OT: iRiver iHP-120 MP3 player for recording extra audio tracks?

Arks wrote on 7/5/2004, 9:18 AM
Hello,

I was reading the posts in here earlier and read about the iRiver iHP-120 MP3 player and how someone was using it to record some external audio instead of a minidisc. How well does this work? What kind of mics can you use on this thing? DO I have to have a mic preamp since I did not see anything about this player having a "mic lin" input? thanks!

B

Comments

Spot|DSE wrote on 7/5/2004, 9:47 AM
Yes, you'd need a mic preamp of some sort.
alan278 wrote on 7/5/2004, 10:37 AM
I have been doing this.
No mic Preamp needed, from my experience.
It works very well, but not perfect.

Here are details.

I have been recording audio on the H120 and syncing it to video (vx2k) in vegas and using primarily the H120 audio for the final mix.

Primarily I have used the H120 with a direct line feed from a mixing board (used for speaker's microphone into PA system).

However I have used the extremely cheap (sells for $6 or something if you need an extra) lapel mic that comes with the H120. That works fine as well.
There is some sort of mic preamp that is in the device. I tested it with a sony powered mic (ECMz157 - old camcorder thing) and it worked fine (although it's mono). Others have reported success using the H120/140 with other small sony powered mics. I've also tested w/ higher-end powered mics and they sound fine as well.

There are options on the H120/140 to cycle through setting it's input source. The same jack is used for optical, line, and mic input. Just plug the mic in and set it to "external mic"... there's also an internal mic, and of course line and optical options.

You can also set the input level for mic in.

The quality is very good. No problem there. I have read that with loud music you can sometimes hear a glitch every minute or so when the H writes it's buffer, but I have not recorded that content and have not noticed any glitches.

All that said the H120 is not without it's problems for this use....

1. you cannot monitor record levels - there's no meter and the headphones don't work in that mode

2. limited to about 70 minutes or so (on .wav files - i haven't recorded line or mic to mp3 with it which i think can go a little longer depending on compression level)

3. sync w/ video... when I import the audio into vegas it does not line up 100% with the video. If I align at the start, by about 1 hour in it's off by about 7 frames. I have gotten used to this and as long as I make the very simple compensation in vegas it comes out great. That is, use "time stretch/pitch shift" option on the H120/140 audio line. Make the proper adjustment so start and end finish on-frame, and you're in. This of course could be a real pain depending on the project, so use of the device is not good for everyone or every situation.

4. There's no good belt clip accessory that I like. iRiver suggests a device which "glues" to the unit which makes me uncomfortable. iPod and maybe minidisc have more accessories available.

But I use it and love it. I also use it as a portable music player, and of course it can be used as a 20 or 40gb hard drive... so multi-uses. Good machine.

Good luck.
Orcatek wrote on 7/5/2004, 11:00 AM
I use one too. However I can monitor mine when recording via the line out - no meters though.

I like it alot. Very handy, small, batteries last long. I tend to record to high bitrate mp3 over wave. Manually set levels.

I only do short takes - 5-10 minutes usually so I have not seen the sync issue.

20gb of storage works for me.

Also the wired remote is handy for starting and stopping if the unit is "hidden away".

Spot|DSE wrote on 7/5/2004, 11:12 AM
There is quite a thread on this in the DVInfo.net forums "Now Hear This" where comparisons of signal to noise are discussed with several people using the iRiver devices.
Plugging the iRiver into a mixer is the same as having a pre-amp....A mixer is simply a collection of preamps.
Plugging a mic straight into anything will *work* but the question is signal to noise, and/or ability to attenuate the microphone directly.
I guess the *correct* answer is, if you want quality, controllable sound, you'll need a preamp. If you want to shoot from the hip and hope for a semblance of good signal to noise ratio, then don't use a preamp.