Re: [IRCA] HD mp3 recorders for recording DX

["W. Curt Deegan" <WWWR@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Bill,

I made the mistake of first buying an inexpensive RCA Digital Voice 
Recorder.  This sounded like what I wanted but instead had all the 
problems you mention and then some.  It had mic-in but this wouldn't 
work with line-out without considerable effort -- addition of an 
external level control to compensate for the differences worked only 
poorly.  The file format was proprietary and converting to MP3 
required a special program not provided by the vendor.   This never 
proved to be of any use for recording from a receiver, though it's 
probably fine for what it was intended, as a personal dictation device.

Since that false start I have been using an Archos Gmini-220 20GB USB 
Hard Disk for some time.  There are now newer, bigger, and less 
expensive versions of this.  As a portable MP3 player in the image of 
an iPod, this may be overkill unless you have other uses for it.  It 
records direct to MP3 rather than WAV or other format and has line-in 
for connection to a receiver, these are the most important 
things.  It appears as a hard disk to Windows making manipulation of 
the files on it simple and accessible by any program.  There are 
provisions for using memory cards as well as the USB connection, 
providing a number of ways to integrate with a PC.  Control is via a 
small LCD screen and a group of three buttons and a four-way rocker 
switch.  This also allows entry of file names for recording, albeit 
through a rather cumbersome cursor controlled character keying 
function.  My only complaint is that because it is designed to be 
small and portable, the buttons are a bit difficult for my fat 
fingers to poke at, but that would be true of most portable devices 
these days.

Here's one review I found with Google, there are probably others:
http://www.mobilemag.com/content/100/335/C2564/
The Archos on-line store is here:
http://www.shoparchos.com/searchresults.aspx?search_id=4&culture=en-US

There are similar devices by other vendors that would likely work 
just as well.  The product you reference looks like it is along the 
same lines as the Gmini-220.

Curt
-------
W. Curt Deegan
Boca Raton, (southeast) Florida


At 07:48 AM 12/25/2006, you wrote:
>Has anyone had any experience using HD mp3 recorders for recording
>DX?  It appears to be a good way to go, but I would like to solicit
>other's comments before I take the plunge give the potential high
>cost of these devices.
>
>Here is an example
>http://www.cowonglobal.com/product/product_X5_spec.php
>
>This is not an endorsement of this particular product because I have
>no idea of its utility for a DXer. Maybe there are better, but
>similar products on the market
>
>One of things I am looking for is compatibility with a computer's OS.
>In other words, can you use a computer to directly manipulate the
>files on the device using the computer's file manager so you don't
>have to use a proprietary software program for the device? I ran into
>this issue with an IRiver flash drive device.
>
>Other things like battery usage, capacity, and portability are
>important too.  An analog line in is an absolute must as well.
>
>Bill Harms
>Elkridge, Maryland
>
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