Recording Consort Sessions

[Opera_Rat]

My viol consort (google it, ~a 16th - 17th century string quartet-ish ensemble) which ranges from 3 to 6 people is looking for a simple way to record rehearsals so we can check for balance, intonation, and other things that can go wrong. We would like a recorder that has the best sound quality with the least hiss, but we realize that our total budget of $350 will not give us recordings worthy of a CD.

We are considering the Zoom H4 or H2. Would these work well for such an ensemble or should we consider other options? (Please keep in mind the $350 budget for recorder and mics).

Opera Rat

[jpleong]

Just about any of the "professional" recorders in this price range will perform well in the situation you describe. I think the Zooms are a little gimicky and cheaply built compared to the likes of the M-Audio, Edirol, and Sony offerings.

I can lend my voice of support for M-Audio's Microtrack. In my opinion, it's the most farsighted of the bunch (useful features, generous input options, compact flash, etc...) and does a decent job with its included microphone (which, by the way, will probably be the most "natural" sounding of the pack due to its omnidirectional elements). It's very simple to operate, too. The Microtrack does not include any media, so keep that additional cost in mind (though compact flash is the most cost-effective flash media).

Hope that helps,
JP