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AMS Handheld Recorders
Buyer's Guide
Handheld, portable recorders are very popular with AMS customers - and
for good reason.
You get on-the-go power with audio fidelity that gives much larger models a run for their money.
These little guys excel in practically any situation. Students, band members, reporters and filmmakers
alike will find endless ways to capture audio - all with a quality that was previously very difficult to achieve.
But where do you start when shopping for a model that will fit your needs? There are a lot of choices and the
specific features can differ greatly between various makes and models.
We hope this guide helps you
navigate your way
to the perfect handheld recorder.
Why would I want a handheld recorder?
The reason for the popularity of handheld recorders has to do with a number of factors.
First and foremost, these recorders are small enough to record anything, anywhere. From
laying down ideas for a new song or recording a speech, to compiling recordings of your
favorite concerts - these units have unlimited potential. This is achieved thanks to solid
state technology with no internal moving parts and battery operation for extreme portability.
Another great feature of these handheld recorders is their ease of use. Most models have
dedicated buttons giving you access to instant recording. And what would a mobile recorder
be without battery power? All of these units run on battery power for many hours of quality
recording time.
What kind of recording media do these units use?
All of these recorders use solid-state media such as SD or Compact Flash cards. SD and Compact Flash cards have become standard digital media in everything from digital cameras to keyboards. Because of the popularity of these cards, they are found at many electronics stores, including AMS.
Click here view the cards at AMS
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Do these recorders sound good?
You bet. Many of our customers are astounded by the sound quality they can achieve with these products. Thanks to advancements in audio technology, these units can record at sample rates higher than CD quality. With a little practice, you will understand the advantages of adjusting your recording quality settings in exchange for recording time. For example, with a 4 GB card, you can expect around 6 hours of recording time at CD-quality sound. This extends to 138 hours in MP3 quality. MP3 is a slightly lower sound quality than CD resulting in longer recording time.
Can I use my own microphones with these recorders?
Most of these handheld recorders include built-in microphones that are great for on-the-fly recording. Many of them also offer you the choice to use external microphones when more precise microphone placement is required. The connections for these external microphones differ from recorder to recorder. The most common types of connections you will find will be 1/8th inch and XLR inputs. Be sure to keep this in mind when matching your microphones to your new handheld recorder. Microphones are not the only thing you can use these recorders with, many incorporate line inputs that allow you to directly connect sources such as keyboards, drum machines, live feeds from the front-of-house mixer at a show and more.
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Once I have recorded something, how can I transfer the audio to a
useable format?
One of the most frequent questions we are asked is "how do I get this recording onto my iPod?" or "Now that I have recorded this, how do I burn it onto CD?" This couldn't be easier. Simply connect the recorder to your computer via a USB cable. Once connected, the recorder will show up as a drive on your desktop from which you can drag-and-drop files. Once you have these files on your computer, you can upload your MP3's to iTunes, burn your WAV files to a CD, or use them however you wish.
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