Help wanted for classical singer

[rshbkk]

I'm not eaxctly a beginner with MD technology, since I've had an MZ-N1 for a few years now. However, I'm certainly no sort of expert. I would love some advice from the more experienced crowd out there.

The requirements run like this:

The main requirement is to record, at good fidelity, classical singers, in lessons and masterclasses, in recitals, and singing with orchestras (e.g. in operatic performance and cantata, as well as rehearsals). I don't know if it matters, but that rules out anything which only offers auto gain control (the terminology is probably wrong), which turns the recording volume way up in piano passages, and turns down the forte bits, making everything bland and dull - if it acts quickly enough, which it usually doesn't.

I should maybe add that "stealth" recording isn't an issue for me, and I don't expect it to be in future.

A secondary requirement is as an aid to learning and memorising music, which involves downloading it to the MD device and using it as a player, to play (usually short) passages over and over, e.g. on an international flight. Quality isn't a big deal for this purpose. Sometimes we're talking midi devices, say.

Using the device for entertainment as a player is a relatively unusual requirement - usually restricted to longer flights when there is nothing in particular to learn!

Thus far, I've been perfectly happy to play recordings from the MD through headphone/line out to the external sound card of my notebook PC, and record in .wav, or .mp3 for anything less important, and archive on CD as well as the original MD, for backup. Fast upload from MD to computer isn't really a big deal. Normally I will want to monitor the input in real time anyway, to fade in & out, cut out long periods of tuning, applause, etc., and so on.

I'm also happy with the sound quality I get by the means above.

I'm in two minds about battery technology, but on the whole, I think I don't want Li-Ion, simply because I'm nervous about being left stranded if Sony stops making the batteries. I've just has a nasty experience with a NiMH battery blowing up like a balloon in my MZ-N1, so it's the eternal AA case for me from now on.

So my questions are:

1 Should I be trying to upgrade at all, or should I be grateful that what I've got usually works?

2 If I should upgrade, how do you think I should balance the pros and cons of the RH1, RH10, and other/earlier equipment. I've read the RH1 thread from end to end, but have ended up being just more aware of what I don't know!

I should add, finally, that I live in Thailand, where I think MD is extinct, so something which is available within relatively easy reach (Singapore, Macau, Hong Kong, say) would be handy. I know there is the web option, but customs here can be very imaginative with tariffs.

Thanks, everyone.

[A440]

Sawadee.

The differences between Hi-MD and your N1 are:

1) Longer recording time or higher quality (PCM, CD-quality) are available with Hi-MD. But you won't be able to play back recordings in Hi-MD formats (PCM, Hi-SP, Hi-LP) on your N1.

2) You can upload recordings directly to a PC instead of your realtime method. You'll be surprised how quickly you get spoiled by the convenience of it.

It seems like you have all the features you need with the N1, so there's no pressing need for you to upgrade. However, if you do, your best option would be NH700, NHF800 or NH900, which will record in your old MD formats as well as the new ones. (So will the RH1 when it arrives, but not the other RH models. And only the RH1 will upload those old formats.) NH700 and NHF800 both take plain old AA batteries. Does Ebay work in Thailand? There seem to be Ebay sellers in the Far East who still have those models.

[rshbkk]

Sawatdee khrap, A440!

That sounds like sensible advice, for which many thanks. Yes, e-Bay does work here (apart from the tendency of the postal service to pilfer, and of customs to invent imaginative charges). Maybe I'll give it a go - if something tempting turns up!

Khop khun khrap!

Edited March 30, 2006 by Richard Henderson