portable digital recorder that can slow down playback?

[chriss]

I'm looking for a modest digital recorder, like $150 or less, that can record in stereo, and also can slow down the playback.

I've seen a lot of good comments on Zoom H1 + H2. But it looks like they can't slow down playback. Anybody who has one, can you confirm or correct that?

TASCAM DR07 can do it, but it's $200 on Amazon.
TASCAM PT-7 can do it too, but it's mono.
And I have heard people not so impressed with the basic sound quality of other TASCAM devices- small mixers + the like.

Anybody know of one, or have used one that you're happy with?
thx,

[almeriastrings]

Portable recorders are exactly that. Portable recorders. They are primarily intended as capture devices. For editing and other effects, such as slow down without pitch change, all you do is export the files to a PC or Mac. There is plenty of software there that can do it easily. You can also run slow-downer Apps on the iPhone/iPod Touch. Yes, there a few niche products that do have rudimentary 'extras' built in, but they don't perform anything like as well for editing/fx as even a typical, simple, free PC/Mac audio editor will. Big drawback on these little recording devices is screen size. Very tiny and monochrome.. fine for recording and basic playback, but setting points for looping, etc., is no fun at all. Much easier on a PC/Mac screen.

Tascam actually make nice stuff. They have a very good rep in the audio world. They make some well respected high end field recorders for film soundtrack use, for example, and many of us have fond memories of their tape-based multi-trackers...

I would not be swayed by features such as built in effects in a portable recorder as they are just nowhere near as good as you can get (often for free) in dozens of PC/Mac editors. Just get a decent little recorder and do all the editing/effects elsewhere.

[Rob Gerety]

Unless the main purpose is to learn new tunes quickly and easily without futzing around with transfers and conversions etc. to get it on a computer. If that is the goal a handheld recorder that could slow down with out affecting pitch would be a nice thing to have. I wonder if there is an iPhone or iPad app that will do that? That might be worth a little searching. The iPhone and iPod make EXCELLENT little portable recorders and if you already own an iPhone the cost is almost zero for the app.

[chriss]

I'm quite familiar with post processing on a computer but this is for a different situation. I am looking to get a pocket-size device to record myself practicing, or a rehearsal, and play it back on the spot at slower tempo to be able to "put a magnifying glass" onto certain parts -- to hear more closely, with "more resolution" what I/we are doing in tempo and pitch.

Almeriastrings- thanks for the good word on Tascam, that's probably enuf to solve the problem -- I did some more looking and Tascam has many devices across a wide price range (DR-03 $60 ... DR-07 $200 ... DR-08 $140), all of which have instant slow-playback without pitch change.

On a side note- when I AM working on a computer, a VERY handy little program called "Best Practice" is fantastic for learning songs. Drag an mp3 or WAV onto it, it starts playing. It has 2 sliders- one for speed, and one for pitch/key change. The playback quality loses some fidelity when both sliders are moved but the song is still plenty good enuf to play along with and learn.

Don't do Apple. Their whole "proprietary world, walled garden" and "charge extra for otherwise similar products" strategies make them, for me, a dead-stop no-go. As a business guy/investor I admire their ability to capture margin from their customers - good for them, not so good for customers. For me as a personal buyer/consumer, I will always find open platforms at competitive costs. I work too hard for my money to give it to Apple and be locked into them. FWIW. Just my approach - and yes I'm aware of their market share in phones and mp3 players. I know I'm different and I either don't care or don't mind. Not sure which. Gonna go strap that mando on now!

[chriss]

Having done a lil more digging, it's apparent these things have come a long way.
I just ordered a TASCAM DR-05 for $99 shipped.
Has variable speed playback 50%-200%, sophisticated auto-gain or manual gain, chromatic tuner, etc etc etc.
TASCAM's whole line does variable speed playback:
DR-03 $60
DR-05 $99
DR-07 MkII $149

I'll post again after it arrives + I've done some test-driving.

spec's from TASCAM http://tascam.com/product/dr-05/specifications/
Stereo Condenser Omni Mic's, sensitivity up to 125dB SPL
Up to 96kHz/24-bit WAV (BWF) linear PCM recording
Stereo MP3 recording from 32-320 kbps bit rate
Peak Reduction function, optimized for music recording, automatically sets the gain while recording
Limiter and low-cut filter to help prevent distortion
Automatic or manual level setting
Self timer recording starts recording 5 or 10 sec. after pressing the record button for waiting until you are ready
Auto and manual track increment
Variable speed playback (50%-150%) without changing the pitch
Loop and repeat playback
Level Align feature prevents uneven volume levels during playback
Playback EQ setting
Editing function (Divide and delete)
Up to 99 mark points on each file
Chromatic tuner
1/8” stereo mic/line input
USB 2.0 port for transfer to PC and external power
Up to 2-second pre recording buffer
Jump back function returns to previous point with one action (1-10, 20, 30 sec.)
1/8” headphone/line output
Built-in speaker
microSD (64MB – 2GB)/microSDHC (4GB – 32GB) card slot (2GB card included)
Powered by 2 AA batteries, AC adapter (optional: PS-P515U), or USB bus power
Tripod socket hole

Thanks to all for all the pointers.

[nick a]

"I am looking to get a pocket-size device to record myself practicing, or a rehearsal, and play it back on the spot at slower tempo to be able to "put a magnifying glass" onto certain parts -- to hear more closely, with "more resolution" what I/we are doing in tempo and pitch."

i think theyre called metronomes

all kidding aside, i think its the simplest and best solution.

[Rob Gerety]

Don't do Apple. Their whole "proprietary world, walled garden" and "charge extra for otherwise similar products" strategies make them, for me, a dead-stop no-go. As a business guy/investor I admire their ability to capture margin from their customers - good for them, not so good for customers. For me as a personal buyer/consumer, I will always find open platforms at competitive costs. I work too hard for my money to give it to Apple and be locked into them. FWIW. Just my approach - and yes I'm aware of their market share in phones and mp3 players. I know I'm different and I either don't care or don't mind.

To each his own. I absolutely love my iPhone. Most useful piece of tech equipment I have ever owned. I use it constantly.

I agree it would be nice to have something like you describe. If I search and find an iPhone app that does just that I take it you would not be interested?

[chriss]

i think theyre called metronomes

The metronome is part of the solution but you're not seeing the point or the technique.

I got this approach from my instructor, who has an older cassette recorder that plays back slow. He records himself, me, or us playing WITH A METRONOME ticking in the background. Then we play back slow, and we can hear better where we/he/I play on, and off, the beat. Try it some time. It has indeed been quite revealing and has been a very helpful training aid. So I want one I can use myself anytime, not just in the lesson. I'm sure I'll learn more sooner, how to make my rhythm's sound how I want to sound.

[chriss]

To each his own. I absolutely love my iPhone. Most useful piece of tech equipment I have ever owned. I use it constantly.

I agree it would be nice to have something like you describe. If I search and find an iPhone app that does just that I take it you would not be interested?

Don't know why you'd ask that question. Did you not read my logic in my previous post? If your logic leads you to Apple I'm ok with that. I don't like the Apple Kool-aid. Too expensive, I can get better cheaper elsewhere. Doesn't bother me that you+ others DO like their Kool-aid.

[Rob Gerety]

Okeedokee.

[chriss]

Bought a TASCAM DR-05 recently and am very happy with it. Very good mics, recording, + playback quality, set recording levels auto or manually, runs on AA batt's, and can slow down playback by 1/2. Or speed up by 1.5x, dynamically, on the fly, as you're playing back. Has a little speaker on board or you can use external speakers or headphones. Tons of options- external mics/input, stereo/mono, recording formats etc, playback (select a section to loop etc), very nice little package, just what I was looking for, $99.

Thx all for the input. Now back to the mando.