[LAU] Looking for advice on a field recording device

[Philipp Überbacher]

On Mon, 29 Jul 2013 14:07:20 -0400
Martin Cracauer <cracauer at cons.org> 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