best MD for field recording and computer upload/editing?

[speakeasy4me]

Hey I just started working for the YMCA in West Africa and we want to do field recordings and then upload them to a computer, then edit, for radio and TV productions. What's easy, cheap, and won't break? (it's dusty here) and has a long battery life? and can store a lot of recorded sound on one disc?

[Richard]

* Moved to Find Your Minidisc

[bobt]

I wouldn't skimp and would go for the RH-1, with an extra battery or two, although if you read through the forum there are some external usb chargers available. If you want to go a little less money, het an NH-700 or 800 as they use AA cells. If you are using a mac then RH-1 is your choice,

Good luck,

Bob

[A440]

Hi-MD records, uploads and stores a lot. Don't bother with NetMD or "legacy MD." There aren't a lot of Hi-MD units to choose from, but all of those that record have the same recording quality.

There's the newest, top-of-the-line unit: the MZ-RH1 .

Advantages: coolest-looking, lighted display and if you want to record with Manual Volume rather than automatic gain, you can make that the default setting and start with one-touch recording. All Hi-MD formats upload to both Mac and PC. (It also uploads legacy MD formats to PC, but that doesn't matter to you.)

Disadvantage: runs on a rechargeable gumstick battery--either you'll have to buy a spare and keep it charged, or recharge the one in the unit after a long session, or get an outboard USB battery pack. (Gomadic makes one for the Motorola Razr V3 that is compatible.)

It's untested for sturdiness, but there seem to be very few complaints in its first half-year.

Price: $330-$350 in the US.

And then there's the first-generation unit from 2004: MZ-NH700. Disadvantages: Plastic-looking, not Mac compatible, unlighted display, menus to get to Manual Volume. Advantages: Definitely sturdy. Runs a very long time on an AA battery. A weak rechargeable comes with the unit, but you can record for the full length of a Hi-MD disc--90 minutes in PCM (.wav) quality, nearly 8 hours in excellent Hi-SP compression--with one Duracell. AA batteries are easy to find, too.

Price: $180 from http://www.minidiscaccess.com

http://www.minidiscaccess.com/item.html?PRID=1553220

With the money you save, you could get the RM-MC40ELK remote, which is backlighted and shows recording level. Note: do not use the software disc that comes with the NH-700. Download the later version of SonicStage from Downloads here or from Sony.

There are other RH units that record, from 2005, but they are not well-loved: the RH10 (expensive display, many malfunctions) and the RH910. There's also the NH900, but its Pause and Stop are on the same button, and that's just not a good idea.

Dust may well be a problem. You'll need to concoct your own dustproof case. The NH700 comes with a leatherette case but it's open on the sides, and it covers the holes for mic and line input. The MZ-RH1 has only a cloth bag.

When recording anything louder than speech or quiet acoustic music, Mic-in will overload. You will need to use Line-in with a battery module, like this one:

http://www.microphonemadness.com/products/mmcbmminminc.htm

Incidentally, if you are new to minidisc recording, you will love the minidisc's killer app: Track marking, silent and gapless, which you can apply during recording or playback (and remove during playback, too).

Where are you in West Africa? There's some great music to record there.