Digital Video - August 2008 - (Page 20)

IN REVIEW SONY PCM-D50 & ROLAND R-09HR RECORDERS DIGITAL AUDIO TO GO SONY, ROLAND PACK FEATURES INTO PORTABLE RECORDERS. BY MARK J. PESCATORE t first glance, the Sony PCMD50 ($600) resembles a Star Trek tricorder rather than an audio recorder. On top, two built-in microphones are surrounded by a protective mini metal brace. The front features standard playback controls and a digital display, while the sides and back are adorned with inputs and switches. The PCM-D50 fits comfortably in your hand, though it can get heavy after a few minutes of holding it for an interview. The recording level dial is placed for easy access while you’re holding the unit, so you can easily ride your levels. (If you’d rather not hold the recorder, there’s a standard tripod socket on the bottom.) Another cool feature is prerecording, which lets you buffer up to five seconds while you’re in standby mode. The PCM-D50 features a generous 4GB of built-in flash memory, though you can also record to Memory Stick. Menu navigation is intuitive, so it’s easy to adjust record and playback features. You have your choice of record modes: 16- or 24-bit depth at 44.1, 48, and 96kHz sampling, as well as the lower quality 16-bit, 22.05kHz. Frequency range is 20Hz to 10kHz at 22.05kHz, but increases to a A SCORE SONY PCM-D50 PROS: Sturdy, rich recording quality with built-in mikes, prerecord feature. CONS: No XLR input, no built-in speaker. BOTTOM LINE: Solid performer. MSRP: $600 CONTACT: www.pro.sony.com EDIROL R-09HR PROS: Compact, lightweight, has built-in speakers, excellent screen and interface. CONS: Some distortion when changing levels, no XLR input, no built-in memory. BOTTOM LINE: Capable and cost-effective. MSRP: $459 CONTACT: www.rolandsystemsgroup.com maximum of 20Hz to 40kHz at 96kHz. Designed for stereo recording, the unidirectional mikes can be rotated away from each other to capture a conversation between two people on separate channels or even positioned slightly toward each other (my choice for interviews). The built-in mikes did a nice job minimizing background noise, but you’ll want to invest in the AD-PCM1 windscreen because they are sensitive to wind noise. Want to use your own mike? There’s a mini-plug available, plus a line input if you want to record from other external equipment, such as a CD or DAT player. You can transfer the WAV files to your computer via USB. The unit also plays MP3s, though it’s hard to justify the PCM-D50 for use as a glorified Sony Walkman. I have two complaints about the PCM-D50. The first is a lack of an XLR connector. You can invest in Sony’s XLR-1 microphone adapter, which offers two XLR inputs and phantom power, that’s designed to be mounted to the PCMD50. But, with a list price of $500, it costs almost as much as the recorder itself. Another missing feature is a built-in speaker. Yes, there is a headphone jack, but sometimes it’s just easier to confirm your audio (or let other people hear your recording) without having to pull out a pair of headphones. Compared to the PCM-D50, the design of the smaller Roland EDIROL R09HR ($459) seems a bit plain, but it’s very functional. The rubbercoated body is easy to grip, and it weighs about half as much as the Sony. The R09HR runs on two AA batteries or DC power. The R-09HR sports a stereo, omnidirectional condenser microphone. Recessed controls and ports, including mini mike and line inputs, are found on the back and sides. No XLR connection here, either, but there is a small preview monitor as well as a mini headphone jack. For simple menu navigation, the front panel features a directional pad that doubles as record and playback buttons. A small OLED screen offers a bright whiteon-black display of your level meters, record time, battery status, and more. There’s no built-in memory: the R-09HR stores your digital recordings on SD or SDHC cards, which can be accessed from the bottom of the unit (along with its USB port) by opening the protective cover. You can record about three hours of CD-quality sound on a 2GB SD card. Plenty of WAV file record modes here, with sampling rates of 44.1, 48, 88.2, and 96kHz, each offering 16- or 24-bit depth. Frequency response is 20Hz to 40kHz. You can also record MP3s (sampling rate 44.1 or 48kHz, various bit rates). The R-09HR has one significant flaw: If you adjust the audio level during recording, it will distort the audio. You can adjust the level from 0-80, but it doesn’t flow like a pot or slider on an audio board, it changes step by step. I found that a setting of “40” gave me plenty of loudness without peaking. DV www.dv.com 20 dv august 2008 http://www.pro.sony.com http://www.rolandsystemsgroup.com http://www.dv.com

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Digital Video - August 2008

Digital Video - August 2008 Contents DV Update My Studio Close-Up Wristshot HV30 Camcorder Tiffen DFX Bench Test PCM-D50 & R-09HR Recorders Camera Cradle Instant Expert My Passport Elite High School Confidential The Ultimate DIY Raid DV101 Click to Play Production Diary

Digital Video - August 2008

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