Multi-Channel Recorders
From Ambisonia
Contents |
[edit] Standalone recorders
There are a number of portable recorders that can record the four channels required for ambisonics. However, setting the gain alignment between channels repeatably may be a problem. (links to follow)
[edit] Edirol R4/ R4Pro
The R4 is a very robust recorder although original version suffered from less than fantastic pre-amps which were not ganged and difficult to calibrate. There have even been reports of the pre-amps in some of the original R4s not all being in phase with one-another.
The R4s successor, the R4Pro vastly improves on pre-amp performance and adds timecode synchronisation as well as other improvements in functionality. However, precise calibration of pre-amps is still difficult and metering is not up to the standards one might expect of a 'Pro' unit. The R4Pro can record up to 24bit/ 192Khz and sound quality is now exremely good. Operation is very straightforward and battery life is commendable even when providing phantom power to all four pre-amps. For ambisonic recording, the performance/ cost ratio of the R4Pro is hard to beat.
[edit] Sound Devices 744T
Can record 4 channels but only offers 2 channels of pre-amp. Sound quality is second to none and durability is generally highly regarded. Some reports of Sound Devices being susceptible to high humidity. The 744 is remarkably compact and all controls are front mounted.
[edit] Computer-based recording
It is becoming common to use computers to record sound directly to disk. This has the advantage of being able to handle the number of channels required directly.
There are a considerable number of interfaces that can be used, but the MOTU Traveler has a number of advantages:
- It has four microphone preamps,
- The preamp gains are set digitally, and hence repeatably,
- Although not cheap, it is far from expensive.
A wide range of software can be used to record the input. The choice should consider whether the files are written directly, or to a temporary area that is copied at the end of recording (this can be a slow and fragile process). DAW software such as WaveLab can be used, or an effective solution can be built out of software components using a host such as Plogue Bidule or AudioMulch.
