Sound Recording Solution

[maarkr]

What's the best bang for the buck for a recording solution?...I want to record some good-quality sounds: nature sounds, sound effects, movie dubs, narration onto a portable recorder and transfer it to audio files. What do pros use when they go into the field to record sounds?

maarkr

[DVO]

How about a mini disc recorder? Very small & good sound quality. Good enough for me anyway.

[SaSi]

You can use a laptop to record, if you want, provided it has a descent sound card. Or you can use a descent portable cassette recorder. I have done several recordings in the past with a stereo AIWA recording walkman.

The most important factor is using the proper microphone. The ones built into recorders or laptops are no good. They grap the transport noise. You must use an external microphone. My second aiwa walkman came with a really good and tiny stereo microphone that has served me well for years. For a good mike, look at AKG or Shure.

You don't want to use what professionals use because it will cost you a fortune.

[Rich927]

You might look into getting a digital recorder. Try looking at audiomidi.com cost start around $300.00. Some record on to a Compact flash card. Edirol.com and behringer.co are some other sources. Check out a music store too.

[Paul_W]

It really depends on what you are trying to accomplish. Our needs are recording narrations and occasionally, acoustic music. We spent a ton of money that got us little more than minimal results until we tried the following combination.

Shure KSM 109 Mike... Clean, crisp, doesn't color the sound at all. This is a uni-directional condenser mike that requires phantom power so you need to use it with equipment that can supply it. About $150

Fostex MR8 Digital Recorder... Simply awesome. Records audio in digital format which can be retrieved as .wav files from the USB port or the Compact Flash card. About the size of a portable tape recorder and runs on batteries or AC power. Records 8 tracks, two at a time. $300

PreSonus TubPre, Preamp... Gives us good control over audio gain so we can get good range. About $180

During a recent recording session with this setup, the mike was so sensitive that we picked up birds chirping outside a closed window at the end of the recording!