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field recorder mixer

Daniel Meador

Daniel Meador

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any thoughts on the quality of recording for cinema regarding these Field Recorder Mixers?

Tascam HS-P82 8-Channel Field Audio Recorder
$2399

Roland R-88 8-Channel Recorder and Mixer
$1995

Edirol / Roland R-44 Solid-State Four-Channel Portable Field Recorder
$795
 
I think the Tascam is a far better, more fully-featured choice over the others. It's a relative bargain given its price. Compare that to (say) the Sound Devices 788T or the Zaxcom Max, which cost at least 2-3 times more. I would still prefer the Sound Devices overall, but it's not 3 times as good for 3 times the price.

Note you might get more bang for your buck just by renting a recorder (and mics and other gear) as part of a package, provided there's a pro audio rental/sales dealer in your area. The alternative would be to hire an experienced sound mixer who would provide all this gear as part of his or her fee.
 
I live in an area that makes it impractical to rent. For the same reason hiring a sound mixer is problematic. I'm not saying its impossible just difficult. So now I'm leaning toward the tascam HS-P82. Is this a true 'portable recorder mixer'?
Others in the running include....
SD 788T
SD 702T
AETA 4MinX
Niagra
 
I have a 744t but just moved to a Nagra VI. Problem with the 744t was it was just shy on how many xlr's I needed, so my choice was either the 788t or the nagra vi. I decided nagra vi since I also like to record music, also for me the nagra vi interface is a bit more intuitive. It's one of those things when you buy, you probably will never have to buy again, and keep it for a decade. I btw think it's important to have timecode as a option, not that it's needed all the time, but you don't want to buy things twice(so i wouldn't buy something without timecode). Nice thing on the nagra vi is you know you have the best, so don't have to second guess things. I've noticed in the California scene more people use the sound device though.

Edit: gearslutz.com has a lot to say about this in the remote recording forum
 
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Not sure why the R44 is being considered if you can actually afford the other 2, lol...

i I am a camera operator , not a sound operator so I gladly settled for the r44 and it has worked Amazing for me ! Sound quality is really good . It lacks time code but with FCPX autosync sound with camera scratch audio , I have never been happier .

if I ever need anything ore than 4 channels , (or time code ), I hire / rent. R44 It is a great field recorder . It's also a battery killer so getting the AC adapter is highly recommended.
 
If it is for cinema I would definitely go for a higher quality recorder with nice preamps.

The new Sonosax R4+ has a modularity approch wich you can stack more inputs (up to 12) with the time if you need more (and have more to spend) but it has incredible dynamic range up to 132dB, unseen in the industry and makes you record your sound like recording the raw output of the mic without the need to lower the mic and recorder capabilites due to clipping. Less than 1.2kg with the 49wh internal battery wich last you a day, shooting 4 phantom powered tracks.

When using Sonosax it's another league and you are dealing with the bests preamps used in Hollywood (and around the world) so the price is not quite the same (5499$) but a real future proof investment.

The R4+ is not yet shipping though but close to delivery...

Patrick

PS: also +1 on hireing a sound ingeneer. Placing the right mic in the right place is 90% of the job.
 
I cannot talk about a few of the recorders because I have never used them and do not own them. This is what we own and use regularly...

- Would not recommend the R44.. the sound quality is not great. We have one but have barely used it... I'm not a fan of it at all.

- The Nagra VII is lovely to use but is not well built.

- The Sound Devices 702T is built like a tank but the interface is complicated and the menu system is like a puzzle.

- The Zoom H6 is really good... has improved sound quality and gives additional XLR inputs - it can do 6 in total (this is a much better recorder than the R44)

- I don't have a lot of experience using mixer recorders but I was with a recordist a couple of weeks ago who had a Sound Devices one... it felt good and it seems like SD have sorted out their menu interface.
 
PatrickFaith said:
I have a 744t but just moved to a Nagra VI. Problem with the 744t was it was just shy on how many xlr's I needed, so my choice was either the 788t or the nagra vi. I decided nagra vi since I also like to record music, also for me the nagra vi interface is a bit more intuitive. It's one of those things when you buy, you probably will never have to buy again, and keep it for a decade. I btw think it's important to have timecode as a option, not that it's needed all the time, but you don't want to buy things twice(so i wouldn't buy something without timecode). Nice thing on the nagra vi is you know you have the best, so don't have to second guess things. I've noticed in the California scene more people use the sound device though.

Edit: gearslutz.com has a lot to say about this in the remote recording forum
Click to expand...


I agree 100% with you Patrick. I think the Nagra 6 is probably the best recorder out there at the moment. Was just being a cheap skate when I got the VII. Next month we will get the VI. The interface is brilliant and buttons are far better than a touch screen.
 
Like Marc said, go with a Zaxcom. Max or Normad, very easy to use great preamps, can act as a receiver for wireless transmitters, etc. very morden
 
Really appreciate the great responses. Still deciding at this point. But you guys have put me on the right track. Thanks.
 
Patrick Tresch said:
Placing the right mic in the right place is 90% of the job.
Click to expand...

This. The most important thing by far.

After that the choice of the right microphone makes a real difference.
So even though you may have the budget for a serious mixer, do you also have one for some serious microphones?

What I did was that I bought a Tascam DR-680 as a bit catcher and a Sound Devices 442 as the pre-amp mixer.
Whenever I could not afford a real sound engineer, I would use this setup for up to 6 wireless.
Later I had the pre-amps on the Tascam Busman modded - sounds great actually. Now we use just the Tascam when only a single boom is needed with a bunch of wireless. However, I would never consider this for anything but small stuff. Serious jobs need serious sound engineers.
 
You are absolutely right, Sound Engineers or Sound Mixers are a must. As a matter of fact they are the least expensive crew members, they usually don't fuss, play around or have emotional issues. They are too busy mixing and tweaking.
For microphones there are many great choices above 1.5K fot outdoors, but for indoor small diaphragm condensers, there really only two choices, Schoeps and Sennheiser.
 
Daniel Meador said:
Will the sound devices 633 interface and bypass the red epic onboard sound?
Click to expand...
You can record on the 633 and then send a scratch track to the Red Epic. The preamps in the 633 are fantastic, and this is a thoroughly professional machine.
 
Daniel Meador said:
I'll go with Sound Devices 633. I have an Apogee Duet 2. Only 1 mic . Considered cinema quality?
Click to expand...
I would just copy wave files from the 633 over to the Mac. apogee is good for connecting to your monitors for things like pro tools. for the Mic, can you give some background on what you will be recording, and the type of environment you will be recording in (ie citys,church, offices, parks, animals, actors, random people, motorcycles, etc).
 
Daniel Meador said:
I'll go with Sound Devices 633. I have an Apogee Duet 2. Only 1 mic . Considered cinema quality?
Click to expand...
Short answer: Yes the 633 is cinema quality.
Send either Time code or scratch audio to the Epic, or both.
Import the files from the SD 633 media direct to your edit computer.
You don't need to use the Apogee for this.
 
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