Sometimes you need a way to get quality audio input from a portable device, but most MP3 players just do not cut it. Fortunately a little buck goes a long way when it comes to music production technology in 2005. A few portable digital recorders from Edirol have caught my attention recently. I will be in the market for a digital recorder when I create my completely portable music production setup.

Edirol R-1 Portable 24-Bit WAVE Recorder & Player (PDF Brochure)

• 8 quality modes ranging from 64 kbps compression to 24-bit linear WAV.
• Maximum recording time is approximately 137 minutes (MP3, 64 kbps mode)with included 64MB CompactFlash card.
• Record via two built-in omni-directional microphones, external mic, or line inputs.
• Completely solid state design means no noise for the internal microphones to pick up.

Samples of a sax and guitar using the R-1’s internal stereo mics are available in two formats (original 24-bit/44.1Hz and downsized 160kps MP3).

This one gets tagged wishlist. Look at spending ~400USD for an Edirol R-1. For good measure, add as much memory as you want, such as an extra 1GB of CF memory for ~70USD. Hopefully you will not be dead broke after placing one of these useful pieces of hardware into your setup.

If you are really serious, you can consider adding even more function to your portable setup with the R-1’s big brother, the R-4 Four Channel Portable Recorder & WAVE Editor, but the R-4 will set you back ~1600USD.

The Edirol products get some coverage because two of the blogs I read, Create Digital Music and Gizmodo, have posted about the R-1. And because I have been impressed with my Edirol PCR-30 keyboard, so much so that my next purchase will likely be another Edirol product. It is great because it allows me so much hardware control in my music production software at a reasonable price. It is a different level of control to have physical knobs and sliders at my fingertips. And of course I needed a keyboard to record sequencer input.

Why I blog this? A friend of a friend from the UW DJ club (found their mailing list archives but not their site) mentioned he needed something better than his MP3 player to record his live sets. And when the times comes, I will be looking for portable recording hardware to use in my mobile music production setup.