The world of portable and handheld recording devices continues to evolve and expand. Here’s a list of some of our favorite production tools that have proven themselves time and again as high-quality, easy-to-use products. If you are a musician, podcaster, vlogger, or sound engineer, it’s a great time to be recording!
The Spire Studio from iZotope is a sleekly designed, incredibly portable 8-track iOS recording device with lots of cool features. With a built-in mic plus two Grace Design preamps, this compact unit is great for singer/songwriters. You can use the built-in mic to record without any wires or hook up your instrument or your favorite mic. Connect wirelessly to your iPhone, and Spire Studio will automatically gain stage your device, so you won’t get distortion when you record. Users can quickly and easily create layers of instrumentation and harmonies with the Spire. Built-in reverbs, delays, and amp models also let you refine your sound, and you can share your music to social media quickly and easily with the Spire app. Collaboration with other musicians has never been easier than with the iZotope Spire!
The Shure MVi MOTIV is a compact but rugged portable device that has been winning over musicians as well as podcasters. The MVi is USB-equipped and includes USB plus Lightning cables, making interfacing with your iOS device a breeze. The interface on the MVi is intelligently designed and easy to navigate. Access to five DSP preset modes lets you move between guitar, vocal, voice-over, and podcasting at the touch of a button. The MVi DSP can also easily be programmed from the app to transfer settings to your iOS DAW or video app. With MVi, users can easily work with tracks in Cubasis, Pinnacle Pro, or for podcasters, bossjock. And if you need a mic that will fit in your pocket, check out the companion Shure MV-51.
When Apogee introduced the Duet in 2008, they were the first company to market a portable iOS-compatible interface. Ten years later, the Duet 2 continues to set a high bar for portable recording, including 24-bit/192kHz recording. The Duet 2 is slim and sleek, and it pairs with any iOS device but is especially designed for iPad use. The full-color OLED display provides clear and instant feedback for functions like metering, input/output value levels, muting, and phantom power. The Duet 2 also features Apogee’s legendary AD/DA conversion along with two mic preamps, USB MIDI I/O, and ESS Sabre32 DAC technology. There are even four analog outputs, two of which are balanced 1/4″ mono outputs for speakers or other outboard gear — the Duet 2 is an analog and digital playground for recording!
IK Multimedia’s iRig Pro I/O is the smallest portable unit listed here. But this intelligently designed device is miniature in size only — definitely not in features. The iRig Pro I/O captures 24-bit digital audio at 96kHz and reconverts that signal into clean, high-quality analog audio. The iRig Pro I/O has a 1/4″ hi-Z/XLR combo input that accommodates both passive and active pickups, MIDI in/out, and an 1/8″ stereo headphone jack along with preamp and level controls. This little firecracker even has switchable 48-volt phantom power for condenser mics and can be hooked up to either iOS devices or Android with MIDI, Lightning, and USB cables included.
The RME Babyface Pro is a portable recording interface that is absolutely jam-packed with features. With an impressive 12-in/12-out audio interface, the Babyface Pro is truly an in-your-pocket and on-your-desktop studio. Two high-quality mic preamps, two analog XLR outs, hi-Z and lo-Z 1/4″ inputs, ADAT/SPDIF I/O, a MIDI port, and two separate headphone outputs will have you pinching yourself to make sure you’re not dreaming. The faceplate user interface on this stellar device is brilliantly designed and a snap to navigate. The Babyface Pro is iOS and PC compatible.
The MOTU 8A has won over legions of users for its mind-blowing, 34-channel capabilities. The 8A features 8 x 8 balanced analog and 8-channel ADAT optical and independent headphone out for 16 inputs and 18 outputs. Simply put, the 8A can take your recording project into deep waters and produce the kind of pro-level results that will truly blow your mind. This unit also delivers an astonishing 123dB dynamic range via its ESS Sabre32 DAC. It also offers a variety of connection options through Thunderbolt, USB 3, or AVB.
In the handheld world, the Zoom H4n Pro has earned a solid reputation as a feature-packed, easy-to-use device that produces great results. The H4n lets you record up to four tracks simultaneously at an impressive 24-bit/96kHz high quality, with its 90–120-degree adjustable XY mics and natural-sounding preamps. The H4n also has an ultra-low noise floor that lets you capture a wide variety of sounds, from rocking guitar amps to the tweet of a songbird. The H4n can handle an astonishing 120dB SPL, making it ideal for live shows. Build your songs from the ground up with this stellar device using its punch-in and overdubbing features, studio-grade effects, and instrument emulators. Connect to your Mac or PC via the H4n’s 2-in/2-out USB audio interface and launch your preferred music software, or use the included Cubase LE software to work on your projects. The H4n really does put it all right in your hand!
The TASCAM DR-05 is a no-nonsense handheld unit that puts all the essentials for capturing great live sound in your palm. The DR-05 can record in MP3 format at up to 320kbps and in Broadcast WAV format at 24-bit/96kHz resolution, making it ideal for capturing your band live and putting your performance on the Internet easily and quickly. Two omnidirectional condenser microphones capture pristine sound and handle up to 125dB. An automatic peak-reduction feature ensures your recording doesn’t clip, keeping distortion at bay.
Last but certainly not least is the Sound Devices MixPre-6 audio recorder. This powerhouse unit features four custom-engineered Kashmir mic preamps and 32-bit converters that deliver absolute top-notch audio. The MixPre-6 comes with a full-featured mixer and built-in USB audio interface making it a breeze to connect to your DAW of choice and get to work. The designers at Sound Devices also made this device user-friendly for those just getting started in the world of portable recording. The MixPre-6 has two modes: basic and advanced. In basic mode, users can get started right out of the box on whatever project they’re diving into and gradually tap more advanced features as they go.
Choosing a portable or handheld recording unit that is right for you requires an evaluation of what features best fit your needs. As always, our Sweetwater Sales Engineers are available at (800) 222-4700 to answer any questions you might have and get you started on your recording journey.