After testing out the Edirol R-09, (see previous blog review) I decided to go ahead and get an M-Audio Microtrack 2496 recorder.
Here's my quick positives list:
- supports 24bit 96kHz recording
- has 1/4" jack line inputs
- records to Compact Flash cards, which can be really BIG.
- can operate bus powered.
- can record uncompressed WAV and MP3
- microphone is not physically attached to body - less handling noise.
- has a phantom power mode.
And the negatives:
- you can't change the batteries
- can only charge via the USB cable
- boot time is quite slow
- supports only older slower CF memory cards.
- phantom power mode is only for electret / ENG style mics. Forget about using a Neumann.
Because it can only charge via the USB cable, I found that I needed to carry a iPod power adapter or something when travelling.
I've since tried it out in MP3 mode recording a few live gigs and ambiences, and it gets the job done quite well, given the price tag. Of course, it's not a truely professional box - no real phantom power for really nice mics.
Testing
With this box, I did some serious testing of the input quality. Thanks to Vic Kaspar at DSV we used a Neumann U87 connected to a Summit valve mic pre. This particular mic pre has a balanced output (+4dBu), which was connected to a Yamaha O2R and recorded via AES/EBU into Pro Tools; and an unbalanced output (-10dBV) which was connected directly to the Microtrack recorder.
The result was astounding. At first, the Yamaha O2R achieved a much cleaner and more natural sound. It turns out that even with the level coming out of the mic pre at -10dBV reference, it was too hot for the Microtrack recorder. Once we turned down the output of the mic pre, we achieved very similar results between the O2R and the Microtrack. Still, the O2R had a bit more of a natural quality and clarity to the sound, even with the volume turned down and leaving about 20dB unused headroom in the Pro Tools session.
We did this test to find out what the converters are really like, without the bias of the toy microphone that comes with it.
The toy mic, does have a surprising amount of stereo width in recordings. For example: recording traffic - sit the box on the side of the road and listen to the recordings and you get quite a realistic stereo impression of the cars going past. BUT the effect is much more noticeable on headphones, and less noticeable on speakers - I guess due to the fact that the capsules are only about 4cm apart.
All in all, its a good box for its price, but its worth knowing its limitations.
Showing posts with label digital audio recorder review. Show all posts
Showing posts with label digital audio recorder review. Show all posts
Sunday, December 10, 2006
Tuesday, October 10, 2006
Edirol R-09 Review
I just had the opportunity to try out an Edirol R-09 from my friends at music lab.
In summary, my favourite features (positives):
- small size
- light weight
- AA batteries
- records to standard (and cheap) SD cards
- standard mini USB connector
- internal microphones actually sound quite nice
- good stereo image from internal microphones
- intuitive menu system
- you can disable AGC (automatic gain control)
- has Low Cut filters!
And negative features:
- internal microphones very susceptible to handling noise
- internal microphones very susceptible to wind noise
- recordings are a little bit "hissy"
- cannot be USB bus powered (need to have charged batteries to use USB to computer mode)
The unit is impressively small, and I like the fact that it runs on standard AA batteries, records to standard SD cards and connects to a computer via a standard mini-USB connector.
The menu interface is quite simple and easy to use. I read the manual, which is quite well written, but didn't really need to - navigating the menus is very intuitive.
I only tested the unit with its built-in stereo microphones - I didn't get a chance to test the unit's mic or line inputs, but it's good that it has them.
The internal microphones are not too bad for what they are. I have listened to a whole load of small MP3 style recorders that are aimed to replace micro-cassette dictaphone recorders, but don't really sound any better. The R-09 at least works quite well. The microphones create an impressively accurate stereo image, but I found that the stereo image translated better on headphones than it did on speakers. Perhaps some of the stereo imaging is created by some configuration of the microphones emulating a binaural configuration, resulting in a great stereo image on headphones, but not on speakers..?
The sound of the microphones is a little bit hissy. I feel like recording in 24 bit would be a waste of time with the internal microphones, just like a camera capturing 10 Megapixels from a 10mm lens.
The microphones are quite bass heavy in their response, and are also extremely susceptible to wind noise. I noticed that even air pressure differentials from big air conditioning systems (like in shopping centres) cause the microphone capsules to crap out. (I think that's the technical term.)
The unit has four small rubber/plastic feet on its base. After a first glance at the unit and its construction, I thought that it would sound best standing up on the small end (where the battery cover is) so that the capsules would be facing forwards. However, doing a test recording at a meeting in a board room style environment, the unit actually recorded a more even balance of sound in the room (from different people speaking, at close and distant proximity to the unit) and a more "intelligible" sound when it was lying on its back (on the four rubber feet). Perhaps having the microphone capsules very close to the table achieves a better sound by some acoustic coupling with the table's surface. Whatever it is, the recorde3d sound is better when the unit is lying on the table the capsules pointing upwards.
Overall, I like the unit. I think for the price, compact size and features, it's a great unit for recording anything from meetings to sound effects (so long as there is no wind).
Enjoy.
In summary, my favourite features (positives):
- small size
- light weight
- AA batteries
- records to standard (and cheap) SD cards
- standard mini USB connector
- internal microphones actually sound quite nice
- good stereo image from internal microphones
- intuitive menu system
- you can disable AGC (automatic gain control)
- has Low Cut filters!
And negative features:
- internal microphones very susceptible to handling noise
- internal microphones very susceptible to wind noise
- recordings are a little bit "hissy"
- cannot be USB bus powered (need to have charged batteries to use USB to computer mode)
The unit is impressively small, and I like the fact that it runs on standard AA batteries, records to standard SD cards and connects to a computer via a standard mini-USB connector.
The menu interface is quite simple and easy to use. I read the manual, which is quite well written, but didn't really need to - navigating the menus is very intuitive.
I only tested the unit with its built-in stereo microphones - I didn't get a chance to test the unit's mic or line inputs, but it's good that it has them.
The internal microphones are not too bad for what they are. I have listened to a whole load of small MP3 style recorders that are aimed to replace micro-cassette dictaphone recorders, but don't really sound any better. The R-09 at least works quite well. The microphones create an impressively accurate stereo image, but I found that the stereo image translated better on headphones than it did on speakers. Perhaps some of the stereo imaging is created by some configuration of the microphones emulating a binaural configuration, resulting in a great stereo image on headphones, but not on speakers..?
The sound of the microphones is a little bit hissy. I feel like recording in 24 bit would be a waste of time with the internal microphones, just like a camera capturing 10 Megapixels from a 10mm lens.
The microphones are quite bass heavy in their response, and are also extremely susceptible to wind noise. I noticed that even air pressure differentials from big air conditioning systems (like in shopping centres) cause the microphone capsules to crap out. (I think that's the technical term.)
The unit has four small rubber/plastic feet on its base. After a first glance at the unit and its construction, I thought that it would sound best standing up on the small end (where the battery cover is) so that the capsules would be facing forwards. However, doing a test recording at a meeting in a board room style environment, the unit actually recorded a more even balance of sound in the room (from different people speaking, at close and distant proximity to the unit) and a more "intelligible" sound when it was lying on its back (on the four rubber feet). Perhaps having the microphone capsules very close to the table achieves a better sound by some acoustic coupling with the table's surface. Whatever it is, the recorde3d sound is better when the unit is lying on the table the capsules pointing upwards.
Overall, I like the unit. I think for the price, compact size and features, it's a great unit for recording anything from meetings to sound effects (so long as there is no wind).
Enjoy.
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