Digital Camera with Audio ONLY recording facility

by ErpCreature Jan 2, 2009 3:28AM PST

Hi there,

I often make songs spontaneously in unusual situations and forget them very soon after, so I'm looking for opinions and facts on which cameras have the highest quality audio recording facilities.

I would like the camera to have a continuous audio-only recording facility i.e. where it doesn't stop the clips short so I can record for hours on end.

The more accurate the microphone the better...

Any audio examples of the recording capabilities would be extremely useful.

Cheers,

Erp

Discussion is locked

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Try an audio recorder.

by Kiddpeat Jan 2, 2009 5:12AM PST

They are made for the purpose you describe. Cameras are not.

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Thanks for the reply

by ErpCreature Jan 2, 2009 11:22PM PST

Yes, I should have said this in the question,

I don't have a digital camera and I really wanted to kill two birds with one stone by having an integrated sole sound recorder with one...

I'm not looking for sound quality of 44.1 wav files or anything particularly comparable to studio quality; just quality that will be good enough to allow detail in music or conversation to come out without confusion.

The other thing is that most of those dictaphones are more bulky and pricey than most modern digi cameras... I certainly don't want to carry 'round both all the time. And camera phones that may have this HQ facility are not low enough in price, though that would have been the ideal option..

Sorry I wasn't more clear

Cheers

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Sound Recording

by snapshot2 Forum moderator Jan 3, 2009 12:17AM PST

I checked the User Manual for three different Canon SD models and each can record sound (SD1100, SD750, SD850), for up to two hours.

Since all of the SD series of cameras use the same engine, I assume they all can record 2 hours of sound.

Since I have never seen any review that covers the quality of a microphone, I can not comment on the quality of the sound.

..
.

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audio recording on Nikon P60

by Joliet Eddie Jan 4, 2009 5:38AM PST

The Nikon P60 has an audio record function for doing just what you want.

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Agree with KP

by Steven Haninger Jan 4, 2009 8:12AM PST

look up Olympus digital voice recorders here. They'll produce better sound and be easier to fire up and sing into than any digital camera.

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I use Canon for this.

by udawggy Jan 3, 2011 3:57AM PST

Hello. I'm in the exact same situation as you- want to use as few devices as possible to do a couple simple things. I too get song ideas that need to be documented instantly. And I have the camera that does it.

I've been using my Canon SD1000, and SD1100 for this feature RELIGIOUSLY! The mic's are so good on these things that they don't ever distort, even in high sound pressure situations such as concerts. I haven't found any other camera that can do that with the built in mic. And I can get to the recorder VERY quickly:

Turn unit on (in "playback" mode)
hit menu
hit scroll up 5 times
Center button to record.
I can be out of my pocket and recording in less than 2 secs.

The files are stored as wavs on the card. You can set the sample rate. I can email examples if you're interested.

Now here's the kicker:
Canon Dropped this "Voice Record" feature after the SD1100! I can't believe it.

After over 2 years of hard abuse, my trusty SD1100 died on the floor at a NYE party. Although this camera is old, I am going right out and purchasing another not because of the good picture quality (which it has), but solely for the audio feature. I would love a Lumix, but they distort the audio, just like the rest of 'em.

Hope this helps.

PS. I'm all ears if anyone can point me towards another brand/unit that can do what I've been loving.

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Re: I use Canon for this.

by elpols Jan 21, 2011 7:30AM PST

I'm thinking of buying a second hand SD1100 mainly because of the sound recorder feature. To answer your PS, the SD880 and the SD990 (newest discontinued model) also got that feature. I'd love to have a short SD1100 WAV file recorded in a low noise environment to see how it behaves. I know it can handle loud sound very well, as you said. I'm new to this forum, haven't found a private message option yet.

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How's your outcome 4 yrs. later?

by Hansoes May 21, 2013 12:43PM PDT

I have been searching the net for current digital cameras that have a good audio recording and found your old posting. How did it go? And how about now?

I have been devoted to CASIO EXILIM for years, as they were the only great quality cameras that had AUDIO RECORDING only also. Have loved it, and used it for music recordings, since I teach and compose, and even use it for casual things to longer recordings.

Unfortunatley, just this past year, Casio discontinued their cameras with audio recording
AND on top of it, they decided to discontinue selling any Casio Exilim cameras in the USA.

So, looking for more alternatives.

Digital Camera with Audio ONLY recording facility

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