Ok, I need names and model numbers of reliable digital recording equipment that I can use in the field. Please specify whether it has a onboard mic, or I'd need to get one. Also, let me know if is hard-disk or compact flash.

My setup now is good, but it's cumbersome to carry around (I record to Mini-Disc using a Sony CD/MD unit through a Sony MD four-track as a mixer--hey it was free to me..). So, I'd like to invest in a smaller unit with good sound. I'd prefer not to spend more than $300 for it, however I'll decide when time and money are right.

It would also help if you could list whether your podcast is using that piece of equipement, so I listen in to its sound. Thanks much!

i need a million dollars, but you don't see me..... nevermind...

go with any iriver ifp-8xx or ifp7xx series mp3 player. they all have great pre-amps and sound great when a decent mic is used. the onboard mic is terrible so don't rely on it.....

many can be found on ebay refurbished for dirt cheap and work fantastically (that's how i got mine)

i would like to give you an example, but the mics i had when i used it last sucked...

hope this helps.

I think Josh is right on with his pick the iRiver's are great. and have long been the on the go standard for podcasters.

This is the one that I lust after...

http://www.musiciansbuy.com/Maudio_MICROTR...TRACK2496K.html

Still don't know when it ships though.

It is pricey and you really don't need this kind of horsepower for portable podcasts.

So back to reality.... ;-)

I also have an iRiver and am very happy with the quality. I wouldn't use it for professional radio apps because the mic pre-amps ARE a bit hissy for truly professional applications but for podcasting it's great and above the quality of most people's podcasts currently.

Don't count on using the onboard mics that any of these portable units come with as they are usually pretty bad. Optimally, plan on spending between $50-$100 for a very good portable mic from the likes of Sound Professionals or Giant Squid.

Hmm, your right Jeff. That M-Audio does look tasty! But, alas, iRiver is on the affordable side of life. So, you guys are saying that I'd need to purchase a mic to work with the unit or is the onboard mic ok?

Thanks for the responses so far.

I use a Sony ICD-SX25 handheld voice recorder with a Sennheiser e835 microphone. It works really well and the addition of the full size microphone give a very professional look.

The unit comes with a built-in mic that works really well, I just added the handheld to improve the image.

see above...

If you're wanting to remain backward compatible with your existing minidiscs, there are a number of products in the Hi-MD line worth considering. They'll playback the old minidiscs and record to old minidiscs more efficiently... or record huge amounts onto a 1 gig Hi-MD. Record times exceed 90 minutes at 1411kbps (CD quality), eight hours at 256kbps, and... well, the recording time on one Hi-MD outlasts your battery at 64kbps (exceeding 30 hours).

You'll need an external mic, but you probably already knew this.

We use an MZ-RH910 ($200 list) with an ECM-MS957 stereo mic. The MZ-RH10 ($300 list) comes with a cheap wired remote and a glowing screen... not worth the extra $$$ for us. USB connectivity is the best, allowing transfer of recorded audio as a file rather than having to patch with miniplugs... but before you use it, download SonicStage 3.2 to your computer (the units come with 3.1, but they disabled once-only transfer restrictions on analog recordings starting with 3.2).

If you're looking for a package, check out the MZ-M10 and MZ-M100, which are basically the same units packaged with a stereo microphone... AND will work directly with Mac OS as well as Windows.

Thanks for the MD tip, RF. Question, though. Must I use the SonicStage exclusively to process the files, or can I use the Cool Edit program I currently work with now?

That could be the only drawback if I have to go with proprietary technology in order to process the files, and Sony's bad about that (that's why the four-track recorder I'm using works only as a mixer for me right now--fixing it would probably cost a unnecessary fortune).

Yeah, Sony is REALLY bad about that.

I've heard there may be non-Sony applications out there which can access an ATRAC file, but everything I've heard is third-hand with no titles given.

I use SonicStage as the intermediary, but I use something else entirely for editing and processing.

Once we've completed recording, I connect the Hi-MD handheld to the computer with the USB cable. This fires up SonicStage automatically for me. There is a setting in SonicStage which, when activated, will automatically convert any inbound audio recorded via microphone or line-in to a WAV file... even if you recorded in ATRAC3plus (256kbps or 64kbps). So, I select the tracks I want to import, let the transfer process work its elven magic (even though the stats say transfer speeds are really fast, in practice I find it take me one minute to transfer every ten minutes of 256kbps audio), grab the WAV conversions, and open my favorite WAV editor.

So, using SonicStage 3.2 as an brief intermediary, yes, you'll be able to CoolEdit your audio. Actually, any SonicStage 3.x will work for WAV conversion, but 3.0 and 3.1 limited you to one analog transfer... and if you tried to transfer a second time, it would erase the file from the minidisc (!!). This is why I emphatically say one should definitely opt for SonicStage 3.2 for the conversion process.

Though I'm sure it's way out of my price range for new portable equipment, TASCAM's released something tasty with lots of future use features or the very far thinking podcaster.

http://www.tascam.com/Press/Releases/hdp2.html

"Answering the call of remote recording engineers, the TASCAM HD-P2 Portable High-Definition Stereo Audio Recorder is the professional solution for the challenging requirements of live and on-location applications. It records at up to 192kHz/24-bit resolution for audiophile quality to Compact Flash media, locked to the built-in SMPTE timecode input. The Broadcast WAVE audio files are instantly available through the built-in high-speed FireWire computer connection."

I use the Olympus DM-1 voice recorder with flash memory card and I've been very happy with its performance and reliability. It's a few years old, so I'm not sure you could find one, but Olympus has some newer models that look even better.

If you don't have an MP3 player, then I would definitely go with something like the iRiver -- but if you already have an iPod or something I would consider a pure voice recorder because it will have a better mic. You can just slip it in your pocket and go.

Steve

Yup, I use an iRiver with an inexpensive Plantronics headset to do TWT and I think the sound's not half bad. I use my Pocket PC for my script and wander all over the darn place while I record. One of these days I'm going to quit talking about it and go soundseeing in the OKC bombing memorial... really...

-R

I still recommend an iRiver to anyone wishing to get started with a portable podcasting set up. There is no beating the reliability, compact size, and over all ease-of-use that you find in an iriver

We have made some modifications and have Giant Squid Lav mics
on the way, but this is still our basic setup. Relatively noise free.
We now have an 899 also for recording.


BTW- as far as the voice recorded on the ifp's
The default encoding is really low and crappy, BUT
if you bump it up to 44/160 it really sounds alot
better. Not great, but rather usable. Just a thought-

Benu,

What kind of headphone mics are you (or were you) using with your iRIVER 799 (brand, model, and price range) graphic at http://kickasspodcast.com/799setup.jpg? Are they condensor mics (using a battery) or dynamic. It was great seeing your set up and it was very helpful in putting together my own set-up.

Are you actually able to hear any sound through the headphones mics as you are recording on your iRiver? I tried with mine and I don't hear a thing.

Thanks...

I've had good luck with the Altec Lansing 302i headset mic. I'm not able to heard myself while recording. I have a picture of my setup somewhere I'll find and post here later.

Here's my portable setup. Sorry it took so long to find the picture.

You have to turn the volume up fairly high to be able to hear anything, but you should be able to. We just did our last episode into the iRiver with three people: three headsets, two splitters, and one headphone plug for monitoring, and I think it came out pretty well. I should have taken a picture of it before our guest left; it was pretty scary looking by the time we were all set up...

Cool thread resurrection. :-)

We did only one show "in the field," and we just brought the iBook, M-Audio MobilePre, and two dynamic mics (they're less prone to noise than the condensers we use at home) with us. It all fit into a single padded backpack.

It might have been a little unwieldy for a true field recording, but we were at a restaurant show so we were able to set up at a table. At least we didn't need AC power. :-)

Iriver IPF-800 series - I think it is the same kind that Nate run over with his car.

Image

Yoga - EM-278 condenser microphone - mono/stereo.

Image

I had to get them out my bag to check this.

I currently got about 10 minutes of audio on it too...

Have you used that to record with recently? I have the same iRiver, and have been searching for a mic that will work with it, for when I want to record away from the "studio" (read Basement). When I initially was recording my show, I used the internal mic for that as I could never find a line in mic that would work with it.

I used it last week to record the kids.

What i-River do you have? I have heard rumors that the newer ones don't work with external mics.

I have the T30 518 MB. It looks identical to the one you have in your picture. Bought it in Feburary.

I think that model may be one of the ones that only works with mics with an external power source. That may be your problem...

Mine's a T30 MX, don't know what the MX means, it's also a 512 and I purchased it around X-mas time.

Is there a line-in on the iRiver T-30? Is the headphone jack reversible for an external mic or line-in from a mixer?

I'm looking for a Mic, (and my apologies, pickle forums won't let me log in as me, and the password reset is malfunctioning...or my brain is).

I just got an iFP-790, and quickly realized my MXL 991 Condenser mic that I planned to use ain't gonna work. I suppose I need a power supply, a mic with a battery, or a non-condenser mic like a Heil Handi Mic Pro Plus. I'd like something more handheld than those tiny plug in mics like the Sony or Sound Professionals. I already got the XLR-1/8 mini adapter cable.

Whay can't I log in the Forum as me?

Jack
Get Jacked! Podcast
http://getjacked.hanamas.com

Can't help with your identity crisis, but I did confront the issue of trying to make a small mic look big.

I got a 6 inch long by 1 inch diameter piece of black hard plastic tubing, put a drilled rubber stopper in each end, stuck a Radio shack stereo 1/8 inch coupler in one of the corks ran a cable out the other end and plugged an electret mic into the top.

It worked fine and kind of looked like a microphone. But when I was covering the World Curling Championships I noticed two things. One, the other reporters - freelance professionals, I suppose, had no qualms about plugging their electret mic directly into their recorders. Two, my homemade rig looked even dorkier than I thought it would.

By day two, I was plugged in directly -- mic into iRiver. And I haven't looked back.

You need to have a power supported mic (one with a battery) from what I have heard on this. I have the same iRiver, and have only used the internal mic.

Thanks Barely.

Can anybody recomend a small mic that can be used to do interviews using an iriver?

--
theWatt Podcast - from the green to the dirty of energy and sustainability

how bout the built in mic?

I use and iRiver 899 for interviews on the road, and I used to use lapell mics, but they can easily distort. Even the top of the line ones that I have. I just bought a Yamaha CM500 headset mic. I'm going back tonight to buy 2 more.
If it's just you talking, you can plug the mic and head phones in, and it sounds amazing.
I am using it in large arenas for sports broadcasting.
I have splitters so I can add a second set to it. You could wear the headphones so as to hear the interview clearly, and use a hand mic for the other person.

The cost is 39.99on sale online at Guitar Center

Buy it and you wont be dissapointed.

http://www.guitarvision.com/mf/mf_frameset.htm

Check it out

I ended up getting this Shure C606 from MicroCenter. Until I flop for the Heil of my dreams, this will do for $17. Splitter for second mic (cause, you know, that dream stuff), reasonably loud in the headphones, mono-to-stereo miniplug adapter to get mic audio in both channels (switching the line-in record setting on the iRiver to mono does not seem to result in a mono file. Just one stereo channel). That Tascam HD-P2 is "Now Shipping". Isn't it Father's Day this weekend?

Click to view attachment

I seem to remember reading somewhere that an input volume over 44 introduces too much hiss. Yes, I can play around with it myself, and have, but someone had apparently determined the "magic number" that you should stay at or below.

The freaking thing sounds awesome. With a stealthily threaded single earpiece, and the rest of it in your pocket, you're a freaking mobile man-on-the-street interviewer. You could wear it on the lanyard and thread the mic cable through your fly! or your sleeve or something.

I'm trying to get ready for my first portable podcast. I tend to do the casts at home by myself or via with my co-host from England.

I own an iPod, the old one with click-wheel, and don't know what I can use with it to do the cast.

But, based on the good talk on the iRiver IFP799 I'm going to pick one up. I've seen the photos of some setups and I just need something basic. Ideally all the stuff will cost less than $200.

I found the following mic (http://www.musiciansfriend.com/product/Behringer-XM8500-Microphone?sku=270490) and am told it is a good mic. But, will it work with the iRiver IFP799?

Also, I have an Altec Lansing AHS515. Is it possible for me to connect that to the iRiver IFP799 too? If so, what else would I need? Any actual manufacturers and items?

I'm new to this entire thing, only been podcasting for a month or so, and am on a limited budget.

I have a gig beginning of October that I'll need the equipment for. So, I need to get it all and get used to it. If possible I'd love to get it before Podcamp Boston this weekend so I could give it a try there.

$200 is more than I've spent on my podcast all told

One thing I've heard is that whenever the hdd on your iPod spins up, you can hear it in the recording. So be aware of that. Maybe test the mic before you buy it.

***EDIT

For some reason, when I read your post for the first time, I thought you were asking about the iPod recording, not iRiver. I don't have any iRiver experience so I'll shut up now

I've been told that the following 2 mics are good for iRiver 799.

This one is supposed to be usable in the field, work with iRiver 799, and is hand-held.
http://www.musiciansfriend.com/product/Son...hone?sku=271072

This one is supposed to be usable in the field, work with iRiver 799, and is plugged into the iRiver. NO hand-holding necessary.
http://www.amazon.com/Sony-ECM-DS30P-Elect...p;s=electronics

All these are big and when you want portable size does matter.

http://www.giant-squid-audio-lab.com/gs/gs-mono1.htm

They have stereo versions for more money too.

http://www.soundprofessionals.com/

Also has an interesting collection of small mics. They are well known for their binaural (SP-TFB-2) microphones. I think they a bit expensive, but that's life with this equipment.

so, I saw one person post that they used a digital voice recorder with an external mic. That was the route I first thought I'd take as I had never thought about something like an iRiver.

Has anyone used both and found a difference?

Or does someone who's used a voice recorder have an example of the sound?

We use a iRiver IFP890 (256kb) and the Sony Mic ECM DS30P. Do NOT buy a 700 series, it is impossible to plug a mic into due to the location of the input jack. (The 700 and 800 series are identical, except for the location of saide jack) ALWAYS buy the 800 series. What's the difference in the series numbers? Basically size. The 790/890 is 256kb, the 795/895 is 512kb, and the 799/899 is 1GB. (Do I have to tell you to go BIG?)

Common misconceptions:
1 - You need external power for the iRiver 8XX series - not true, the iRiver acutally provides a little bit of power, prolly not suitable for jumbo mics, but good enough.
2 - The iRiver is not Macintosh compatible. This again is untrue, and is due to poor documentation on iRiver's site.
3 - The internal mic is ok to record with. Actually, it sux. I really, really don't recommend it.

Samples? We record on location almost exclusively, and the iFP890 iFP799 has been used from day 1. Listen to our recent episode to hear it in action with the Sony mic. If you MUST compare, listen to our early recordings (prolly eps 1-5) to hear with the internal mic. Don't send me feedback on the 'early episodes', I cringe even thinking that people are listening to those.

We have used different mics on occasion, playing with the radio shack mono lavaliers with the appropriate splitter (Mono->left&right channels), and the Griffen Stereo lavs, again with a Stereo->Mono splitter.

My only complaint? The iRiver onboard menu absolutely bites, but once you get it set, don't change it. And don't even think about flashing the hardware, you will cripple the recording capability from 320kbps to something like 64kbps.

I hope that helps someone.

The Guy
A Guy, a Girl, and a Bottle
http://wine.podshow.com

Could you explain further about it not being possible to plug a mic into a 700 series iRiver? It seems like several other forum posters have setups with a 700 series and some sort of external mic, if I'm reading correctly, you say you use your 799 with a mic.

Maybe its just late and I need sleep but if its impossible, how did you make it work?

I use a couple of IFP-795s with various microphones. I don't have a problem. You just have to make sure that the microphone plug housing is narrow-enough in diameter not to be prevented from connecting by plastic that protrudes from the 7xx series.

Actually, I said I use an 890, not the 790. The only difference is that the 7XX series has the headphone and mic jack side side by side on the narrow end of the unit, whereas the 8XX series they moved the mic jack to the side of the unit. I can't tell you the number of people that have purchased the 700 only to find that their mics won't fit. (You can make it work of course, but the 800 is more forgiving)

With the 700 series, most off the shelf mics wouldn't fit into the mic jack because of interference with the IFP housing - they didn't build enough clearance into the design. Hence they rushed the 800 series out, and that is why (IMHO) the two units are identical.

IFP 800 series
http://reviews.cnet.com/iRiver_iFP_890_256...ml?tag=pdtl-img

IFP 700 Series
http://reviews.cnet.com/IRiver_iFP_799T_di...7-30888776.html

ahh..ok. gotcha

And I had seen "We record on location almost exclusively, and the iFP799 has been used from day 1" in your post and totally got confused. See, lack of sleep

Thank you for all the advice!

We've got a lot of information about how we record on location here. It includes clips. You'll notice the three microphones give very different results with regard to background noise.

I've just got back from a trip interviewing dozens of people for a podcast series for a client and I used each of the three microphones, choosing them for their various qualities.

Whooops, a typo on my end. Thanks for pointing that out. I corrected it.

I'm looking into a portable recorder but it seems like the iFP-800 series has been discontinued? I can't seem to find what iRiver model has replaced it that also supports a mic in.

Giant Squid makes some great mini mics with wonderful sound. Prices are very reasonable too.



Yes it will. I use an Altec Lansing 302i headsets with an iRiver T30MX, it works just fine.



Mark Blevis has had very good luck using the internal iRiver mic. I can't think of an example episode off the top of my head but google Electric Sky podcast and listen to his recording of the Ottawa User Group meeting. It was recorded with the internal iRiver mic.

eBay all the way. You can get them for a steal.

Regarding the external mic - try the Sony ECMDS30P Nice.

http://www.amazon.com/Sony-ECM-DS30P-Elect...e/dp/B0007N55K0