been run in to the ground but times change and so does technology. Has anyone here moved on to a completely hard drive based recording device for live sound recording? I've always toyed with the idea of using Minidisc and I've heard that to be a preferred format for S8 shooters. This was a few years ago. Thus far I've found it to be the best device for the price. I just got one for $10.00 on eBay and I already own one that I bought back in '97. So now I have two for 1st and 2nd unit. Up until now we've (the film group I'm in) done post looping and this'll be our first live sound attempt. I also know that there is a lossy recording with standard MD, but after tests and research I've found the quality loss to be acceptable. Anyone else here use or used to use minidisc for live audio? What have your experiences been?

[Nigel]

I haven't seen a DAT in about two years on an upper pay scale gig. I still see them on Indie stuff but solid state recording is charging forward.

I'm not an audio guy but I still like 1/4".

Good Luck

[Scotness]

I use minidisc - I like them - having external media is good too yu can pull it out and store it safely. Anyone who worries about the ATRAC compression or whatever it's called is stupid - it's fine.

If had the money though I'd use a solid state device - that recrods lossless wave -- I just have a thing about devices with moving parts after having two miniDV cameras pack up on me -- I've just bought a solid state HD camcorder for that reason.

Most of your option will be fine, but some will be better than others.


Scot

[Angus]

There are issues with ATRAC but they are more audible when you have a complex mix of sounds. One of the things ATRAC does is decide some sounds won't be missed because they are too quiet...and discards them.

MD is absolutely fine in 95% of situations though.

Personally if I am acpturing live sound I tend to use a good quality camcorder with an external mic. With the abundance of hard disc camcorders now its a doddle to import into your favourite NLE.

[reflex]

A Zoom H2 flash recorder. They now retail for under $150. The thing is tiny and can be screwed onto a boom or hidden out of frame on a mic stand. You can even shoot walk & talk street sequences with one of the actors holding it off-frame.

[nelsong]

I use a Zoom H-4, the H-2's "big brother". I like it very much for the additional feature of dual XLR/1/4" inputs, plus it can do most common compression types, including 24 bit 96kHz. It's not perfect- the menu navigation is horrible and it's overstuffed with digital 4 track musician features. Sonically speaking, I've been impressed by it's ability to make a good, clean recording.

I have dropped it a few times without damage- there are no moving parts like with a minidisc. It records to SD cards.

So I give it a thumbs up with hopes that a new version may be coming soon that corrects some of the awkward features.

[SKJ]

I had been using a miniDisc recorder but that data is compressed, as far as I understand, so outputting it later was a drag for my audiophile pals, who really wanted something better to work with.

I now use a Sony DR-1, which is similar to the Zoom H4 that others have written about. It records onto SDHC cards, and then I can import those into the computer or give them to my sound designer.
I use it with an external mic, and record 24 bit WAV files. It's still new to me but so far so good...

SKJ