Affordable digital recorder advice

[Nicholas Thieberger]

David,

If it does not record in WAV format then it is not archival. |If it 
records in a compressed form like WMA, mp3, or others, and then 
converts to WAV it means the actual recording has already lost lots 
of the signal. The m-audio microtrack records to WAV and is around 
US$300 and is not too bad, it has some problem with preamps.

Nick

At 11:17 AM -0800 30/1/06, David Lewis wrote:
>Hi Nicholas,
>I checked out the first website mentioned and they wrote this as to 
>an archival quality format "For audio, use WAV 
><http://emeld.org/school/glossary.html#wav> format." 
>Coincidentally, I was at Best Buy last night and looked over their 
>selection and chose the lower end of the higher end devices, the 
>WS-100. It is supposed to transfer directly into Microsoft WMA 
>format to the computer. I'm pretty sure I can then convert it to WAV 
>format either with Windows Media player or ITunes. Any advice here? 
>the device cost $100. the next higher device was $149.00.
>David Lewis
>
>Nicholas Thieberger wrote:
>
>>-->
>>Just to add to this thread from an archival perspective. If you are 
>>recording unique things that you want to be available to 
>>generations to come then you need to think about the format of what 
>>you are recording and whether it will endure. Olympus and other 
>>small (and cheap, unfortunately) recorders do not record in 
>>archival formats.
>>
>>For a summary of the issues around longterm storage of recorded 
>>material and endangered languages you could look at 
>>http://emeld.org/school/index.html.
>>
>>There was a discussion of recorders on the RNLD list and if you go 
>>to the archive of the RNLD list, here: 
>>http://listserv.linguistlist.org/cgi-bin/wa?S1=resource-network-linguistic-diversity 
>>and search for 'flash' and 'recorder' you will get some useful info
>>
>>A summary item is here: http://linguistlist.org/issues/16/16-2710.html
>>
>>All the best,
>>
>>Nick Thieberger
>>
>>At 7:36 AM -0700 30/1/06, Mia Kalish wrote:
>>
>>>Jan & all,
>>>
>>>I have been using Olympus digital recorders for years now. They have 3
>>>quality settings (low, medium, & high) and 2 recording modes (one for
>>>meetings, one for one-to-one). The ones I buy are about $99. I recently got
>>>a Sony refurb unit for $32 at e-cost.com.
>>>
>>>I didn't read the thread about recorders, because I'm really happy with
>>>mine, and I had shared about it before.
>>
>>>Mia
>>
>>
>>--
>>
>>Project Manager
>>PARADISEC
>>Department of Linguistics and Applied Linguistics
>>University of Melbourne, Vic 3010
>>Australia
>>
>>nicholas.thieberger at paradisec.org.au
>>Ph 61 (0)3 8344 5185
>>
>>PARADISEC
>>Pacific And Regional Archive for Digital Sources in Endangered Cultures
>>http://paradisec.org.au


-- 
Project Manager
PARADISEC
Department of Linguistics and Applied Linguistics
University of Melbourne, Vic 3010
Australia

nicholas.thieberger at paradisec.org.au
Ph 61 (0)3 8344 5185

PARADISEC
Pacific And Regional Archive for Digital Sources in Endangered Cultures
http://paradisec.org.au