DarkEyes Posted September 16, 2024 Posted September 16, 2024 Hello. If anyone has made a long duration audio recorded, what audio recorder are you using? I purchased one that said it will record up to 1100 hours, but after getting it and reading the manual, that is only in the lowest quality setting. High quality setting caps out the recorder at 74 hours regardless of available memory space. Your recommendations are appreciated.
NathanFooter Posted September 16, 2024 Posted September 16, 2024 1 hour ago, DarkEyes said: Hello. If anyone has made a long duration audio recorded, what audio recorder are you using? I purchased one that said it will record up to 1100 hours, but after getting it and reading the manual, that is only in the lowest quality setting. High quality setting caps out the recorder at 74 hours regardless of available memory space. Your recommendations are appreciated. Many of us use the Olympus LS7 or the Olympus 720 DM, both can be bus powered via a wired AAA modifier to a double D-Cell power pack to increase the record time to 450 hours { 45 10 hour nights ) in 128KB MP3 format. I plan on posting a video in the near future on how these systems can be made and the basic functionality. My friend Chris Spencer has some of this information on Youtube ( search his name ). 1 1
DarkEyes Posted September 16, 2024 Author Posted September 16, 2024 I’ll check out those recorders. I already have everything built and make. It’s super simple. It’s just the misinformation of the recording capability of the recorder that I’m primarily concerned about.
Catmandoo Posted September 17, 2024 Posted September 17, 2024 Before you scrap your recorder, check the manual for "Recording Automatically" or perhaps "Auto Rec". Manufacturers use different terms for 'sound activated recording'. Generally posting, the recorder waits in standby mode and when a noise / sound is louder than your preset sound level, the recorder opens a new file and starts recording. Saves power and memory space. I don't think that you want countless hours of 'the sound of silence' I have to make some guesses. You set up to hack the battery compartment or are using a power bank with USB cable. I have done both but prefer my power banks. Olympus, Sony and others have made nice little voice recorders. One can view the user guides / manuals on line at B&H Photo Video to make comparisons before buying equipment. Reviewing the frequency response, battery types and memory capacity is vital. Go to the recorder manufacturer support page and find the list of 'supported media' that are approved. Many big name brands have models that are not approved. TASCAM makes recorders like the DR-05X and DR-07X that do not break the bank. $79 and $119 respectively. They have "Recording Automatically" ( Auto Rec ). Operate on 2 AA batteries and USB power port. Max memory is 128GB microSDXC card. The sweet part is they are '20--20' recorders. The low performance setting ranges from 20Hz to 20kHz ( 20-20 ) and the max setting is 20Hz to 40kHz. Most voice recorders are limited to 40 to 50 Hz. Zoom rolls off really bad at about 30Hz and they are still popular. I have Anker 20,100 mAh power banks that will drive a TASCAM DR-05X for days. I do not like to leave audio equipment out in the wild forest so I am in campsite mode. Reviewing: reading manuals at B&H is time consuming and helpful even if a purchase is not made. Entering the brand names and models also shows what units are no longer available. Good luck DarkEyes 1
bipedalist Posted Thursday at 10:14 PM BFF Patron Posted Thursday at 10:14 PM (edited) Quote . Go to the recorder manufacturer support page and find the list of 'supported media' that are approved. You got me here @Catmandoo what exactly are you referring to in regard to the operational definition of "approved". Thanks in advance for a detailed, contextual-linked reply! Specifically, are you addressing the sound file type that can be used or the memory capacity or recording time that is approved ? Pardon moi s'il vous plait if I come across as dense, been out of the recording industry for some time now but still retain an armamentarium of powerful digital recorders. Thanks for the heads-up on the Tascam, not sure if I have one but have certainly studied them. The frequency response range consideration is one of my top qualifiers as I am convinced much Sasquatch sound capture is missed due to low frequency response barriers of recorders. I will say this, go big or go home, when it comes to best recorder for the job, my early sound captures which were important ones were done on Olympus recorders that were expendable (and many were never recovered, and some lost and RETURNED by the target species) and could barely function well as dictaphones, arrrghhh Edited Thursday at 10:25 PM by bipedalist
Catmandoo Posted Friday at 07:55 AM Posted Friday at 07:55 AM (edited) 9 hours ago, bipedalist said: what exactly are you referring to in regard to the operational definition of "approved". Manufacturers have lists of SD and microSD cards that have been tested. Two lists may appear in the respective support pages: approved / supported and unapproved recording media. Surprise, SanDisk products are not rubber stamped for successful performance. An example from Sound Devices covers SD cards and microSD cards are not approved. https://www.sounddevices.com/mixpre-series-approved-media-list/ TASCAM DR-05 and DR-05X 'supported media' of microSD cards. Searching the brand name list for model numbers is tedious. https://cf.tascam.com/wp-content/uploads/downloads/media_list/tascam/dr-05x_dr-07x_media_list.pdf 9 hours ago, bipedalist said: Thanks for the heads-up on the Tascam, not sure if I have one but have certainly studied them. The frequency response range consideration is one of my top qualifiers as I am convinced much Sasquatch sound capture is missed due to low frequency response barriers of recorders. Way to dilate the rabbit hole. The TASCAM unit DR-05 can be found for under $100. DR-05X is also under $100. Low end frequency response is listed at 20Hz. ( zoom units roll off really bad at about 30Hz ). Going below 20Hz reliably requires a suite of equipment that will cost 4 figures. Infrasound mic, aka measurement mic, field recorder that goes below 20Hz and full surround headphones that handle the low frequencies. Full surround because you don't want any noise 'leaking' out if you are monitoring/recording in a blind and you want all of the noise bouncing around in your head ( Jethro quadraphonic ). 9 hours ago, bipedalist said: Specifically, are you addressing the sound file type that can be used or the memory capacity or recording time that is approved ? No, no and no. Maximum memory capacity of the card will be set by the manufacturer. Recording time is based on the condition of your power supply and sample rate. There are many memory cards available. I have found a source that is endorsed for audio and video. OWC......."Other World Computing". Perfect name for our projects. https://eshop.macsales.com/shop/memory-cards/atlas-pro-sd-v60 The rabbit hole continues......... Edited Friday at 08:10 AM by Catmandoo spelling 1
Redbone Posted Friday at 07:40 PM Posted Friday at 07:40 PM I modify my Sony ICD PX333 recorders to go two weeks, using 4x AA rechargeable batteries. I also use my own custom microphones with low pass filtering that require 2x 9V batteries, that will also go 2 weeks. The whole package is placed in a plastic tumbler covered with camo tape, leaving it waterproof, portable, and discrete. Explanation and lots of clips are here: https://bigfootforums.com/topic/57428-a-place-to-share-audio-files/ 2
bipedalist Posted Saturday at 12:36 AM BFF Patron Posted Saturday at 12:36 AM (edited) 16 hours ago, Catmandoo said: Manufacturers have lists of SD and microSD cards that have been tested. Two lists may appear in the respective support pages: approved / supported and unapproved recording media. Surprise, SanDisk products are not rubber stamped for successful performance. An example from Sound Devices covers SD cards and microSD cards are not approved. https://www.sounddevices.com/mixpre-series-approved-media-list/ TASCAM DR-05 and DR-05X 'supported media' of microSD cards. Searching the brand name list for model numbers is tedious. https://cf.tascam.com/wp-content/uploads/downloads/media_list/tascam/dr-05x_dr-07x_media_list.pdf Way to dilate the rabbit hole. The TASCAM unit DR-05 can be found for under $100. DR-05X is also under $100. Low end frequency response is listed at 20Hz. ( zoom units roll off really bad at about 30Hz ). Going below 20Hz reliably requires a suite of equipment that will cost 4 figures. Infrasound mic, aka measurement mic, field recorder that goes below 20Hz and full surround headphones that handle the low frequencies. Full surround because you don't want any noise 'leaking' out if you are monitoring/recording in a blind and you want all of the noise bouncing around in your head ( Jethro quadraphonic ). No, no and no. Maximum memory capacity of the card will be set by the manufacturer. Recording time is based on the condition of your power supply and sample rate. There are many memory cards available. I have found a source that is endorsed for audio and video. OWC......."Other World Computing". Perfect name for our projects. https://eshop.macsales.com/shop/memory-cards/atlas-pro-sd-v60 The rabbit hole continues......... It has been so long I now remember the sd card nightmares and sampling vs recording time dilemmas faced many moons ago, thanks for the references and explanations. Full surround headphones, how do they measure up to others? I can see a new outing company to compete with BFRO Expeditions, Other World Rabbit Chasers LLC! Edited to add, better nix that, sounds like a cheesy Vegas enterprise, lol. Edited Saturday at 12:37 AM by bipedalist
Catmandoo Posted Saturday at 04:20 AM Posted Saturday at 04:20 AM 3 hours ago, bipedalist said: Full surround headphones, how do they measure up to others? The high end units cost a lot more because they are typically used in studios for audio / video and audio work. The frequency range covered is an important spec. Headphones worn for hours have to be comfortable. During monitoring at night, I fall asleep with my headphones on so it is important to find some that are not sweat baths for your ears. 1
Catmandoo Posted Saturday at 04:50 AM Posted Saturday at 04:50 AM Another site to check out older work and equipment: https://www.texlaresearch.com/ldrecorder.htm Bigger than a Dollar Tree cup and worth a look. An important point about internal batteries is covered. Even with a gigantic external power supply, internal batteries have to be used. If the internal batteries go dead before the external power source, you are screwed. You may end up hacking the stock battery compartment for more amp hours. Buy a unit that takes AA or AAA and hack away. Redbone, thanks your re-injecting the audio file thread. Good information. Explanation and lots of clips are here: https://bigfootforums.com/topic/57428-a-place-to-share-audio-files/ I noticed that your signature is one line. I was thinking 'all the rocks, all of the time'.
Recommended Posts