Edirol R-09

From SPARK

Contents 1 Description 2 Considerations 3 Evaluation 3.1 PART 1 - General Features 3.2 PART 2 - Sound Quality 4 Where to Obtain 4.1 Order From

Description

• A compact hand held digital recorder, one of the smallest units available, weighing just 6 oz.

• The controls are logically laid out, and the display is easily readable.

Considerations

Advantages

• Easily portable

• Reasonable quality for the money. Positive reviews in the casual market and being used as an auxiliary recorder by some in the professional field.

Disadvantages

• It’s plastic, like most of the affordable, small recorders, and might not do well if dropped. The access door for the battery, card holder, and USB components seems rather flimsy, and likely to get mis-aligned or broken.

• Preamp hiss and potentially poor gain (AGC) for recording in quiet settings. See the evaluation below. (Note: These units were designed with a focus on recording loud sounds, such as concerts, where these preamp and AGC issues wouldn't be a problem.)

Evaluation

PART 1 - General Features

Input / Output

• Built in high-grade stereo condenser microphone.

• External mic and line inputs, using stereo mini jacks. (This means no phantom power for professional condenser mics – you can use one that contains an internal battery.) Note that these two inputs cannot be used simultaneously – line input takes priority.

• No digital audio input.

• Headphones (signal in both channels) and line out – same plug (stereo mini jack).

Data type

• WAV format: 16 or 24-bit uncompressed recording with 44.1 or 48 kHz sample rates. (16 bit recording may be sufficient, under conditions where the preamp hiss – see below – is noticeable.)

• MP3: Up to 320kbps playback and recording.

Recording Mode and Effects

• Records only in stereo. There is no single-track mode.

• Has reverb. (An audio editing program can be used to achieve other desired effects.)

Data Storage / Transfer

• Records to Secure Digital memory cards (64MB card included; can use up to 2 GB cards, or 8 GB with the new High Definition SD cards). With a 2 GB card you can record 1,993 minutes in MP3/128kbps or 180 minutes in wave/16-bit/44.1 kHz.

• You can easily download to computer, by either USB or a card reader.

Power Source

• Runs on 2 AA batteries. (Alkaline AA battery life reported to be ~ 4 hrs. in recording mode; longer in playback mode). Can also use NiMH rechargeable batteries.

• AC adaptor can also be used (100~240 volts).

For more about the features and technical data, see the Edirol website

PART 2 - Sound Quality

Internal Mics

• The built-in mics are very sensitive, and do a decent job. But this sensitivity may be a problem for those recording very quiet sounds (it will pick up any background noises). One needs to be careful to avoid wind, P-pops, and other breath noises.

External Mics

• A professional condenser mic, with an XLR to mini plug adaptor, is the best choice. It will need an internal battery, since the unit cannot provide phantom power.

Preamps

• There’s a noticeable background hiss when recording with most microphones. In many applications, such as when recording loud events, or even average ambiences, the hiss will not be an issue. But when doing an interview in a quiet space, it becomes impossible to ignore.

Gain (Manual or AGC)

• Recording in a loud setting (such as a loud concert or parade): You will get satisfactory results.

• Recording conversations or quiet sounds: With a dynamic omni mic, it is close to impossible to get proper sound levels for a good sound quality. (Though you could boost the levels later, the preamp hiss would also be boosted.) A high-output condenser microphone (with its own internal battery) will give you better results.

• You can use external preamps with the line-in jacks, to reduce the preamp and gain problems; but this could defeat the point of having a small, inexpensive device.

Where to Obtain

Order From

• Vernacular Media Services (VMS).

• Internet; typical market price (September 2007) is around $400 USD.

By: SPARK Volunteer 1; information from VMS evaluation and other sources

Date entered: 21 October 2007