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New Tool:
HHb FlashMic DRM85
Continuing in Transom's tradition of reviewing the new digital
field gear for radio reporting, our Tools Editor Jeff Towne has
just finished testing the HHb FlashMics, in both cardioid and
omni versions. He posits, "What if you could have a good
interview mic, and not worry about cables, or phantom power, or
whether the mic is compatible with your recorder? What if you
could hold it and operate it with one hand? Well, you can." This
is a unique field recorder, albeit expensive and with a few
other downsides--but, depending on your requirements, certainly
a tool you should check out.
New Tool:
Olympus LS-10
TOOLS Editor Jeff Towne has been living and working with another
of the new little digital recorders and just added his review to
our roster. Like all Jeff's reviews, it approaches the machine
from the radio producer's perspective, complete with lots of
photos, sound tests, and a comparision chart. The Olympus LS-10,
depending on your needs, is pretty close to the mark... and it's
cute, especially when it's wearing its little earmuff windscreens.
New Tool:
Sony PCM-D50
Transom is committed to testing new tools for public radio producers. To
that end, our TOOLS editor Jeff Towne has reviewed a lot of the new small
digital recorders. They're getting better. In fact, of the Sony PCM-D50,
Jeff says, "Among all the small handheld flash recorders, the Sony D50
certainly is near the front of the pack. It does most things right,
with only a few minor problems, and no tragic flaws." So, it's not quite
perfect, but if you're in the market, you should check out this review.
New Tool:
Marantz 620
For the Season of Gifts, we have a Jeff Towne review of another tiny new digital audio recorder, this time the Marantz PMD620. The 620 is getting pretty close to the mark, but still has a few weird quirks that may drive you crazy, or maybe you can work around them. Check out all Jeffs thorough, radio producer-specfic reviews at Transom—lots of pictures, details from field use, comparision charts, and audio samples with various microphones.
New Tool:
Zoom H2
Adding to his reviews of new digital audio recorders, our Tools Editor
Jeff Towne now presents a comprehensive test of the Zoom H2, focusing
on field recording for radio. As ever, it aint perfect, but it has some
unusual capabilities, along with the customary weaknesses common among
these little machines. Jeff says, The Zoom H2 is a very convenient small
recorder, and can give remarkably good sound when using its internal
microphones. Its especially good at picking up musical performances
or collecting stereo ambiences of events that are at least moderately
loud. Come by Transom to see the full review and listen to sample
recordings.
Tascam HD-P2Jeff Towne writes, "Anyone lugging gear around to interviews or events is always hoping for a device that's small, sounds good and will run for long periods on batteries. It wasn't too terribly hard to find a recorder that was two of those things, but all three has been elusive. As data storage gets faster, smaller and cheaper, those goals start seeming more achievable. But do any existing recorders actually include all of those attributes? How about inexpensive, durable, and easy-to-use?"
This week, Transom adds another review of a portable digital recorders: the Tascam HD-P2.
Audio School
Producer Erin Mishkin has begun developing a with youth, for youth series of audio guides to the art of radio. Transom and PRX are featuring three pilot pieces. Erin wants your thoughts about these modules. Are they instructional, inspirational? What others would you want to hear? Let us know what you need, and we’ll work with Erin and PRX to create more.
Road Trip Radio
Lisa Tharpe is on a journey. She's taking a year's leavefrom her teaching job to make her own "personal independent study in radio...making it up as I go along, traveling around the country visiting friends and family and random interesting places, interviewing anyone who will let me." As part of our "Beginnings" series, Transom will follow Lisa's progress. She'll post along the way; you can ask her questions and travel with her vicariously.
A Beginner's Guide to Pro Tools
We understand. You like discussions about narrative structure as much as the next person, but what you really want is for your computer to work with your audio. Okay. Eli Kao and Jeff Towne have put together a really handy multi-part primer on working Pro Tools, tailored specifically for radio producers. It covers everything from what to buy to set-up to editing to mixing to the final bounce. It's illustrated and down-to-earth and answers most of the questions any producer would have. We’ll talk about narrative structure next.
Mic Shootout Part Two: Handheld Mics
Our TOOLS Editor Jeff Towne is back with the final episode of the Mic Shootout, this time for field-recording gear. A handful of handhelds squares off in a controlled environment. You get to listen to audio files of each mic and decide which you like best. Then, flip the page to see which mic goes with which audio. Educational and Fun.
Sound Devices 722 Digital Recorder
Generally on Transom, we review good quality, low-cost, simple-to-operate gear. We are interested in getting useful tools into the hands of many. But we are also equipment freaks. We can't help it. Many of our visitors make their livings gathering sound and they want the best available tool. With that in mind, we borrowed a Sound Devices 722 Digital Recorder (it records to its own hard drive and to removable compact flash) and had our TOOLS Editor Jeff Towne spend a week with it.
Read Jeff's thorough review, and, if you can't afford this machine, check our reviews of more affordable options like the M-Audio Microtrack 24/96, or Marantz PMD660, or the venerable Sony TC-D5M cassette recorder.
The Pen is Easier than the Mic
From time to time, Transom features articles on How to Begin. This time, writer Bill McKibben (The New Yorker, The Atlantic, "The End of Nature," etc.) picks up a microphone and begins making a radio piece. He tells us what it was like. His article links to both the radio and the print pieces that came from his reporting. For anyone considering the switch from print to radio, this will be edifying.
Setting Up a Small Studio
Here at Transom we wanted to add a small production/recording studio, so we asked our TOOLS Editor, Jeff Towne, what gear he'd recommend. In about ten seconds, he wrote a fifteen page email, detailing everything we'd need-- with explanations, philosophy, photos, high and low budget options, and links to the best deals on the Internet. Thanks, Jeff. Maybe this should be a column?
M-Audio Microtrack 24/96
 We like new tools, and this one is cute, useful, and cheap. It's one of the current generation of Compact Flash digital recorders, distinguished by its small size, many radio producer-friendly features, and a street price of $350 - $400. Our TOOLS Editor Jeff Towne ran the Microtrack through its paces and has a thorough review for you.
Transom Microphone Shootout
 Okay, if you are even a little bit techie, you're going to love this. It's Part One of a most fabulous online Microphone Shootout. It was conducted by our TOOLS Editor, Jeff Towne, in cooperation with the Association of Independents in Radio (AIR) and Indre Studios in Philadelphia, and it's fun because you get to play along. Like a blind taste-test.
The Marantz PMD 660
 Our Tools editor Jeff Town takes the Marantz PMD 660 field recorder around the block and he tells you what
he likes and what he doesn't. This thing will fit in the palm of your hand (if you have a very big
palm, but still...), it runs on double-A batteries, has XLR mic
inputs with phantom power, records to Compact Flash cards, and transfers the
resultant files via USB to any Mac or PC for handy importing into
digital editing software. And, it's pretty cheap. Under $500.
 The Sony TC-D5M
Hard drive recorders may soon eclipse older portable gear. We'll be
the first to test them. But in the last few weeks before that happens,
we're posting the basic instructions to the TCD-5M portable cassette rigs we loan out, plus PDFs of the
Owner's Manual and even the Service Manual. For posterity.
Shout Out
A Kid's Guide to Recording Stories
Born of the experience of Katie Davis, who
has been a foreign reporter, a writer, and a host of All Things
Considered, but mainly she works with kids in the neighborhood where
she grew up and still lives. This has taught Katie what
kids need to get started in recording and gathering stories, and she
has laid it out in a simple guide with pictures. Come download it and
find a good way to use it where you live. |
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