Wednesday, April 13, 2005

Where My Geeks At?

Someone suggested podcasting to yesterday's post. That's a splendid idea. When I figure out how I want to re-design my website (a project that may or may not ever come to fruition), that's something I definitely want to do. Maybe throw some interviews on there with other folks or people I meet on the street. I dunno. I like it.

So, uber geeks, I have a problem. It appears as if I've lost my Sony minidisc recorder by leaving it at a venue a couple weeks back. I almost loved that thing. I say almost because the quality of the recordings is fantastic, but one of the original reasons I bought the thing was so I could cobble together a CD of my comedy. Unfortunately, everything you record on minidisc is encoded to their ATRAC system, which means mp3 players can't play them, which means I'm SOL if I ever want to upload some of my stuff, or burn it to CD.

So my question is this: I need to get a new recording device. I want one that offers great sound quality and that saves data in the mp3 format, or wav, or whatever format is universally used. Any ideas? Also, I want to spend no more than $300, so DAT units might be out of the picture. However, if you have a used DAT recorder you'd like to sell me, let's talk...or, uh, email.

I've done a little bit of research online but most people who write about this stuff seem to think readers should know about Khz and other stuff I know nothing about.

Help me please!

5 comments:

Unknown said...

Under 300 bucks... hmmmmm.
Personally I'd go with Creative's ZEN. It's got a ton of features as well as recording in the MP3 format. It seems like a pretty slick device! I don't have one myself but everyone I've talked to are happy with theirs.

Here's the ZEN webiste: http://us.creative.com/products/products.asp?category=213&subcategory=214&product=10795

Here's a review on Amazon:
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B00067TTZY/002-9250556-1888819?v=glance

Do some research and let us know how you make out!

Spider-Man

Matt said...

Hey Laura!! I am so glad that you liked my idea about doing a podcast.

I personally use an iRiver ifp-895 to record my podcast. It holds 512Mb of space which is plenty and the sound quality is decent with the internal microphone. The cool thing is that it has a line-in so that you can hook up whatever you want. I use a mixer with an iPod and a microphone to record into the line-in and it does the job. Once it's recorded, I simply upload it to my website for people to download. I think the iRiver I'm talking about is only around $150 or so. You can listen to my show if you want to hear the sound quality (:

estevan carlos benson said...

I think you'll still find people using minidisc recorders as recording devices. Personally I wouldn't make the jump to mp3 devices yet because i've not really seen any that offer as much versatility as an MD device.

I've had a couple shows recorded in MD and recently got my hands on a nice used MD recorder for $30. You're right about its ATRAC method of compression but most devices offer what is called a S/PDIF connection which is a consumer grade digital format.

Many computers today have S/PDIF which you can use RCA cable... and I believe it's an optical RCA cable. I forget though. It could be coaxial. None the less you can ask the Radioshack guy.

If you get a MD device with no built in mic, which might be best for recording some shows i imagine, let me know and I'll give you some advice on Microphones.

estevan carlos benson said...

Here's a possibly better option:

http://www.planetminidisc.com/mz-rh910.html

Redlobo said...

Here is something you might be interested in.

http://www.pcworld.com/reviews/article/0,aid,120421,00.asp

I got something here as well that you might be interested in, if you know what I mean. Sorry, I just got through watching a rerun of Whose Line is It Anyway? That show is hilarious.