Battery powered multi-track recorder? Is there such a thing?

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jjones1700

jjones1700

Learning, always learning
I currently have a 424mkII recorder, which is wonderful. However, what I am looking for is a smaller, battery powered version..........if there is such a beast. The 414 mk series is smaller, but still AC powered. The Porta 02 is AC powered.

Basically what I want one for is to record ambient noises such as rainstorms, the surf at the beach, trains, etc. I could use my little MD recorder/player, but I would like to stick with analog. The 1/8" mic jacks are kind of prohibitive for a good mic on the MD recorder anyway.:p

I've read something..........somewhere.........about a Porta 01 that might have been battery powered? Any truth to that? I guess if all else fails, I'll have to spring for a Nagra E.:eek::D
 
The 4-track Tascam porta one studio can be powered by standard "c" size batteries. I'm pretty sure it requires 10 batteries altogether.
A
 
I have a fostex x-15, 4 track which came with a battery pack as well as the anti wallwart adapter. The battery pack takes 8 C batteries which just attaches on to the back of the machine. Look on ebay maybe one will come up with the battery pack. It's a really decent sounding recorder, even still!
 
Inverter

jjones1700 said:
I currently have a 424mkII recorder, which is wonderful. However, what I am looking for is a smaller, battery powered version..........if there is such a beast. The 414 mk series is smaller, but still AC powered. The Porta 02 is AC powered.

Basically what I want one for is to record ambient noises such as rainstorms, the surf at the beach, trains, etc. I could use my little MD recorder/player, but I would like to stick with analog. The 1/8" mic jacks are kind of prohibitive for a good mic on the MD recorder anyway.:p

I've read something..........somewhere.........about a Porta 01 that might have been battery powered? Any truth to that? I guess if all else fails, I'll have to spring for a Nagra E.:eek::D
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May be a bit larger then you want but why not a inverter and a battery pack power to go :D
 
SuperGeek said:
May be a bit larger then you want but why not a inverter and a battery pack power to go :D
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Okay, this is going to sound odd, but I was looking for something small enough to put in a backpack as I am on a motorcycle as my primary means of getting around. I thought about the inverter since I was going to wire up a cigarette lighter to an (now) unused wiring connection. Trouble is, I don't know how much draw the bike could handle vs. what the recorder and inverter would require. Laugh if you will, it's the only option I've got right now.:p

Hey cjacek, I finally found an article stating that the P two is battery powered. I didn't find though if it has a specific battery pack or if it can simply take "C" or "D" batteries.:confused:
 
Vagodeoz said:
Or you could go digital. With something like this or this.
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Those aren't too bad, just not my cup of tea. I just like the "magic" of analog for ambient noise. I'm not really worried with the tape hiss issue on a cassette and I love the dynamics of my reel to reel, but neither are very portable...LOL I could use a "Y" adapter along with a 1/4" to 1/8" adapter if I wanted to try out the MD "discman" recorder (Sony MZ-R37). The stuff I am planning on recording will be either intro/outro or background tracks for some future acoustic guitar stuff I will lay down..............once I actually learn how to play the damned thing.:eek::p
 
jjones1700 said:
... I finally found an article stating that the P two is battery powered. I didn't find though if it has a specific battery pack or if it can simply take "C" or "D" batteries.:confused:
Click to expand...

It takes 10 C cells! Or the PS-P2 adapter which supplies 15 volts.

8 hour battery life (Alkaline) based on continuous play or record...longer if just the mixer section is being used. The Porta One also has the same battery specs.

Cheers! :)
 
The Ghost of FM said:
It takes 10 C cells! Or the PS-P2 adapter which supplies 15 volts.

8 hour battery life (Alkaline) based on continuous play or record...longer if just the mixer section is being used. The Porta One also has the same battery specs.

Cheers! :)
Click to expand...

Dude, you just rock when it comes to this analog info.;):p I wouldn't need to run the recording for all that long at a time anyway. For a truly interesting environment, maybe 20 or so minutes (1 side of the cassette at 3 3/4" ips). That is pretty cool and if I can find one (preferably outside of ebay) I think that would be the perfect solution. I wasn't up to spending 1k on a Nagra E anyway:eek::p.....................that or trying to find the tape specifically for Nagra models.:eek:
 
Both the Porta One and Two run at standard cassette speed only...1, 7/8 ips.

Sorry! :p

Cheers! :)
 
Thanks again Ghost. Looks like the Porta two will do the trick.;)
 
jjones1700 said:
Thanks again Ghost. Looks like the Porta two will do the trick.;)
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And then some! Especially for just capturing folly type stuff.

I used to use a Sony "Professional"? WM-6C which ran on 4 AA's and offered Dolby B & C NR...three heads too, if I remember correctly? It's been a few years since I sold it after my field recording project was over...wish I kept it. :o

http://www.webhelper.com/wholeearth/sonywalkmanwmd6c.html

Cheers! :)
 
The Ghost of FM said:
And then some! Especially for just capturing folly type stuff.

I used to use a Sony "Professional"? WM-6C which ran on 4 AA's and offered Dolby B & C NR...three heads too, if I remember correctly? It's been a few years since I sold it after my field recording project was over...wish I kept it. :o

Cheers! :)
Click to expand...

Something tells me I will have a house full of this stuff!! Hehe. I may not use some of it or at least not to it's full potential, but damn it this equipment is just too freakin' cool to let slip away into the abyss of landfills!

I still don't know how people can get good sounding stuff from 8 tracks on a cassette.:eek: I think I'll leave those for someone else.:p

Hmmmm...........field recording. I could get into it. I like doing landscape/architectural photography as well so it's a perfect combination.:cool:
 
jjones1700 said:
I still don't know how people can get good sounding stuff from 8 tracks on a cassette.:eek: I think I'll leave those for someone else.:p
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The trick to getting decent sound on those is not to do any bounces.

Once you bounce on those, they get ugly real quick. :cool:

Cheers! :)
 
...

The dirty little secret is that the Porta 02mkII, 414mkII, MF-P01 (and comparable decks) run on 12V-DC, so actually a simple car cig-lighter adapter plug with the right polarity would do it! No inverter necessary!

Again, the true battery powered Tascams were the Porta One and Porta Two.:eek:;)
 
A Reel Person said:
The dirty little secret is that the Porta 02mkII, 414mkII, MF-P01 (and comparable decks) run on 12V-DC, so actually a simple car cig-lighter adapter plug with the right polarity would do it! No inverter necessary!

Again, the true battery powered Tascams were the Porta One and Porta Two.:eek:;)
Click to expand...

414 you say?? I can supply 12v DC direct from the battery and I can still buy a new 414mkII. Very interesting. Thanks for the tip Reel.;)
 
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