iRiver "ultraportable" or newer Neuros Audio: Soun

[FLEB]

I've been thinking of buying an iRiver "Ultraportable" (the iFP895 or 899, probably) or a Neuros Audio unit for recording a mobile podcast. I'm just concerned about sound quality, and I was wondering if someone could post a recorded clip from one of these units, preferably high-quality and using an external mic or line-in (music dub clip would work fine).

Either a link here, or a small clip emailed to arcticdoom(AT-SYMBOL)pixelsaredead.com would work wonderfully. Thanks!

I'm hoping to get that, some self-powered mixing equipment, my CD player, and a briefcase to make sort of a "portable studio" setup.

[Craig]

Check out http://www.godcast.org/mp3/bts050124.mp3 for something recorded with an iFP795 using a $20 Plantronics .audio 20 noise-cancelling headset mic (in my apartment). Any quality issues are strictly due to the headset.

For a music clip, recorded live with $40 binaural mics (http://www.soundprofessionals.com/cgi-bin/gold/category.cgi?category=search&item=SP-BMC-2&type=store), check out http://www.soundprofessionals.com/MP3files/SP-BMC-2.mp3 ... if that doesn't convince you I don't know what will!

I would recommend the iRiver in a heartbeat. I have no idea about the Neuros but there are a lot of features in the iRiver that are essential to podcast recording. Watch for the next edition of "Behind the Scenes" for details:

http://www.godcast.org/categories/behindTheScenes

Craig

[FLEB]

Many thanks! I think I'm going to go with the iRiver, probably the 512M from the 800 series. I read the specs wrong before, and thought it only recorded at 11025Hz (it goes up to CD-quality 44100). Not as much space/cost as the Neuros, but I won't have to get a preamp if I want to use it offsite.

Thanks again!

[radioclash]

I use the iRiver for all my recording now - check out my casts if you want to hear the quality, it's good...not totally hiss-free, but no latency/computer issues...

I use a iFP890 512Mb and it's more than enough for podcasting - 4 hours at 128Kbps...

A few tips - you might want to post-process as the lower rates are a bit 'watery' - I don't know the Neuros but I doubt it's much better as I'd guess realtime pro-quality low-rate MP3 is expensive; which is why your computer takes a while to render it, and that's after the audio has been already grabbed.

I record at the highest rate - 320Kbps, 44Khz stereo then convert to wav, use compressing/limiting then recompress smaller via FHG codec, best at smaller rates lower than 96Kbs I've found - yes better than LAME. I wonder if the iRiver uses the LAME codec internally cos it sound similar at lower rates...

Also record Mono if you want to use lower rates, it sounds really good at all rates - no wateryness unless you're using lower than 32Kbps...

Oh and don't believe the onboard meter at ALL, it lies. If you have what hears and looks like a good signal it's actually distorting...I regularly do tests and have my setup 'fixed' at certain volume on my mixer so when it goes red it's going to distort on the iRiver...

And don't upgrade to the latest firmware if you want rates higher than 96Kbps...due to some issues with noise they've disabled higher rates (clever huh?). :roll:

But it's the highest quality for that price I've found...

[Craig]

Agreed...firmware 1.25 is currently the best for recording quality.

Craig

[SledHead Radio]

I just did my first "Mobile" podcast last week and I recorded it with an iRiver H320. It turned out really well and I just used a lapel (sp?) mic and a Radio Shack Mic for my sit down interviews. Both worked really well!

My 2 Cents. :wink: