Advice sought for set-up

[netactivist]

Hello,

I mostly want to be able to walk around my house while recording my voice as I spout off on political subjects.

I have a headset from Plantronics that seems to produce good sound when I record directly onto my Windows XP computer with Messer software.

Since I don't want to be tethered down, I need a portable device.

The Olympus digital voice recorder helpline gave me a bum steer and told me their DS-660 produced great quality sound. Wrong. So I have to return it. I like the idea of a digital voice recorder because I can edit right on it. Also, the mike jack doesn't need a pre-amp, which I don't have.

1. Does anyone have experience with a digital voice recorder that produces high quality voice recordings?

2. I also have an Archos Recorder 20 that produces very good sounding music mp3's, so I assume it will produce good voice recordings with an external mike. My headset apparently needs a preamp to work with the Archos, so does anyone have a recommendation for a preamp to get that will be compatible with the Archos?

Thanks!!

[Craig]

A portable preamp is going to run you at least $100 (if you're willing to go with an eBay special). For that you can buy a 256MB iRiver. The iRiver has an internal mic preamp (not the best but good enough for podcasting) and is by far the most used portable recording device amongst podcasters due to its various recording features. The 256MBmodel is the iFP-790.

Craig

[Will-Casel]

For that you can buy a 256MB iRiver. The iRiver has an internal mic preamp (not the best but good enough for podcasting) and is by far the most used portable recording device amongst podcasters due to its various recording features. The 256MBmodel is the iFP-790. Craig

I just purchased the IFP-790 on ebay for about $70 including shipping. It arrives via UPS tomorrow. Can't wait!

I'm going to use it for coffee house interviews at poetry open mics.

Will-Casel

[netactivist]

A portable preamp is going to run you at least $100 (if you're willing to go with an eBay special). For that you can buy a 256MB iRiver. The iRiver has an internal mic preamp (not the best but good enough for podcasting) and is by far the most used portable recording device amongst podcasters due to its various recording features. The 256MBmodel is the iFP-790.

Craig

Thanks for the great tip, Craig.

1) Do you know if the ifp-780, which is about $30 cheaper, is the same except for the 128 MB storage? For my uses, that's enough time for recording at any one time.

I looked at these two iriver site pages, and couldn't find a difference.
http://www.iriveramerica.com/prod/ultra/700/ifp_780.aspx
http://www.iriveramerica.com/prod/ultra/700/ifp_790.aspx

I also looked at the 700 series manual online.

2) Also: when you use internal mike voice recording, it indicates you can pause, and then continue without creating a new file.

Can you pause, without creating a new file, when using the external mike?

Thanks!!

[Dreadful Snake Guy]

Yes you can. the iRiver ifp controls work the same for ext mike or internal mike recording. That is, hit the 'play/stop' button t pause recording, hit again to resume recording in the same file. OR hit hte red dot record button to halt redording of that file. Beginning recording again will instantiate a new file. hope you like that verb.

[netactivist]

Thanks for that info, Dreadful Snake Guy (I don't even want to ask what that handle means!)

[Craig]

Do you know if the ifp-780, which is about $30 cheaper, is the same except for the 128 MB storage?
They are the same except for the storage capacity and the case color.

Craig

[netactivist]

Thanks, Craig, for your continued help.

[revupreview]

Do you know if the ifp-780, which is about $30 cheaper, is the same except for the 128 MB storage?
They are the same except for the storage capacity and the case color.

Craig

According to PDF brochures available on iRiver's UK site the 780 and 880 versions (128Mb) are USB 1.1 only.

[Craig]

According to PDF brochures available on iRiver's UK site the 780 and 880 versions (128Mb) are USB 1.1 only.
Aha...I knew I was forgetting something!

Craig

[netactivist]

On the US site it says the 780 is usb2.0.

http://www.iriveramerica.com/prod/ultra/700/ifp_780.aspx

Maybe I should call them?

[Craig]

Both manuals say 1.1.

You can get a refurbished 890 (256MB) from here for $83 shipped:

http://www.pricegrabber.com/user_sales_getprod.php?masterid=3831861&lot_id=1938765

Craig

[netactivist]

Thanks for the heads up, Craig.

What's the difference between the 790 and 890?

[Craig]

What's the difference between the 790 and 890?
It's my understanding that the only difference is the external design. The 800 series was apparently manufactured specifically for Best Buy.

Craig

[netactivist]

Thanks, Craig.

Since most of what I'm going to use it for is recording my own commentaries, I was thinking that a device dedicated to voice dictation might offer some critical benefits, worth the extra cost.

This Sony seems to have 44.1 sampling, 60-13.5 frequency, so the sound quality should be fine, I think. Correct?
http://www.sonystyle.com/is-bin/INTERSHOP.enfinity/eCS/Store/en/-/USD/SY_DisplayProductInformation-Start?ProductSKU=ICDBM1

manual:
http://esupport.sony.com/perl/model-documents.pl?mdl=ICDBM1&LOC=3

These are the things I think it can do that the Iriver can't. Please let me know if I'm right:
1) play back a recording, stop at a certain point, and then start recording again, overriding what I previously said.
2) divide a recording at a given point, and then add material at the division point. Then I can combine the two sections later, in effect having been able to insert material without erasing anything.

I checked the Olympus 2200 manual, and I don't think it offers 1 or 2 either.

The Olympus 3300 has insert and overwrite built in, but it only samples at 12

[Craig]

I'm not familiar with the Sony but looking at the specs real quick they look impressive. Because of the 6-13.5 frequency range (which I'll have to take your word on as I didn't find it listed) it's not going to give you professional quality but it will be good enough. Also, bear in mind that the 44.1 samping rate (which you're going to want to use) only gives you 41 minutes on the included 16MB Memory Stick, so add a larger Memory Stick to the cost of the recorder.

The iRiver does not have the two features you mentioned, so if those are important to you the Sony would definitely have an advantage. At the price you're paying for it though, you may want to consider the next step up, which would be an Edirol R-1.

Craig

[netactivist]

The R1 doesn't seem to have the two editing abilities I referred to earlier, so for me it wouldn't work.

Guess I'll buy the SONY and see what happens.

Thanks for all your help!

[netactivist]

Woe is me! My search for the Holy Grail of portable dictation with easy on-the-fly editing and good sound is still unfulfilled.

I bought the SONY ICD-BM1. Very easy slide controls, and good sound.

BUT:

Minor issue: when you use the voice-acitivated recording, it inserts three seconds of silence there! So you'd have to edit all those out before using for a podcast.

Major issue and the deal-breaker: when you pause a recording, it puts a loud CLICK on the recording! I certainly don't want to have to edit all those out; that would defeat the purpose of having easy on-the-fly-editing.

Sony has a new model, the ICD-MX20.
See the Site (http://www.sonystyle.com/is-bin/INTERSHOP.enfinity/eCS/Store/en/-/USD/SY_DisplayProductInformation-Start?ProductSKU=ICDMX20&Dept=audio&CategoryName=pa_VoiceRecorders_DigitalVoiceRecorde r)

It can be bought for $196 plus shipping, so it's cheaper than the lousy BM-1.
http://www.epinions.com/Sony_ICD_MX20_Voice_Recorder

It has a dedicated pause button, so I imagine it won't insert clicks there. Even if it still inserts three seconds of silence with the voice-acitivated recording, i just won't use that feature.

It has a stereo mode with 60-13.5 frequency range, but I can't find a 44.1 sampling spec. I'll have to call Sony and ask. If it does have the 44.1 sampling, I will buy it and hope that this will be the one!

QUESTION: The manual does say it has "48kbps" sampling in the highest mode (stereo), then 24kbps , 16 and 8 in the lowest mode. Is this the same as the sampling spec?

(Maybe it is, because one of its associated documents says the 32MB built in memory on the MX20 gets you 85 minutes recording time in stereo, which is properly twice the time of the 16 MB memory of the BM1 in stereo mode, and the BM1 did specify 44.1 sampling rate.)

PS: The literature of the MX20 claims it's built in stereo mikes are so good you don't need an external mike.

[netactivist]

In case anyone has this thread bookmarked, I wanted to let you know that I started a new thread to continue the discussion, here:
http://www.podcastalley.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=3465