Portable audio recording in the past could often be a difficult and awkward process. If you had the right microphone plugged into a particular recorder and if all the planet’s were in total planetary alignment you might have been able to actually record something! Those days are a thing of the past thanks to an incredible range of portable recorders released by respected manufacturers Yamaha, Roland/Boss and Zoom. The only problem of having so many choices available, is trying to decide on which one is best suited for your recording purposes. Listed below are some quick overviews of a few popular recorders, use this as a guide to help you narrow down your purchase options.

The Yamaha Pocketrak CX is very small in physical size but packs some serious technological clout. Yamaha have included a generous 2GB micro-SD memory card and a long lasting “eneloop” battery. It features a 90 degree X-Y microphone configuration which allows for a very realistic stereo capture. Another handy feature particularly for musicians is the speed adjustment function which allows you to adjust the playback speed from 70% to 150%. External microphones can be used with the CX, often resulting in higher quality recordings. The Pocketrak CX has an on-board speaker and is also stand mountable. A wind screen, microphone stand adaptor, micro SD (2GB) and carrying case are also included in the pack.

Another very popular option which might meet your portable recording needs is the Zoom H2. The H2 features a pair of stereo X-Y microphones bringing it’s mic count to a total of four! The microphones are placed both front and back for logistical reasons and due to this design it allows for a pseudo surround sound capture. Zoom have included a measly 512MB SD memory card but since SD cards are so inexpensive these days it is not much of an issue. Overall the Zoom H2 represents excellent value for money and it should have a place on your final list of candidates.

Check out our detailed Zoom H2 review here

The Zoom H4 has been superseded by the H4n which is scheduled to be released in Australia around April 2009. The H4n is set to be the premium pick of portable recorders judging by the comprehensive feature-set listed on Zoom’s website! What I really like about the H4n is it’s ability to use any type of microphone including phantom powered condenser mic’s. Another amazing feature of the H4n is it’s ability to capture four tracks at one time using the two internal microphones as well as the two built-in inputs. This is a first for any recorder of this type and it opens the door to a myriad of recording options and scenario’s. The H4n can also be used as a USB sound interface for your Mac or PC computer. There are way too many H4n features to list in this quick overview, look out for our full review when the product is finally released. From this round-up it is safe to say that my money will be on the Zoom H4n…literally!

Posted in Recording.