alek roslik Posted May 9, 2018 Report Share Posted May 9, 2018 Hi all, I am looking to pick up a small recorder unit for a plant mic. I know Lectrosonics has their PDR and Zaxcom has their ZFR400, and I am sure there are other brands making small format recorders. Does anyone have experience with these (or both/other brands) enough to weigh-in on which I should choose? Upsides that I can see: -PDR = Split Record function or HD record with limiting, timecode port, headphone jack, transport/function control from phone app -ZFR400 = 10+ hours of continuous recording on a single battery, zaxnet reception of timecode/transport controls, zaxnet QC monitoring Let me know what you think. Thanks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Philip Perkins Posted May 9, 2018 Report Share Posted May 9, 2018 Tascam DR10. Has worked very well for me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Constantin Posted May 9, 2018 Report Share Posted May 9, 2018 2 hours ago, alek roslik said: -ZFR400 = 10+ hours of continuous recording on a single battery, zaxnet reception of timecode/transport controls, zaxnet QC monitoring Have you got a Zaxnet transmitter? If not that can get quite expensive. If yes, you might as well consider getting one of their regular transmitters, which can all record, too. But I think you can get TC into the recorder even without Zaxnet. The other Zaxnet may be less relevant for a plant mic. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IronFilm Posted May 9, 2018 Report Share Posted May 9, 2018 Tascam DR10 (any of DR10X/DR10CS/DR10L, depending on where you are or what you need) or Zoom F1 are cost effective options. (might also give a mention to the Saramonic SR-VRM1, has the benefit of supplying phantom power that the DR10X can't do) Also check out the Sound Devices MixPre3, it is bigger (and more expensive) than the others I mentioned, but it still is truly very very tiny! And might still be small enough for your needs as a plant recorder. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
daniel Posted May 9, 2018 Report Share Posted May 9, 2018 Saramonic SR-VRM1, I tried 1 out: horrible. I tried it for precisely the reason IF included it - phantom powering. Sound was ok, but the menu was poor and the XLR doesn't lock well or at all so a jumper lead is required for use with some mics. It's available if anyone's interested - used once, still boxed etc etc :-) The ultimate SF recorder is: ~ Easy to configure with menu and/or app. ~ Phantom powering and 'plug-in' power. ~ Dual level mono recording. ~ Balance mono / unbalanced mono/stereo I/P and O/P. ~ Mic/line I/P and O/P. ~ Wifi/BT transport control, metering and QC audio. ~ 12 hour built in battery (AAs are too big now). ~ Headphone O/P. ~ Built in mic (for stand alone use in pocket etc) but not some BS XY stereo array designed by the marketing department, a single, DPA quality cap would do :-). ~ I don't mind if has a (recessed) multipin connector like a 6 pin lemo / TA5 to get all signals in and out of 1 plug (I'd rather pay the cable guys than the lawyers :-). ~ 1/8" female thread. ~ Form factor of small belt pack TX eg. SSM. ~ TC would be gravy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eric Toline Posted May 9, 2018 Report Share Posted May 9, 2018 Then I would guess putting the unit in a pot, covered with soil and watering daily is not what's being discussed? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IronFilm Posted May 9, 2018 Report Share Posted May 9, 2018 If that is how you can turn a little MixPre3 into a grown up 688 then I'm willing to give it a try! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
drpro Posted May 9, 2018 Report Share Posted May 9, 2018 Well spring is here in the northern hemisphere Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
old school Posted May 9, 2018 Report Share Posted May 9, 2018 I've got a Lectro PDR. Works great for a number of things I used it for. CrewC Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dalton Patterson Posted May 10, 2018 Report Share Posted May 10, 2018 This is the best way to mic a plant. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
berniebeaudry Posted May 10, 2018 Report Share Posted May 10, 2018 On May 8, 2018 at 9:29 PM, alek roslik said: Hi all, I am looking to pick up a small recorder unit for a plant mic. I know Lectrosonics has their PDR and Zaxcom has their ZFR400, and I am sure there are other brands making small format recorders. Does anyone have experience with these (or both/other brands) enough to weigh-in on which I should choose? Upsides that I can see: -PDR = Split Record function or HD record with limiting, timecode port, headphone jack, transport/function control from phone app -ZFR400 = 10+ hours of continuous recording on a single battery, zaxnet reception of timecode/transport controls, zaxnet QC monitoring Let me know what you think. Thanks. Hi Alek, Good to see you on here my friend! I have two PDRs if you want to borrow one and check it out. I just got them a few months ago and haven't used them yet. BB Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mikewest Posted May 11, 2018 Report Share Posted May 11, 2018 Sounds good and use a Sanken CUB-01 as the plant microphone It will amaze you - I have three! mike Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alek roslik Posted May 22, 2018 Author Report Share Posted May 22, 2018 On 5/8/2018 at 11:53 PM, Constantin said: Have you got a Zaxnet transmitter? If not that can get quite expensive. If yes, you might as well consider getting one of their regular transmitters, which can all record, too. But I think you can get TC into the recorder even without Zaxnet. The other Zaxnet may be less relevant for a plant mic. Thanks for you response, Constantin. Yes, I do have a Nomad 12 with zaxnet. And that is what makes this option attractive when considering the relative price difference to the PDR. However, I just sent my nomad back to the shop for the third time to fix the zaxnet transmitter on this unit, so I am not super excited to loose that functionality with the ZFR400 if this happens again. I have 4 Zaxcom recording transmitters, but I use them mostly on talent, and with a plant mic you would be using a lav or other mic that is wired for that connection. Whereas, for example, an Omnigoose would plug directly into the lectro PDR. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alek roslik Posted May 22, 2018 Author Report Share Posted May 22, 2018 On 5/10/2018 at 8:18 AM, berniebeaudry said: Hi Alek, Good to see you on here my friend! I have two PDRs if you want to borrow one and check it out. I just got them a few months ago and haven't used them yet. BB Thanks, my friend! I may take you up on that offer. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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