While it's true that quality gear can help you get good audio, maybe more important is knowing a few tricks on how to use the gear to make an even bigger difference. You don’t HAVE to spend a lot of money to get decent, usable, compelling audio.
The good news is that audio recorders have really come down in price and many people already have a recorder that they might not have thought of. A smartphone.
Smartphones make decent recorders. Many times there is a native app, or you can find some nice recorder apps that you can download for free or cheap.
I’ve used my iPhone several times in a pinch when I didn’t have my dedicated audio recorder handy.
One reason using a smartphone is not ideal: It may not be possible to monitor the audio while you record. Another problem is wind noise.
Dedicated recorders
There are a wide variety of audio recorders to choose from. Here are a few examples: (affiliate links)
Sony ICD-UX570 Series Digital Voice Recorder
Tascam DR-05X Stereo Handheld Digital Recorder
Zoom H1n Digital Handy Portable Recorder
Here's an inexpensive one (not sure about the quality, but it seems to have good ratings)
EVISTR 16GB Digital Voice Recorder
Here's a high end "bundle"
Zoom H6 All Black Six Track Portable Recorder Bundle
This is what we’ve been using for years:
Olympus LS-10 Linear PCM Recorder
The newer version of the recorder we use
Olympus Linear PCM Recorder LS-P4
A nice feature of a recorder is being able to monitor your audio.
WIND:
Make sure to mitigate the wind. Wind is your enemy. A GEAR suggestion: Windscreens are great.
Here is one example of a windscreen:
Gutmann Microphone Windshield, Windscreen for Apple IPhone 6 / 6S
TIPS:
- Test your “recorder to email file” process
- Test to make sure you can use your sound file in the audio editing software you choose
- Test the wind noise threshold
- Learn your gear. (You don’t want to be fumbling around when it’s time to record. Know which buttons do what in the dark. Seriously.)
- The ideal recorder will allow you to monitor your audio with headphones or earbuds.
In a pinch, you “could” record audio by calling it into the PodCacher hotline. (760) 300-3633 (Save this number to your speed dial.) But the audio quality from here might not be the best.