Unit 4 - Task 3 Aim B

Unit 4 - Task 3 Aim B

This pro-production report would be expressing the importance on professional recording and editing equipment, and on recording techniques and procedures.

• Digital Recording Devices.

A solid state (disk), which is also known as a SSD, has the same function has hard drives which includes the internal and based on a semiconductor. This simply means that solid state electronic devices are created by solid components that do not actually move. An example of this would be; computer motherboards and even integrated circuits and flash memory devices.

A digital recording device simply means that the device converts sound such as audio into a folder (file) that is digital which allows the movement of one electronic device to another device that is probably used in a computer and smartphone.

A Audacity is a common audio editor and recorder software that is used to edit and record audio. This is a free editor that is used on MAC, Windows and Linux systems.

A Bias Peak is a common digital editing audio system for Macintosh (there is a peak 4 and peak pro 6) for other application systems, this one is used especially for a stereo recording, to create loops and sample editing.

A Adobe Audition is another type of audio application from the systems of Adobe which has a non-destructive environment for edits but has a destructive environment for the editing view. This device is used for Windows. It is has a very flexible work flow throughout its recording studio which is multitrack which is important for radio broadcasts, audio and for video recording and to create loops for music and videos.

A Pro Tool is another audio application that is digital which is used in Windows and OS X created by Avid Technology. This device can run as a standalone software, which means it could operate independently. It could also operate using a huge amount of external converters and internal PCI Local Bus (PCI) or their audio cards.

A Cubase is a software that cuts the outer parts of audio. This is commonly used by professionals as it could be difficult to use. This audio application has a outstanding instinctive handing, This software creates the best possible recording and editing and mixing of sounds. This is not a free software as you would have to pay for it but there is also a free trial like many other softwares.

A Audiodesk is a software which is made for the use of engineering, media and manufacturing etc. This has a multi-track recording and is used for editing, processing and mastering also. This type of software does not allow artificial (fake) limitations when you use a amount of tracks that you are working with. This means that unlimited soundtracks means that the Audio Desk is set up and ready for as many tracks your device such as computer, laptop, etc would allow. This software also allows you to process and master whilst offline.

What i have learned and put into my own work and understanding is that i would need to be careful of what software i would need to use for my audio, so for example a application that is good quality and fits my needs for my audio would be the an audacity which is simple to use and it is for free which would allow me to cut, edit and master and most importantly process my audios and videos. However, one software that would not help me or benefit me is the Cubase software, which does not allow you to record audios, it only allows you to edit and cut, and for my audio i would need a software that can do a lot of processing.

• Handheld and Portable Digital Recorders

Zoom - This type of recorder is quite cheap, the cheapest retailing for £69. This type of recorder is very good for recording, broadcasting live and especially for professional film work. This is a very useful recorder as it ha a robust build up and it is very simple to use and is portable. The quality of the recorder is also very good and high. It has been the favourite audio and video for everyone everywhere due to its quality. This has a H6 zoom which has a input capsule of shotgun, MS, S/Y and TRS/XLR Combo.

Olympus® - The cheapest type retails for £36. This is also a handheld portable digital recorder that basically has many different recorders and cameras. The Olympus which is the newest that is the LS-P4 which captures audio and video, music, interviews etc. with the quality of professional work. It is small which fits into your pocket, which is a benefit, it has a type of Hi-Res audio recording that it doesn't matter where you are, it would capture the audio.

Alesis - The cheapest type of recorder retails for £106. This is a type of company for products used for music, it creates audio processors which are digital, electronic musical instruments, audio mixers etc. This type of equipment that this company has produced helps musicians, and others create a clear audio recording but producing and editing, mixing, recording. There are speakers, IO Mix, IO Docks, and Elevates which allow to record and mix. These could be portable but not handheld as it requires connection to a device like a computer or laptop and recorder that all needs to be plugged in.

Tascam - The cheapest Tascam recorder retails for £75. This type of audio recorder which is handheld portable. This closely relates to the Zoom recorder and also the Olympus as they are handheld and it fits into a pocket size. This type of recorder is omnidirectional meaning that the audio quality is excellent. This is similar to the Olympus which means it can record in a MP3 view but also as a WAV set up. This has a microphone input that you can connect to a stereo.

Yamaha® - The cheapest Yamaha is £136 as a piano. This company produces a lot of products and is created in Japan. Their have a well known company that creates recorders, pianos, power spot equipments and also electronics. They have mixers for audio recordings such as the Yamaha MG06X Mixer, this has good sound quality and is perfect for recording music and live shows.

Roland - The cheapest Roland product is the headphones retailing for £133. This is another Japanese company, that creates, audio recorders which are handheld, musical instruments, electronic equipments. Roland R-26 is seen to be a good recorder which has a six-track recording and a XLR dual input, with again high quality audio. It is touch screen which helps navigating the features which are complicated. However it is the most expensive on the market, and the downside is that the microphones are not adjustable, this recorder retails for £399.

Sony® - This company is the most common one for electronics as it is preferred by many people. Its cheapest recorder retails for £23. The PX333 Mono Digital Voice Recorder PX Series has features such as a recording and playback which is high quality and you can listen to it back through the 300mW front speaker, is has a time built for 1073 hours, an intelligent noise cut and a LSD display and advanced recording that has high and low sensitivity, supplied accessories such as USB cable, Sound Organiser and good AAA batteries supplied.

Fostex - The fostex company as many electronics, its cheapest recorder retails for £169. This company just like Roland creates many electronics such as loudspeakers, microphones, headphones etc. The advantages for this recorder is that it is easy to use, good audio quality, small and portable and very comfortable, it’s audio is easily transferable to the computers. The disadvantages is that Mac users need a type of card reader for the audio transfer, there are no virtual tracks, and there are not many features like the other recorder companies have. The most expensive one with good quality is £349.

Marantz - This is a company which creates audio products such as recorders, amplifiers and systems. The best recorder produced by them is the PMD661mkII, this retails for £340, it has a record directly to stable and reliable SD flash media, is is handheld and has a compact rugged design, is also has a built-in studio grade and a stereo condenser microphone array, the cons would be that is has a lanyard attachment and a hand noise.

• sound in-camera (fixed or detached microphone on camera)

A definition of a sound in camera is simply different types of microphones that have a audio with camera that is either detached or fixed with a cable or handheld. In regards to my work, this camera would not be useful as i am doing an acapella recording and interviews which are not camera based but it is more audio recordings.

Fixed microphone on sound in camera - This is simply a microphone that is connected and fixed in but the manufacturers and is built in, therefore could not be taking out but is beneficial as this means it comes in a set and there would be no need to spend money on a seperate microphone. A disadvantage would be that this not have a good quality audio, therefore many people would then decide to get a seperate audio for it to have great and high quality.

Detached microphone on sound in camera - This is in complete contrast to the fixed microphone, it has a microphone that extends in length, it could be connect via bluetooth or a cable, so it means it can be handheld and not. This allows you to have the camera set in a fixed place , meaning the audio as to be close to the recorder for the best quality. A disadvantage could be that the microphone could be a heavy one and the camera would be heavy to pick up making it difficult to record, Detached microphones are pricier and they need more gear such as wind mufflers therefore this could be a downgrader for the product.

• Desktop Recorder & Multitrack & Stereo/Mono Recorders

Desktop recorder - A desktop recorder is simply a type of recording application for electronic systems such as computers and laptops. This allows you to record an audio or the screen very easily.  A DVDVideoSoft Free Screen Video Recorder is known to be the best one, it is has a record screen activities like on screen changes from microphone etc. it has the ability to record the screen video to MP4 files, it could be saved in BMP, JPEG, GIF, TGA or PNG formats, it also allows to edit such as resize, crop and rotate output images.

Multitrack Recorder - This recorder is a type of audio recording application that allows a lot of tracks to be recorded and edited all at the same time, by mixing, processing and perfecting. This was first created in 1995, meaning it has been in product retail for a very long time, and this is favoured by many people, that like to multi task, for creating videos or music audios such as beats combining and mixing, using effects such as singing and beat effects by using MTR.

Mono/Stereo Recorder - Mono recording is a type of recording that is used in cautious timing with audio, which benefits ones with stammer (static speaking). Many people use mono recordings as it is quick and done with one microphone, which means the audio is recorded straight away to the recorder. However, Stereo has two components (left and right inputs) this type of recording also takes in the sound effect surroundings. Stereo microphones also have array microphones for left and right inputs (uses a lot of microphones) this makes it very quick and simple to record and edit quickly.

Concluding my report, this research into the different digital audios and components for sound and techniques have gave me the knowledge of the type of recorders needed for specific applications and therefore, makes me understand the ones i would need especially for my audio project, which is the handheld microphone. This has helped me understand the cheapest and most expensive recorders that are on the market and helped me compare them by analysing and exploring their features and if they are worth being used. Overall, this has helped me understand various digital recording devices.