Christmas is coming - Digital Audio Recorder Recommendations?

DJ Life & Community General Discussion
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Christmas is coming - Digital Audio Recorder Recommendations?

Pretty simple - I need a non-computer method to record my sets when out and about.

I have used Ableton/Audacity on my computer at home - but as I’m bringing my computer out to less and less gigs these days, having something completely stand-alone is growing in importance.

I usually play off USB sticks with CDJs and a mixer and need something with a stereo input, can record 320 Mp3’s, and would love it to be battery operated as well for 8+ hours (just enough so I can stick it on the mixer for the night and grab it at the end, then send mixes out to all DJs involved).

DJTechTools has had some wonderful articles in the past - but they are outdated by years now. Most of the recorders I have seen are so packed with useless features that it just doesn’t make sense.

So what are you using, or what do you recommend?

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Tascam DR-40.

I use RCA to 1/4" cables to connect the recorder to the mixer record output. I alternate between recording “ambient” to get some crowd noise, and recording the “safety track” @ -12dB.

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775×722 177 KB

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Lol :stuck_out_tongue:

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Make sure you test record and get everything sorted out.

I have a Zoom H1 and I hooked it up to a Pioneer DJM 900 and the signal was too hot and it would clip. Nothing I could do to stop it.

I had to add a small mixer to attenuate the signal for recording.

Digital recorders are picky about their input.

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Another vote for Tascam.
Simple to use and you can record in different formats/bitrates

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Even weirder, I had a recorder that was fine for one gig, then clipped for the next…

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Good timing on this thread. Been wanting one myself. Just ordered a Tascam, so thanks to the peeps that recommended one.

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I can second the Tascam DR-40. Used by many pros.

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Zoom h4n, no complaints whatsoever.

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Can the Tascam DR-40 handle input directly from a mixer’s record output without attenuation to keep from clipping?

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Yes. But it’s not quite that simple. You do need to set the levels appropriately. The DR-40 can also record a “safety track” at -12dB…and that has sometimes saved me.

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I wonder if it’s related to the Pioneer’s way of showing levels and master atten. settings?

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See I don’t want or need to record ambient at all - it’s not something that interests me for a DJ set recording.

I’ve read about this with different recorders - and some folks recommend actual line attenuators which lower the output off the mixer to -12 by default. Apparently DJ mixers shoot a line level which is higher than the regular consumer grade line level - which makes sense but just makes for a pain when trying to record.

I know this wouldn’t be an issue for my mixer at home (the Rane TTM-56) because I can record from the AUX output which has it’s own variable volume control knob - but I know Pioneer mixers I encounter in the wild would run hot.

This is what gets complicated for everyone - and has really held me back from purchasing something up to this point where it’s really becoming a necessity rather than just a want.

I’m looking between the Zoom H1 (with attenuators) ~$100ish, Tascam DR-40 ~$140ish, Zoom H4N ~200ish, and then up from there.

Simplicity and battery life is the most important. The Zoom H4N seems to be taking the cake there but the price is higher than the others. Frankly I like the Zoom H5 and Zoom H6 because I could take the stupid extra mic off on the top (which is completely useless for my purpose) but is it worth the extra in price just so I can remove a “feature” from the device? I don’t know.

Either way, going to try and make a call before Christmas - have a gig on NYE I’d really like to record.