Portable Digital Recorders using memory cards

Portable Digital Recorders:

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Model	$ List / Street	Notes and comments from various sources.
Edirol R-1	$550 / 429
Edirol R-4	$1,895 / 1595
Edirol R-09	$450 / 399	battery and memory card compartment is incredibly badly designed and fragile. One report - noise floor is really noticeable, omni mic boot up 6 seconds mini inputs, outboard mic gain is hi/lo switchable, and "plug-in power" is toggled w/ software nice studio cans seem to require more energy than the R-09 provides O'Reilly Review
Fostex FR-2	$1,499 / 1,299	32Khz to 192Khz. 16 or 24 bit AA Batts, Good Mic Pres Review \| Review
Fostex FR-2LE	$749/ $600	BWF (stereo) or MP3 recording to Type II Compact Flash cards\| FAT32 file system & BWF Stereo file format \|16/24bit, 44.1/48/88.4/96kHz \| XLR In \| phantom \| USB 2.0 for high speed file transfer to PC \| Pre Rec buffer \| Auto file closing maximizes available recording time \|ALC (OFF/ALC/LIMITER) and HPF\| XLR \| (4) "AA" batteries or a 12V DC input Review
Fostex DV-40		Mono, stereo or 4-track recording modes \| Up to 192kHz/24-bit performance. (44.1, 48, 88.2, 96, 176.4 kHz also available) \| standard DVD-RAM media \| Optional 2.5” internal 40GB HD (model 9055) for disk/file copy between disks \| 20Hz - up to 80kHz frequency range \| Rack Mount
Fostex PD-6	6 track DVD Ram and hard disk.
HHB PORTADRIVE
iKEY	$179 / $60 and up	.Wav or MP3 files to 256kbs, 4AA Batteries Line Inputs only
iKEY Plus	$289.95/ $138	.Wav or MP3 files to 320kbs, 4AA Batteries, 1/8" mic input. Phono preamp, 6-bar VU meter
Korg PXR4	$500 / 299	Uses Smart Memory 16 bit MPEG 1 Layer 2 @ 32bits
Korg MR-1	$899	20 GB Hard drive 1 bit audio DSD, DSF, DSDIFF, WSD + converts to 16 and 24 bit BWF up to 192 kHz mini trs, AC power of installed lithium polymer battery.
Korg MR-1000	$1499	40 GB Hard Drive 1 bit audio DSD, DSF, DSDIFF, WSD + converts to 16 and 24 bit BWF up to 192 kHz XLR/TRS AC or AA batteries
Marantz PMD 620	$400	SD card, MP3 (32 - 192 KBPS) and wav (44.1 + 48K @ 16 or 24 bit) 2 AA Batts for about 5 hrs of record. Fast boot. Will record a mono file. Mini plug input, built in mics ok. Headphone jack located between the two internal mics. Output is confidence monitor which means a short delay. [ Reports say the delay is fixed with updated software.] Review at Transom \| Brad Linder Review Possible File Format Problems reported here if converting to .BWF.
Marantz PMD 660	$649 / 499	to 16 bit 44.1 & 48 kHz .wav + MP3 formats. Mic pres may be noisy for low-level dynamic mics. XLR mic input. Transom Review
Marantz 670	$899 / 699	16 bit 44.1 & 48 kHz .wav + MP3 formats. XLR mic inputs, OK mic pres.
Marantz 671	$1,199 / 999	16 or 24 bit 44.1 to 96 kHz + MP3 formats. XLR mic inputs, OK mic pres.
M-Audio Microtrack II	$499.95 / $279 - 299.	MP3 recording: 96 to 320kbps at 44.1 or 48kHz \| PCM recording: 16 or 24-bit at 44.1, 48, 88.2 or 96kHz \| new features and enhancements including: * extended input gain range * analog input limiter with bypass * 48V phantom power * USB 2.0 * easily add markers to BWF files * monitor S/PDIF input via headphones while recording * seamless recording of files greater than 2GB * backlight dimmer * hibernation mode \| CF or microdrive \| built-in rechargeable lithium-ion battery or included power supply \| separate left and right input level controls professional balanced Ľ” TRS inputs capable of mic or line-level signals \| dual microphone preamps with 48V phantom power for studio microphones \| 1/8” TRS input with 5V power for use with stereo electret microphone (microphone included) S/PDIF coaxial input \| monitoring via RCA line outputs or 1/8” stereo headphone output \| output level control \| dedicated buttons for navigation, record, hold, pause, delete, menu, and power Read the comment sections on all reviews Linder review \| Inside Home Recording review \| Wing Field Audio review \| Core - Sound
M-Audio Microtrack 24-96	$499 / 399	Mini TRS input. Non replaceable recharge battery. External power by USB plug. The USB port and one of the 1/4" jacks are so close together that it was impossible to use both at the same time The battery begins discharge when disconnected from AC even if not turned on. PC Mag \| O'Reilly Review \| Transom Review
Nagra Aries M	$850 and up	-Only 1GB of fixed internal memory - 32, 44.1 and 48kHz @ 16 bit \| Mini plug in and out no P48 on external mic-in -internal mic is mono runs 10 hours from 2 AA-cells (but records only 1hour26minutes at 48k linear PCM 16bit) \| S/N 85dB, A-Weighted see low noise comparison
ARES-PII+	$2495	5 “AA” (LR6) batteries, CF Media, 16, 22.05, 24, 32, 44.1, 48 kHz- 64, 128, 192, 256, 384 kb/s Mic. Inputs 12 poles DIN connector \| 48v Phantom
Olympus LS-10	/$399	The 2GB built-in flash memory and SD slot (up to 8 gigabytes). Long battery life allows to 12 hours with two AA batteries. .wav 44.1, 48, (24 bit/96 kHz) - .mp3 and .wma. Line and 3.5mm stereo MIC jack (PinP power)- usb file transfer. With one mic, records left channel only. This unit is rather susceptible to BlackBerry® and iPhone interference using both the internal mics or an external dynamic. At close range it can be heard as digital data. From a greater distance, the data seems to modulate the audio giving the recording a "distorted fuzz" type sound. target="blank"> Transom \| Mix Magazine \| Brad Linder Review read comments also. \| Discussion on Naturerecordist \| Linder - want to know what it sounds like? \| O'Reily \| sample file
Roland CD2	$799 / 695	CD and CF Recorder
Sony PCM-D-1	$1995 / 1849	to 24 bit 96 kHz 4GB internal memory built in mic.
Sonosax SONOSAX SX-R4	Shipping May 08 @ $4500?	44,1 up to 192kHz @ 24bits and 16 bits ( dithering )\|Up to 8 tracks on the HD plus 2 tracks on the CF Card # 4x electronically balanced Mic/Line Input, XLR connectors \| 2x unbalanced adjustable Line input on TA3 connector \| 48V Phantom for Mic power \| Pre LF Cut for rough wind conditions - PAD - Phase reversal \| 2 Gain range and trim Gain control on the front
Sony PCM-D50	$599.95 / 499.95 - 457.00	16 bit STEREO recordings ONLY at 22.05 kHz, 44.1 kHz, 48 kHz and 96 kHz NO mp3\| Mic and Line in- mini \|DC IN 6V, Four AA (LR6) alkaline batteries (supplied), Four nickel metal hydride rechargeable batteries NH-AA (not supplied)\| 4 GB Internal + Sony Memory Stick(Pro Duo and Pro-HG Duo only)\| 5 sec pre-record \| Windscreen and remote extra. Transom Review \| Radio World Review \| Brad Linder Review Production Sound group. Review
Sound Devices 702	$2,175 / 1,850	to 24 bit 192 kHz CF Media Transom Review
Sound Devices 722	$2,375 (B&H)	to 24 bit 192 kHz CF AND HD A major recorder in the film/sound industry. High quality and reliability.
Sound Devices 744	$3,950	to 24 bit 192 kHz 4 Track A major recorder in the film/sound industry. High quality and reliability. see low noise comparison
Sound Devices 788T	/$6k	The 788T is a powerful eight input, eight-track digital audio recorder designed for production sound. Microphone or line-level signals, provide 48 V phantom power for condenser microphones, offer peak limiters for microphone inputs, and fully adjustable high-pass filters. Internal 160 GB SATA hard drive, CompactFlash media with UDMA support, or an external FireWire hard drive or DVD-RAM (with bus powering).
Soundman DR2		Mic in (PinP)\| MP3, 96, 128, 196 and 320 kbps \| .wav \| manual level adjustment with -10 and -20 pads \|2GB internal memory \| AAA/LR03 1.5V battery \| Due May 08? Tapers Review \| Freesound Review
Tascam DR-1	$299	1GB SD \| MP3 or 48 or 44.1kHz 16 or 24-bit Recording WAV formats\| auto gain control and analog limiting \| low-frequency cutoff \|Rechargable Lithium-Ion Battery (can purchase additional bat) recharge via USB or AC \| USB 2.0 \| Built-in Tuner and Vocal Cancel Features \|Overdub Feature\|Mechanical reset button \| Mic and Line in - mini + 1/4 inch mic in. (No level adjust for line in or mono mic in) WAV at 16-bit (factory setting) or 24-bit, or MP3 at 32 kbps, 64 kbps, 96 kbps, 128 kbps, 192 kbps, 256 kbps, or 320 kbps. Brad Linder Review \| Home Recording review \| Gear Wire \| Eugene Sonn Review
Tascam HDP2	$1,249 / 999	to 24 bit 192 kHz Time Code 8 AA batteries, good mic pres, XLR input DV Review \| EQ Review \| Transom Review see low noise comparison
Yamaha Pocketrak	$499	2 GB (type not specified) \| USB 2 \| Rechargeable Battery (USB) or 1 AAA\| DRM10 \|Variable playback speed \| Manual rec adj or ALC \| 44.1 kHz, 16 bits .wav or mp3 \| mic/line input stereo
Zaxcom ZFR100 Audio Recorder		miniSD media, single mic level unbalanced input, recorded 48kHz 24 bit convertible to: .WAV or .ZTF - 16 or 24 bits selectable - 32 kHz, 44.1 kHz, 48 kHz, 48.048 kHz -Time Code Type: SMPTE
Zoom PS04	$259 / 199	format? will convert to .wav or .aiff on transfer 128 Mb media
Zoom H4	/$299.05	AA Batteries, SD Media , With some media cards as battery voltage drops you can hear a clicking type noise as the data is written to the SD card. Onboard studio effects such as compression, limiting and mic modeling TRS/XLR Input connectors-phantom 44.1, 48, 96, and MP3 - omni mic O'Reilly Review
Zoom H2	$349 / $199.97	up to 4GB in SD Card storage, up to 24-bit/96kHz, up to 320kbps VBR MP3 1/8" inputs for both mic and line inputs \| W-XY mic patterns with 4 mic capsules and signal processing allows Front 90° cardioid, Rear 120° cardioid and 360° polar patterns \| 2 AA bats = 4hrs \| For a wind screen, the "dead kitten" from Rode fits the H2. Review at Transom \| EM Review