Which is better: recording straight to laptop or straight to voice recorder?

[treble]

Is there a difference in sound quality? Is there a difference at all?

????

[nooneimportant77]

That depends on the laptop and voice recorder.

I'd say just go right into the laptop to save time.

[KMProductions]

Usually the less transferring and copying you do the better.

[toppie34]

i would suggest laptop just because they ausually have better recording quality but if you have a very high quality voice recorder use that

[beaucomix]

well i think it depends on the camera and computer. if you have a 1000 dollar camera then you will probaly get better sound from the camera then laptop.

[nooneimportant77]

well i think it depends on the camera and computer. if you have a 1000 dollar camera then you will probaly get better sound from the camera then laptop.

Not really. It doesn't matter how expensive your camera is, you're compressing that audio down to whatever medium the camera uses. I can record in 48 bit on my computer, DV tapes usually go to about 12 bit.

[beaucomix]

like i said it depends on the camera and computer. i got a older laptop and the voice qulity not as good as my camera so it can go ether way.

[nooneimportant77]

I still sorta doubt that you're getting higher quality out of your camera, and it's the computers fault.

[beaucomix]

Well it isnt really its just old and the jacks old and probaly worn out.

[paradox_qu]

I would say laptop. And with your laptop you can use and audio interface and record multiple audio signals on different tracks, instead of just combining them to a single track, like on a voice recorder.

[WesScog]

Audio Recorder is DEFINITELY better. It records at a much much higher quality than is generally found in recording software, and is using hardware dedicated to picking up sounds.

But this of course depends on the recorder and the laptop, I mean are you using the built in condenser on the laptop is going to be crap compared to even a very cheap recorder.

But if you're using another kind of mic, and recording on set, thats another hassle.

I mean, what precisely are you doing? Are you recording stuff on set with your laptop, or are you dubbing in lines afterwards?

[beaucomix]

what does that mean my computers fucked up!?!?!?!?! and hello Senior Member!!!!!!!!

[treble]

Just for more info, Im using an atr55 mic. How about that? Would a laptop be good enough? I got an acer laptop that runs on microsoft.

Also, if I have to get a recorder what would you guys suggest? plz tell me more than just one (everyone says zoom h2 or h4).

[treble]

I just remembered that i have a ds-40 or ds-50 from olympus. Is that a good type of recorder?

[Skycarl]

what does that mean my computers fucked up!?!?!?!?! and hello Senior Member!!!!!!!!

No, it means you need a better audio editing program that has
a higher rate. Or it may be the microphone you are using that's
connected to the computer. Are you using an audio interface or
just connecting to the sound card with an adapter?
If you are using a built-in mic or a head set mic then it will never
sound good. If your mic is picking up a range of 50Hz to 15KHz
like a Shure and is getting it to your software that is converting
it to digital and your bit sampling is 48 to 96, then you should
have good audio captured. For example, let's say you have
an ATR-55 condenser or a Shure M57 dynamic mic.
You run that into a M-Audio audio interface into your laptop.
That goes into your software like Audacity (which is free) or
Cubase Lite or any program that will convert to 96Kbits/
44.100Khz, when recorded will sound as good as any
digital recorder.

I wrote an article for Doublestop magazine a while back.
It was for recording at home. You might want to check
it out. Here is the link http://www.doublestopmagazine.com/2007/recording/

[tambrm1016]

No, it means you need a better audio editing program that has
a higher rate. Or it may be the microphone you are using that's
connected to the computer. Are you using an audio interface or
just connecting to the sound card with an adapter?
If you are using a built-in mic or a head set mic then it will never
sound good. If your mic is picking up a range of 50Hz to 15KHz
like a Shure and is getting it to your software that is converting
it to digital and your bit sampling is 48 to 96, then you should
have good audio captured. For example, let's say you have
an ATR-55 condenser or a Shure M57 dynamic mic.
You run that into a M-Audio audio interface into your laptop.
That goes into your software like Audacity (which is free) or
Cubase Lite or any program that will convert to 96Kbits/
44.100Khz, when recorded will sound as good as any
digital recorder.

I wrote an article for Doublestop magazine a while back.
It was for recording at home. You might want to check
it out. Here is the link http://www.doublestopmagazine.com/2007/recording/

Great article Carl. I book marked it for future reference.

[rick3000]

It completely depends on your equipment. If your using a Zoom recorder ($200+) then that is going to be the best was to go. But if your using a $30-60 voice recorder then using a computer is the best solution. But this also depends on how much your care about your sound quality.

[Trekdude]

Actually putting the quality of your laptop vs the quality of the voice recorder out of the picture. The REAL question you are asking is portable vs bulky. Laptops you cant run around with mobile and voice recorder you can.

[NerdWithNoLife]

I have a Zoom H2 recorder too (was around $180) and to me it is far more convenient than a laptop. I have a 4GB memory card so it can record hours of sound at up to a 96k sampling rate. The included 4 microphones do fine and there are several ways to record with them, even with each of them on a separate channel if you want. You can even hook up another mic, mixer, or other device too, so I don't see much of a reason to lug around a laptop. It even comes with a handle you can screw into the H2 to mount it on a mic stand. I've used the H2 as a boom mic. It's exactly what I needed.

[Pablo585]

I have a Zoom H2 recorder too (was around $180) and to me it is far more convenient than a laptop. I have a 4GB memory card so it can record hours of sound at up to a 96k sampling rate. The included 4 microphones do fine and there are several ways to record with them, even with each of them on a separate channel if you want. You can even hook up another mic, mixer, or other device too, so I don't see much of a reason to lug around a laptop. It even comes with a handle you can screw into the H2 to mount it on a mic stand. I've used the H2 as a boom mic. It's exactly what I needed.
How do you connect the Zoom H2 to a boom pole? Do you do it Rickvanman's way?

[Skycarl]

You can attach a mic to the H2 just like connecting to a camera.
The H2 will be my next purchase for equipment. They are great. You can get one
for $160 USD if you go with the 560meg card. That should be plenty for what I want to do.