Latest Update: 27 May 2006
For a long time, I've been very interested in how to use the best technology has to offer to help me develop my playing skills and accelerate my progress as a traditional musician. As I've found products that provide a real benefit, I've enthusiastically promoted them to my students and fellow session players.
For a couple of years, along with CompactFlash recorders and Minidisc, I've been using digital voice recorders from Sony, Olympus, Panasonic, and Pogo products to quickly grab tunes in sessions, record demonstrations in workshops, etc.
While the quality of these devices has ranged from mediocre to extremely good, the convenience of "instant-on" operation, very small size, and long battery life more than makes up for lack of CD-quality fidelity. The newer units such as the Olympus DS-20 are very close to MiniDisc quality, recording in high bitrate Windows Media Audio format. Mostly I'm looking to capture the setting of a tune, so I can work it out when I get home.
This very small recorder distinguishes itself by doing stereo recordings up to 2 hours 10 minutes, and very high quality mono recordings up to 4 hours 20 minutes. It has a built-in speaker and stereo microphone, and records in Microsoft Windows Media Audio format, provides extremely high quality audio. Using its USB interface and supplied Olympus software, transferring the recordings to the PC and converting to .WAV format is extremely fast and simple.
Another feature of this unit is the ability to instantly slow down the recording playback up to 50% without shifting the pitch, while maintaining very high quality. This alone is enough to make this unit the one of choice for traditional players.
Here are the specifications from the Olympus site:
Recording Format DSS(LP/SP)/WMA(HQ/SSP/SHQ)
Recording Media Built-in 128MB
Recording Time 44 hours 40 min (LP)
20 hours 50 min (SP)
2 hours 10 min (HQ)
4 hours 20 min (SSP)
2 hour 10 min (SHQ)
Sampling Frequency SHQ 44.1kHz:128kbps
SSP 44.1kHz:64kbps
HQ 44.1kHz:32kbps
SP 12kHz:13.7kbps
LP 8kHz:6.3kbps
Overall Frequency Response SHQ 100-17000Hz
SSP 100-8000Hz
HQ 100-7000Hz
SP 200-5000Hz
LP 200-3000Hz
Price is about $200.00. The DS-20 is only available in the US through Radio Shack. The DS-2, which is identical in features and recording quality, but has half the memory and costs about $50 less, is available through many retailers, including Best Buy.
Since it also has a stereo plug-in power microphone jack, you can use all of the same microphones typically used for Minidisc recording to make even higher quality recordings. The microphone I'm using most is the Sony ECM-DS70P:
Here's the specs from the M-Audio site:
2-channel WAV and MP3 recording and playback for pro recording, meetings, training, education and worship
Storage via convenient CompactFlash or microdrives
Immediate drag-and-drop file transfer to PC and Mac via USB 2.0 mini- connector
Powered via USB, rechargeable lithium-ion battery or power supply (both included)
Separate left and right input level controls with signal and peak indicators
Professional balanced 1/4” TRS inputs with mic/line switch
Fual microphone preamps
1/8” TRS input with 5V power for use with stereo electret microphone (microphone included)
S/PDIF coaxial input for digital transfers
Monitoring via RCA line outputs or 1/8” stereo headphone output
Stereo output level control
Large LCD for navigation and statistics
Dedicated buttons for navigation, record, hold, pause, delete, menu, and power
Includes software for editing and file format conversion
64MB CompactFlash card included
Battery Replacement Policy
MP3 recording: 96 to 320kbps at 32, 44.1 or 48kHz
PCM recording: 16 or 24-bit at 32, 44.1, 48, 88.2 or 96kHz
Storage capacity: variable based on data rate and storage medium
Battery life before recharge: 7 hours playback
4-5 hours recording via line in or dynamic microphone
3 hours recording with phantom power engaged
Width: 61mm or 2.4”
Height: 109.5mm or 4.3”
Thickness: 28.5mm or 1.12” over the LCD.
Weight: 4.9oz or 138.9 grams without CF card; 5.2oz or 147.4 grams with CF card
Here's the specs from the Roland/Edirol site:
Tracks 2 (stereo)
Signal Processing AD/DA conversion: 24 bits, 44.1/48 kHz
Data Type [ For Recording ] *Stereo only, Format: MP3, Sampling Rate: 44.1/48 kHz, Bit Rates: 64/96/128/160/192/224/320 kbps, Format: WAV, Sampling Rate: 44.1/48 kHz, Bit Depth: 16/24 bits
[ For Playback ] Format: MP3, Sampling Rates: 32/44.1/48 kHz, Bit Rates: 64/96/128/160/192/224/256/320 kbps or VBR (Variable Bit Rate), Format: WAV, Sampling Rates: 32/44.1/48 kHz, Bit Depth: 16/24 bits
Memory Card SD Card (supports 64 MB–2 GB)
Input and Output
Audio Inputs Internal Stereo Microphone, Mic input (Stereo miniature phone type,
plug-in powered mic), Line input (Stereo miniature phone type)
*The Internal/External MIC and the Line input can't be used at the same time; only the Line input is effective.
Audio Outputs Phones* (Stereo miniature phone type), Digital Out Connector* (Optical miniature phone type)
*Phones and Digital Out use a common jack.
Nominal Input Level (Variable) Mic Input: -36 dBu (Default input level), Line Input: 0 dBu (Default input level)
Input Impedance Mic input: 20 k ohms, Line input: 17 k ohms
Frequency Response 20 Hz to 22 kHz
USB Interface Mini-B type connector (support USB 2.0/1.1 mass storage device class)
Effects Playback Reverb: 3 types (Hall1, Hall2, Room, Plate)
Others
Display 120 x 64 dots OLED (Organic Light Emitting Diode) Graphic Display
Power Supply AC Adaptor, Alkaline dry battery LR6 (AA) type x 2, or Nickel Hydrogen battery (HR15/51)
Battery life Playback: approximate 5.5 hours, Recording: approximate 4 hours (In case of using Alkaline dry batteries LR6 (AA) type continuously)
Current Draw 360 mA
Accessories Owner's Manual, AC Adaptor (PSB-6U), SD Memory Card (64 M bytes), USB Cable (Mini-B type)
Size and Weight
Width 63 mm 2-1/2 inches
Depth 102 mm 4-1/16 inches
Height 29 mm 1-3/16 inches
Weight 0.1 kg 0 lbs. 6 oz.