Voice recorder for classical singer

[AstonZagato]

My daughter sings at a high level (county youth choir).

I have seen people recording concerts on portable devices and have been wondering about buying something like this:

Tascam DR-22WL - Handheld Recorder with Wi-Fi functionality https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00N4J8QVO/ref=cm_sw_r...

However, there are a myriad of models and competing brands.

I imagine that it would be useful for her to review practice sessions and record concerts.

Does anyone have any advice, please?

Budget £100-140.

Idea would be to order in time for Christmas.

[Driller]

Thomann.de has Zoom recorders featuring in the first 7 on their Top Ranking portable recorders list if that helps.

Top of the list is the H4n Pro although slightly out of your budget range at €184.

https://www.thomann.de/gb/cat_rank.html?ref=intl&a...

[NDA]

Good you haven't left it until the last minute...

https://www.gear4music.com/Recording-and-Computers...


Tascam are a very good pro/semi pro product.... I had their reel to reels in the studio.

[Driller]

Hello Neil

Tascam is definitely good stuff. Here's an online guide for buying portable recorders, again from Thomann:

https://www.thomann.de/gb/onlineexpert_topic_porta...

[NDA]

Driller said:

Hello Neil

Bonjour!

How's you?

[AstonZagato]

NDA said:

Good you haven't left it until the last minute...

Prime...

I went to a concert at the weekend and saw these but forgot about it until today.

[AstonZagato]

Driller said:

Tascam is definitely good stuff. Here's an online guide for buying portable recorders, again from Thomann:

https://www.thomann.de/gb/onlineexpert_topic_porta...

Thanks

[Driller]

NDA said:

Bonjour!

How's you?

Je vais bien merci, et toi? Es tu allé en France récemment?

AstonZagato said:

Thanks

[NDA]

Driller said:

NDA said:

Bonjour!

How's you?

Je vais bien merci, et toi? Es tu allé en France récemment?

I was in Monpazier in the summer and hopefully Paris in the Spring... if so we should meet for a tincture of some description.

[GCH]

I've used a zoom H4 (which has since been tweaked and updated as an H4n) for years with no issue and released stuff recorded on it, ditto the zoom H6.
Good bits of gear.

No personal experience with the tascam you posted.

[thebraketester]

AstonZagato said:

My daughter sings at a high level.

Soprano?

[AstonZagato]

thebraketester said:

AstonZagato said:

My daughter sings at a high level.

Soprano?

High level and high tone, so yes, a soprano.

[peterperkins]

I use an older Zoom H1 for recording various operatic groups and soloists I sing with.
It can do a really good job if you get it it the right place and adjusted correctly.

Probably cheap as chips nowadays.

http://solarvan.co.uk/Music/Alice/DuMein1.mp3

Friend of mine singing during a lesson, recorded with the H1 it about 1M away from her face..

Two girls duet at a local live concert.
Again recorded with H1 about 1m from them both.
One was playing the guitar. It's not perfect but you get the idea.

http://solarvan.co.uk/Harriet&Megan.mp3

Edited by peterperkins on Saturday 21st December 14:05

[ReverendCounter]

OP, what you're asking for is known as a field recorder rather than a voice recorder. I can recommend the Zoom H2n from personal use and its bang inside your budget.

It can be mounted on a mic stand, and to that you should mount a pop filter to catch any 'plosives', the percussive parts of any vocal delivery which could distort the recording. You could just place it on any surface of course, but it can also pick up vibrations if you increase the gain/recording level to catch more distant sounds.

When using it to record a concert, you can switch it to different modes to capture different ambiances from choosing how wide a stereo recording should be, to having a surround sound recording made.

It has a fast boot up time if inspiration strikes but it will record handling noise if you record hand held. It can record in various mp3 modes or wav, all at different qualities. You'll need an SD card. It also has line in so you can feed other external audio sources in, it can be used as a USB audio interface, and you could connect a microphone to it, if you start to take voice recordings really seriously.

It can also record at up to 192kHz at 24bit - CD quality is 44.1kHz at 16bit, so like a lot of gear these days, it has very acceptable sound quality.

But you also have other options - you can buy hand held, wire free microphones which record to SD card, like this:

https://www.rode.com/microphones/reporter - about £150

You've also got these if you've got access to an iphone:

https://www.rode.com/microphones/ixy

Very impressive sound quality, a first search shows a retail price at £165.

Edited by ReverendCounter on Saturday 21st December 14:17

Edited by ReverendCounter on Saturday 21st December 14:27

Edited by ReverendCounter on Saturday 21st December 14:29

[Driller]

NDA said:

Driller said:

NDA said:

Bonjour!

How's you?

Je vais bien merci, et toi? Es tu allé en France récemment?

I was in Monpazier in the summer and hopefully Paris in the Spring... if so we should meet for a tincture of some description.

Yes we must! Please let me know when you'll be over, be great to meet up

[AstonZagato]

I went a slightly different route in the end: a Shure microphone for her iphone (which is welded to her hand). If she uses the mic, then I'll look for a better field recorder for her in due course.