Portable recorder for interviews under $500 at DVinfo.net

Dom Stevenson · February 22nd, 2010, 02:40 AM

I have a 5dmkii and need a portable recorder for interviews. I'm bewildered by the choices from the ZoomH4 to the products by Tascam, Edirol, Sony, Olympus, Marantz etc.

I'd also like to know whether i can plug in the lapel mic from my Sennheiser radio mics, or would i get a better recording from the onboard mics that come with these recorders?

Sorry, i realise this topic has been covered ad nauseum, but with new products arriving all the time, i'm confused about which way to go. I'm currently leaning towards the edirol or Olympus as they're a fair bit smaller than the Zoom and i will take this recorder travelling.

Any thoughts?

John Willett · February 22nd, 2010, 04:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dom Stevenson

I have a 5dmkii and need a portable recorder for interviews. I'm bewildered by the choices from the ZoomH4 to the products by Tascam, Edirol, Sony, Olympus, Marantz etc.

I'd also like to know whether i can plug in the lapel mic from my Sennheiser radio mics, or would i get a better recording from the onboard mics that come with these recorders?

I have the Olympus LS-10 (the LS-11 would be the same).

Yes, you definitely *can* plug your microphone that comes with a Sennheiser evolution system directly into the Olympus LS-10 (11). I have done it with my LS-10 and it works fine. The Olympus does supply the plug-in-power that the mic. requires.

Though please be aware it will record on left channel only which you will have to sort out in post.

Dom Stevenson · February 22nd, 2010, 04:32 AM

Thanks for that John.

The Olympus is smaller and cheaper than most of the competition, so it's definitely a maybe. Doubling up the audio and making stereo pairs is a doddle in FCP so i'm not bothered about only having one channel.

Nicole Hankerson · February 22nd, 2010, 03:24 PM

The Tascam DR-100 is a very nice machine as well. They are going for right at 300 bucks or so if you look around.

Nicole

Tim Akin · February 22nd, 2010, 05:23 PM

If you want portable, I just got one of these Yamaha | Pocketrak CX Digital Stereo Audio | POCKETRAK CX | B&H and I am well pleased with everything about it.

Guy Cochran · February 22nd, 2010, 07:00 PM

If you're going to get a recorder specifically for use with the Canon 5D Mark II, I'd recommend getting one with an output that you can send directly to the camera. Some models like the Sony PCM-M10 use the headphone out as a Line out, so look closely if you want the ability to monitor the audio while shooting.

I'm using the Tascam DR100 with the DVcreators Line to Mic Cable at DVcreators.net - this cable has a built-in -50dB pad.

Here's a recording with the Tascam

To defeat the AGC on the Canon 5D Mark II, take a look at Magic Lantern Firmware Wiki

Alex Donkle · February 22nd, 2010, 08:26 PM

Just to add to Guy's comment, if you can send a mic-level recorder to camera, you can save some time syncing the audio with this -
PluralEyes
Singular Software

I haven't used it myself, but know some people that have and it looks very cool so long as the audio you're sending to camera is decent.

For a recorder I use an H4n and love it.

Sean Seah · March 23rd, 2010, 01:57 AM

with the manual gain control of 5D now, feeding the 5D input via the TASCAM/Zoom H4n with a PAD cable should solve the issue isnt it? We should get pretty good audio am I right?

Jay Massengill · March 23rd, 2010, 07:45 AM

Keep in mind as Guy said about some recorders, the H4n also uses just a single output for headphone or line out. The original H4 had two independent outputs. It's something to think of if you're sending the output to another device. It's the only change from old to new on the Zoom that I don't care for.

Floris van Eck · March 27th, 2010, 02:08 AM

I am also looking for such a device. Not sure what to look for... Olympus, Tascam, Zoom, Edirol, Yamaha... so many players in this market.

I want to record interviews in high quality which I can use in my documentaries.

Sean Seah · March 27th, 2010, 03:31 AM

Hi Guy, the recording is pretty impressive and I'm hoping to do the same for my zoom H4n (less the monitoring option). Its great that the 5D2 has manual gain control now, which I think would solve the issue. Correct me if I'm wrong.

One question I have, is you will need to be recording with the Tascam in order to have the audio in the 5D2 right? I shoot events/weddings mainly so I'm worried about scenarios where the recorder is not recording, and there would be zero audio (dead meat). I guess this workflow is better for controlled situation right? The beachtek or juicelink soln still has place somewhere.

Ty Ford · March 29th, 2010, 08:37 PM

I'm liking the Sony M10 right now.

Sony PCM M10 recorder

Ty Ford

February 22nd, 2010, 02:40 AM	#1
Dom Stevenson Major Player Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: London UK Posts: 430	Portable recorder for interviews under $500 I have a 5dmkii and need a portable recorder for interviews. I'm bewildered by the choices from the ZoomH4 to the products by Tascam, Edirol, Sony, Olympus, Marantz etc. I'd also like to know whether i can plug in the lapel mic from my Sennheiser radio mics, or would i get a better recording from the onboard mics that come with these recorders? Sorry, i realise this topic has been covered ad nauseum, but with new products arriving all the time, i'm confused about which way to go. I'm currently leaning towards the edirol or Olympus as they're a fair bit smaller than the Zoom and i will take this recorder travelling. Any thoughts?

February 22nd, 2010, 05:23 PM	#5
Tim Akin Major Player Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Newbern, TN Posts: 414	If you want portable, I just got one of these Yamaha \| Pocketrak CX Digital Stereo Audio \| POCKETRAK CX \| B&H and I am well pleased with everything about it. __________________ Tim

February 22nd, 2010, 07:00 PM	#6
Guy Cochran DVCreators.Net Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: Seattle, WA Posts: 892	If you're going to get a recorder specifically for use with the Canon 5D Mark II, I'd recommend getting one with an output that you can send directly to the camera. Some models like the Sony PCM-M10 use the headphone out as a Line out, so look closely if you want the ability to monitor the audio while shooting. I'm using the Tascam DR100 with the DVcreators Line to Mic Cable at DVcreators.net - this cable has a built-in -50dB pad. Here's a recording with the Tascam Canon 5D Mark II with RODE NTG-3 and Sennheiser G3 wireless on Vimeo To defeat the AGC on the Canon 5D Mark II, take a look at Magic Lantern Firmware Wiki __________________ Guy Cochran DVinfo Sponsor, Cool Gear - DVeStore!

March 23rd, 2010, 01:57 AM	#8
Sean Seah Trustee Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Singapore Posts: 1,498	with the manual gain control of 5D now, feeding the 5D input via the TASCAM/Zoom H4n with a PAD cable should solve the issue isnt it? We should get pretty good audio am I right? __________________ Firewerkz Films SGP

March 23rd, 2010, 07:45 AM	#9
Jay Massengill Trustee Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Burlington Posts: 1,976	Keep in mind as Guy said about some recorders, the H4n also uses just a single output for headphone or line out. The original H4 had two independent outputs. It's something to think of if you're sending the output to another device. It's the only change from old to new on the Zoom that I don't care for. Last edited by Jay Massengill; March 23rd, 2010 at 04:09 PM.

February 22nd, 2010, 04:32 AM	#3
Dom Stevenson Major Player Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: London UK Posts: 430	Thanks for that John. The Olympus is smaller and cheaper than most of the competition, so it's definitely a maybe. Doubling up the audio and making stereo pairs is a doddle in FCP so i'm not bothered about only having one channel.

February 22nd, 2010, 03:24 PM	#4
Nicole Hankerson Regular Crew Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Norcross, GA Posts: 143	The Tascam DR-100 is a very nice machine as well. They are going for right at 300 bucks or so if you look around. Nicole

February 22nd, 2010, 08:26 PM	#7
Alex Donkle Regular Crew Join Date: May 2008 Location: Honolulu, HI Posts: 38	Just to add to Guy's comment, if you can send a mic-level recorder to camera, you can save some time syncing the audio with this - PluralEyes Singular Software I haven't used it myself, but know some people that have and it looks very cool so long as the audio you're sending to camera is decent. For a recorder I use an H4n and love it.

March 27th, 2010, 02:08 AM	#10
Floris van Eck Major Player Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: The Netherlands Posts: 993	I am also looking for such a device. Not sure what to look for... Olympus, Tascam, Zoom, Edirol, Yamaha... so many players in this market. I want to record interviews in high quality which I can use in my documentaries.

March 27th, 2010, 03:31 AM	#11
Sean Seah Trustee Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Singapore Posts: 1,498	Hi Guy, the recording is pretty impressive and I'm hoping to do the same for my zoom H4n (less the monitoring option). Its great that the 5D2 has manual gain control now, which I think would solve the issue. Correct me if I'm wrong. One question I have, is you will need to be recording with the Tascam in order to have the audio in the 5D2 right? I shoot events/weddings mainly so I'm worried about scenarios where the recorder is not recording, and there would be zero audio (dead meat). I guess this workflow is better for controlled situation right? The beachtek or juicelink soln still has place somewhere. __________________ Firewerkz Films SGP

March 29th, 2010, 08:37 PM	#12
Ty Ford Inner Circle Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Baltimore, MD USA Posts: 2,337	I'm liking the Sony M10 right now. Sony PCM M10 recorder Ty Ford __________________ Ty Ford's Audio Bootcamp Field Guide Ty Ford's Audio Video Blog