Digital recording on the Road. How to store Projects?

[tahmus]

Hi...
I'm currently travelling through Asia (presently in Thailand) with my backpacker guitar and a bunch of ideas. Since I will be abroad for a while longer I have decided to get a mini digital recorder (a Korg PXR4 most likely) to lay down some tracks. Only problem is that (in addition to the PXR4) I will need a storage drive/disc (don't have my laptop w/ me) to transfer the projects/songs onto after the 128mb smartmedia card gets full (only about 30 min recording time on 4 tracks).

To achieve this a couple of options come to mind: i.e. 1. Sony minidisc recorder 2. Apple IPOD BUT i'm not sure if they are technically compatible with the PXR4 (which FYI uses mp2 compression format). I don't know what format the minidisc recorder and IPOD use and I don't know if it will work. I believe that the minidisc unit will at least record direct from the PXR4 output (if need be) but I don't know anything about the IPOD.
Any information / suggestions would be greatly appreciated. (especially since searching is disabled) Thanks...

 

[BigEar]

Howdy,

Either an Ipod or something else will set you back the cost of 10-15 128MB secure digital cards. I have not looked into the Ipod other than to know that they are expensive.

I currently use the Archos Gmini220. It is a nice little mp3 player with a respectable GUI interface. Check out their website at archos.com. The Gmini220 has a 20GB hard drive in it and a compact flash reader (which may work with SD with one of archos' SD 2 compact flash adapters). I have not tried any adapters to see.

Sorry I can't be of more help. The Ipod will probably set you back 15 SD cards. The archos solution will set you back about 10 SD cards. If you feel your going to create more than 300 minutes (5 hours) of work while abroad, go for the other solution.

BigEar

 

[tahmus]

Big Ear thanks for the tip. I checked out the Archos site … it looks like a good alternative (price wise) for the IPOD option BUT … same as the IPOD (or any MP3 device) I don’t know if I can transfer data from the korg PXR4 digi recorder which uses MP2 format. I believe that I would have to convert it to MP3 but not having a computer with me not possible. And these MP3 players don’t seem to be capable of recording direct via audio input.
And thanx for bringing it to my attn that loading up on SmartMedia cards is always an option. Being that they go for about $30/each $250 would get me 1Gb worth of them … less than $ IPOD but same $ as a Hi-Md MiniDisc (1gb capable/mic in capable) player which go for about $250. And with MD player each additional Gb would only run me $7 or so.
BUT then … I’m still uncertain about MiniDisc’s compatablity with the Multitracker. I know that they both have USB ports but I donknow if the data will flow.

P.S. I had the rare and peculiar experience of jamming with a Thai bluegrass band yesterday (see photo) … it was surreal enlightening and titillating … sure wish that I had had the recording paraphernalia ready for that one.