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Best quality digital recorder??

Just retired and got hi speed digital cable service installed (does that make me a 'late' adopter? : - ) thrilled with the overwhelming choices of channels for classical and jazz and the rest. I belong to a regional library and they seem willing to provide a super selection of CD's and DVD concerts - so - I'd like to take advantage of a "great" digital recording unit as I'm fussy about sound. I still have my old Nakamichi Dragon and older unique Wollensack cassette recorders but haven't used in years and want to get the recent digital equivalent of the Dragon. As I hear new stuff on Stingray I'll order the album from library. Seems I'm going back to younger days ; - )
ptss
buconero117
2,311 posts
 
What are you planning to record?
lowrider57's avatar
lowrider57
5,417 posts
 
Maybe i'm not understanding, but you want to rent a CD and make a copy at home, yes? The process is to play the rental CD in your computer drive, use a ripping software, then insert a new audio CD and load the file from your computer onto that disk.

The quality is every bit as good as the original, in some cases better. If this is what you are after you would need some instruction and advice on the best ripping program.
zd542
5,339 posts
 
"02-25-15: Ptss
Thanks guys. Pardon my lack of knowledge but I've been under the impression ripping CD's was for quick,easy casual listening."

If you rip a CD properly, it should be just as good as the original. Actually, if you use a recorder of some type, I would expect the results to sound different, in some way. I could only guess as to what the differences may be, but I'm pretty sure there will be some difference.

If you have access to a Windows PC, there are 2 programs that are considered to be the best. One is called EAC (Exact Audio Copy), and its free to download and use. Its also the more technical, and most difficult to set up, but there are a couple of excellent setup guide on the internet that walk you through the process, step by step. Once its set up, its easy to use. Then there's dbPoweramp, another excellent program. Its not too expensive, but its much easier to use (setup). And they do have a very good setup guide right on their web site.

As long as you have them set up properly, you can't go wrong with either of the above 2 options. And more important, you won't loose any quality during the process.
ptss OP
1,964 posts
 
Hi Bucanero117, primarily I'd like to record Classical including Opera,Chamber music and solo instumentals-guitar,piano,harp,flute,violin and Jazz- and from the best sources, CD, DVD or Blu-Ray. I'm hoping to preserve the sound quality.
lowrider57's avatar
lowrider57
5,417 posts
 
Ptss: good advice from Zd.

primarily I'd like to record Classical including Opera,Chamber music and solo instumentals-guitar,piano,harp,flute,violin and Jazz- and from the best sources, CD, DVD or Blu-Ray. I'm hoping to preserve the sound quality.

I'd say about half the members here are are doing just that and building libraries on their hard drives.
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