I have a compact Sony cassette recorder (model TCS-580V) for recording sessions or concerts or just tunes from friends that I want to learn. However, becaues of poor sound quality, and other reasons, I’m interested in a new digital recording product.
I’m curious what devices people find useful in this regard.
Thanks.
Jeff Zajac
If you do a search of this forum, as well as the Uilleann pipes and whistle forums, you will find many discussions on this topic; it comes up every week or two.
I use a HiMD minidisc recorder. Mine’s a Sony MZR700. If you choose this route be sure to buy one with a mic socket - they don’t all have them. You can record for eight hours at high quality on to a HiMD 1gigabyte disc, or you can use the old minidiscs. HiMD recorders come with a USB cable and software to upload your recordings very quickly on to your PC. Then you can edit them or burn on to CD. You can also do a lot of editing on the recorder itself. Sound quality’s great, no rewinding, discs usable hundreds of times. The first thing you should do is to update the software at Sony’s website to the very latest version. You’ll need an external mic. I bought a tiny stereo lapel mic for £30 (they’re cheaper in the US - try Radio Shack) and it does a great job. With a mic like that and an MD recorder you have a minuscule, discreet setup that works really well.
Steve
I just got an Olympus DS-2. It is a vast improvement over my tape recorder. I use it during lessons, to record sessions, and to record myself playing. The sound quality is good, and I believe it can be improved by purchasing a microphone.
Drawback is that it only has 64mb memory. Good for 2 hours high quality recording. Plenty, if you’re not touring around Ireland recording music with nowhere to download to every night.
I think it’s in the $100 neighborhood. Well worth it.
I use a pocket PC. Mine has a built in microphone, but the newest ones also allow you to use your own mic and plug it in. It works quite well.