Yamaha Pocketrak C24 Portable Recorder Survey So far, Yamaha has learned from its limitations with the 2G - now discontinued. Not only are more features easier to locate within the unit, there are more features -- including recording capability in compressed MP3 mode up to 320 kps (idea for most situations where sharing good sound is essential). The addition of the microSD means that now WAV recordings won't constantly rob the internal drive space. Add to this a good tuner, a metronome and live metering, and you have a phenomenal (extremely) portable recording lab. The only drawback for me is that the tiny sliders and buttons are easy to press inadvertently. Yamaha should also consider providing a case for the unit, as it did with the 2G. Finally, a truly portable 24-bit 96 kHz stereo recorder! I've always been a fan of Yamaha quality and engineering, and this unit does not disappoint. I also have a Zoom H2, which is a bargain and good quality, but is somewhat bulky. This C24 can be slipped into a pocket with no problem. The interface is intuitive, and the sound quality is decent. I've not tried it with an external mike yet. It carries 2 Gig internal RAM, and micro-SD cards can add between 2 to 16 more if you want it. I like it! I bought this because someone who had a 2G highly recommended the 2G. I figured if the 2G was good, well. . this is the new model, must be better, right? Wrong! I haven't used the 2G but i have asked someone who owns one if theirs has the terrible "features" that mine has and they told me it didn't. Here are my complaints: There are many useful functions buried in the menus, but 2 functions that i have little to no use for are directly linked to buttons on the side of the unit (and no way to disable). Unfortunately, these buttons reflect the most incredibly poor design decision imaginable. I can only conclude that the designers never used the interface they designed (perhaps anyone else for that matter). Specifically. There is a very small button on the right hand side between 2 larger buttons (1 above, 1 below). The one below is the volume up/down toggle (used frequently). The tiny little button has 2 functions. Deleting songs and changing the recording mode (!). The delete function is used frequently and is difficult to use for being so small. The latter function absolutely should not be on this button. It allows you to change between manual and automatic gain control on recording. In manual mode, the actual level is changed by some means that, in turning it on just now i could neither remember or figure out (in a few moments of playing around). This is neither her nor there, though. The problem is that when you press the big red record button it will either start recording or NOT, depending on whether the recording mode is set to manual or AGC. If set to AGC it starts recording immediately. If set to manual, it goes into pause mode (that's probably where you can then adjust the actual recording level). So, when you hit the record button you cannot really know whether it is then recording without scrutinizing the unit closely to see. If you'd like to just pull this out and start recording in the dark. . . forget it. Many times i have done this, thinking i was recording but all i'd done was put it in pause mode (waiting for me to set the level or to hit record again to begin recording) because i had accidentally pushed that little button, thus changing the recording mode. You have to hold it in for a second or so to delete a song. But if you just hit the button without holding it, it toggles the recording mode. This is absolutely awful and i really hate this thing for behaving this way. There is no way around it. You can't rely on it to record when you hit the record button because it may be in manual recording mode (it's very easy to hit that little button just by having the unit in your pocket). My second gripe is that the toggle above that little button is for playback speed. Again, this should _not_ be on a hardware button, it should be in a menu. At least if these buttons could be deactivated via a menu then the device would not be such a booby-trap to use. I once listened to a whole Wire album (being completely unfamiliar with the music) at something like 140% speed because i'd accidentally pressed that top toggle button. As i said, this happens very easily while the unit is in your pocket. It
is also difficult to play music with it in your pocket if you are moving around at all. It is virtually necessary to push the hold switch on the side so that no controls can be activated. Then to adjust the volume or do anything, you have to slide the hold switch off, do whatever, and slide it back on again. Overall the user interface of this thing was designed by someone who clearly never used the product and it's awful. Otherwise, i would be happy with the unit. It sounds nice, has good battery life, seems quite durable (i've had mine for a year). But i HATE it and i wish i'd bought a 2G or something other than a Yamaha. I take this device to all my choir rehearsals and have even taken it to a concert to get a reasonable recording (don't tell anyone!). Unlike another reviewer I am not complaining about the audibility of the little loudspeaker, besides which, I can plug a headphone in. You have to switch it on and wait a couple of seconds while it boots liek a computer before you can start recording. Unfortunately there have been times where I have been fooled into thinking I was recording when in fact I was in standby mode. In contrast my Olympus Pearlcorder doesnt have to be swtiched on to start recording, but of course it has fewer features, and the sound is not nearly as good. Whilst the sound is very good, don't expect a miracle because the microphones are somewhat limited in frequency range, but they are better than what I expected. Of course you can plug in a microphone to get around this. It's also nice to use the "tuner" to see what note you are really singing. The metronome is very handy too. The unit chews up batteries rather fast: one alkaline battery will last a couple of hours in high quality recording mode. I loved this little gadget. I'm a 5th/6th grade vocal music teacher as well as the community children's choir director. I have used it several times in class and rehearsal. it's a great tool for the students to hear themselves and evaluate their singing. I've also used it to record accompaniments for rehearsal cds. It's easy to use, excellent recording quality, and easy to transport.
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