I bought a Samson/Zoom H-2 Flash recorder for $199.00,
and am very happy with it. I'm just getting started with it,
but it sure beats the crap out of the cassette recorder that
I had been using. I bought it strictly for my own amateur
use, not professional recordings, but it sounds pretty dang
good to me. It's got a zillion cool features, and it's not too
technical to use. With a 4GB flash card you can record about
5 hours of high grade stereo wav files, or "days" of MP3 files.
I could not be any happier with this great little tool.
I've gotten what I consider very good quality recordings of
the Pasta Del Mar, and the Meshugga Beach Party shows
at the Hotel Utah; and of the Mermen at Don Quixote's in
Felton. I'm less happy with the sound quality of the Davie
Allan show at Moe's Alley, mainly because I was in the
middle of the crowd, and it picked up a lot of crowd noise.
(Please don't ask for copies of the recordings unless you're
in one of the bands involved in these shows. I've promised
not to distribute them. If you're in the bands and would like
a copy of your show, I'll be happy to get a copy to you. Just
PM me). Ferenc got a couple recordings from me. Ferenc,
maybe you'd like to chime in on the quality of the sound?
You can check out the H2 at Samsontech.com.
Here's the run-down from Zzounds:
Zoom H2 Portable 2-Track SD Recorder
Brilliant Stereo Recording with Zoomâs H2 Handy Digital Recorder.
DescriptionFrom Our Catalog:
Simplicity is a beautiful thing.
It's a simple idea: provide brilliant stereo recording in an easy-to-use, ultra-portable device. Now everyone can record pristine audio in an infinite variety of applications. From seminars and conferences, to electronic news gathering (ENG) and podcasting, to musical performances, songwriting sessions and rehearsals, the H2 provides amazing recording quality. And no matter what kind of music you perform or the instrument you play, the H2 can effortlessly record it in high-quality stereo.
Why four mics are better than two.
The H2 is the only portable recorder with 4 mic capsules onboard for 360° recording. With 4 mic capsules in a W-X/Y configuration, the audio is decoded instantly, bringing these four signals together for unparalleled stereo imaging.
But the H2 doesn't stop there. For maximum flexibility, you can record from the front of the H2 and at 90° or the rear of H2 at 120° in up to 96 kHz/24-bit WAV format, as MP3 up to 320 kbps. Additionally, you can record 360° in 48kHz/24-bit format which will allow you to convert your recordings to 5.1 Surround.
Push a Button...
That's all it takes to start recording! The H2 is a remarkably robust device that is incredibly easy to use. One button recording, gain controls on the side and an intuitive user interface mean you can always capture the moment. Set your levels, push record and go. It's that simple. Or use the Auto Start and Auto Gain Control functions to ensure complete capture at the right level. And if you need to fine-tune your levels on the fly, we made it easy with gain control buttons on the front panel.
Play it Back!
Play your recordings on your home audio system with its 1/8" stereo output or listen to your masterpiece with headphones. Or, use the H2's USB port to move your recordings to your Mac or PC to listen, edit and share.
Secure Your Digital Memories
The H2 records on Secure Digital (SD) media and a 512MB SD card is included. With a 4GB SD memory card, the H2 provides up to 2 hours recording at 96kHz, 6 hours at 44.1kHz, or up to a staggering 138 hours in MP3. Store your recordings on a PC or Mac with its USB 2.0 port. And you can use its time stamping function for reference during production. Or use the H2 as a USB Mic for recording directly to a computer.
What's Life Without Accessories?
The H2 comes with earbuds, an 1/8 inch stereo to RCA cable, a mic clip adapter, tripod stand, USB cable, an AC adapter and a 512MB SD card.
Ultimate Convenience
The H2 weighs 4 ounces and fits in your pocket for the ultimate in portability and convenience. Two standard alkaline AA batteries will give you 4 hours of continuous operation and a backlit display means it's always easy to use in any situation.
Enjoy Your Brilliance
Brilliant stereo recording in a convenient, user-friendly package means there's never been an easier way to record high quality audio. The H2 gives everyone the power to record anything and share it with anyone, anywhere. You'll be amazed by your sound.
Features:
W-XY mic patterns with 4 mic capsules and signal processing allows Front 90° cardioid, Rear 120° cardioid and 360° polar patterns
Built-in USB 2.0 port for data storage.
Records in WAV 96kHz/48kHz/44.1kHz at 16-bit or 24-bit, MP3 to 320kbps and Variable Bit Rate (VBR) data formats
Time Stamp and Track Marker functions in Broadcast WAV Format (BWF)
512MB SD memory card included
Accommodates up to 4GB SD memory cards
Auto Gain Control (AGC) for pristine recordings
Auto Start function means you're always ready to record
Low-cut filter eliminates wind noise
On-board chromatic Guitar/Bass tuner
Technical Info
Earbuds, stereo adapter cable, mic clip adapter, tripod stand, USB cable, AC adapter and a 512MB SD card are included. Two standard alkaline AA batteries provide 4 hours of continuous operation. With its pocket-sized profile, a weight of just over 4 ounces, and a backlit display, the H2 Handy Recorder gives everyone the power to brilliantly record anything and share it with anyone, anywhere.
Can not be used as an audio interface.
Check it out!
Bob
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Bob