Edirol R-09 WAVE/MP3 Recorder, Black

The balance of portability and quality is fantastic. The menu interface is reasonably intuitive and sufficiently user friendly given the small profile. It's very nice being able to capture spontaneous ideas with minimal overhead.

I am a professional musician and I love this product. Prior to buying the Edirol R9 I was using a Sony Hi Mini Disc. I loved the hi mini disc, but this product is much more compact. The built in microphones are more than adequate, but if you are a professional like me you may want to use a better microphone (there is an input for one). I bought a 4GB card and was able to record well over 3.5 hours of high quality audio. The Edirol is really lightweight. The only negatives I have are the battery life and the lights on the front. The R9 uses two double a batteries instead of a rechargeable battery. I record a lot so I go through double a batteries really quickly. The lights on the front are really annoying if you are trying to discreetly record a performance. When recording there is a bright red light that stays on and you can't shut off the front screen without turning the unit off. For quality, weight, and size I think this is a great recorder.

Reading all the wonderful reviews, I've decided to get a Edirol R-09. However, can someone tell me besides getting the Edirol R-09 Recorder, what else do I need to get for recording music and transfer it to the computer and become mp3 file? (like usb, or mic....) Please specify the product and brand name. THanks a million!

I have tried to record my piano playing so many times over the years with disappointing results. Also, I am very average when it comes to dealing with electronics. That said, I highly recommend this for home recording. I have a very nice piano (Yamaha C-7) and it is in tune. Reading the instructions took about an hour. When I finished, I said to myself -- "It works just like a typical tape player." I had expected some electronic rigmarole, but there was none. We have a good microphone, but I chose to use the internal mic. Turned it on, played for about five minutes and did a playback through headphones. It captured the sound perfectly, no strange echoes, nothing. Wow. That was simple.

If you order one of these, you'll want to order a couple of 2GB or 4GB memory cards also. I was recording at the high end and the card that comes with the device only lasts for five minutes or so.

Edirol R-09 WAVE/MP3 Recorder, Black

This is not a technical review. Just my experience with the device.
A sleek device. Can be carried anywhere with ease. Recording quality thru the microphone or line in is good. The built-in microphone/s are very sensitive-pick up every sound around. Capable of Recording in both MP3 and WAV formats. Records on to an SD Card(2GB Maximum)
It has been useful for me in converting my cassettte tapes into MP3 format and then transferring it to my computer thru the provided USB cable. Works perfectly fine.
2 AA batteries last about 3 1/2-4 hours with continuous recording.
Of course, changing the batteries requires care.
Price: appears to be expensive. Considering its size, weight and capabilities, it may be worth the cost.