gopherbob Posted March 27, 2009 Report Share Posted March 27, 2009 So recently my hi-md recorder started acting up. It got me thinking if I wanted to buy another or get something else to replace it. I assumed by now they would be fairly cheap on ebay but discovered you guys (MD fans) love them too much and it seems rare to find a hi-md recorder going for around $50.Are there any hi-md alternatives that are not rediculously expensive? Is there anything that has sound quality like the sony hi-md recorders as far as recording is concerned?PS after pondering this for a few weeks I decided that sony needs to make a MD size device that accepts their memory sticks and allows for mic/line input and supports flac playback and drag and drop file system. That probably wont happen any time soon but if I was trying to hit all these points in a different brand what would you recommend? Obviously it wouldn't need to use sony memory sticks.any suggestions? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KJ_Palmer Posted March 27, 2009 Report Share Posted March 27, 2009 Outside of Hi-MD, I think you'll still find it hard to find a cheap decent recorder with all the versatily of MD, ie. removable media, lossless recording, replaceable batteries and is a brilliant playback unit to boot. Apart perhaps from Sony's PCM-D50, the nearest I've found (so far) is probably the Edirol R-09HR, which takes SD and SDHC cards (up to 16GB), which is a very good field recorder (24 bit/96kHz PCM and MP3). Though no match for MD as a playback device, it has random shuffle (missing on most flash recorders) and sounds quite decent though headphones, and runs off standard AA's. I don't think it'll ever usurp my Hi-MDs as a general player/recorder, but is quite nice as an alternative, and does benefit from software-free uploading. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kino170878 Posted March 27, 2009 Report Share Posted March 27, 2009 You don't sound like you need editing capabilities on the portable unit itself. There are flash recorders and players that are far more convenient and faster than Minidisc, and flash is the future - even Sony itself admits this. However, for others nothing yet can substitute for MD, whether it's the sound quality or the unique facilities offered by the format. Why not have both, that way you have the best of both worlds. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gopherbob Posted March 27, 2009 Author Report Share Posted March 27, 2009 (edited) Both of you answers sound spot on. I've had a hard time picking out a flash based player that would meet the quality of my hi-md recorder.That sony PCM thing I've checked out before but it seems a tad pricey for me only using it on special occasions.Do either of you have an opinion of a hi-md replacement(I know theres not many choices) and a flash based recorder? I can get that zoom fairly cheap at work for 120-130$usd.I like that RH1 but I would like it more if it was 200$. Would you guys think the best for a flash based 'concert' recorder would probably be a unit powered by AA batteries since I could pop a lithium AA in there and get plenty of recording time?Also thanks for your suggestions.*edit* Oh yea I have no use for any editing from the device. Its simple me recording something loud...hoping I have enough space/battery to record it and then dumping it to the pc when home. Edited March 27, 2009 by gopherbob Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tekdroid Posted March 28, 2009 Report Share Posted March 28, 2009 Would you guys think the best for a flash based 'concert' recorder would probably be a unit powered by AA batteries since I could pop a lithium AA in there and get plenty of recording time?speaking for myself, the only affordable recorder on my radar that I have any motivation for purchasing (outside of Hi-MD) is the Sony PCM-D50, but because of its size, the current exchange rate, and the fact that it uses Memory Sticks ... all those things have so far worked against me buying it. If it were up to $650 Australian dollars with a nice 8+GB memory stick thrown in, I'd have one by now for the times when Hi-MD is just a big pain in the butt (longer continuous PCM recording times, longer battery life, higher bitrates and sampling rates allowing for more headroom, nifty limiter).This unit would be a far greater pain in the butt to carry around, though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KJ_Palmer Posted March 28, 2009 Report Share Posted March 28, 2009 Do either of you have an opinion of a hi-md replacement(I know theres not many choices) and a flash based recorder? I can get that zoom fairly cheap at work for 120-130$usd.Would you guys think the best for a flash based 'concert' recorder would probably be a unit powered by AA batteries since I could pop a lithium AA in there and get plenty of recording time?The Zooms seem very well regarded, small, SD card based and run off AA's, so yes they seem a good alternative to Hi-MD. I would certainly insist on these qualities, though I haven't used one and I'm happy with the Edirol. The Zooms seem a bit cheaper though, so look to be very worth considering, Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gopherbob Posted March 29, 2009 Author Report Share Posted March 29, 2009 I've considered the edirol in years past and from what I've heard it seems like a very high quality recorder. I decided against that one some time ago due to price and me only recording stuff on occaison.I think I was a bit scared to use my currrent (half broke) hi-md recorder in most situations. Afraid of it breaking etc. But now it seems to have died from loneliness instead! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
A440 Posted March 29, 2009 Report Share Posted March 29, 2009 Has anyone tried the Tascam DR07? Under $200, very promising feature list. Haven't gotten my hands on one yet. http://www.tascam.com/products/dr-07.htmlI don't love the Edirol R09 display, and its mic jack is inferior to Hi-MD. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gopherbob Posted March 30, 2009 Author Report Share Posted March 30, 2009 The tascam is is interesting. I've seen it a few times but don't know much about the company/brand. This is actually the exact type of discussion I was looking for. There are so many of these affordable portable recorders there has to be a objective best or best 3 or something. Looking at the tascam reminds me... one thing I hated about my hi-md recorder was it had no backlight! I ended up needing to use light from my cell phone to see the screen. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tekdroid Posted March 31, 2009 Report Share Posted March 31, 2009 Looking at the tascam reminds me... one thing I hated about my hi-md recorder was it had no backlight! I ended up needing to use light from my cell phone to see the screen.yeah, tho there have got to be some sensible trade-offs for everything. No backlight in a device that uses 1x AA or 1x gumstick [as opposed to 4xAA or so] seems like a sensible omission... besides, nearly all remotes that can connect to it have backlights.As far as recorders are concerned, what I've heard so far pretty much is in line with you get what you pay for. I've heard lots of talk of noisier pre-amps and crappier mics on non-Sony devices, tho these - to be fair - usually cost far less than the PCM-D50. The local sound shops here laugh when you mention MiniDisc and try to convince you that the Zooms are the thing... (but then again none of these guys are selling the PCM-D50)....and I have no reason to believe them at this point... but then again, at this point I have tried none of these other devices Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
A440 Posted April 2, 2009 Report Share Posted April 2, 2009 (edited) For endless discussion of portable recording devices, plunge into http://www.taperssection.com . Edited April 2, 2009 by A440 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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