so, i would like to record any kind of sound possible: sounds in nature, my instruments, voices, and what not for future manipulation ... is there some small portable device out there that would be reasonable in price, and compatable with my ibook? I would like to catalog these sound files as well onto my laptop, and so i'm wondering how to go about doing this?

thanks
afon

thanks for all the input!!!!!

Hi afonynys,

I'd like to do the same sort of thing. So far I've been using a minidisc recorder with a nice sony ECM-MS907 stereo mic. The mic's the important thing in my ipinion. Then I use analogue out from my minidisc to the line in on my powerbook.

I'm holding out for a portable device that's got a digital out connection. Some rackmount MD players have this so theoretically, I could field record then put the MD into a rackmount back home to get the digital out connection.

My hope is that the new IPods will have a record in facility some time. There's some speculation about this already so I wait with bated breath. Then you've got the ideal portable device!

Good luck to you.

Kind regards, midiwife.

that's awesome to think of the ipod's as having that feature. if they do, they will be unstopable... i'm so glad that i'm continuing with my impatient wait!...

thanks midiwife,

afonynys....

How about the Tascam US-122?

Four separate audio inputs - 2 x line for guitar and 2 x XLR for mic - and phantom power, plus Midi input. USB powered and about the size of a CD case. Looks pretty neat for mobile recording.

I'm getting one in a few days, so I could let you know what I think of it in a week or two. On paper, it looks handy to have around.

Midiwife is right in saying it's the mic that's important. It's all about the mic. If you had a decent condenser mic, you could use it with the US-122.

Or get a portable DAT. That'll have digital in and out, plus no funky compression like with MiniDisc. I have an old (well, 5 years) AIWA and it's pretty good. Heavy, but good.

WOW THANKS!!... a lot of things i need to explore... yeah, do let me know what you think about it!

rickenbacker~~ did you purchase the tascam us-122?... i'm anxious to know if you like it.... ))

I thought I'd already posted to this topic about the US-122, but I obviously posted my reply to another similar topic - check around the forums for something else from me re. the 122.

Anyway, all I wrote was that I now have a 122 in my house, but I've yet to play with it. I hope to find the time to give it a thorough poking with the inquisitive stick later this week and when I do I'll post my thoughts, as a few people seem interested to know what it's like. For the record, I like the way it looks. Chunky and reassuring, with lots of ins'n'outs. No digital I/O, though. I'll see how the drivers perform.