The recorder is the first piece of equipment generally purchased for field recording, and there are many models to choose from, each with its own qualities and shortcomings.
Each device is designed for a different workflow, and here I review the ones I’ve chosen after several years of testing the market standards.
Nagra LB
Nagra is the brand behind field recording, which began with the brand’s first tape recorders. They are world-renowned for their uncompromising sound quality, durability and, of course, price.
I found my feet straight away, because like all professional devices, you don’t have to go to the menu to find what you want, and functions are accessed by buttons arranged in a natural way, so nothing is left to chance.
Sound quality is on a par with the brand’s reputation, better than Zoom and Mixpre from Sound devices, with a depth of sound and a truly stunning realism.
Sound Devices Mixpre 3/6
I couldn’t pass up the opportunity to try out the Sound Devices mixpre, a recorder that has been the center of attention for its quality and ease of use, making it a compact, professional device at a rather high price.
The price is justified by the sound quality, which is first-rate, and the construction, which is made for world-wide use.
The only drawback is the power supply, as it consumes a lot of power and firmware is unable to correct this defect. I use the adapter for 2 NP-F batteries, which gives me great autonomy, replacing the battery pack, which can be used for troubleshooting.
A great device if you can’t afford a Nagra.
Zoom F3 with it’s 32bits float recording capability is the real plus. The sound quality improvement are not noticeable in front of Tascam DR100 MkIII . Everything has been described about this device and it works perfectly as an all-purpose machine for field recording. The big negative point is the headphone output which is not as good as the Tascam on this point and the unfiltered supply when you powered it with USB during recording.
Tascam DR100 mkIII
The Tascam DR100 mk3 is an underrated recorder. Tascam is a long-established brand in the world of studio and portable recording, from the first portastudio that made multitrack accessible to the greatest number of users. The recording quality of the DR100 is incredible. The sound is clear, fine and full of detail, with low background noise, all in a very portable format.
Its XLR inputs (48V Phantom) give it the best performance, opening up the possibility of using high-end professional microphones. The DR100 is also equipped with a high-capacity internal battery, and can also be used with 2 AA batteries.
A device made to last which, with its metal casing, will be with you for many years. It’s one of the recorders I use for sound recording, and it’s become the recorder I use in the workshop to test microphones, thanks to its simplicity and quality.
SQN mixer – SQN 3M & SQN 4S IVe
3-channel mixer with mono output designed for the Nagra tape recorder. The SQN mixer has been used by countless journalists and film engineers around the world… you’ve probably heard the SQN sound without even knowing it!
Designed to withstand the harshest treatment. Incredibly high quality preamps are the ideal complement to the NAGRA LB when you’re looking for a special flavor. They’re also capable of handling large peaks without overload, and the built-in analog limiter is often considered one of the best on portable equipment.
This mixer works in stereo with all the qualities that SQN can bring to the sound. It opens the door to Earsight and Audio technica BP4025 / AT4022 microphones with first-rate quality.
Sonosax SX-M2D2
This little preamp is a real Swiss Army knife, and it’s not made in Switzerland for nothing…
Analog preamp, digital preamp, headphone amp, AES inputs and outputs… its construction is uncompromising and its qualities are as top-level as NAGRA’s. The sound delivered by this pocket-sized preamp is incredible, and it’s become my main preamp that I use for all my tests. Coupled to the Tascam with a Spdif digital link, I’ve got an ultra-high-end combo that’s uncompromisingly portable.
A few of the links that I propose on this page are links affiliated with Thomann.de, the principle is that if you buy the equipment by clicking on the link. I get a very small commission that allows me to keep the website on the go, so you don’t pay more. You are free not to buy via this link or to buy where you want, I encourage you to check the prices on several websites to be sure to get the best price. I chose the Thomann affiliate program because I bought a major part of my equipment on this site and I never had any problems.
