 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: annev
Date: 2010-12-29 16:48
Hello,
I'm looking for an inexpensive (<$100, if possible) digital recording device, for use at lessons and home practice. I've been using a generic MP3 player but the microphone is small and the sound tends to distort at higher frequencies. I've done a search on the site and the posts on this topic are somewhat dated. I'd appreciate any suggestions you may have.
Thanks so much!
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Author: Noqu
Date: 2010-12-29 19:20
Still can't beat a Zoom H4 in my opinion (thats what I use). The H2 is supposed to be almost as good and might come in the 100$ range.
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Author: clarinettist1104
Date: 2010-12-29 20:24
the Zoom H2 is FANTASTIC! I recorded my New England Conservatory audition CD with my brother's today. It costs $200.00 though. I purchased a Zoom H1 ($100.00) online, but don't have it yet. If you'd like, I can let you know how good the sound quality is when I get it (one or two weeks).
-alex
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Author: richard1952
Date: 2010-12-29 21:13
Zoom H2 does a terrific job. Can be had for a little over $100 if you look hard.
richardseaman@cox.net
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Author: Tony M
Date: 2010-12-29 21:17
The Zooms are clearly popular. I used a Boss Micro BR for quite a while and thought that they were quite good. The condenser microphone is very good and it worked well with a self-powered microphone (Rode M3) as well. The price is a bit higher than the Zoom but you might get one cheap from someone wanting to sell it in order to buy a Zoom. Good luck.
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Author: annev
Date: 2010-12-30 20:45
Thank you for your suggestions. I looked at the models that were recomended on-line today. I noticed that while the Zoom H1 is cheaper then the H2, and has apparently the same quality microphones, it doesn't come with any of the accessories (such as the AC adapter, USB cord, etc.). Interesting marketing. I think I will wait a bit and scout around to see if I can find the Zoom H2, which looks to be good value and should more then meet my needs.
Alex (Clarenettist1104), if you would like to let us know about the H1 when it comes, I'm sure that will be useful information.
Thank you again, and I wish you all a Happy New Year!
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Author: clarnibass
Date: 2010-12-31 04:30
There are a lot of devices like the Zoom. The Zoom H2 is so popular because it's significantly cheaper than others. It's under $150 (for example on Amazon). With the H4 you can connect channels etc. but you pay more than double for it and if you don't need this feature, it doesn't really have any advantage. I haven't tried the H1 though, maybe for some situation it's a better value.
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Author: Bob Phillips
Date: 2010-12-31 15:37
I use AA batteries exclusively with my H2 and pull the chip to download its data, so I don't use its accessories. Maybe I could live with an H1.
Bob Phillips
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Author: clarinettist1104
Date: 2011-01-04 19:55
so my H1 came today. BEAUTIFUL sound, and it is super small! The ZOOM H1 is in no way a compromise for the cost. It's a fabulous recorder, and at a great price.
Highly recommended!
-alex
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Author: bmcgar ★2017
Date: 2011-01-05 01:36
I own an H4n and H1, and have owned the H2
I second Alex's recommendation on the H1.
HOWEVER, there were some that were made (like mine) with a defect: If you leave the battery in the device, it'll discharge even if it's not being used.
Samson said they'd correct the problem if the device is returned, but that's a hassle, so make sure that, if you buy one, it's one of the units that were fixed before being released, or at least make sure the the place you buy it from will give you a full refund or exchange should you get one of the older units.
I use mine all the time, but store it without the battery.
B.
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Author: Alex Eich
Date: 2011-01-05 06:26
Fantastically timed post Anne, was just about to ask the same question myself, having been researching the zoom type devices today..
My teacher still insists on me bringing blank tapes to put in her reeeeeeally dodgy recorder (sounds awful - useless trying to gauge tone from the recordings) to record the odd bit of her playing, or me playing, or small part of an old record.
Problems with this:
A) It's getting hard to find new tapes to buy, and they are much harder to back up and then wipe than SD cards are, hence expensive
B) The whole exercise is practically pointless, the recordings are so bad
C) I love new gadgets, especially when they make life easier :D
Hence with a recorder, I thought that it would be 3 birds, 1 stone..
Ok, so they work well, but I have some more specific questions to clarify:
- while everyone is saying "great sound" does the user's model evenly and accurately pick up a clarinet's highs and lows?
- how are users positioning theirs - similar to a normal condenser (out above the holes), or away out in front of the player in the "audience" area to make use of the stereo configuration?
- how do they sound recording pianos (for they can be tricky beasties to mic)?
Thanks in advance,
Alex
P.S. Didn't mean to sound so abrupt - just trying to clarify things :P
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Author: clarinettist1104
Date: 2011-01-05 12:21
Okay, I can answer your questions, having just recorded an audition CD last week. I had it in the front row of the audience in the hall, and I was on stage, about 10-15 feet from it. It VERY accurately picks up high and low, I recorded everything from low E, to high G, and it all sounds professional quality (not the playing, the recording.) =D For smaller rooms, ZOOMs let you adjust the mic pickup volume, so as not to overload the mic. I did the recording tests for my H1 yesterday about five feet from my clarinet bell. I adjusted the pick up to be lower, and it worked perfectly! The reason that I went with the H1 is that it has a playback speaker, which the H2 does not. You have to put in headphones to listen to the recording on the ZOOM. I have not recorded a piano with mine, so I don't know about that...
Lastly, they expose ALL of the flaws in my playing! You CANNOT miss ANYTHING. It is THAT clear.
-alex
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Author: srattle
Date: 2011-01-05 23:12
Alex, maybe you could post a little bit of a recording so we can hear what the sound quality is like?
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Author: clarinettist1104
Date: 2011-01-05 23:16
I don't know that I want to post it publicly? I would be willing to email it offline to those interested. Email me at: clarinettist1104@gmail.com if you're interested.
Post Edited (2011-01-05 23:19)
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Author: redwine
Date: 2011-01-06 15:37
Hello,
I've made professionally released recordings on both a Zoom and an Edirol. They work fine, and you can add external mics, if you wish. We did with the Zoom, but did not with the Edirol.
Ben Redwine, DMA
owner, RJ Music Group
Assistant Professor, The Catholic University of America
Selmer Paris artist
www.rjmusicgroup.com
www.redwinejazz.com
www.reedwizard.com
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Author: Simon Aldrich
Date: 2011-01-06 17:21
I own a Zoom H4 and use it all the time for recording chamber concerts. I recorded through the internal mics for a years or so. They sound OK but the Zoom needs to be placed in the the front row of the audience, high on a mic stand. Even then the sound is somewhat narrow and less-detailed and picks up a lot of audience noise (sniffs, paper shuffling, hall hum, etc).
When I started recording with "proper" mics, plugged into the xlr inputs on the bottom of the Zoom H4, I was blown away. As Ben mentioned above, the sound is professional quality. Plus you can place the mics onstage, slightly off to the side so they are not in the audience's sight lines. This reduces the need to place the Zoom in the audience on a long mic stand. Plus the "proper" mics are much closer to the performers.
If one is looking for a recording device for simple reference recordings (rehs, lessons, etc) for those who own an iPhone (3GS or earlier) or an iPod Touch, an option is the BlueMickey, a mic which plugs into the iPod/iPhone's docking jack.
Reviews of the the sound quality are positive. It retails for around $100 but people have mentioned finding it for around $60. (Currently the BlueMickey does not work with the iPhone 4.)
http://www.bluemic.com/mikey/
Simon
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Author: annev
Date: 2011-01-15 15:18
Thank you, beejay, for the link to the audio samples. They were interesting to listen to. Too bad they don't have the H1 listed on there yet!
I've had a chance to try out both the Zoom H1 and Zoom H2 and thought I'd add my comments, for what they're worth! They say that the microphone quality is similar, and I would believe that - for me the quality of the recording seems limited more by the quality of my speakers then the microphones themselves. In the end I chose the H2 because the accessories allow me to route it through my stereo system, as well as the computer. I record piano accompaniments, and the stereo system gives better quality sound as well as better volume for balancing with clarinet and flute. If I were just looking for an audio recorder for lessons and self-practice, I'd probably chose the H1, since the microphones are very good and it drains less battery power. The small speaker on the H1 is very poor (very shrill) but with earphones the sound quality is excellent. The H2 comes with an AC adaptor, so the higher demand on the batteries is not as critical, but, or course, the whole unit costs more. So, as always, I guess it depends what the intended use for the recording device is. I have to say I was very pleased with the quality of the sound on both devices - head and shoulders over anything I've used before. Great products for the price!
Post Edited (2011-01-15 15:19)
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Author: Keeheon Nam
Date: 2011-01-16 02:01
Zoom H2s are $146 at Amazon, if you are still thinking about that option. I also LOVE the Zoom H2's quality in that size, worth every penny
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Author: tictactux ★2017
Date: 2011-01-16 17:24
Attachment: H1Sample.mp3 (1936k)
I took my new H1 to a rehearsal today. I didn't bother to put it on a stand or do level-adjustments and whatnot, I just put it into a drawstring bag (used for my glasses) and let the microphone head peer out (like kangaroo junior is looking from out of mother's pouch) and hung it in front of my music stand so that the folder shielded my own tootling a bit. I let the Auto Level Control do its magic and recorded everything in 128K mp3.
A short excerpt can be heard in the attachment. Again, the device wasn't positioned properly, the microphone pointed upwards, ALC was active etc etc.
Nonetheless - very impressive, even under non-optimal conditions.
--
Ben
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Author: Philcoman
Date: 2011-01-18 14:52
Hey, pretty good! Thanks for the sample -- it's worth a thousand words!
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Author: Reedirect
Date: 2011-01-20 11:52
I own a H1 too. Astoundingly good quality for a very modest price. If you place it on one of these micro camera tripods (with those flexible arms) you even reduce crackles and other noises from manipulating it or from being shaken.
Such a great little widget!!!
Best
Jo
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Author: TianL
Date: 2011-01-21 19:37
check out this website, they have reviews for digital recording devices as well as sound clips. pretty helpful.
http://www.wingfieldaudio.com/portable-recorder-reviews.html
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