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Olympus Digital Audio Recorder

Enrique Watson — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 18:02:02 +0000

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Olympus voice recorders are known for their good quality, durability, and magnificent features which make audio recording optimal and high-class. One of the models which is rather commendable for it is good performance is the Olympus WS-400S Digital Recorder. It’s a very utile device which has a lot of features to offer. The following is a review of the device.

Design

It’s very simple and practical for each and everyday use because of it is compact size. The device is very handy and genuinely compact with the dimensions of 3.7″ x 1.5″ x 0.4″ and a weight of 1.6 ounces. It’s also a great-looking model with a white body and silver buttons. However, a lot more stains and scratches may show on a white-colored item like this, equated to other models which have darker colors.

The buttons of this device are easy sufficient to be used even by first-timers, and each one of them has a text label which suggests incisively what the button is employed for which makes navigation a lot easier. It operates on one Triple-A battery and you have the choice of using either an alkaline or rechargeable one. The alkaline battery may last up to 21 hours on LP mode recording. Although it does not have an external power source, altering the batteries would not be necessitated perpetually since the span of an alkaline battery is long sufficient for assorted days of use.

Display

The size of the display is 1.23 inches, huge sufficient to exclusively display all critical data necessitated for more comfortable navigation and operation of the device. The backlit LCD display has very clear pixel text that may be read without apparent effort beneath respective lighting conditions which makes it requiring little effort for any user to be competent to access whatsoever functions or features that he needs on the device.

Audio and Recording Features

The sound file that the device supports is solely WMA so if you’re looking for a device which may save files beneath MP3 or WAV formats, you might not want to get this one. However, this makes it having little impact for users to play the recorded files on the PC since most computers read WMA files. The unit has 1 GB internal memory which lets you store a lot of files of dissimilar lengths. The greatest or most complete or best possible length of recordings that you may save on the device depends on the type of sound quality that you will use for recording. There are six dissimilar modes for recording form the most eminent to the lowest quality: The Stereo XQ Mode may record up to 17 hours and 20 minutes of audio recordings, the Stereo HQ Mode may save up to 34 hours and 45 minutes of recordings, the Stereo SP Mode may store up to 69 hours and 35 minutes of recorded audio, the HQ Mode may save up to 69 hours and 35 minutes of recording, the SP Mode may store up to 137 hours of recordings, and the LP Mode may record audio files up to 272 hours and 25 minutes.

It’s very easy to access and coordinate your recordings in this device. There are five folders which you may store in and each one of them has the capacity of 200 files. The built-in 16mm dynamic speaker formulates a greatest or most complete or best possible output of 70 mW. The device has an earphone and microphone jack for private listening and better recording, but it also has a built-in stereo microphone which makes recording posing no difficulty for urgent instances.

Other Features

Like most Olympus voice recorders, the device is USB connectible to any PC so it’s very easy to save and edit files. The voice activation feature allows you to activate recordings with a simple voice command – no need to access the device by hand. It also has write shelter to prevent accidental deletions or changes in your files so you’re sure that everything in the device is secure and altogether high-quality.

Conclusion

Many humans are in search of Olympus voice recorders, and if you’re one of them, the Olympus WS-400S Digital Recorder is an splendid device. And for it is very lowpriced price, this model is unquestionably a safe buy.

Olympus Digital Audio Recorder Pic

Olympus Digital Audio Recorder Picture

Olympus Digital Audio Recorder Photo

Olympus Digital Audio Recorder Pic

Most helpful customer reviews

751 of 761 people found the following review helpful.
Excellent Digital Voice Recorder
By J. Lindell
I just ordered this Olympus VN-8100PC digital voice recorder a few days ago and so far it has worked pretty good. I had an older digital voice recorder, but it didn’t have a USB port, so I couldn’t transfer files to my PC which is what I wanted, so I bought this. I’ve made several recordings and transferred them to my PC and they sound good, all you do is plug it into a USB port on your computer and then you can access this device just like a USB thumb drive.

270 of 277 people found the following review helpful.
Great recorder
By Brian M. Kaplan
First bought the Sony that Amazon has at #1- it was actually not good in the fact that it picked up Iphone or other RF interference and ruined 2 of my recordings. Than I tried other Olympus recorders, and found them ok, but I really wanted stereo output and good battery life with little hissing. The Sony had A LOT of hiss in the recording. This one once you turn on the filter in playback eliminates practically all the hiss. Trust me I went through like 5 recorders before settling on this little guy. The only thing I wish it had was a way to add to a recording. Once you stop you have to record a new file, so be sure to just Pause. Probably the most amazing thing about this recorder is the battery life- While the Sony 820 ate up my batteries in one week of classes, this thing hasn’t even dropped a bar out of 3!!! Very impressed. Sometimes it takes some searching, but don’t buy the top two sellers when you can get this for the same price.

You won’t regret it! Plus the Sony comes with NO CASE!!!! I would of liked headphones, but that is not a big deal, the case that comes with this is so needed. Sony, I’m a little disappointed that your product wasn’t even close to what Olympus put out.

117 of 118 people found the following review helpful.
A very nice personal voice recorder
By A Conrad
This is a review for the Olympus WS-700M Digital Voice Recorder 142625 (Blue)

I needed a compact digital recorder for multiple purposes: To record my thoughts while away from my desk, To record myself for later transcription (via DragonSpeak), and to record personal stuff (guitar and ukulele compositions, parties, and my daughter singing). I bought this as a backup to my other Sony PCM-M10 recorder, which is an excellent recorder but I found to be a bit too “large” to conveniently carry around everywhere. I also considered the Sony ICD-PX820 and the Olympus VN 6200pc, but decided to get the Olympus 700M for various reasons I will spell out here.

Firstly, this 700M is the “middle” unit of the latest releases (600S, 700M, 710M). All three have built-in memory (2, 4, and 8 GB, respectively), stereo mics and stereo mic inputs, built-in USB port for direct connect to PC, playback speed control. The differences are in the size of the built-in memory/storage and a few other features. I went for the 700M because I wanted the expandability (microSD card slot) but did not want or need the FM tuner in the 710M. It would have been nice to have the directional mic of the 710M, but again I did not need it. It is just slightly larger than the ipod nano, but the sound is just as good (if not better) with the 700M. The only disadvantage I can see with this unit as an mp3 player is that I have yet to figure out how to create separate subfolders in the music folder. Once I figure it out (if at all possible), I’ll post an update.

It is easy enough to operate. Without any experience with any Olympus recording devices, I found it relatively easy to use out of the box without reading the instructions. The files are labeled by day and time stamps, and the file names are progressive (WS700###). There are 5 folders, labeled Folder A-E.

I’ve plugged this unit into WinXP Pro (32-bit), WinVista, and Win7 and recognized. It is also recoginized by Mac OS X Snow Leopard (I no longer have Tiger, so I can’t speak for this OS, but supposedly it is supported). I will bring it to work one day to see if it will work on Linux OS. Stay tuned.

It comes with a single rechargeable AAA alkaline battery that recharges by plugging the device to a computer via USB (as long as the USB port provides power out, which some of the older PC’s USB ports do not). It can be directly plugged into your Mac or PC (USB Direct) through a USB connector that slides out of the bottom, so no cables are required. It does come with a cable extender to plug it in to a usb port while the recorder is sitting flat on a surface. It also comes with earphones, which is a decent set, but I prefer using my ultimate ears or klipsch headsets.

It has a Variable Control Voice Actuator (VCVA), a “voice activation” feature which sets the audio device to record automatically only when sound is detected at a pre-set level and stop when sound drops below the threshold level. I’ve tried this, but never really used it too much for dictation purposes. The purpose of this function is to eliminate “dead air” during recordings, conserving memory and shortening file times. I’ve always just pressed the record button to pause, if needed.

It allows for Index Marks, which are digital tags that can be inserted while recording or during playback. It is a useful function, which can be used to skip forward and backward in recordings to pre-selected reference points. This can help with finding specific areas in the recording (such as a particular sound byte).

It has a larger backlit LCD screen (compared to previous models). Not having any of the other or older models, I cannot say whether this is a good or bad thing, but I always favor the larger screens to avoid the smaller fonts.

The stereo mic inputs allow me to use my stereo Sony mics (I have both the Sony ECM-DS70P Electret Condenser Stereo Microphone and the Sony ECM-DS30P Electret Condenser Digital Microphone), and I the recording is significantly improved for some cases (recording jam sessions) and not too different for others (dictation). The recording levels can be monitored for both channels on the display. I like that the option is available.

The reason I did not pick the Olympus VN 6200pc is because it lacked stereo recording. I wanted the stereo recording capability because I want to be able to use this recorder on impromptu jam sessions (family gatherings, parties, or just at home). I was tempted to get the Sony ICD-PX820 because although the built-in mic is mono, the mic jack can take a stereo mic (which I have) and record in stereo. Also, neither the VN 6200 or the PX820 have an expansion slot (the WS 700M has a microSD slot), and this is a major factor that swayed me because I want the expandability. Because of these reasons (among others I will not elaborate on) I decided to purchase the Olympus WS 700M.

Overall, I am truly enjoying this recorder. If I need a higher quality audio recorder, I bring my Sony PCM M10 along. This Olympus WS 700M is a great portable recorder that I can bring every day and everywhere. I highly recommend it. For the extra $$ over the other two units, I think it is worth it. I like the portability, and I’ve been truly enjoying this gadget. For the price and quality, this unit deserves a five-star rating.

************

Comparison with other WS series:

600S – Base recorder
2GB internal memory,
mp3 and WMA recording,
Comes in metallic silver color

No memory slot (the 700M and 710M have a microSD card slot, up to 16GB expandable),
No Noise cancellation (included in 700M and 710M),
No FM tuner (710M only),
No USB battery charge function (in 700M and 710M).

710M – everything in the 700M plus the following features:
8GB internal memory (4GB in 700M)
FM Tuner
Directional microphone
Comes in Metallic black color

For those who want a more detailed specs layout:

-Multi format recording: mp3, WMA, and PCM
-Built-in 4GB flash memory and microSD slot
-Input level: -70dBv
-VCVA (or Variable Control Voice Actuator)
-Max Output: 80mW
-Speaker: 18 mm round dynamic speaker
-Microphone jack: 3.5mm; impedance 2k ohms (mono)
-Earphone jack: 3.5mm; impedance 8 ohms (mono)
-Power Supply: AAA NiMH rechargeable battery, or AAA alkaline battery
-Battery life: Approximately 25h alkaline (not yet tested NiMH)

Overall Frequency Response (these are straight from the Olympus site):

PCM 44.1kHz/16bit: 40Hz-21kHz
MP3 256kbps: 40Hz-20 kHz
MP3 128 kbps: 40Hz-17 kHz
ST XQ mode: 40Hz-19 kHz
ST HQ mode: 40Hz-16 kHz
ST SP mode: 40Hz-9 kHz
HQ mode: 40Hz-13kHz
SP mode: 40Hz-8kHz
LP mode: 40Hz-3kHz

RECORDING TIMES:

PCM 44.1kHz/16bit: Approximately 6 hours
MP3 256kbps: Approximately 34 hours
MP3 128kbps: Approximately 69 hours
ST XQ mode: Approximately 67 hours
ST HQ mode Approximately 134 hours
ST SP mode Approximately 270 hours
HQ mode: Approximately 270 hours
SP mode: Approximately 532 hours
LP mode: Approximately 1058 hours

See all 294 customer reviews…

Behringer C1 Studio Condenser Microphone Review

Oliver Roach — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 17:56:26 +0000

Look For Behringer C1 Studio Condenser Microphone Review at Amazon

This article provides an overview on five essential measures that are quintessentially listed in microphone specification sheets: frequency response, sensitivity, impedance, self noise level, and signal to noise ratio. Understanding these specs may aid when attempting to determine on the best microphone to buy for a specific application.

Frequency Response

Frequency response measures how a microphone reacts to dissimilar sound frequencies. An idealisti “flat” response (equal sensitivity) microphone would respond evenly to all frequencies within the audible spectrum. This results in a more precise replica of sound and formulates the purest audio. The truth is that even microphones which are advertised as having a “flat response” may deviate more or less at sure frequencies. Typically spec sheets will list frequency response as a range like “20Hz to 20kHz”, meaning that the microphone may reproduce sounds that fall within that range. What this does not explain is how accurately the respective person frequencies will be reproduced. Some microphones are measuredly designed to respond differently to sure frequencies. For example, instrument microphones for bass drums are in general engineered to be more responsive to lower frequencies while vocal microphones would be more responsive to the frequency of a humane voice.

As a popular rule of thumb, condenser microphones have flatter frequency responses than dynamic. This means that a condenser would tend to be the better choice if accuracy of audio reproduction is the main goal.

Sensitivity

Microphone sensitivity measures how much electrical output (measured in “millivolts” mV) is generated for a given sound pressure input. Typically when measuring microphone sensitivity the mic is placed in a reference sound field where a sound pressure level (SPL) of 94 dB (1 Pascal) at 1000 Hz is maintained at the microphone. (Some vendors like Shure use 74 dB 0.1 Pascal). The distinction is that 94 dB SPL is the typical sound intensity of somebody speaking twelve inches away while 74dB SPL would be the same speaker one inch away. A typical condenser microphone might have a value listed either like “7mV/Pa” or -43dBV in the technical specification. These two values mean the same thing – they’re just indicated differently.

If two microphones are subject to the same SPL and one generates a higher output voltage, that microphone is said to have a higher sensitivity rating. Although knowing how to read/compare microphone sensitivity (output) is important, the actual sensitivity rating normally is not a major thoughtfulness in mic selection. Typically the design of a microphone for a queer application plays a role when makers determine the suitable output level. For example, dynamic microphones are quintessentially less sensible than condenser mics as they’re in general applied reasonably close to the sound source. Listed beneath are the typical specifications for three dissimilar microphone transducer types:

Condenser: 5.6mV/Pa (high sensitivity)

Dynamic: 1.8mV/Pa (medium sensitivity)

Ribbon: 1.1mV/Pa (low sensitivity)

Impedance

Impedance is how much a device resists the flow of an AC current (such as audio signal) and is measured in ohms. Typically when referring to microphones, “low impedance” is considered anything beneath 600 ohms. “Medium impedance” would be 600 ohms to 10,000 ohms and “high impedance” would be more outstanding than 10,000 ohms. All microphones have a specification regarding their impedance – once in a while the value is written on the mic somewhere, other times you might need to consult the technical manual or manufacturers’ website to determine the number. Generally speaking, low impedance microphones are better than high impedance, and rather often times you may use impedance as a rough gauge when determining overall quality. The vantage of low impedance microphones is that they may be applied with very long cable runs and negligible signal loss. Mics with hardwired cables and a 1/4″ jacks are high impedance, while mics that require a balanced audio cable and xlr connector are low impedance.

When connecting your microphone it’s important to recognise the matching ohm level of the sound mixer or amplifier. A low impedance microphone ought to always be connected to an input with a higher impedance value, other than as supposed or expected signal loss will result. Typically “low impedance” audio mixers have inputs with impedance levels amongst 1000 and 2000 ohms, and are designed to work with the lower level microphone impedance levels.

Self Noise Level

Self noise is the electrical hiss that a microphone produces. Typically the self noise spec is “A weighted”, meaning that the lowest and most eminent frequencies are flattened in the response curve, to better simulate the signal response of the humane ear. (We tend to grasp mid range sound frequencies as louder.) As a standard guideline, an A Weighted self noise spec of 18dB SPL or less is splendid (very quiet), 28dB SPL is good, while anything over 35db SPL is not well suitable for quality audio recordings.

Because dynamic microphones do not have active electronics (no phantom power requirements) they have very low self noise when equated to condenser microphones. Most spec sheets for dynamic microphones do not include self noise measurements.

Signal to Noise Ratio

The signal to noise symmetry (S/N) is the divergence in dB amid a microphone’s sensitivity and self noise. A higher S/N means that the signal is cleaner (less noise) and that the microphone has more “reach”. Reach may be specified as the precise pickup of quiet/distant sounds due to high S/N. Typically reach is not listed as a metric on a tech sheet as any microphone may pick up a distant sound if the source is deafening enough. For example, even a very inexpensive mic may pick up a thunderclap from far away.

As a standard rule when assessing S/N ratios, given 94dB SPL, anything over 74dB is excellent, a S/N spec of 64dB is considered good.

Summary

Hopefully these definitions have helped to provide a good deal of understanding regarding typical microphone specifications. The truth is that there is no “ideal” microphone that is perfective for each situation. Manufacturers design their microphones with specific audio apps in mind – such as live performances or studio reproduction, and as a result have tailored the specifications so that the mic sounds the best that it may with a given hardware configuration. Generally speaking, more highpriced microphones are engineered with better hardware, which results in better specifications and performance.

The C-1 is a cardioid condenser microphone designed to capture your sounds with unbelievable realism, sensitivity and accuracy. This condenser mic is an magnificent choice for live and studio applications, and it’s available at a price that will leave you with sufficient cash left over to secure other recording essentials.

Designed to capture your sounds with unbelievable realism, sensitivity and accuracy. Click to enlarge.

Includes rugged foam-padded carrying case and swivel mount.

View polar pattern and frequency response. Click to enlarge.

What is a Condenser Mic?
Condenser microphones are the idealisti choice for capturing vocals and acoustic instruments. They’re the indispensable type of microphone employed in recording studios and radio stations. They are competent of capturing much more detail than dynamic microphones because of their wider, flatter frequency response. Another divergence amidst condenser and dynamic mics is that they integrate active circuitry that requires phantom power (+48 V DC) for operation. You may power them from any phantom power equipped BEHRINGER XENYX mixer, plus receive pleasure from the gains of our state-of-the-art XENYX mic preamps.

Why the C-1?
The C-1 is an affordable, high-quality way to put this necessary studio tool to work for you. Thanks to it is cardioid (heart-shaped) pattern, the C-1 microphone picks up your source signal while rejecting off-axis sounds that may destruct an other than as supposed or expected perfective recording. With it is pressure-gradient, shock-mounted transducer and gold-plated XLR output, the C-1 is very neutral sounding and veritably delivers on the promise of noise-free transmission.

With it is particularly flat frequency response and ultra-high sound resolution, it’s perfective for perfective for acoustic instruments, overhead, piano, and a great deal more.

Built to Last
The C-1 is built to be your go-to condenser mic for years to come. Its tough, die-cast body may withstand all the rigors of bleary-eyed late-night recording marathons. And with it is rugged foam-padded carrying case, it travels in safety and style. We likewise included a swivel stand mount so it may be affixed to your studio’s mic stands.

C-1 Specs

Transducer Type: Condenser, 16 mm
Polar Pattern: Cardioid
Connection: Gold-plated balanced XLR connector
Open Circuit Sensitivity: -33 +/- 2 dBV (0 dBV = 1 V/Pa)
Frequency Response: 40 Hz – 20 kHz
Max. SPL (1% THD @ 1 kHz): 136 dB
Nominal Impedance: 100 ohms
Load Impedance: >1 kohms
Supply Voltage: +36 – 52 V
Supply Current: 2.5 mA
Dimensions: Shaft: 54 mm, length: 169 mm
Weight: Approximately 0.45 kg

What’s in the Box
Behringer C-1 Studio Condenser Microphone, Carrying Case, User’s Manual

BEHRINGER STUDIO CONDENSER MICROPHONE C-1

Studio Condenser Microphone

Professional, large-diaphragm condenser microphone for unsurpassed audio quality
Ideal as main and aid microphone for studio and live apps
Cardioid pickup pattern for outstanding sound source separation and feedback rejection
Pressure-gradient transducer with shock-mounted capsule
Ultra-low noise, transformerless FET input does away with low-frequency distortion
LED gives evidence of phantom power operation
Swivel stand mount and transport case included
Ultra-rugged construction with metal die-cast body
Gold-plated 3-pin XLR output connector for most eminent signal integrity
High-quality elements and in particular rugged construction make sure long life
Conceived and designed by BEHRINGER Germany

The C-1 is a cardioid condenser microphone designed to capture your sounds with unbelievable realism, sensitivity and accuracy.

What is a Condenser Mic?

Condenser microphones are the idealisti choice for capturing vocals and acoustic instruments. They’re the primary type of microphone applied in recording studios and radio stations. They are competent of capturing much more detail than dynamic microphones because of their wider, flatter frequency response. Another divergence amidst condenser and dynamic mics is that they comprise active circuitry that requires phantom power (+48 V DC) for operation. You may power them from any phantom power equipped BEHRINGER XENYX mixer, plus receive pleasure from the gains of our state-of-the-art XENYX mic preamps.

Why the C-1?

The C-1 is an affordable, high-quality way to put this necessary studio tool to work for you. Thanks to it is cardioid (heart-shaped) pattern, the C-1 microphone picks up your source signal while rejecting off-axis sounds that may destruct an other than as supposed or expected perfective recording. With it is magnificent transducer and gold-plated XLR output, the C-1 is very neutral sounding and veritably delivers on the promise of

But That’s Not All…

The C-1 is built to be your go-to condenser mic for years to come. Its tough, die-cast body may withstand all the rigors of bleary-eyed late-night recording marathons. And with it is rugged foam-padded carrying case, it travels in safety and style. We likewise included a swivel stand mount so it may be affixed to your studio’s mic stands.

Value

This condenser mic is an splendid choice for live and studio applications, and it’s available at a price that will leave you with sufficient cash left over to secure other recording essentials. Check out the unbelievable C-1 at a BEHRINGER merchant near you.

Behringer C1 Studio Condenser Microphone Review Photo

Behringer C1 Studio Condenser Microphone Review Pic

Behringer C1 Studio Condenser Microphone Review Image

Most helpful customer reviews

42 of 42 people found the following review helpful.
Amazing Value
By M. Christiansen
This thing is killer; throw in a pop filter and some sort of stand and you have an amazingly pro setup for not much. If like me you have tried using a different type of mic (like a standard dynamic mic) to record normal accoustic sounds like voice or non-amplified instruments, this thing will be way, way better. I can’t compare directly to other condenser mics but do not perceive any fundamental drawbacks with this one, which is amazing given the price.

40 of 40 people found the following review helpful.
Great mic for the price!
By Jose Martinez
First things first: I’m a working musician and I live in the REAL WORLD. I can’t afford a $4000 Neumann but I wanted a moderately priced good quality condenser microphone. I record audio to my computer through a Behringer Xenix 1202FX mixer (which is great!) and an M-Audio Audiophile 2496 sound card. I thought it was time to give this Behringer mic a shot and, you know what?, it works like a charm! I know a Neumann may catch a fly’s fart in mid air, but I’m pretty satisfied with this cheap beauty. I have recorded proof of what I say: crisp clear voice recordings, accurate reproduction of instruments. Beautiful. You can’t go wrong with this one.

21 of 21 people found the following review helpful.
More than I Imagined
By Milcka Carrera
I Bought this Mic for a Recording Studio. In that time i had a very low budget so I only could afford these. But my surprise is that is a veeeery good Mic for recording purposes. It captures with brightness everything that goes on in the vocal room. I even tried it in my bedroom, and nearby the state put a Amusement park, and the voices, the screaming and the sounds of the machines that were not perceived by bear ear, it was recorded clearly. I totally recommend this item, specially if you have a low budget for your recording studio. If you can pay more, you could by a better-performance Condenser Mic, but for low budgets? This is the one…

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Musical Wind Instruments History European

Abel Frye — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 17:49:19 +0000

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In established African culture, music has ritual, social, and ceremonial functions along with numerous solely recreational functions. Musical actions are highly ritualized and are considered to link the invisible world with the visible world. Melodies are in general coordinated within a scale of four, five, six, or seven tones. Musical instruments in Africa take on sculptural forms that are sacred, elaborate, simple, humorous, and serious, or a combining of all. Irrespective of whether these musical instruments are beaded, carved, painted, or beautified with skins, they send messages regarding the religious beliefs, artistic styles, and amusement exercises of the humans who made them.

Percussion instruments are very standard musical instruments in Africa. Musical instruments of sub-Saharan Africa comprise of a wide assortment of resonant solids such as stamping tubes, the mbira (thumb piano), and the xylophone. Mbira is one of the most standard melodic instruments in Africa. The mbira is applied in dissimilar ways by dissimilar cultures and likewise exists in dissimilar forms in dissimilar cultures. Mbira may be applied for amusement aim or for religious ceremonies. Friction sticks, bells, clappers, rattles, cymbals, and sansa are very ordinary percussion instruments.

Among the frequent African instruments, drums are an essential musical instrument. There are respective parchment-head drums such as kettledrums, cylindrical drums, semi cylindrical drums, goblet drums, barrel-shaped drums, and sandglass drums with variable-tension heads. Many wind instruments are constructed out of horns, tusks, conch shells, or wood. Among wind instruments are flutes made of millet, reed, bamboo, or the tips of animal horns, and gourds. Panpipes, ocarinas, whistle, oboe, horns that are made from elephant tusks or animal horns, and trumpets made of wood, subsections of gourd, or metal tubes, single-reed pipes made from millet stalks, and double-reed pipes adopted from Arabic culture are among other African wind instruments. African stringed musical instruments or chordophones include musical bows, zithers, bowed and plucked lutes, arched harps, harp-lutes, and lyres.

Musical Wind Instruments History European Photo

Musical Wind Instruments History European Image

Musical Wind Instruments History European Photo

Most helpful customer reviews

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Kids Authority Junior Drum Beat

Adam Bowers — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 17:43:37 +0000

Look For Kids Authority Junior Drum Beat @ Amazon.com

I’m in truth excessively affected emotionally when it comes to this outstanding new junior drum set for children. It is the Gammon Percussion 5-Piece Junior Kids Drum Set. I have seen numerous drum kits previously, but using this one to instruct young ones the joy of playing the drums is a an magnificent idea. It is the perfective size for a child to sit at it and play with comfort. This kit is easy to assemble, and though it may be cheap in price, it is surely not cheap in quality! It sounds just as good as an adult size drum set!

The Gammon Percussion 5-Piece Junior Kids Drum Set comes with everything a child needs to learn how to play the drums.

The drum kit includes:

a bass drum
a wood snare drum
hi-hat cymbals
a crash/ride cymbal
mounted toms
a floor tom

The set likewise includes further and added accessories, including:

a pair of drum sticks
a bass drum pedal
a tuning key
a snare stand
a hi-hat stand
a drummer’s stool

This drum kit comes designed in a high gloss black finish with chrome rims. Some assemblage is required, and the kit includes a double-sided sheet that gives the basic setup instructions. It may be designed for a child, but it looks and sounds precisely like a professional set of drums!

This drum kit ordinarily lists for four hundred dollars, but I have seen it on sale online for less than two hundred dollars. That’s an unbelievable price for a brand new drum kit. It sounds unbelievable for a drum set that inexpensive. It is designed distinctively for children, so it will be comfortable for them to sit at and pleasurable for them to learn how to play.

The Gammon Percussion 5-Piece Junior Kids Drum Set is the idealisti gift for holidays, birthdays and other particular occasions. Children may learn how to play the drums, make believe they are in a band, and carry out for their loved ones! And the most commodious thing is that you are competent to buy this junior drum kit online and have it delivered right to your home. You are not even required to leave your house. The best share is that it comes with everything necessary to commence playing right out of the box. There is no need to buy any further and added gear.

This drum kit is not only one of the best values, but likewise one of the best sounding

junior drum set I have ever heard. It closely makes me wish I were a kid again.

The Peltor 97070 Junior earmuff is distinctively designed for children and babies. The littler headband provides a better fit and therefore more authenti attenuation. Featuring liquid- and gel-filled cushions as well as an adaptable headband, the junior earmuff is comfortable for extended wear.

Kids Authority Junior Drum Beat Pic

Kids Authority Junior Drum Beat Photo

Most helpful customer reviews

32 of 32 people found the following review helpful.
Baby earmuffs!
By C. Mellinger
These earmuffs are fantastic! We took our 4-month-old to a hockey game, and he cried when we took him into the stands, even before the scoring started. (Luckily, his grandma was along for that one, so she enjoyed playing with him in the hallways for the rest of the game.) We bought these earmuffs, wondering if they would be any help for a small baby. But they seemed to fit great, and B. didn’t respond to the noise at ALL the next time we took him to a game—and this was the playoffs He seemed perfectly happy when they were on, and didn’t give any reaction when the crowd noise hit deafening: the home team scored 4 goals, and he was happy the whole time, even sleeping through the last one.

I don’t know how they would work for a firing range, etc., but I would highly recommend them for small kids at a sporting event. Also, I can just get them over my own (smallish) head, so I bet they will last him a long time before growing out of them.

15 of 15 people found the following review helpful.
Works fine
By Ri Parian
I own 6 models of ear protection (1 AO Safety and 5 Peltor). This pair is is built like a Peltor H9A but with a smaller head band for smaller kid-heads – and says AO Safety on it…maybe that is the same company now, I don’t know. Anyway, it is better quality that the red AO Safety 19 or 20 dB model I own that I dispise for the inability to easily get the two ear cups apart and oriented in the correct direction. There is also a pink model similar to this one that I own for pink-loving kids. I recommend these if you have kids that are around noisy activities.

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful.
a must have for kids w/sensory/noise defensive
By C. Aandahl
I have a child w/”severe autism”.
He is VERY noise defensive.
We have tried all sorts of noise canceling headphones and these are the only ones he likes.
The other ones squeeze his head too much.
He wear them ALL the time.
These are the same headphones they use in school

See all 81 customer reviews…

Dunlop Guitar Picks 2013 Dun41815012

Darion Sloan — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 17:39:51 +0000

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65 of 68 people found the following review helpful.
Dunlop Tortex = crisp
By D. K. Malone
I’ve been playing guitar for 22 years now. For at least 20 of those years, I’ve been using Tortex picks, and I will never stop using them as long as I live.

I tried all of the thicknesses over the course of a few months. When I started, I was playing Ramones style punk; strumming barre chords all day like they were going out of style. It seemed to make sense at the time to use the thinner picks, the .5mm or .6mm. (I think these were the red and the orange ones…) They were totally flexible. The red one barely registered at all, it might as well have been a little piece of tissue paper. But at the time it made sense to my dumbass 16 year old neophyte self.

A little later, I discovered the joys of speed metal. I began picking and peddaling on individual strings rather than just strumming chords. This was when I started experimenting with the thicker picks. .88mm, 1.0, 1.14. These would be the green, purple, and blue ones. Eventually I settled on the green .88mm and I’ve been using them ever since. I can’t even imagine using a different pick anymore.

The reason that I fell in love with these picks is that their edges aren’t rounded like standard “Fender” style plastic or tortoise shell picks. The edge of a Tortex is cut at right angles, they have corners. When you peddal on a wound string, you get an amazingly crisp and sharp scraping timbre that just can’t be achieved with standard rounded off picks. The catch is that of course the cornered edge wears down rather quickly as you play. You will only get this awesome sound for a few minutes. A professional performer would want to switch to a fresh pick at the beginning of each song. A bedroom virtuoso will get more use out of them.

48 of 53 people found the following review helpful.
My dream pick
By Bando
I know a lot of guitarists aren’t near as picky about picks as I am. So why should you be? After all, there is no pick that will make you play better and they are all generally the same.

WRONG. I thought that too at first. I figured it’s just a piece of plastic, how hard can it be to pick one? I started out with fender pick because they looked pretty conventional and they were moderately priced. I blindly went through about ten of these due to them all breaking.

If you knew me well you’d know that I thrash my guitar…a lot… Even the thickest picks would wear down on me within a week, and most of them were too slick to stay in my sweaty hand during these crash and burn guitar playing moments. I came to realize that I needed a heavy duty pick with a good grip that would retain it’s shape for at least a couple of weeks.

At first I thought metal was the answer. I mean, it’s hard as rock and most of them come with a good grip on them. But after playing with them I discovered the sound was not to my liking. It sounded too buzzy with metal. That’s about the time I discovered tortex picks. I was amazed. They had the best grip I have ever felt and kept their shape for weeks! I instantly bought every size I could get all the way from the thinnest read to the bulky blue one.

Months later I’m keeping a stock of these picks in my house. For solos I prefer the green one because it’s got just the right resistance for that fast picking but not too much so that it slows you down. For strumming I use the orange. It’s just perfect…

I cannot express to you how much you need to try this pick. Your wasting your money on anything other than Dunlop. Get the tortex and see what I mean!

18 of 20 people found the following review helpful.
Good picks
By no so-called
I love these. Nice matte surface for gripping. They never break, and it takes me months to wear one down.

See all 148 customer reviews…

Handheld Digital Recorders

Darius Holloway — Tue, 21 Feb 2012 18:17:01 +0000

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If you’re looking for a handheld digital recorder, then you ought to take a closer look at the Olympus DS-2400 Dictation Recorder. It has a lot of magnificent features which may be very beneficial for all your recording needs. This review will help shed light on you with regards to the features that this product has to offer.

Design

The device is particularly designed for compactness and portability. It has the dimensions of 4.47 x 1.97 x 0.67 and a weight of 3.9 ounces. Although it may be heavier than most Olympus recorders, it is still handy sufficient to be carried in your pocket, purse, bag, and even by your hand. This device is in truth designed to be a digital handheld recorder. It’s also very simple and has a sleek silver body with all silver buttons.

All the buttons of the device have been designed to make navigation and operation of the device much more optimal. The unit operates on two Triple-A batteries which may either be rechargeable or alkaline. Depending on the mode of use, there are dissimilar greatest or most complete or best possible battery life lengths of the device, but it may be employed the longest on SP recording mode, with a battery life of as long as 32 hours.

Display

The LCD display of this unit is 1.7 inches long, which is comparably more spectacular than most Olympus recorders. It has an orange backlight which enables the user to see the text and graphics on the display even beneath respective lighting conditions. The dot pixel display is likewise very clear which makes it posing no difficulty for user to read the information, making navigation and operation of the device much optimal.

Audio and Recording Features

Although the device has no internal memory, it does have a 2 GB memory card included in the package. Using the memory card, you may save your audio recordings and without apparent effort play them and transfer them in a computer. There are two recording modes of the device which have dissimilar greatest or most complete or best possible recording length. The QP mode may record up to 77 hours and 40 minutes of audio, while the SP mode may store up to 159 hours and 5 minutes of recording. The device likewise enables you to having little impact coordinate your files. There are five folders where you may save and distinguished your audio recordings, and each folder may carry up to 200 files.

The device has a built-in speaker and microphone which makes it having little impact for you to record and playback your files anytime you want. The speaker is 23mm and has a greatest or most complete or best possible output of 250 mW, a very high number for such a little device. It likewise has a built-in microphone and earphone jack which enables you to listen privately and record audio more without doubt or question and precisely.

Probably the greatest flaw of this model is that it saves files in the new DS2 format which may only be read and accessed using the software which may be installed from the CD that is included in the package of the unit. This is a very big inconvenience for galore users exceptionally because it takes a lot of time and energy to install, convert, and transfer files that aren’t readable by the computer. Nonetheless, if you have with great success installed the software, then you will not have any other difficultnesses in regards to the files in the future. Also, though it is a comparatively new file format, Olympus applied DS2 format because it may increase the quality of your audio recordings for a better and more audible playback.

Other Features

Apart from the cited features, this model has more to offer. It has a voice activated variable control which you may turn on and off depending on your preference. There are new easy-to-use buttons, the Erase button which erases a file in one press, and the New button which starts a new recording in a single touch. There are two settings which you may set for better reception of audio, the Conference and the Dictate settings. There are likewise index marks which you may use to requiring little effort scan through the audio file and find a sure point for the duration of the recording that you need to play.

Conclusion

As an Olympus digital handheld recorder, this device has a good set of features to offer. The Olympus DS-2400 Dictation Recorder is also designed for professional use so you won’t have any difficultnesses with regards to the audio quality of this model. I am very convinced to commend this model to persons out there who are in search of an splendid digital recorder. This will unquestionably work well for your personal, professional, and recreational recording needs.

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Small Speakers

Zachary Doyle — Tue, 21 Feb 2012 18:13:02 +0000

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Speakers are very indispensable these days and based on our needs and requirements, we use them at any possible place. The little outdoor speakers are best if you are having an outdoor function. The little outdoor speakers are best for your outdoor needs because different from the normally speakers the little speakers are actually little in size which makes them best for outdoor use when you do not want to move your big speakers outdoors. The outdoor speakers are genuinely easy to use and you may effortlessly move them for the duration of the function or party without having any problems.

Choosing the little outdoor speakers is very easy as equated to more spectacular speakers because when you choose a huge sized speaker, humans ofttimes forget when it comes to asking the actual output of those speakers. Less output means less sound in the outdoors and less quality as well. So when you go to buy the little speakers the original thing that humans ask for is the output and if you are using speakers for a long time then you will be capable to find the right little speakers based on how much output you want. Usually the rule of the thumb says, the more output the better. So if you follow such rules, you may find yourself some good little speakers which you will love to use outdoors from time to time. The most essential thing with regards to choosing the speakers is that you ought to make sure that the speakers are effective in the outdoors and likewise comes along with a good warranty amount of time so that if it is not working well, you may return or modify it with a better one.

These speakers are also best for using indoors as well even though the sound quality may differ a little sometime but that is not too noticeable for most of the persons if you know what I mean. All persons care when it comes to is that the sound quality ought to be good and it will have to be surround sound. Other than this everything else is just fine with them so you do not have to worry regarding persons complaining when it comes to how the sound was not good at your party or function because with the little outdoor speakers you will recognise that not one thing like this will ever occur in any of your parties or functions and all you have to do is take delight in the sounds from your little outdoor speakers.

Delivering on the promise of “Sound Beyond Size”, the X-Mini II Capsule Speaker is petite in size but massive in sound. Hook it up to your mobile phone, MP3 player or laptop, and impress your friends with this pocket-size boom-box. Pump out your tunes with crisp clear acoustics that will effortlessly fill up a room and elevate the mood of everyone around you. Furthermore, the X-Mini II comes with an all new feature called the “Buddy-Jack”; X-Mini II owners may now come together and connect a row of X-Minis to a single music source (eg. MP3 player) to heighten the overall volume and audio clarity among a huge audience. The X-Mini II is the benchmark for portable sound and is the new must-have every day accessory for all media devices. Compatible with the following phone models: 3.5 mm headphone jack.iPhone 4 (16/32GB).iPhone 4 AT&T (16/32GB).iPhone 4 CDMA (16/32GB).iPhone 4 GSM (16/32GB).iPhone 4 Verizon (16/32GB).iPhone 4S (16/32/64GB)

Small Speakers Picture

Small Speakers Photo

Small Speakers Picture

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1533 of 1574 people found the following review helpful.
Excellent sound quality, poor build quality. I’ve owned 3, and all 3 are dead.
By A. Cooke
I’m sure this review, as with all other negative reviews, is going to get a “this was not helpful” rating. Look, I get it.. the X-Mini II is an AWESOME product and nobody should to talk bad about it, right? At least hear me out first.. because I’ve been using these for almost a year and have owned 3 of them. I think that earns me the right to an honest negative review. And remember, most people review products shortly after they buy them.. I’ve actually spent a lot of time using them.

I absolutely loved mine when I first got it. I showed it to lots of friends and all my coworkers, many of which have since bought their own. It’s an excellent little speaker. The sound quality is amazing for such a small package.. the build quality feels very solid. Sadly, it’s what’s inside that counts.. and what’s inside is junk. I’ve owned 3 of these speakers and all 3 are now dead. Here’s the series of events that led to this bad review:

X-Mini #1 – Bought my first one about 10 months ago on Amazon. Loved everything about it. One thing that really stood out (aside from excellent audio quality) was the build quality. Very solid construction. I liked it so much I bought another one for a family member, which we’ll call X-Mini #2.

X-Mini #2 – Worked fine, but I noticed the build quality wasn’t as good as the first one I bought. The once soft rubber-like audio cable was now stiff, cheap, shiny plastic. The power switch was now flimsy and didn’t operate as solidly as my first one. The sound wasn’t quite as good, and it was a tiny bit lighter weight. After about 1 month, I started having audio hiccups from it and had to contact the store (possibly power surges?). They sent me a replacement and let me keep this one. The replacement they sent me is X-Mini #3.

X-Mini #3 – Same lower-quality construction. By this point it was obvious that X-Mi had started to cheap out on the materials of the speaker. The once rock-solid speaker now feels like a cheap toy. About two weeks after owning this speaker, the battery stopped working. It no longer holds a charge and has to be plugged in via USB or a wall outlet in order to play sound. I’m not going to bother the company I bought this one from because they already sent me a free replacement.. now it’s up to X-Mi.

Now I have 1 good speaker (my original), one defective one, and one with a dead battery, right? Wrong.

Back to X-Mini #1 – My beloved original, now, after 10 months of light use (maybe 3 hours a week), is dead. The battery is having the same issue as X-Mini #3. It will no longer play sound without being attached to external power.

I’m done with these things. I want to love it.. I really do.. and several months ago I would have given this thing 6 out of 5 stars if it were possible. I can no longer do that. They simply don’t last. I’m extremely disappointed with X-Mi for cheaping out on materials and have sent them an email explaining this.

If you’ve been able to snag one that lasts longer than a year, consider yourself lucky. I envy you.

455 of 465 people found the following review helpful.
Great sound from this SMALL speaker!
By The Boss
Watch Video Here: http://www.amazon.com/review/R2KSLBB7WY5UHJ (Video) Could have been better quality, but too large and wouldn’t upload.

First off, This speaker is incredible for it’s size. There is almost no distortion in sound when playing on MAX volume. It comes with a USB splitter, to charge and a 3.5mm plug so that you can connect multiple X Mini II’s together. It also comes with a handy bag to store your X Mini II in. I had an Altec Lansing iM207 before this, and the X Mini II blew the iM207 away!!!. The size difference was one thing, and the sound quality was another. The iM207 also ran on 3 AAA batteries. There will also be distortion in the iM207 on full volume. The playtime with the batteries was terrible. I had to switch batteries every week, with only around 20minutes of playtime each day. For the X Mini II, it can play up to 8 hours. There are also LED indicators of when you need to charge again, and when it is fully charged.

77 of 79 people found the following review helpful.
Best small speaker I’ve found
By John D. Steere
I bought this and the iHome rechargeable mini-speaker at the same time. The iHome mini-speaker is much louder, but the sound quality of the X-Mini II is better for music, at least in my opinion. You get more of the high and low tones with the X-Mini II, and I am surprised that it does not have a tinny sound. The iHome speaker is good for movies or if you need a loud but small speaker for parties. The X-Mini II is slightly larger than the iHome speaker, but not much. I recommend the X-Mini II for listening to music, and it works really well with my netbook or with an mp3 player.

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Weber Wind Concertos Consortium Classicum

Brayan Nichols — Tue, 21 Feb 2012 17:49:19 +0000

Weber Wind Concertos Consortium Classicum @ Amazon.com

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Weber Wind Concertos Consortium Classicum Pic

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Gator Gp Pe1414 Drum Set Cases

Devan Hudson — Tue, 21 Feb 2012 17:43:37 +0000

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Gator Gp Pe1414 Drum Set Cases Picture

Gator Gp Pe1414 Drum Set Cases Photo

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Ovation Guitar Built Recorder Platinum

Diego Phelps — Tue, 21 Feb 2012 17:39:51 +0000

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History

Making guitars might not be rocket science, but Charlie Kaman used aerospace and aeronautical science to the manufacturing of the Ovation guitar. Kaman, an aerospace engineer, was a long-time guitarist and wanted to diversify his aerospace company. When he took his Martin guitar to be repaired for a warped neck, he was offered a tour of the factory. He was astonished to find the luthiers there using hand tools, animal glues, and low-tech approaches to guitar making.

Interestingly he offered to buy the Martin guitar company, but was refused — twice. So he decisive to exaggerate his company into guitar production. Like most engineers he neared the problem of making a guitar with engineering precision. He formed a team of people who analyzed problems, formed solutions, and tested them. The Ovation Balladeer was the result of their efforts.

Body

One of the introductory things humans detect when it comes to the Ovation guitars is the round back. This was one of those engineering science discoveries that Kaman’s group made. According to their research, the regular guitar’s flat back actually hindered the sound projection. So they chose a round back. In addition they made the back out of a synthetic material — a composite plastic that Kaman was intimate with due to his experience fabricating helicopter roto blades. This was another interesting innovation in guitar manufacturing.

Pickups

The acoustic guitars of the day suffered primarily from feedback when guitarists attempted to amplify them. The Ovation guitar was an early adopter of preamps, onboard equalization and piezo pickups. This provided a fantastic betterment in the reduction of feedback. And the sound of Ovation was far more realistic and adaptable than what had been available for general acoustic guitars. The piezo pickups were another Kaman innovation for the Ovation that was formulated through engineering science and constructing proficiencies that were frequent in the aviation industry.

I am sure the engineers cognition of aviation electronics helped too.

Celebrity Endorsements

Celebrity endorsements are mutual in the music industry. Guitar makers feature the celebrities in advertizing and often times the celebrity’s name may appear on a particular model guitar in the manufacturer’s line. Glen Campbell, a ordinary entertainer in the 60s who was known for his guitar playing, endorsed the Ovation guitar and often played the Ovation on his assortment show.

This contributed to Ovation’s early success.

Summary

Since the company’s inception Ovation guitars have exhibited modern engineering and design.

From it is beginning and continuing to the present, it has formulated guitars that are still numerous of the most sought after and desirable acoustic/electrics in the world.

World-class recording for everyone

Representing the next level of professional recording performance, the H4n delivers superior audio quality and dramatically improves the user experience. Zoom’s most sophisticated handheld recorder to date will amaze, no matter the application.

Unique X/Y mic design captures perfective stereo images

The H4n’s onboard X/Y stereo condenser mics are arranged with the right and left mics on the same axis. This design ensures that the mics are always equidistant from the sound source for perfective localization with no phase shifting. Frequency response remains uniform all around your recording. The result is outstanding stereo recording with natural depth and precise imaging each time.

The mics likewise adjust for variable recording patterns at either 90° or 120°. Our distinctive design lets you rotate each mic capsule from 90° (standard) to 120° (wide-angle) stereo for the extreme skillfulness in any recording situation.

Why four channels are better than two

Everyone knows that proper miking is necessary to making a great recording. The H4n is the only handheld recorder that allows you to record on four channels simultaneously by using it is onboard mics with either external mics or direct inputs. You may then use it is built-in mixer to blend the channels for perfectly balanced recordings. Now your recordings may be richer than ever before.

Or, to get a great recording of a live performance, use the H4n’s onboard mics to get a room mix while simultaneously recording a stereo mix from the mixing board for a live recording that is effortlessly one of the best you’ve ever heard.

And for media and filmmakers, the H4n makes it easy to record “high definition” audio at 24-bit/48kHz with booms, handhelds or lavaliers while gathering atmospheric audio with the onboard mics. The H4n also supports Broadcast Wave Format (BWF) so your recorded files carry time stamp information. You may even set markers (cue points) for the duration of recording or playback.

For even more versatility, the H4n also features a Mid-Side stereo decoder that allows you to utilise this classic microphone setup. The H4n converts the mid and side channels into a established stereo (L/R) signal for even more versatility. It’s only found on the H4n.

It’s all in the preamp

The H4n’s new mics and four channel recording ability, in combining with our new, digitally controlled, high-quality preamplifier renders audio so precise, you’ll sound like you recorded in a world-class studio. And this new preamp means you may make recording level adjustments on the fly. Of course, an automatic level setting function is likewise built-in to optimize your levels as speedily as the circumstance requires.

High resolution, 24-bit/96kHz linear PCM recording

Choose up to 24-bit/96-kHz linear PCM WAV files for audio solution that outperforms DVD quality. Or, when greatest or most complete or best possible recording time with littler file sizes is desired, select a assortment of MP3 formats from 320 kbps down to 48 kpbs to fabricate littler files suitable for web or e-mail distribution.

Secure your digital memories on SD and SDHC cards

The H4n uses compact SD or high-capacity SDHC memory cards of up to 32GB for over 15 hours of recording time at 24-bit/96kHz. Or, using MP3 format at 128 kpbs, get over 550 hours of recording time on one card.

It’s when it comes to the music.

For musicians and songwriters, the H4n is likewise a user-friendly, multi-track studio (MTR) that records at CD quality, 16-bit/44.1kHz resolution. Plug in your guitar or bass and use the H4n’s classic amp models to inspire your creativeness and find tone perfection for the duration of your recording sessions.

The MTR mode allows simultaneous 2-track recording and 4-track playback. With this feature, you may sketch songs by overdubbing vocals and instruments with ease. Level and panning may be adjusted on an individual basis for each track on the built-in mixer, and you may even do a mixdown right on the H4n. Perfect for pre-production sessions with the band.

The H4n offers a choice of 50 studio-quality DSP effects including compressor, chorus, delay, and reverb. These onboard studio effects, along with it is tuner and metronome make the H4n very musician friendly.

The H4n’s phrase trainer capability makes learning new songs easy with an adaptable playback feature that changes the speed from 50 to 150 percent, while preserving pitch. Or use it is center cancel feature to suppress audio that is recorded with center imaging. And because the H4n lets you modify pitch without altering playback speed, you may choose source material, suppress the center audio and use it as a backing track while recording a vocal or guitar track.

It’s a USB audio interface

The H4n also functions as a USB audio interface, letting you record directly to either a Mac or PC. Use your bestloved recording software or the bundled Cubase LE 4 from Steinberg, so you may start out to give rise to and edit your recording right out of the box.

Everyone likes surprises, but not while you’re recording

You may set your H4n to mechanically record whenever sound above a indicated level is detected. This ensures that you capture everything of importance while minimizing blank subdivisions such as when recording a group discussion or lecture. The H4n may likewise be set to without disruption record the most recent two seconds of audio in memory. Now, you’ll never miss the beginning of anything you want to record, even if it begins suddenly.

Brains with a body too

The H4n has a new rubberized, shock immune chassis that improves durability while reducing handling noise. A large, 1.9 inch LCD screen with backlit graphic display shows all the tracking data at a glimpse and makes it easy to navigate the functions of the unit. The H4n even has a built-in reference speaker to let you check recordings without earphones.

Faster file transfer

The H4n is now a USB 2.0 Hi-Speed device, meaning that files may be transposed to your computer at the most eminent rate available. Then use recording software for editing, develop your own introductory CDs, post your recordings on your myspace page or send out your recordings by e-mail… the future prospects or potentials are endless.

Stamina mode extends battery life to 11 hours

For situations where you require maximized, ceaseless recording operation you may select stamina mode that efficaciously doubles battery life, letting you record without disruption for approximately 11 hours in 16-bit/44.1kHz linear PCM format.

Fully loaded

A 1 GB SD card, windscreen, mic clip adapter, AC adapter, USB cable, protective case and Cubase LE recording software are included with your H4n. The windscreen is peculiarly helpful to reduce wind noise. The mic clip adapter works perfectly when attaching the unit to a frequent mic stand, or you may use the built-in tripod mount with a frequent camera tripod.

Go remote with the RC4

An optional remote control (RC4) gives you access to a range of functions including recording start, play, stop, fast forward/reverse, recording level adjustment, and input source switching. It is likewise utile for preventing any handling noise.

The H4n is the epitome of sophistication made simple. For any individual who needs professional recording capability with extraordinary versatility, the H4n will give you the capacity to capture everything with the clarity and solution antecedently found only in the world’s finest recording studios. You’ll be astonished at how easy it is to make world-class recordings, wherever you are in the world.

Features:

Built-in X/Y stereo mics record at either 90° or 120°
Four channel simultaneous recording using built-in and external mics
Digitally controlled, high-quality mic preamp for bettered audio quality
Large 1.9-Inch LCD screen and bettered user interface for easy operation
24bit/96kHz Linear PCM recording for pristine recording
MP3 recording for increased recording time
Built-in reference speaker to check recordings
Shock immune rubberized body for bettered chassis protection
Broadcast Wave Format (BWF) compatible time stamp and track marker
Records on SD/SDHC media of up to 32GB for greatest or most complete or best possible recording time
Auto-record and pre-record feature so you never miss a moment
Variable speed playback capability for “phrase training”
Stamina mode enables 10 hours of uninterrupted battery life
Onboard mid-side matrix decoder for further and added miking possibilities
Built-in mounting joint for tripod and mic stand mounting
USB 2.0 port for rapidly and without delay file transfer
XLR inputs with phantom power grant recording with any mic
Supports plug-in power type external mics
Hi-Z Inputs for recording guitar and bass
Studio effects onboard, including guitar and bass amp modeling
USB audio interface capability
Low-cut filter to reduce noise
Normalizing and file splitting functions
Mono mix function
Onboard tuner and metronome
Includes 1 GB SD card, wind screen, mic clip adapter, AC adapter, USB cable, protective case and Cubase LE recording software
Optional remote control (RC4) available

90° (standard) 120° (wide-angle) stereo

Built-in Microphone Frequency Response

H4n Handy Recorder Features at a Glance

The H4n Handy Recorder is the extreme in professional, portable recording. A big 1.9-inch, backlit display features recording levels, file format, time elapsed, file name, remaining battery life and recording time. Optional features such as low cut filter, compressor/limiter and phantom power are likewise shown when utilized. LEDs indicate Stereo, 4-Channel or MTR mode.

Transport controls include one button recording, playback and pause, forward and rewind buttons. You also have more outstanding control over functions such as Folder, File, Speed or Format selection with the Short Cut/Track Select keys. These keys double as track selectors with the Multi-Track Recorder mode.

On right side of the H4n, the Jog Dial and Menu Key are positioned together for easy navigation. Push the Menu Key to enter the menu and the Jog Dial to navigate through the ample features. Use the record level buttons to toggle your levels up or down, and replace your SDHC card by folding down the rubberized door.

The left side of the H4n holds a jack for the RC4 remote control, Phone/Line Output for monitoring and playback. Playback Volume, USB 2.0 interface, Power On and Hold.

Use the USB 2.0 Hi-Speed Interface to move your files to a PC or Mac for storage, editing or playback. And you may even use the H4n as a USB interface and record directly to your bestloved digital audio software or the supplied Cubase LE software.

On the back, you’ll find a reference speaker, external mic input for plug-in power type mics and a tripod mount. Remove the battery cover to turn on Stamina Mode. There is likewise mount for a carry strap. On the bottom of the H4n, you’ll find the combining XLR/Phone inputs and the AC power input is located here as well.

Our most sophisticated recorder, the H4n is likewise fantastically easy to navigate and setup for the most diverse recording situations you could ever encounter. Now you may capture each sonic detail with the kind of quality and precision ordinarily found in the world’s finest recording studios.

Ovation Guitar Built Recorder Platinum Pic

Ovation Guitar Built Recorder Platinum Picture

Ovation Guitar Built Recorder Platinum Pic

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360 of 365 people found the following review helpful.
Kodak Zi8 + Zoom H4n Audio Test + Review
By Oresti Tsonopoulos
Watch Video Here: http://www.amazon.com/review/R3FRRPZ182IDSH After having done a quick video test for the Kodak Zi8, I decided to do something which would focus more on its audio recording capabilities. I also wanted to test the Zoom H4n, a portable flash recorded I recently purchased… so, here I am, killing two birds with one stone.

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