Need help....don't know which MD recorder is right for me?

Videomonster wrote on 7/3/2003, 12:32 AM
I am very confused. Unfortunatly, my video camera does not have a microphone imput/output, and I have been looking for a hard drive recorder which I can hook a microphone into and record my audio straight onto there. I looked on the internet at a lot of different HD recorders, but they are way to expensive for my budget right now. I am thinking about getting a Mini-Disc player/recorder, but I have no idea what specs I need and which one to buy. I need a MD recorder that I can hook a microphone into for field recording. Does anyone know any good inexpensive models-under $300?

Thanks,
Videomonster

Comments

jaegersing wrote on 7/3/2003, 4:13 AM
I was considering buying an MD for this too, but could not find one that had a digital output or decent metering. Eventually I bought a Korg PXR4 (see link below) which looks a bit like a toy but has produced some good results for me, especially in narration recording.

Apart from the ease of use, it is a real joy when it comes to getting the audio into my PC. It has a USB port, so the files are transferred in seconds. (The MD recorders that I looked at, you had to take the analogue output and record in real time into the PC sound card.)

Only drawback I have found is that it is fairly heavy on batteries. I have managed to find a power source every time I needed to, but if you are going to be outdoors a lot it is a point to consider.

Richard Hunter

http://www.samedaymusic.com/product--KORPXR4
mikkie wrote on 7/3/2003, 8:42 AM
musiciansfriend.com has a pretty decent selection of all sorts of recorders - something pretty sure to fit your budget... Far as I know mini-disc is mini-disc, the difference being with the features you pay for. Might consider spending the majority of your budget on the mic, getting a cheaper mini-disc recorder for now, as whatever you use can only record the quality you send it.
farss wrote on 7/3/2003, 8:57 AM
Just saw the MDP500 MD recorder, sells for around $3,2995 here but you might get it a lot cheaper in the US. Balanced in and out plus USB and coaxial out.
Bear wrote on 7/3/2003, 9:05 AM
I used to video weddings just stopped due to handicapp but I always used a MD Sony R-67 Has mic in Has optical(digital) out to computer and is a excellent player/recorder. Is relatively small and I had very good luck with it. My wife has also used it to record seminars with and it works well in that situation as well. You can usually find these on ebay for around 75 dollars and mini discs are arond 2.00 each. In mono you get some 140 minutes plus with it so it was great for weddings.
craftech wrote on 7/3/2003, 12:35 PM
The overall quality of portable MD recorders has deteriorated. Surprised?

John
dvdude wrote on 7/3/2003, 12:48 PM
This isn't really an answer but perhaps an alternative.

Have you considered picking up a DV camera with a mic input, maybe even a lightly used older model?

I suspect you might save yourself a lot of headaches with sync etc., particularly on long projects, and it might be fun to play with multi-cam. Best of all, even a low end DV camera with a mic input will probably provide more than adequate quality, approaching that of DAT (Depends on your input source of course).

You might be able to do something like this for around the $300 mark.

Andy

[EDIT]

I see you have a Pana. There are a few PV-DV910's on eBay right now. I know the 910 has an external (stereo no less!!!) mic input and will use the same batteries as yours - the charger included with the 910 is likely better as it can charge 2 batteries in cascade and has 3 led's each to show charging state. [END OF EDIT]
sbloombaum wrote on 7/3/2003, 2:18 PM
I'm a US user of the HHB MDP500. At discount about $1275USD, used about $950.

A totally awesome box with phantom, XLR inputs, everything you could want in a professional 2ch. portable recorder. Only gets about 4 hrs. recording time on the supplied 8 AA rechargables, but you can buy more if needed. It's replaced my location DAT recorder.

USB and SPDIF transfers to PC are real-time.

I disagree with what craftech wrote - if anything there appears to be more interest and more recorders available now from Sony, Sharp, and others. Check out minidisco.com.