A linguist calling

[fonetik]

Hi guys - I've just joined after reading through some of your topics. I'm hoping you can help me. I'm currently starting out on a project where I'll need to record about 6 hours of conversation for the purposes of acoustic-phonetic analysis. I'm considering using Hi-MD as my instrumentation, along with a decent external microphone. I'm seeing that Hi-MD seems to be in decline though - units are sparse and I've noticed the odd discussion on the topic. I'm wondering if you could advise as to how much longer Sony will be producing the format - is it worth me investing now? Secondly, I've found several units available on eBay. Specifically, the MZ-RH10 (comes with mic), MZ-RH910, MZ M100, MZ NHF800, and MZ NH1. Which of these are the most recent and most suitable for field recording purposes? Also, what would be an appropriate price to pay for a decent model? I noticed an MZ-RH1 just went for $310.

Any help anybody can offer would be *much* appreciated!

[bobt]

Hi There and welcome, your best bet may be to pm guitarfixr, or follow a few threads.

If all you need it for is 6 hours, you may be better off renting a unit of some sort from an audio shop or musicians supply house. If you want to go a little farther MD still has some life left in it. elsewhere in the forums you will also see some tests on the new zoom recorder. Personally if I didn't have anything I would go after the800, if I really wanted to go forst rate I would go the RH1.

Hope I helped a bit, take care,

Bob

[Strungup]

Hi guys - I've just joined after reading through some of your topics. I'm hoping you can help me. I'm currently starting out on a project where I'll need to record about 6 hours of conversation for the purposes of acoustic-phonetic analysis. I'm considering using Hi-MD as my instrumentation, along with a decent external microphone. I'm seeing that Hi-MD seems to be in decline though - units are sparse and I've noticed the odd discussion on the topic. I'm wondering if you could advise as to how much longer Sony will be producing the format - is it worth me investing now? Secondly, I've found several units available on eBay. Specifically, the MZ-RH10 (comes with mic), MZ-RH910, MZ M100, MZ NHF800, and MZ NH1. Which of these are the most recent and most suitable for field recording purposes? Also, what would be an appropriate price to pay for a decent model? I noticed an MZ-RH1 just went for $310.

Any help anybody can offer would be *much* appreciated!

You Cunninglinguist you !

Well it would really depend on what you do after the recording process. If you wish to get it into the computer , you will need the ability to upload , If not then the MD selection opens dramatically

Also if your going to use a Macintosh Computer , that will further narrow the field .

If you are doing spectral analysis or voice samples and analysis , you will want fairly pristine audio .

for that route , The RH1 is the best bet , But then you gotta add a mic , so there is extra money , Field recording Depends on how clean you want it to be , how realistic , as to what mic to get .

My personal field setup is the RH1 + Auditechnica AT-822 stereo mic , it has never let me down , especially the mic , I have had that model for many years , and used with many different recorders .

There are cheaper mics , but they do not sound the same .

For Voice , though you can go with a narrower field , The Sony ECM-957 is a nice mic , and would go well with the RH1 , it has a Switch for the stereo spread to go from 90 degrees displacement to 120 for a wider stereo image , in the voice situation you would use the 90 and get a more focused vocal image.

Also if you record one person at a time or you want a MONO image that is doable to .

The Zoom H2 , would work for the as well although the quality of audio just isnt all that impressive to me ( my Sony spoiled me) The H2 has MP3 recording in several flavors as well as WAV

Make the determination , first not just the project at hand , but how would you use the unit afterwards , if you want to catch a lot of live stuff and archive , or want to build up a collection of indexable things , I would go MD , easy to label , keep track of , not easily damaged or scratched ,

The music collection begins to grow , all those CD's your freinds have that you wouldnt mind having a Copy of !! ( one of the reasons I bought my first MD , did the math , CD's cost X' I have freindsX' , The unit costs X' hmmmm in 6 months I would have the unit payed for in music!!!!)

Also , one of my favorite recorders for lectures and stuff is the Sony MZ-B10 , uses AA Batteries , built it Mono Microphone , Records in LP2, and Lp4 for longer recording, Has Optical input for copying CD's . One button push and Record , auto end search ,so you dont have to , and no Levels to mess with .

It is specifically made for that purpose , as gives music ability as well , but to get it into the computer you have to do real time.

Edited September 1, 2007 by Guitarfxr

[A440]

Minidisc is at the end of its life. Have no illusions otherwise. But a good unit and half a dozen discs--which you can upload and reuse thousands of times, Sony claims--should last you until the fingernail-sized wafer-thin ultra-high-fidelity recorder implants are on sale in 2012.

Of the units you list, dump everything but the NHF800 (or its clone without the FM radio remote, the NH700) and the RH1.

The RH10 has reliability problems, the RH910 is very scratchable, the M100 is the RH910 with a premium price for added compatibility with Mac, the NH1 has proprietary connectors that will be increasingly difficult to replace now that it's no longer made.

NHF800 only uploads to PC, RH1 uploads to both PC and Mac and has a lot of other small but enjoyable improvements, as well as more pleasing aesthetics. It doesn't matter to you, but the real draw of the RH1 is that it's the only unit that uploads recordings made on the older MD units, like the B100. Both the NH700 and the RH1 have mic jacks, will record in PCM and will basically sound as good as the quality of your mic.

You can find RH1 new, for the moment, at under $350. Try http://www.minidiscaccess.com (which also has the NH700), http://www.minidisc-canada.com . The MZ-M200 is the RH1 plus the mediocre--but decent enough for voice, I guess--Sony DS70P microphone. Try www.bhphoto.com

To see features in detail, look at http://www.minidisc.org and the Browser tab.

You might also consider a flash recorder like the Edirol R09 (though some people say their mic inputs are breakable) or the Zoom H2, which has built-in mics.

Guitarfxr, you already have the H2--what do you think of using it for speech recording? It seems built to be an interview machine as well as a musicians' tool.

[Strungup]

you have to get pretty close to your personage in question , but yeah it could be used for that . The fact that it is recocnized as a Drive on th computer is a big plus . It has a Handle attachment that fits a mic clip or use as a handle .

So if the limited noise isnt an issue the H2 is workable . If they want a music player as well , then MD is the way to go.

[wavetrapper]

Have you considered a good digital voice recorder? Very portable. Many of them let you upload the files via USB. After your project, it would make a dandy gadget to stick in your pocket and use it to record reminders to yourself, ideas, etc. Might have longer use to you than MD.

[fonetik]

Thanks for the welcomes and for the advice guys - I wasn't expecting such detailed responses.

First off, having done a bit more research since my last post I think Hi-MD is the way I want to go. According to a phonetician I know at UCL the only solid-state devices worth getting are the Marantz or the Fostek and these are out of my price range. He reccommended Hi-MD but did mention possible difficulties getting the data from the device & onto my laptop (running windows XP by the way) - but as far as I knew this wouldn't be a problem at all!?

If the NH800/NH700 really do offer comparable recording quality with the RH1 then the former must be the way to go for me. Unless anybody can think of anything essential in the RH1? I've found this: http://www.minidiscaccess.com/item.html?PRID=1553219 and this: http://www.minidisc-canada.com/shopexd.asp?id=734 to be the best prices I can find. $215 and $330 respectively with shipping. Does this sound about right? I'm monitering eBay but it seems people are getting carried away and ending up paying over the odds on there. I did notice an RH910 went for under $200 though, which tempted me.

Any more thoughts you all have would be brilliant, and I'll let you know what I end up going for. If I do plump for Hi-MD then I'm sure I'll end up posting on here fairly regularly.

Edited September 1, 2007 by fonetik

[Strungup]

Thanks for the welcomes and for the advice guys - I wasn't expecting such detailed responses.

First off, having done a bit more research since my last post I think Hi-MD is the way I want to go. According to a phonetician I know at UCL the only solid-state devices worth getting are the Marantz or the Fostek and these are out of my price range. He reccommended Hi-MD but did mention possible difficulties getting the data from the device & onto my laptop (running windows XP by the way) - but as far as I knew this wouldn't be a problem at all!?

If the NH800/NH700 really do offer comparable recording quality with the RH1 then the former must be the way to go for me. Unless anybody can think of anything essential in the RH1? I've found this: http://www.minidiscaccess.com/item.html?PRID=1553219 and this: http://www.minidisc-canada.com/shopexd.asp?id=734 to be the best prices I can find. $215 and $330 respectively with shipping. Does this sound about right? I'm monitering eBay but it seems people are getting carried away and ending up paying over the odds on there. I did notice an RH910 went for under $200 though, which tempted me.

Any more thoughts you all have would be brilliant, and I'll let you know what I end up going for. If I do plump for Hi-MD then I'm sure I'll end up posting on here fairly regularly.

The R-09 would be a good option as well , I have a Lute Player freind who is slap happy with his , "I dont have to Plug anything in !!!!!!" I hear all the time

[A440]

Your phonetician is out of date. Hi-MD transfers easily to PC. Just make sure you get a later SonicStage than the one that is packaged with the NH700, either from Downloads here or from Sony.

The NH700 has excellent recording quality. If you're in a PC world, it will do what you need. The RH1 also works with Macs.

[fonetik]

I just managed to get a Marantz 660 for $350 actually. At that price I couldn't say no because it has XLR inputs for mics. I'm still seriously considering a Hi-MD unit actually though simply because of the size and weight of the things. I'm keeping my eye on eBay for a RH1.

[bobt]

I just managed to get a Marantz 660 for $350 actually. At that price I couldn't say no because it has XLR inputs for mics. I'm still seriously considering a Hi-MD unit actually though simply because of the size and weight of the things. I'm keeping my eye on eBay for a RH1.

congrats on the purchase, keep us informed how the MD trail goes for you

Bob