Portable recording device?

[irwcustom]

Could somebody please recommend a recording device to replace my old tape personal stereo. I have some pretty good reference recordings from that, but it's no good anymore. Maybe analogue is still the way to go. What about a mini disc recorder? Pocket style only. Price - I'll leave out for now.

[Quinny]

Hi IRW.

I use a portable MD player/recorder myself, a model by Sharp and it does the job well. Saying that, I also have an old dictaphone that uses full size cassettes and does the job every bit as well. What is it you want the device for exactly?? As a kinda musical 'notepad' for ideas and rehearsals??

Thanks, Q.

[irwcustom]

Yeah, exactly that Q. Thanks

[Quinny]

I'd almost be tempted to say just go for an old cassette dictaphone in that case. They're cheap and easy to find and do a very decent job... some of them you can plug a mic into too if required, which can be useful. A MD player would also be really cool, but it'd kinda be a shame to spend that much on a device just for noting ideas. If you have a whole stack of MD's or are planning on getting into MD then it'd make sense, but perhaps a bit OTT just for idea capture.

Q.

[irwcustom]

I think your right Q. Though I was wondering if the sound quality of MD was a lot or any better. I thought I would get something that is easy to just put on and away you go - no plugging in mics etc - just a notepad as you say. I have had 2 tape players in the past and the Sony was a much better sound than the Aiwa. I don't see too many tapes for sale these days though.