The Zoom H4 is a very good alternative to the Edirol R9. It can usually can be found for $299 or slightly less if you are lucky.
Sound recording quality is excellent, tested it the other week as a friend of mine just bought one. Comes with built in true stereo microphones as well as two phantom powered XLR-1/4 input jacks for external microphones (perfect for recording pipes), also works a 4-track portable recording studio, and can be used as an external USB sound card for your laptop computer
It uses secure Digital memmory so storage space will not be an issue.
IMHO, this is the best digital recording device you can get at the moment, considering the price and the multitude of functions.
Yes, I have one, and am tickled pink with it, for all of the reasons you stated!
Only thing I can add is, I am not a tech-type person. I’d much, much rather play the music and let someone else figure out how to best record it. The Zoom H4 is easy enough for even ME to use…except for the Cubase software it comes with. So far, I’ve been using the Windows media player to burn CD’s with. Maybe eventually I’ll figure out how to use Cubase, but for now it just seems too complicated.
Sounds good!
Have you tried to record your pipes with two microphones, one for drones and one for the chanter?
I would be very interested in hearing any pipe sound clips. I just had a quick look at it and we made some guitar recordings and I used the headphones for listening.
I was very impressed
Sorry, Marcus, I’m not a piper. I’ve only recorded my octave mandolin and my own voice on the built in microphones, which work very well. I’ve recorded separate tracks with the built in mics, which offers lots of possibilities for background and harmonies. Haven’t recorded any whistling yet…but will soon.
I’ve been looking at one of these to replace my minidisc recorder (can’t read the tiny menu text anymore). What is the battery life like when recording? Can it go three or four hours?
I just picked up one of these for $284 off of Amazon. My minidisc player is on it’s last legs so I needed to upgrade. I haven’t done much with it yet and will report back if anyone is interested. My first impressions are similar to those in the reviews. The interface and hardware were designed by idiots. Really stupid stupid choices here. Other than that, seems nice.
Interestingly, in addition to being a 4-track with built-in effects and chromatic tuner, it acts as a USB based audio-in for your computer. Which I just noticed Marcus mentioned. Though getting to these things involves fumbling around with the menus. For example, you have to be in 4-track mode to use the tuner.
Getting the little SD card out is really tricky, I have no idea why they designed that there. I also don’t know why the power switch is such a tiny piece of junk. I think these little field recorders need a few more years to get to the point where I really enjoy them. Kind of like digital cameras were up until a few years ago.
I’ll be recording some session stuff tomorrow, so we’ll see how well it works.
I also just recently got one of these. I love it! I read the amazon reviews of both the Edirol and the H4 and decided on the H4. I was worried the interface was going to be horrible, but it wasn’t bad at all. I’ve recorded 3 sessions so far with it and the quality has been great. I’m still waiting on my first practice set to arrive (come oooonnn Dave…) so I haven’t recorded pipes with it yet. However, I did record my classical guitar and and a voice track, which sounded pretty good. Also doubles as a mini effects box for my electric guitar!
Edit: I bought mine through www.compuplus.com (linked from Amazon) for $244. ($17 dollar shipping though)
Sony ICD-ST10. It’ll record in stereo, but that allows for just 41 minutes of recording. In ‘Normal’ mode, it’ll record for 5 hours, with the quality still fine for tune-catching.
There must be something in the February air that makes this a popular topic.
Here’s a thread from concertina.net this morning that discusses more recorders.
Thanks all for the input. I’m really keen to get one of these.
Patrick, I would love to here some session and pipe recordings.
I’m looking at either a portable one like the Zoom, or two Shure mics and a pre-amp for my M-audio card. The zoom just seems so handy and functional.
John, The owner of the Zoom was a guitar player, thats why. I’ll try to record a tune or two of my new Haneman set, it really is an amazingly good set of pipes. You have something to look forward to, for sure
I’ll let you know when I have got something that I feel comfortable enough with for public listening
Got Christy O’Leary to agree to give me private lessons
Just need to finish and defend my + + thesis, before I can devote to piping.
