(Last updated 09/10/2007)
We've had many requests for recommendations of complete portable
recording systems. These recommendations are based on what we're using
here at Core Sound and what we've heard from our customers. We expect
them to change as we test new products and as older ones are refined.
(Note: We have not tested all of the memory cards listed in this
section. If you need information about what we have tested and
recommend, please call us.)
Very Compact 24/96 Recording
For a
very compact recorder capable of recording
essentially forever at 24/96 (with media changes) we recommend:
- Core Sound's PDAudio-CF S/PDIF interface card: $199 (Core
Sound)
- PDA (one of the following):
- Socket Mobile SoMo 650-M (around $709 from Dell)
- HP iPAQ 210 (or 211, $450 from HP)
- HP hx2795 (or hx2790, around $500 from HP)
- Dell Axim X51v or X50v (discontinued, around $150 to $250 on eBay)
- HP iPAQ hx2750 (discontinued, around $300 on eBay)
- HP hx4700 (discontinued, around $350 on eBay)
- Core Sound's Mic2496 dual microphone pre-amplifier and A-to-D
converter: $549 (Core Sound)
- Transcend 8 GB SDHC memory card (around $90, for use with HP
210 only), 4 GB Transcend SD memory cards (around $40, for all other PDAs)
- Optical cable to connect Mic2496 and PDAudio-CF: $15 (Core Sound)
- Gidluck Mastering's Live2496 audio
recording software: around $50
Discussion
All the PDAs mentioned above allow for 24/96 recording and media
change on-the-fly, without losing a single bit.
The new HP 210/211, hasn't been tested with PDAudio-CF yet, but we're
not expecting any rude surprises. It runs Windows Mobile 6 and has one
wonderful feature: it uses the new high capacity SDHC memory cards, so
you can have 8 GB or more of storage. That translates to 4 hours of
stereo 24/96 recordings, 8 hours of 24/48 recording or 12 hours of
16/44.1 recording. The rest of the PDAs are limited to standard
SD cards having 4 GB maximum capacity.
If you don't need the media change ("hot swap") feature and want to save
some money, the old HP h2215 (or h2210, around $125 on eBay) is the
smallest, high resolution, 24/96, portable digital recorder in the
world! The 2210/2215 records more than 3-1/2 hours on one charge of
its internal removable battery; with an extended internal battery pack
or external packs your recording time is essentially unlimited. The
h2200-series iPAQs are now very reasonably priced (typically under
$150).
Microphones and Mic Pre-amps/A-to-D Converters
For microphones, if you want to stay very compact and still make fine
sounding recordings, we highly recommend our High End Binaural (HEB)
microphone set. They use a matched pair of DPA 4060 capsules and
can be configured to be powered either directly from the Mic2496 ($915,
in which case they don't need a battery box for power) or from their own
battery box ($1020). In our opinion, they are the best sounding
miniature microphones in the world.
For a mic pre-amp/A-to-D converter you can't do better than our Mic2496 ($549).
External Battery Packs
If you need an external battery pack to let you record for longer than
the PDA's internal battery, consider Socket's
Mobile Power
Pack. It has roughly four times the capacity of a PDA's standard
internal battery.
Tekkeon's
myPower ALL MP3000 can power either your PDA or Mic2496 for more than 8
hours. (This is manufactured by Acon in Taiwan as the Power Runner
MP3300.)
Innergy Powerplant
Force 5 or 10 can also power your PDA for an extended recording
session.
A very low cost, high capacity external battery pack for Mic2496 is the
BatterySpace.com
P-2000.
Next 