Portable Examiner: Tools for the journey

July 3, 6:52 AMDenver Evangelical ExaminerRichard Beattie

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  http://www.envoytown.com

Every few weeks Denver Evangelical Examiner and EnvoyTown Station give readers and listeners an inventory of what tools a columnist, producer, and host uses to be a trusted envoy and examiner. These are the field tools we are using to record, write, and monitor breaking news, events, and interviews that are important to living the Evangelical Lifestyle- anywhere you go.  There are many traveling evangelists and even more journalists and worship leaders! So we thought that as I write from this mini-laptop we would bring you some tools of the trade that we have road-tested.

Portable Digital Recorders

Remember when Jim Lovell tells his son in Apollo 13 that NASA fixed the door problem on the Apollo right after three astronauts were killed in a test run? maybe it is not rocket science but the new "Handy Recorder" H4 by Zoom Corporation still has not fixed its door problem. All else is systems go- but flexibility is traded out for more control and for the radio host on the move the H2 is easier to move with.

H2 vs. H4 in living stereo

Both models live up to their "handy" name and both record in "brilliant stereo" (including surround sound) the media pro who is covering a story, or conducting an interview will miss some accessories that the H2 came standard with but is not in the box of the H4. I am preparing my Envoy Town team to cover a convention of author and publishers. We are about to test the recorders against themselves and a portable Marantz- so the radio review will be even better!

The missing link

aside from the flimsy door that houses the sound card both Zoom Units perform well. The H4 lacks flexibility in mic positions because Zoom designed the newer unit with a caged X/Y pattern.  Also a tri-pod or a hand held stand are not in the box of the H4 (bummer!) What does come with the H4 that is not included with the H2 is  the Cubase LE software which may be helpful for some but not for those who use Pro-Tools.  Our Envoy's gather elements and bring them back to our mastering studio where our chief engineer creates magic.

SFX and music

The metronome tracs and the guitar jack works well for me as a composer. The flexibility of the recorder also helps us gather great tracks for our custom sound-effects as well as Foley. The jury is still out on the durability of the Zoom units. Envoytown Station will get some road testing chances in the coming weeks so we will report back to you. One thing is for sure- we hope the H5 fixes the door problem!

(4 out of 5 stars)

Motorola Q Phone

I am on the run in my main job as father and mentor to my four kids as well as my second job as media producer for a large ministry. I also work with writers and producers on portability, message, and technical tools that get us in places where we can cover a story, write it record it and send it instantly.

Full Coverage- and Portable
The Blackberry curve I purchased for my Envoy Media Team was one of the tools that helped accomplish that. With my mini laptop, a hybrid digital camera, and a media hub like http://www.envoytown.com, and my digital recorder for interviews, instant press releases, conferences, stories, and interviews can be written, produced, and sent anytime and from any place.

Drowned Sound

So it was with great distress when picking my daughter up from Volleyball, I placed my Blackberry in a drink holder and heard "SPLASH!" I tried mouth to mouth, and many people gave advice as what to do. There was something about microwaves, a technician told me to blow dry it, and my favorite was my Pastor's advice: "Put it in a drawer for three days and it may work again." If I only had enough faith. The other thing that was a problem- no warranty on drowning your phone.

Meet Mr. Q

So I walk into the store where I bought it and was ushered into a room where the Q was sitting. I was drawn to the Motorola Q 9's keyboard and the fact that it is loud. It rings loud, it plays loud, and the screen is big too. We had a little funeral for the Blackberry and I signed up for two years on "Quasi Moto Q9."

What I like

It is fairly easy to set up with the more manly sized keyboard. On the face are easy to read and see icons, and it seems to hold remote battery power longer. The extras are nice too, including a second battery, and a nice belt case.

Sound

The blackberry seemed crisper in sound, and the loudness is often to the point of distortion compared with the Blackberry. All in all it's a good tool for calling in radio spot buys, directing talent, and brainstorming ideas with my team.

Conclusion

While I get a rebate on the purchase at AT and T I had to buy an extended warranty, which given my watered down record, I believe that flood damage IS covered. Bottom line is that like all electronics the Q has features that the Curve did not and I miss some of the features that the curve had.

(Rating 3 of 5 stars)


Lucero Classical Guitar

I would not have believed it for a second. I just finished an instrumental recording with a vintage Martin 1952 classical guitar that I had borrowed from my closest friend in the world. For 35 years I was a dreadnought man with a crisp finger styling and addicted to the sound. Now I was influenced more by Latin jazz, and suddenly on a cold winter's day I put down new compositions on the classical while being snowed in at the studio.

After the Blizzard

In a few weeks after returning the Martin I was intrigued by the new sound. I went to a nearby Guitar Center and searched for my own first classical guitar. I played whatever they had on the walls, I was determined not to spend over $500, after all this was experimental for me. Then simplicity and design caught my eye and I saw her: Lucero, a cut-away at $200! I treated her like the Martin and when I began to play, my heart started beating faster. The action, the sound wasn't a beginner model. I fear someone made a mistake and so I went to the counter, bought a case, paid my money and got out of there before they could notice their error! Muy Bien!

That was a little more than a year ago and from what I found out no one else knows that Lucero has made a grave error. I have tried to keep it quiet but it isn't fair to professionals, students, or teachers. Sure they make it in Indonesia, but some one is caring, and knows a bit about mass Luthier making at the factory. What's more the thin line pickup is worthy of most of the $200 price tag.

If you don't believe this- I didn't! Take a listen to my guitar pieces. You can hear them on Jack Hannah's Animal Adventures, PBS, and many TV and radio spots or visit us at http://www.envoytown.com.

For the technical

Body Style: Thinline Cutaway ClassicalTop: Laminated SpruceBack: Laminated RosewoodSides: Laminated RosewoodNeck: MahoganyFingerboard: RosewoodBridge: RosewoodNo. of frets: 18Scale length: 25 1/2"Nut Width: 1-15/16"Neck width at body: 2-5/16"String spacing at saddle E-E: 2-5/16"Inlay pattern: noneRosette: ClassicBinding: Black with white purfling. White neck binding and heelcapWidth at Upper Bout: 11-3/8"Width at Lower Bout: 14 3/4"Maximum Depth: 3 5/16"Finish: GlossTuners: Gold Slotted open gear classicalElectronics: Under the Saddle Piezo Pickup. AT 3000 Active Preamp with 2-band ± 12dB EQ and Volume Sliders, and a low battery LED indicator. With that said and quoted from Lucero specs I will tell you that the playability of this guitar at the price is what is so extraordinary! The intonation is well above average and the guitar seems to stay in tune throughout a session or show.

(4 of 5 stars)

In a big world we seem to like small and compact. The Mini-Cooper, the bite size treat snack cakes, and the portable digital recorders that my team uses to record our weekly radio show catches the super-sized, SUV crowd in a place where they can not hide! What surprises me is how many people ask me about my favorite portable work-toy the Asus Eee PC.

Bigger than a Cell Phone, Smaller than a Notebook

Every time I am at an airport, a coffee house, or bookstore I am amazed at how many people will ask me: "What is that and where do I get one?" A seven inch screen, a decent sized keyboard and enough power, memory, for me to write an e-book, use as a monitor for my weekly radio program Radio Envoy, it has everything my Gateway with a few little extras.

Work in the key of Real Life

My quest was to find something portable that wasn't as tiny as my Blackberry Keyboard. I was searching for a cell phone with e-mail capability and while on Amazon found the mini-laptop Asus at a price I could afford. Yes I still bought the Blackberry and with the Blackberry, my Asus, my Hitachi Digital mini-disc video camera, the Fostez MR-8 multitracker and the digital Marantz PMD-660, I can fit my show into a small day packer.

What a Difference 40 Years Makes

My grandfather use to listen to the Met game on a Sony transistor radio in the late 60's, and I marveled at the portability of that little red radio. Even more amazing is how we can actually record and pod-cast instantly in media, and send it back with some quality! I am reminded when I was in Dallas at The Book Depository where JFK met assasins bullets. I was there a few years ago, not to talk to the conspiracy wackos on the grassy knoll, but to take in the journalism museum.

Portable media in 1963

Behind glass, were the large cameras, reel to reel recorders, and the portable Underwood's many journalists carried around with them. No fax, no computer, you filled your jacket pocket with coins to "call in the story." When the shots rang out many journalists and media were scurrying to find interviews and set up for "instant eyewitness updates." I just gazed at the exhibit with my cell phone in my holster, my laptop in my back pack, alongside my video camera and in my pocket the little digital recorder. I wondered how much was lost in documenting one of the darkest days in US history.

Great Expectations

I do not have great expectations of all the Asus Eee PC can do. I just wanted to have something super portable and easy to use, yet the little thing never ceases to surprise me. A high resolution camera caught me off guard and on camera one day so I thought I should actually use it to shoot some commentary! The presentation software is adequate and from power points to short business plans, media strategies, and for work and play, my low expectations have been elevated beyond anything I could get for this sized computer.

"It's so Cute!"

That's what people say when they see it and so I promptly looked for an affiliate agreement to carry the Asus Eee PC on my website at http://www.Envoytown.com. Though that is not a direct hit, I would recommend that you visit is, go to the Amazon banner and get a great deal before people get so enamored with it (between $300-$500 depending on extras) the price could go up soon. And if you happen to catch our show, we are totally portable and are willing and able to cover anything with little or no set up time!

Recommended:
Yes

Amount Paid (US$): 300
Operating System: Other
Processor: Don''t Know
Processor speed: Don''t Know
Screen Size: 10 inches
RAM: 64

(4.5 out of 5 stars)