Buyer's Guide

Field Recorders

Whether you want to record a rehearsal, create a podcast, digitize your old 8-tracks, or capture the mating call of a yellow-rumped warbler, today’s handheld digital field recorders make it easy to collect high-quality sound files.

Typical handhelds offer varying lengths of recording time depending on several factors, including recording quality, memory, and battery life. The Olympus LS-10, for example, records 55 minutes in high-quality Linear PCM format and more than 69 hours in MP3 format at 64,000 bits per second.

Field recorders save data as Linear PCM, MP3, or WMA files. If you plan to record sound for the production of a CD, it is a good idea to record in the Linear PCM or "WAV" format. If you have enough memory space, high-resolution WAV recordings provide extra headroom, allowing you to capture a greater dynamic range (loud to soft levels of sound). When higher-quality audio is not as important as smaller file size (when recording podcasts, for example), the compressed MP3 format is a better choice. The WMA format is popular because it is supported by Windows Media Player and produces recordings that are less compressed than MP3.

Most field recorders use secure digital (SD) or compact flash (CF) cards for storage. The Sony PCM-D50 listed here comes with 4 GB of internal flash memory in addition to an SD slot. The exception is the Alesis ProTrack for iPod, which attaches to the Classic or Nano and uses the iPod’s disc space for storage.

Most units run on AA or AAA batteries, but some have a built-in power source. The Tascam DR-1 and the M-Audio Micro-Track II both use rechargeable lithium-ion batteries.

Field recorders come with various types of inputs and outputs to provide connectivity to other devices. The Sampson Zoom H4, for example, has dual XLR-1/4" plug jacks to accommodate two types of mic cables, and it has a USB port for downloading files to a PC. Many come with mono or stereo mini plug jacks (1/8") as well as RCA-type jacks for transferring data in and out. Some even have an S/PDIF input that allows you to record the output of digital mixing boards and do transfers from other digital recording/storage devices.

Many field recorders offer phantom power to drive external condenser microphones. Condenser mics require additional voltage to operate but have greater sensitivity. Most of the units listed here come with stereo condenser mics built in.

Field recorders range in price from a couple hundred dollars to $50,000 and beyond, depending on connectivity, mic preamp quality, memory, ruggedness, and on-board editing capabilities. The units listed here are just a sampling of those available at $500 or less.