Portable Recording

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Audio Production Rooms | Portable Recording

Portable recorders are available for loan from the Service Desk. The Zoom H5 portable recorder is versatile and can be checked out alone or alongside lavalier microphones, reporter microphones, vocal microphones, pencil microphones, podcast microphones or instrument microphones.

View this tutorial to learn how to use the Zoom H5. You can also view the tutorial by the Berkeley Advanced Media Institute.

The Roland recorder is another option for portable recordings and includes a remote. The Roland is a more compact recorder that can be used alone or with a 3.5mm input microphone (ideally a lavalier microphone). There are no XLR inputs, but you can use an XLR to AUX cable to connect XLR microphones.

View this tutorial to learn how to use the Roland recorder.

For the simplest option, the Olympus recorder is avaliable, however, has only one option for audio quality. Review how the different portable recorders compare to make your selection:

Recorder:	File type:	Microphone inputs:	Max Quality:
Zoom H5	WAV or mp3	3	24-bit/96kHz (Professional)
Roland	WAV or mp3	1	24-bit/96kHz (Professional)
Olympus	mp3	1	44.1 kHz (Standard)

Alternatively, to record using your smartphone and a lavalier microphone, follow these steps:

Sign out the Audio Technica Lavalier Mic from the Service Desk and use the included adapter to connect to your smartphone. If you do not have your own headphones, sign out a pair from the service desk so that you can check your levels.
You’ll need to have an app installed that will allow you to record audio. Easy Voice Recorded is a recommended app:
Easy Voice Recorder: Android, iPhone
For more information for the Easy Voice Recorder app, visit the app guide
Once you plug the lav mic into your smart phone’s mic jack using the adapter, no further step is necessary. Hit record in the app once you are ready to record.

Summary of Portable Recording and Microphone Options

Use:	Recommended equipment options:	Why?
Interviewing on the fly	Zoom H5, Reporter microphone, XLR cable	The reporter microphone can be held out between you and your subject. Both of your voices will be equally captured. If you are doing video interviews, you can connect the reporter microphone directly to the AV camera (Canon XA30)
Recording a lecture	Zoom H5 with a wireless lavalier microphone, or a Zoom H5, Rode, or Olympus recorder pointed towards you.	Wireless lavalier microphones are a good choice if you will be moving around the classroom. Clip the lavalier mic to your shirt and place the transmitter in your pocket. The receiver will be plugged into the Zoom H5. If the room will be quiet and you are largely staying in one place, you can also use the on-board microphone on portable recorders to record. Ideally, place the recorder close to you on a podium or table.
Recording a sit down interview, your own voice or podcast in any room.	Podcasting kit with Zoom H6 (available soon)	Comes with everything you need for podcasting with up to four voices recorded.
Recording instruments	Zoom H5 with instrument microphones and XLR cables (microphone stand not included). On-board microphone on any of the portable recorders.	Up to two instrument microphones can be plugged in and placed to record an acoustic instrument on the Zoom H5 to record instruments on separate tracks.
Recording of your own voice in a loud environment	Zoom H5 or Rode recorder with standard lavalier microphones. Alternatively, you can record using your cellphone's headphone jack using the attachment included with the lavalier microphone. You will need to have an audio recording app installed on your phone.	The close placement of the mic to the subject's chest will help reduce how much background noise is picked up.
Recording a discussion	Zoom H5 or Rode recorder	Using the Zoom H5 or Rode recorder's built in microphone is your best option. Place the recorder in the middle of all of the participants.