Portable Hard Disk, MiniDisc, CD or DAT Recorder - Which one?

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Phreesoal

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Hello Forum and glad that I found you! I'm a n00bie to home-based recording who wants to use an affordable, yet high quality sound portable recorder of some type for home and field use.

Lately, I've been reading about these 4 types of recorders: Hard Disk, MiniDisc, CD and DAT. Again, being new to music recording and editing, I'm trying to decide which type of recorder to start with? I'm not sure that these 4 recorders are apples-to-apples comparisons, but I'd like feedback on the basic things to consider when buying into one. Hard disk, MiniDisc, CD and DAT recorders all have their individual advantages and disadvantages and range in price of course.

My primary desires & concerns are:
  • Affordability
  • High-quality (or great quality) sound
  • Portability of recording unit
  • Professional Mastering compatibility
    When I get to the point of wanting to submit a quality master for professional mastering in CD (or DVD) format, which recorder is going to allow me that convenience off the bat? Or, is this based on more than just the recorder? I'm assuming the hands down answer is DAT, but please advise if it's not.
As for portable MD recorders, I've looked into the Sony and Sharp models. For portable DAT recorders, I've looked into Sony and Tascam models. As far as hard disk recorders, I've considered the rack mount Roland Hard Disk VSR-880, the Digidesign Digi 001 and Roland Digital StudioPack. However, of those 3 HD recorders, the Roland StudioPack seems to be the smallest unit physically and perhaps more "portable" than the other 2. For CD recorders, I've considered different Tascam, Sony, HHB and Marantz models.

As for what looks attractive to me of these options, I would have to say the the portable MD recorder. I've thought about getting a Sony portable MD recorder now and then in a couple of months, get the new Sony MXS10 PC with the built-in MD recorder (that's NetMD MDLP compatible). This PC has an internal DVD-R/RW drive that burns not only DVDs but also CDs. Given that, I could record with my portable MD recorder at home or in the field, pop the MD into the internal MD recorder, edit my recordings with software then burn to CD or DVD. Or, I could use my existing PC with CD burner (and perform some necessary hardware upgrades), buy a portable MD recorder with the Digital PC Link cable, get some good editing software and start that way. I've read that SCMS could be an issue when using MD recorders, but given I'm doing my own small scale production, should I be concerned with this? Although this route is not cheap when you bring this new PC into the picture, I feel it's a great, feature-packed and complete solution from Sony.

What's your feedback on these 4 types of recorders and how do I come to a final decision of which to buy based on my desires & concerns?

Thanks in advance for your advice...

PS
 
Wow.....no one has any advice or insight on this?

Thanks again.
 
There's little to say, after a comprehensive, well written post as that.

Well,

The MD setup sounds fine, especially if you stay with the one-vendor solution, Sony MD/Sony PC, then you'll probably be better off. The idea of importing MD data with a one-vendor MD solution seems good. The only dubious thing is the unknown longevity of the MD [and MD-Data] disc media. So far, as we speak, Minidisc media is still available, but the MD is not as widely accepted as the CDRW media, and may be on the extinction list.

-Other than that, I like MD, I have 2 Sony Minidisc recorders, the JE-510 and the JE-320. Minidisc recordings sound fine, but people gripe a lot about the data compression, which people say you can hear, but I say "you can't".

CDR or CDRW recording, with a standalone unit, is a very cool option. Also, on CDR-standalone recorders, there is no compression on the A/D-D/A process, and purists argue, a better recorded sound.

DAT was probably a great medium, but I think is being overtaken in the market by Hard Disc and CDR recording. DAT is still a good medium, though, and would be a valid choice.

As with anything technology-based, it's a tough decision, 'cause technology and standards are changing so fast,... every couple years.

The only other thing, is it seems you're only proposing to record to "stereo", and by your descripton, you may not need multichannel capability, but if you do, that's a whole other discussion, of Portastudios, mixers and multitracks.

Good Luck. DA.
 
A Reel Person, thanks for the compliment about my post :)

I simply wanted to be upfront about me researching these various recorders a bit but still need advice from those who actually use/have used them.

I thank you for your feedback and insight. I have to say that I am a little concerned about where MD will be in another 3-6 years, but given that Sony has brought about NetMD, I'm feeling overall good about going with an MD recorder as a start and perhaps bringing that PC on board. I have heard of the Sony MD recorder models you own. Can you believe though, that I've actually heard only 1 MD recording about 4 years ago? Sounded great to me, but, I haven't heard any recently to do any comparison with CD sound quality.

I must add that I don't know how much editing (if any) I can do of MD recordings done the road with a portable recorder. I believe the Home recorders have some editing capabilities. I imagine that the ultimate recorder to give me this option is a digital one, like a Roland VS-890, for example. You hear so many stories of individuals & small groups using a digital recorder to record and edit songs on the road then burning 'em to CD and it sounding great! Needless to say, I'm glad this option is available, as one never knows when a song will hit em. So, a portable digital recorder has also become a serious consideration.

I feel that what's going to happen eventually is that I'll have a digital recorder, MD recorder, CD recorder and PC with recording & editing capabilities! I don't mind...the more toys the better, right? :D

I do have one other question and hope it doesn't sound naive - how would I know if I want to do any analog recording to insure that my decision takes this into consideration if I do?

Thanks again,

PS
 
Go the hard disk route.

Mini disks are on the way out.

Dat's are too.

CD burners will get pushed out of the way by DVD burners.

So, once again, "Hard Disk" is the WINNER :D

spin
 
Spinster, nice font.

Technology is a crap-shoot, anyway.

MD may not be an issue, here in the US, but I've heard it still has a firm standing in Japan, where most of this technology comes from, anyway.

I think, overall, the tools have to fit the task, and technological issues should be considered, but one has to jump in with both feet, eventually.

HERE, though I'm not one to make predictions, [haha], I'll PREDICT NOW, that no matter what format you choose, it will eventually become obsolete... EVEN your hard discs.

-Remember when 2GB was just a GIANT disc?

-Well, I'm in the 'puter industry, and I can remember when a 14" hard disc was 64MB! I'm not that old, and that was not so long ago, but in technology terms, is was AGES ago.

-Fact is, that CDR stomped MD in the marketplace, here in the US, but with NON-US sales considered, MD may not be as unpopular or as doomed as you may think.

-I don't think you're gonna get much onboard editing on portable minidiscs, but some home MD units have editing, especially some of the high end MD recorders, like TASCAM. I'm sure SONY has a high end MD recorder with editing. Portable MD recorders? No, probably not much in editing capabilities. But, if you can dump your MD data to 'puter, then you'd do your editing on the PC.

-Soundwise, I think the MD data compression is a non-issue, and I think MD recordings are virtually indistinguishable from CDR recordings, and I have pretty keen ears.

I'm sure people are queuing up, right now, to disagree with me.

-Bottom line, almost regardless of the popularity of any media, I think the tool has to fit the task, and that, in the end, is a personal choice.

Good luck.
 
I understand where you both are coming from and I do appreciate your opinions on this. Yes, we never know when Technology will dump something we love today and pick up something else tomorrow...just the nature of the beast! :rolleyes:

I have been visiting a MD site that talks strictly about this technology. I've too read that it is still used more heavily in Japan & Europe than the US. I plan to stick close to that MD site and Sony's to keep up with where MD is headed.

At the same time, I'm keeping a watch on the price drops of digital recorders that are not too big and can be used on the road. :)

PS
 
BTW, The newest wave of portables don't even have hard discs,...

they record to Smart Media memory cards, like in your digital camera.

The industry, and technology is moving way too fast, to say any one technology is "it".
 
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