Whether you’re a filmmaker, podcaster, or a student trying to take notes at lectures, you would likely benefit from a portable recorder. But with so many types of portable recorders on the market, it might be helpful to break down the categories to see which one best fits your needs. So, here’s a brief but useful guide on portable recorder options and their various applications.
Lavalier Recorders
Lavalier recorders can be a great choice for weddings or in situations where you don’t want to be tied to a camera or phone. The groom can wear a belt pack recorder with an SD card, like the TASCAM DR-10L, and record the vows straight to the device. You can then sync it to the video in post-production.
For those vlogging or making videos on the go, you might want to be wirelessly connected to your mobile device to get added timecode support and other extra functions. Recorders, such as the Tentacle Sync TRACK E and PR-2 from Deity Microphones (as well as the TASCAM DR-10L), also have 32-bit float recording, which removes the need to set gain levels precisely and eliminates digital clipping on the recording side—although you do still have to take care not to overload the lav’s mic capsule.
Some lavalier recorders, like the RODE Wireless Pro, even have on-board microphones, saving you the hassle and money of investing a dedicated lavalier mic.
Personal and Dictation Recorders
If you’re looking for a simple and compact recorder that works for dictation, notes, and lecture recordings, there are a number of budget-friendly options with generous functionality and solid sound quality. Many have built-in storage, as well as SD card expansion, such as the Sony ICD-UX570. And for lectures, where you might need to direct the microphone towards a subject who is positioned a few feet away from you, consider a recorder with a mic system that has adjustable directivity, like the LS-P5 from Olympus.
All-in-One Recorders
While recorders with internal mics are perfect for simple voice recording, recorders with external mic inputs offer greater creative flexibility. And if you’re a content creator or musician, there are a few great all-in-one recorders that can record everything from podcasts to live music performances. Check out the TASCAM Portacapture X8. Featuring 4 XLR-1/4” mic/line inputs, this device is versatile and beginner-friendly with several preset modes designed for specific applications, including podcast, music, voice, and field recording. With a large color touchscreen and straightforward application platform, the Portacapture makes it virtually impossible to screw up a recording or to get lost in technical challenges. Furthermore, its 32-bit float point recording technology and separate high gain and low gain A/D converters mean that loud sounds are less likely to reach distortion and quiet sounds won’t get overtaken by noise. In short, you won’t need to be preoccupied with your gain settings while podcasting.
Employing a similar design to the TASCAM model above, the Zoom H8 is perhaps an even easier-to-use portable recorder with a comparable set of features and functions. You’ll have three different modes that configure the touchscreen for podcasting, music, and field recording.
Field Recorders
For filmmaking and other high-level content creation, it’s helpful to invest in a professional field recorder, such as the TASCAM FR-AV2. Designed for use with camera rigs, the FR-AV2 generates and reads timecode via 3.5mm in/out for timecode capable cameras, saving you syncing time in post-production. You’ll also get two get 2 XLR/TRS combo mic/line inputs for your shotgun mics, while the 3.5mm stereo input allows you to integrate wireless microphones and lavalier mics. Like some of the examples above, the FR-AV2 has 32-Bit float recording, which means you’ll avoid any clipping.
In situations where you’re dealing with sensitive recording, it’s important to have extremely low-noise floor, high gain mic preamps, as featured in the Zoom F6. And thanks to 32-bit float recording, you can record high and low volume signal at full quality, making adjusting gain unnecessary. It can also generate time code, making it perfect for use with cameras. Furthermore, the F6 offers an AutoMix feature that automatically adjusts levels to reduce the amount of ambient sound in your recordings. Finally, the device also works as a 6-in/4-out audio interface at up to 24-bit / 96 kHz, allowing you to connect and record straight to your computer.
For more information about the portable recorders mentioned, including additional features, specs, and highlights, be sure to check out our detailed product pages.
