Portable Recorder Review: Yamaha Pocketrak 2G

Links
• The Blessing - band featured in recordings
• Rob Chapman guitar dude

Pocket Recorder Video Reviews:
• M-Audio Microtrack 2

Pricing
Available now $450, £289, €376

Great review. However, there was no mention of handling noise when recording. This would be useful to know in future reviews.

18-Nov-08 11:22 AM

Thanks, Saxon. As for handling noise, I recorded a whole section of the review using the unit itself... in my hand... so you can hear for yourself. To be honest, it was pretty good in this respect; you can hear a 'click' when I physically move the on-board mic, obviously, but apart from that it's pretty quiet.

Andy Mac

18-Nov-08 12:51 PM

Yes, the self-noise levels of these units is very important. Please try to include something about this in future reviews.

19-Nov-08 07:15 PM

Excellent review and a very cool piece of kit! The use of fixed criteria to compare the recorders is very good as well.

21-Nov-08 11:57 AM

Thanks for the excellent review! I just can't find the sound files you mentioned...? Regarding noise: it would be very helpful for comparing devices if they would all record "hot air" at the same time. Just like you did with the guitar. Can't wait for the rest of the bunch!

24-Nov-08 02:06 PM

Hi Sebastian; FR, etc. - thanks for the comments. Let me know the detailed self-noise test you'd like to see, and I'll try to include it. I didn't so far, as there are many different ways of approaching it; if Auto-gain/limiting is used, this will affect things; also internal mics may not be very good, and folks may be using Line inputs or External Mics in many cases. If you can think of a realistic test which is suitable for use across many models, I'll have a go.

Andy

26-Nov-08 06:08 AM

Hi Andy,

thanks for asking, I really appreciate it! Personally, I don't care about scientific SNR measurements, I'd just keep it simple: auto-gain off, using internal mics and a normal gain that looks healthy with standard testing voice. If there's a Hi/Lo gain switch it might be a good idea to turn it to maximum sensitivity, though. If you like, you could record sth like "Hi this is a self-noise test!" with all device at the same time. Then we can compare easily by putting the resulting files on our workstations and adjusting the levels of these words to the very same value. That would be perfect comparing!

Thanks for the great work! Cheers, Sebastian

27-Nov-08 08:37 AM

+1 for a self noise test. For example try of recording the silence of your control room with a reference sound to link up gains (Actually just wat Sebastian suggested). Remember field recording as an important appliance for these devices and their intenal mics (wind noise for example could be an issue). Also, looking forward the the mentioned links to the recordings.

27-Nov-08 04:35 PM

Ok guys, I'll do a down & dirty noise test; it won't be lab-style [though I did actually analyse many of them using an Audio Precision test set - but the video review format has to be condensed].

My 'control room' is hardly silent, though - I'll do it at the dead of night; the vampire noise test ;-)

As for the sound files, they're coming - when a few more reviews are up, I'll do a page with a comparison table and all the files. Thanks for all your comments.

Andy

28-Nov-08 06:23 PM

is the poketrak 2G good for recording metal? my band and i need something cheap and reliable and i as the drummer need to know if this can handle metal especially metal drums. so please get back to me ASAP thank you

30-Mar-09 11:21 PM

is the poketrak 2G good for recording metal? my band and i need something cheap and reliable and i as the drummer need to know if this can handle metal especially metal drums. so please get back to me ASAP thank you

30-Mar-09 11:21 PM

is the poketrak 2G good for recording metal? my band and i need something cheap and reliable and i as the drummer need to know if this can handle metal especially metal drums. so please get back to me ASAP thank you

30-Mar-09 11:22 PM

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