On Mon, 29 Jul 2013 14:07:20 -0400 Martin Cracauer <cracauer@xxxxxxxx> wrote: > Philipp ??berbacher wrote on Fri, Jul 26, 2013 at 03:26:21PM +0200: > > I want to use this device to record interesting sounds wherever I > > am, so it should be relatively small and and fast to start > > recording. I also intend to record lots of quiet or relatively far > > away sources, I want to record bird songs rather than guitars. As > > far as I've seen those devices use SSDs or similar storage media, > > so I assume they don't make any noise on their own, right? I guess > > the microphone should also have a low self-noise. > > You can't use the Zoom H4n then. > > I really like mine but it has some weaknesses that will matter more to > you, specially: > - long boot time > - deep and plain menu system, takes a while to start anything. Crappy > UI hardware doesn't help because it gets in the way of muscle memory > which usually helps with bad UIs > - the maximum gain with the built in microphones is very low. You'll > only get decent levels for things that are normal volume to you > standing there. Everything that sound quiet to you will not be able > to level out. No way to go after birds with it without using > external microphones > - automatic gain is overly dumb. Any loud impulse will set the gain > lower, permanently. E.g. you record something and bump into the > thing. Now your gain has been permanently lowered and won't go back > up > > Of course I have no idea whether the alternatives are any better but > I'm sure the boot times and menu issue are better in e.g. the > Tascams. The Tascams have their own problems, reviews on Amazon are > enlightning and they have no top end unit with all their features (top > unit is one refresh cycle behind). > > For me the Zoom is very good. It works and I even use it as a USB > soundcard in Linux and FreeBSD. Good sound quality, reliable, lots of > options, correct input impedance for passive guitar/bass. > > Martin Thanks Martin, given what I read by you and others I wont buy a zoom. I'm not sure yet what it will be. I wanted to ask on the nature recordist mailing list, but membership is moderated and there has been no response yet. Guess I'll dig deeper into their mail archive. Regards, Philipp _______________________________________________ Linux-audio-user mailing list Linux-audio-user@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx http://lists.linuxaudio.org/listinfo/linux-audio-user
