Ideas for a better pro digital recorder?

[stweb]

I've been using my Sony MZ-NH700 Hi-MD in the field for several months now, recording birdcalls. It's an inexpensive recorder and I have been pretty happy with the results. I'm often trying to record fairly low signal levels (using a shotgun mic) and recording in uncompressed format (Linear PCM). The MZ-NH700 is cheap, compact and capable of professional quality recording.

Some nags and improvements I would like to see (this list is not intended to be exhaustive and there may some important considerations I missed):

- Gain Control: The default is automatic gain (recording level) every time you turn the unit on. It's annoying to have to use the menu and change it every time. I know auto is the best default but it would be nice if the unit remembered your selection. Sometimes I am in a rush to record a bird and don't want to lose time changing the gain control setting.

- Mic Input: It would make the unit a bit more bulky but I'd like to see a professional XLR connector for the mic cable. I think this would help to combat noise without magnetic clamps on the cables. Also, the mini jack makes noise if you rotate it at high gain (which can happen when you are holding the mic and cable in one hand and the recorder in the other). XLR at the recorder and the mic would be best.

- A positive On/Off switch: Right now I use the hold switch to avoid the unit being turned on accidentally and draining the batteries. I have faced this problem with my handheld GPS twice (when in my backpack it may be bumped in just the right place to turn it on and drain the batteries). This can be a bummer if your miles from anywhere, your batteries are dead and there's nowhere to recharge them. I would feel more comfortable with an old fashioned on/off switch.

- Mechanical Noise: The drive mechanism sometimes makes noises loud enough to be picked when the mic is at maximum recording level. I've noticed this with the 1GB Hi-MD.

- Transfer Rates: Transfer speeds are slower than playback speeds (I'm using Sonic Stage v3.1 and have USB 2.0) eg a 5 minute track in linear PCM format actually takes longer than 5 minutes to transfer to the PC.

- The Open MG format is a waste of time: I transfer the tracks, convert to WAV (same audio quality) and then forget about the Open MG files. Why even try to protect copyright?

I expect I'll be using Hi-MD until professional hard disc recorders become more affordable and convenient. It seems Sony has developed minidisc primarily as a consumer audio device but I think they can't win against other technologies like iPod and MP3. Minidisc has been popular for field recording because it's cheap and the units are handy. In the near term I think Sony would do well to focus on the (professional) recording market but in the end they will have to give up when hard disc recorders become cheap and compact - minidisc is too slow and will go the way of audio cassettes.

ST.

[Roamer]

- Gain

Agreed. This could (should) be easily fixed.

- XLR

This would make probably make the unit too bulky. And only pro/semi_pro user use this type of connector.

Alternative : Get a preamp like the AD-20 (or UA-5). You can then use XLR and output a digital signal.

- On/off

Turn the unit off and set it on hold. That should prevent turning it on by accident.

- Noise

Get a long enough cable for the mics and use the remote (RM-MC40ELK is great for this) to control the unit.

-Transfer, Atrac :

Can't think of a workaround yet ...

[The Low Volta]

- Noise

Get a long enough cable for the mics and use the remote to control the unit.

this won't work, as handling the remote (according to my own experiences) or even just having the remote attached (according to dex) will induce noises that can clearly be heard especially in quiet recordings

just use a long enough cable for the mics and do not place the recorder and mics on the same hard surface (like a table) as sound often travels through that

[stweb]

I forgot one thing. It would double the recording time if there was a MONO recording option (I always use PCM mode). I guess there must be plenty of people using mono mics.

[The Low Volta]

I guess there must be plenty of people using mono mics.

I used to for interviews/lectures etc... but really, 8hours of HiSP in stereo is more than enough, otherwise take two discs...and if you want to take the trouble to use PCM, you really should realize that life is stereo! (i.e. please do not degrade sound and especially music with mono flattening)

IMHO decent mono-mincs are only useful for close micing of separate instruments, but then you really should go through a mixer before going -> MD

[eoplocust]

at least input through a standard 1/4" trs jack for the mike would be good enough and you could even use larger mikes. with an adapter, any good mike can be used with the recorder without making it much bigger

[dex Otaku]

- Mic Input: It would make the unit a bit more bulky but I'd like to see a professional XLR connector for the mic cable. I think this would help to combat noise without magnetic clamps on the cables. Also, the mini jack makes noise if you rotate it at high gain (which can happen when you are holding the mic and cable in one hand and the recorder in the other). XLR at the recorder and the mic would be best.

Putting XLR jacks on the equipment is tantamount to an instant upgrade to "pro" status. It would be nice if they made both versions. [or if a 3rd party would make a HiMD version of something like HHB's MD field recorder]

I've seen broadcasters [i.e. the CBC] actually take older metal-cased MD recorders and bolt small steel plates onto them which hold a single XLR connector [no phantom power of course] and is cable run directly to the mic input, too.

I would actually suggest, especially for low-level ambient field recording, using an external preamp anyway. Most MD and HiMD recordists use mics whose self-noise is high enough that the mic preamp's noise is basically at about the same level [or lower], but professional mics will outdo the performanceof the built-ins time and time again for either very loud [driven to clipping] or really quiet [buried in the noisefloor] recordings.

You might like to look at something like this in terms of stepping up:

Marantz PMD-671

I can't attest to the quality of its built-in preamps but featurewise alone it blows HiMD right out of the water. Mind you, it's also a hell of a lot more money.

Cheers.

[Archivist]

I would actually suggest, especially for low-level ambient field recording, using an external preamp anyway. Most MD and HiMD recordists use mics whose self-noise is high enough that the mic preamp's noise is basically at about the same level [or lower], but professional mics will outdo the performanceof the built-ins time and time again for either very loud [driven to clipping] or really quiet [buried in the noisefloor] recordings.

Dex, are there particular external preamps and professional mics you would recommend for low-level ambient recording? What should I be looking for when searching for this kind of equipment? What would you say is the price range of this kind of equipment?

~Archivist~

[dex Otaku]

Unfortunately I can't speak to this based on personal experience. The only external preamps I've ever used were in actual mixers, such as Mackie VLZ-series units [which some people love, and others hate].

That said, Reactive Sounds [see the customer forum on this board] and Sound Professionals are examples of companies that make external preamps specifically for use with portables such as MD and HiMD recorders, with powered 3.5mm connections for the kind of mics many of us use. There are other users here who have these units, and Reactive Sounds are represented here in their own forum as I already mentioned.

You can take a look at both the above companies' websites to get an idea on price - just look for microphone preamps. There are others who make them too, of course, though as I already stated I can not vouch for either the build quality or performance of any based on personal experience.

There are also portable [kind of like hip-pack] mixers out there that can let you use balanced microphones. I'd suggest searching the net for "portable mic preamp" or something close to that.

Cheers.