Doing boom mic recording for inside and outside environments for multiple films. Looking into portable audio recorders. I WILL NOT be using the mic on the device, ever. I have all the Sennheisers i could ever want, now i need to pick my PAR.

Im not expecting a Michael Bay film with Hans Zimmer doing the scores, so i dont need some crazy multimic'd unit that wipes my mouth and burps me after it feeds me. But a unit with phantom power, two input minimum for xlr, and has abundant positive reviews/accolades and awards (i.e. has been through the test and has come out above the others laid to ruin).

Ive looked into some that had positive reviews, but ive never worked with portable units. Ive always been a 'plugged to the wall' kind of person. I trust a mixer board with rackmounts aplenty with socket power vs a battery operated unit. Ive just never trusted them to be quality. Help me break that.

This is only for recording voice, sound and ambiance. It wont ever be used for music.

Here are three i found with positive reviews in a number of places.

Zoom H5
Tascam DR40
Tascam DR60 mkII (i read the mkI may be better though, again if you have info post it)

 

Well, if you've operated a boom you should have run across most of the common setups: external mic (sennheiser mkh 60), external mixer (sqn or sound devices), audio recorded on cam. If you don't record audio with the camera, you maybe want a recorder with timecode like the sound devices 744t

 

I use the Tascam DR40 for that stuff and like it a lot. Timecode is not a big deal, especially if you record the slate.

If you want to go big you might look at the Zoom F8 Multi Track Field Recorder.

 

I wont personally be doing it. And ive never worked in that realm before, but im ensuring the person who will be doing it will have the proper gear to do so and the last thing im missing is a portable audio recorder. Sound Device products are expensive. Expensive beyond the point of me seeing their value as of yet. The camera being used isnt a typical camera used for film. It has a 1/8th" plug though. Panasonic GH4. Plus, the Sennheiser needs phantom to go (i can use battery, but again, i dont trust it).

 

I think they most of them work fine. I have a Tascam. Does it's job. A friend has a Zoom. Looked it over. very similar in operation and functions. They have no complaints either.