Has anyone used one off these recorders yet. If so how did you like it.
I am thinking of asking for one for Xmas.
but I did find a Yahoo group that is specific to this device and it looks good.
http://www.2090.org/zoom/bbs/viewforum.php?f=8&sid=fdbe8017f06a257a8a19f9a9121744b4
I will bring it to guitar class and have Mary plug right into if for a nice clean copy. For flute class I will use the onboard mike then I will be able to share some of Jerry O’Sullivan flute playing. Yes I know he is a piper and a whistler but he is also a fantastic flute player.
I’d be a little cautious about Zoom. I know that Zoom guitar effects are quite noticeably noisier (hiss, etc.) than other makes. I owned a Zoom multi-effects processor that was good enough for practice and for learning to use effects, but no way I would’ve used it on stage. It was very noisy. I sold it when I got a DigiTech unit and now I wouldn’t buy anything from Zoom without personally trying it out under a variety of conditions first.
Another thing I just noticed, it appears that you need a smart card reader for your computer to transfer tracks to the computer with the Zoom PS-04.
You might want to look at the Archos Ondio MP3 recorder. That is what I am planning to buy soon. For only a little over half the cost of the PS-04 you get an MP3 recorder with level meters, a built in 128MB memory (vs 32MB with the Zoom) and a USB interface so you can interface it directly with almost any computer made in the last five years. I believe it even comes with the USB chord. Oh, and you can use smart media cards with it, too.
The Ondio is said to have a bit clumsy of an interface and the built in FM receiver has poor sensitivity, but it has drawn good comments for its sound quality. (It only encodes MP3s at up to 160KBS but that is adequate for almost any “simple” music like recording single tracks.)
Of course, the Ondio doesn’t have any of the built-in multi-tracking features, but I’d rather do that on the computer anyway than fool around trying to mix and ping-pong tracks on a handheld device!
Keep in mind that I haven’t had a chance to get my own hands on one of these, though, I’m just going by what I’ve read. Unless Fry’s is out of stock I should have my hands on one in a few days.
The Zoom unit looks like the better deal only if you are going to be using the built in effects and rhythm machine and trying to do mixdowns on it – and even then only if it doesn’t have the characteristic Zoom hiss.
The beauty of the Yahoo groups is that when you are looking at a device like this you can find all the pros and con on it before you buy it.
For what I want to do this seems to be the ideal device.
I am not looking or a professional quality but a good reliable devise that is easy enough for me to use. It will be many years before I am up on stage.
As for the smart media reader they are a few bucks in the store and plug directly into the USB port. 128 mb smart media card is about $35.00 in Costco and many types are compatible.
So for me this is a great unit for the purposes I need it for.
It is defiantly better than taking a tape recorder to class and it is only slightly larger (3.25" x 5.75" x 1.33" and it has quite a bit of room for me to grow as I learn to use it. The cost of basically finding an excellent recorder, reasonably easy to use with a good built in mike that is digital quality and can be stuffed in a pocked makes it the item that I asked for Christmas.
I apreciate everyone for sharing their views it allow others to evaluate products like these.
What is the difference between these devices and a minidisc recorder/player? Are the minidisc compatible with CD/DVD technology?
How much is Fry’s price? Amazon had the Archos Ondio MP3 for $125.
There is not a single mini-disc recorder (other than big-bucks multi-track “studio” recorders) that can upload digital information to a computer. Most of them will download digitally from MP3, WMA, WAV or CD, but if you want to go the other way you have to play it back in real time and record via the sound card in your computer.
Fry’s price on the Ondio is $119. There are web sites selling them for from $121 to $139.