pghmatt - Posted - 11/06/2025:  09:45:35

Hi folks. I am looking for some current recommendations for either new or possibly some that can be found second hand readily that would be good for at least decent quality field recordings of small jam sessions. I already have a Tascam DR-40x, which works great when you are plugged into a mixer with dynamic mics and such. So looking for something that would have higher quality field recordings as a standalone with its built in mics. Thanks in advance.

Jon Borcherding - Posted - 11/06/2025:  16:52:37

As an easy-to-operate field recorder with built in condenser mics, I'm quite happy with my Zoom Q2N. It's actually a video camcorder but the stereo audio quality is quite good. I also have a little handheld recorder: a Tascam DR-05 and it is not nearly as good for audio as the Zoom Q2N.



This was recorded with the Q2N with no pre or post processing:



youtube.com/watch?v=9xTpCdAhcmg

I think the Q2N runs right around $200 new.

Tractor1 - Posted - 11/06/2025:  17:35:00

I have been thru many tascam recorders and still use my DP O2 --although --with a behringer interface because the behringer's phantom power is much quieter--The interface is not hooked up to a PC but it still is handy --
anyway back to the subject at hand--I bought a tascam DP 06 about a year ago--It has no speakers, but no big deal I have good over the ear phones--It's built in Mics are surprisingly good for onboard dynamic mics--It has usable settings to get the gain set for the environment--It will set to record -line or guitar level--has four tracks but only 2 at a time--Of course I stay with tascam because --they stay with their usual operation layout--and then-- I don't have to learn a new one.
this tascam is a perfect size and I am happy with it's ability--As far as Zoom I don't know either way
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Nopix - Posted - 11/06/2025:  20:25:35

Evidently the video recording app on both my phone and tablet (both android) use a higher sample rate/resolution than simply the audio recording app. So that's what I use. All the content on my YT site is made on my tab. No remote mikes. Go ahead and listen through studio monitors. How unnecessarily high fidelity does one need? Better is the sworn enemy of good enough.

banjoy - Posted - 11/07/2025:  05:45:24

Second endorsement here for the Zoom products. The Q2N is a video recorder, but you can get the Zoom H2N which is only an audio recorder, for around $100 or so. . It's small, fits in your banjo case, and can record high-definition audio in full surround sound, perfect for circle jam sessions or gigs. Depending on what SD card you install you can record hundreds of hours of hi-def audio.



Here is an example of how the Zoom H2 sounds, raw unaltered audio. I recorded this at an outdoor jam session and just plopped it on the ground in front of us mounted on a mini-tripod, so it's just 6" off the ground.

Edited by - banjoy on 11/07/2025 05:52:10

reubenstump - Posted - 11/07/2025:  07:39:35

Q2N - released in 2016, discontinued?

Q2N-4K - released in 2018, 220USD

Q8N-4K released in 2022, 400USD

I'd like to think that something new isn't too far in the future. I'd be fine with 1080, but would like updated connectors (USB-C and/or XLR) and a few other things, but I don't think that the Q8N is worth it to me.

Edited by - reubenstump on 11/07/2025 07:45:28

Tractor1 - Posted - 11/07/2025:  07:58:08

my tascams have a usb and off load to the PC --no xlr

Jon Borcherding - Posted - 11/07/2025:  08:14:07

quote:

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Originally posted by reubenstump

Q2N - released in 2016, discontinued?

Q2N-4K - released in 2018, 220USD

Q8N-4K released in 2022, 400USD

I'd like to think that something new isn't too far in the future. I'd be fine with 1080, but would like updated connectors (USB-C and/or XLR) and a few other things, but I don't think that the Q8N is worth it to me.

---

I forgot to say Mine is a Q2N-4K

cow_tools - Posted - 11/07/2025:  09:11:12

If you have a higher quality cellphone you might want to consider getting a clip-on mic for it, giving you the option to record videos of your sessions as well. Zoom actually makes and sells these, so you could save a little money and have less equipment to lug around.

pghmatt - Posted - 11/08/2025:  18:03:22

Lots of excellent suggestions. Going to test out a friend’s Zoom H8

pghmatt - Posted - 11/16/2025:  00:40:40

quote:

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Originally posted by cow_tools

If you have a higher quality cellphone you might want to consider getting a clip-on mic for it, giving you the option to record videos of your sessions as well. Zoom actually makes and sells these, so you could save a little money and have less equipment to lug around.

---

I grabbed a zoom IQ7 off fb marketplace and tested it out at a jam session in Pittsburgh. Pretty incredible for a clip on mic that wasn't even placed in the middle of the circle

Iq7 recording -

I will post comparisons in the same environment using the H8 and my dr-40x. Figure that might be useful to someone down the road

banjoy - Posted - 11/16/2025:  04:44:46

I can't listen to your sound file because SoundCloud is requiring me to log in or set up an account. Do you have a way of making this a public file?

pghmatt

Old Hickory - Posted - 11/16/2025:  08:16:35

quote:

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Originally posted by pghmatt

I already have a Tascam DR-40x . . . looking for something that would have higher quality field recordings as a standalone with its built in mics.

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I have a Tascam DR-07 MKII, which I bought (used) for camp in 2014. It's a now-discontinued lower version of what you have, which I understand has XLR inputs for external mics. Mine only has built-in mics. It's my understanding your recorder has similar built-in mics. So I don't see why you wouldn't just use that for field recordings of jam sessions. 

Also: It's my understanding your 40x has phantom power in its inputs, so you could use a pair of external condenser mics (if you think they'd be better than what's built in).

Am I missing something? Are you short-changing the capabilities of your 40x?

I also have a Zoom Q2n4K video camera (bought barely used for $100 last year) and have to agree the sound quality is very good. My two videos from the past 12 months were both shot with the Zoom using camera audio (captured from several feet away):

Somewhere (from West Side Story)

Celtic set.

For comparison, the videos for On the Street Where You Live and Redwing were shot with a Canon Rebel DSLR and the audio was captured through an Audio-Technica AT2020 condenser mic to a Fostex MR8-HD digital recorder. You can see how close the mic is in one video.

On the Street Where You Live

Redwing

And one more comparison. A few years ago, I recorded a banjo track for a friend's original Christmas song. I recorded it at my desk with my Tascam, using the built-in mics. The Tascam was laying on some type of cushioning on the desktop. Maybe 2-3 feet from the banjo pot.

Christmas is a-Comin' (not my best work).

I can't recommend any specific recorder you should get beyond what you currently own. And I'm not very knowledgeable on technology. BUT, from the little I've read in the past year I believe that "32-bit float" is a game-changer for digital recording. If I were to buy another recorder, 32-bit float would be a must-have. It eliminates digital clipping of loud sounds, while capturing even whispers and makes input levels pretty much "set and forget." Perfect for live recording of acoustic bands with flat-picked guitars (that tend to be low volume) and banjos (that tend to be . . . well, you know).

Tascam explains 32-bit float.

Good luck.

Edited by - Old Hickory on 11/16/2025 08:23:20

Old Hickory - Posted - 11/16/2025:  09:25:30

quote:

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Originally posted by Tractor1

my tascams have a usb and off load to the PC --no xlr

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The XLR on the Tascam DR-40x is input, not output. It has two combo quarter-inch/XLR inputs for either microphones or line-level signals. That is, each input works with two different types of plugs. They have phantom power for condenser mics.

For output/copy to a computer, it has the same USB out you're talking about. 

pghmatt - Posted - 11/21/2025:  08:19:39

quote:

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Originally posted by banjoy

I can't listen to your sound file because SoundCloud is requiring me to log in or set up an account. Do you have a way of making this a public file?



pghmatt

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Sorry it took me a little to figure out how to convert audio to video Smallsgrass snippet

doesnt sound as wonderful as your example but again, this was placed behind the circle with no mastering of any sort

banjoy - Posted - 11/21/2025:  13:44:01

Wow thanks for jumping through the extra hoops I didn't expect that. It sounds clear and clean to me for the mic being placed where you said. Nice job!

mikehalloran - Posted - 11/26/2025:  10:25:39

I’m a big fan of the Zoom Q2N-4K. I record my wife’a orchestra on it but it works up close as well. If you get one used, it might not be able to handle a large capacity microHD cards. If that's the case, you need to have a card under 256mB capacity so that you can upgrade the firmware first to 2.x — then you can use cards up to 1TB (guess how I know). Anyway, these are readily available used, often from sellers who don't know about the firmware update and frustrated by the 256mB capacity.



Zoom makes a number of small audio recorders also, some that record 32bit float — can’t overdrive the input.

Zoom 32bit float—everything you need to know



I don’t worry about output, instead recording to microSD cards that I plug into a card reader attached to my computer for drag and drop files transfer.



I also have Shure and Zoom mics for my iPhones. Way too fiddly to set up and transfer files compared to a separate recorder. I do not like having an $1,100 phone on a tripod when a $200 recorder is easier to use.

Edited by - mikehalloran on 11/26/2025 10:36:33