mini disc recorder

[Frank Proschan]

See response below:

Frank Proschan
Save Our Sounds

mail:
Smithsonian Institution
Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage
750 9th Street N.W., Suite 4100
Washington DC  20560-0953

tel: 202-275-1607
fax: 202-275-1119
cellphone: 202-352-0273


>>> Celso Álvarez  Cáccamo   <lxalvarz at udc.es> 07/02/01 02:55PM >>>

<<snip>>

3) No equipment exists yet (yet -- see below) to make digital recordings
without data loss which could then be transferred on-the-fly as digital
files (e.g. MP3 or WAV) to a computer. But, since sound transfer is in real
time, it doesn't really matter whether the original recording is digital or
analog.

It makes a huge difference, inasmuch as no portable analog recorder (not even a stereo Nagra, which none of us can afford and is too heavy to carry anyway) will have the same signal-to-noise ratio and other recording specs of a DAT recorder.  And once the digital signal exists on the DAT, it can easily be transferred to a computer with one of several digital audio cards that allow direct digital input.  There is no conversion from D-to-A then back from A-to-D if you use the proper card and cables.  Check out:

http://www.echoaudio.com/ for the Mia ($ 250) or Gina (<$ 500)
http://www.aardvark-pro.com/pc_audio.html for the DirectPro 24/96 or DirectPro LX6
http://www.lynxone.com/ for the LynxOne or LynxTwo

Only the Echo Audio cards have drivers for Windows 2000, but they are supposed to be noisier than the Lynx or Aardvark.  LynxOne does not permit 24/96 resolution on A-to-D; LynxTwo does (if you can find a dealer--they were switching distributors a few months ago and stock was unavailable).  The Aardvark LX6 has lousy connectors on its breakout box; the 24/96 is much sturdier.

If you do plan to work with digital files on the computer, best to record the DAT at 48kHz rather than 44.1kHz as that offers better resolution and is one more conversion to avoid.  But either will be far superior to any portable analog recording.

For the microphone, I highly recommend the Shure VP88 http://www.shure.com/vp88.html which is gettable for under $ 1000.  If that's outside your budget, look at the AudioTechnica AT822 (under $ 400) http://www.audio-technica.com/prodpro/profiles/AT822.html or the Sony ECM-MS957 http://www.sel.sony.com/SEL/consumer/ss5/portable/accessories/microphonesfordigital/ecm-ms957_specs.shtml (under $ 300).  Forget about "non-intrusive" - size does matter if you want a good recording, and the people you're talking with will quickly tune out a big mike just as easily as a small one.  And don't forget a good isolating headphone with big earpads so you can monitor your recordings as you make them--try the Sony MDR 7506 (aka MDR-V600) which has a handy folding format.

Best,