Re: [IRCA] HD mp3 recorders for recording DX

["Chris Black" <n1cp@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

Hi Curt,

I went to the Archos site but couldn't find anything that looked like 
Gmini-220. What should I be looking for?

Chris
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "W. Curt Deegan" <WWWR@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
To: "Mailing list for the International Radio Club of America" 
<irca@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Monday, December 25, 2006 2:25 PM
Subject: Re: [IRCA] HD mp3 recorders for recording DX


> 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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>
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