HHB FlashMic DRM85 - high-end mic with 1GB flash

At a whopping $1,200, the HHB FlashMic DRM85 may not be cheap, but it may still be the ultimate tool for podcasters on the move. The FlashMic is, as you've probably guessed from its name, a microphone with built-in flash memory for quick recording. Yes, you can accomplish the same thing with almost any flash-based MP3 player, and can hook up some pretty good mics to them as well. But they're not professional-quality Sennheiser mics with 1GB of built-in storage. OK, it's probably overkill for podcasters, given that the amount of compression you'll want to use will wipe out any advantages to using a high-end mic. But we just know NPR is going to cash in some of Ray Kroc's money to pick up a slew of these for their journos.

[Via Broadcast & Podcast Gadgets - Thanks, Marc]

[Craig Phillips @ Dec 19th 2005 1:37AM]

Actually the higher quality sound, photo or video you start with the better compression software can work. Of, course it depends how far down you crunch the original file as well...

All in all though - you'd wanna be making some damn fine moola off your podcasts to justify $1200

:D

[Dave Rules @ Dec 19th 2005 1:37AM]

Where do you plug in the XLR cable?

[colin @ Dec 19th 2005 1:37AM]

wow. you could get a good sennheiser wireless pack for that. better quality too. it's a neat idea, but just doesn't seem practical for the storage size.

[Finished.Law.School @ Dec 19th 2005 1:37AM]

Does this double as a vibrator at this price?

[john mcdowell @ Dec 19th 2005 1:37AM]

$1200?? Check out Samson's new C01u for podcasts. It is a little different animal in that it has a live USB output and requires a computer or laptop, but it is a high quality condensor and costs $79 on the street.
www.samsontech.com

[Alan Silverman @ Dec 19th 2005 1:37AM]

Sweetwater.com lists it on "sale" at $1300 (says the MSRP is $1400). I know HHB stuff is well-built, but come on ... you could get a really good mic for $250 or less, then spend $450 for a Marantz PMD660 and another $50 for a 1g CF card. That leaves plenty of change to make up for the "inconvenience" of the cable. Also don't like the limitation of 32 or 48kHz SR. If you archive or distribute the audio on CD that means a conversion to 44.1 ... not a killer, but another step that can be avoided with a recorder (like the Marantz) that can lay down the original tracks at 44.1kHz

[Alan Silverman @ Dec 19th 2005 1:37AM]

Sweetwater.com lists it on "sale" at $1300 (says the MSRP is $1400). I know HHB stuff is well-built, but come on ... you could get a really good mic for $250 or less, then spend $450 for a Marantz PMD660 and another $50 for a 1g CF card. That leaves plenty of change to make up for the "inconvenience" of the cable. Also don't like the limitation of 32 or 48kHz SR. If you archive or distribute the audio on CD that means a conversion to 44.1 ... not a killer, but another step that can be avoided with a recorder (like the Marantz) that can lay down the original tracks at 44.1kHz