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|| SportsShooter.com: Member Message Board
Audio Recorders Zoom or Tascam?
Andrew Nelles, Photographer
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Chicago | IL | usa | Posted: 9:59 PM on 11.09.10 |
->> I'm doing more multimedia work than in the past and my little pocket Olympus audio recorder just isn't cutting it. I'm looking to upgrade to a Zoom H4N or the Tascam DR-100. Both appear to have similar positive reviews. I like the Tascam's controls better and having 4 track isn't a necessity for me, so I'm leaning towards the DR-100. Anyone here have hands on experience with these models? Any input would be welcome.
Thanks in advance. |
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Peter Wine, Photographer, Photo Editor
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Dayton | OH | USA | Posted: 2:09 PM on 11.10.10 |
->> I'm also looking at the H4n, and wonder how well it syncs with video.
(My last audio recorder, being mainly a voice recorder, would lose sync rather quickly.) |
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Jim Colburn, Photo Editor, Photographer
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McAllen | TX | USA | Posted: 3:42 AM on 11.11.10 |
| ->> I have a Zoom H-4 and the big benefit for me was that it has phantom powered XLR mic inputs as well as 1/4 mic inputs. |
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Ethan Magoc, Student/Intern
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Alex Witkowicz, Photographer, Photo Editor
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Denver | Co | USA | Posted: 11:15 AM on 11.11.10 |
->> The Zoom H4n is great. As Jim said the phantom powered XLR inputs are key. It's also fairly idiot proof.
I would also recommend this DVD if you want to learn more about the fundamentals of sound capture: http://dvxuser.com/articles/DVXPage/
Well worth the $60. |
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Joshua Brown, Photographer
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New York | NY | USA | Posted: 11:38 AM on 11.11.10 |
->> I own the Tascam DR-100 and an Edirol R-09. I have used the H4N. I prefer the look and feel of the Tascam, but the biggest advantage it has over the h4n is that you can control the levels of each channel independently of each other.
I mostly use it with 2 sets of Sennheiser wireless lavs. If I have two different subjects speaking at two different levels, I can adjust them on the fly with the two physical dials on the side...in real time. So it's basically a little mini mixer. I am pretty sure both channels have the same input level on the h4n.
I also feel like the preamps on the Tascam are a little higher quality, but they are pretty much identical otherwise.
The big problem with both of them is that they suck down batteries very quickly. That's why I love the Edirol. It can go all day on two AA's. It just doesn't have XLR inputs but records 24bit Wav files which are beautiful. I also prefer it to get ambient sound when I am using the Tascam for interviews.
This video was shot in Times square a couple of weeks ago using the Edirol, a Rode NTG-2 XLR mic, plugged into a Sennheiser ENG G3, using an XLR to mini converter.
http://vimeo.com/16325881 |
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Andrew Nelles, Photographer
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Chicago | IL | usa | Posted: 1:07 PM on 11.11.10 |
->> Thanks Joshua, I think I'm pulling the trigger on the DR-100 today. The independent levels are key for me, I record mono mostly but feed the signal to both sides. I usually run one channel quieter as insurance if there's a sudden volume spike, then mix down to the better of the two.
On a related topic, what headphones are you guys using? I'm planning on getting a Sony MDR-V6 with the order. |
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Butch Miller, Photographer
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Lock Haven | PA | USA | Posted: 1:46 PM on 11.11.10 |
->> DSLR video is quite new to me ... but I do find it intriguing ... when using a separate recorder, how are you adding/syncing the audio to the video ... what software or techniques work best?
Please forgive my ignorance on this subject ... |
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Joshua Brown, Photographer
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New York | NY | USA | Posted: 2:31 PM on 11.11.10 |
->> Butch, if you are using FCP, Avid, Premiere, this is a must have for audio syncing ...http://www.singularsoftware.com/pluraleyes.html
Its a HUGE timesaver. You basically just drop your video clips from the camera along with the audio clips from the recorder into your timeline and it syncs everything up perfectly |
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Garrett Hubbard, Photographer
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Washington | D.C. | USA | Posted: 2:35 PM on 11.11.10 |
->> Andrew. I think you'll like the DR-100. I would encourage you to get the AC charger (not included). Otherwise you stuck with USB charging.
I'm with Joshua, the discrete channel input control is really nice. The H4n has it in sub-menu's--i discovered just the other day (I think).
Also, the DR-100 has 2 outputs, so you can adjust headphone and line-out volume independently. with the H2n you have to split the signal and headphone volume is usually too low for me as a result b/c I need the signal lower for my hddslr.
one thing that you really should get is this. It puts the signal right in the sweet-spot for the 5D. Otherwise you'll be at your lowest possible input volume at the 5D.
http://is.gd/gWEDx
battery hogs, yes. the tascam has an internal battery + slot for two AA's
Many thanks to Wes Pope for pointing me in the right direction.
hope that helps. |
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Joshua Brown, Photographer
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New York | NY | USA | Posted: 2:37 PM on 11.11.10 |
->> And a little off topic, but another great tool for anyone with an iPad or iPhone needing to sync up timecode, check out MovieSlate
http://www.pureblendsoftware.com/movieslate
I just used it for a little narrative project I shot a couple weeks ago, it can actually push shot notes into Final Cut for you. So when I got back to editing, I already had a really good idea what my best takes were. |
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Garrett Hubbard, Photographer
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Washington | D.C. | USA | Posted: 2:37 PM on 11.11.10 |
->> +1 for plural eyes
I found this to be not so practical for journalism work which is why I record on the aud recorder + input to camera simultaneously. |
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Andrew Nelles, Photographer
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Chicago | IL | usa | Posted: 2:40 PM on 11.11.10 |
| ->> Thanks a ton guys! |
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Jason Joseph, Photographer
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Dublin | OH | USA | Posted: 3:26 PM on 11.11.10 |
| ->> +1,000,000,000 for Plural Eyes! |
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Andrew Nelles, Photographer
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Chicago | IL | usa | Posted: 4:38 AM on 11.17.10 |
->> Got the DR-100 and have been playing around with it. It seems perfect. Thanks again.
Unrelated, if anyone knows how to make the shock mount on the Rode VideoMic stop squeaking let me know. |
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Joshua Brown, Photographer
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