Affordable hard-disc and solid state recorders
can be adapted for field use. One example is the
new Creative Jukebox "Zen."
The $350 Zen unit is about the size and weight
of the old Sony MZ-R50 minidisc machine or the
Apple iPod player. The Zen records in WAV format
to a 10GB hard disc via an analog stereo mini-jack
line input. Recorded WAV files can be uploaded
by USB 1.1 or Firewire to PC or Mac.=20
Line input means that an external pre-amp is
needed to record from a microphone. The
Sound Professionals offer a dual channel mic
pre-amp mounted in a waterproof Otter Box with
enough room for the Zen recorder, cost $160. This
combination makes a lightweight, field-worthy
recorder in a 6 x 4 x 2 inch box for $510.
Just call it "Bride of Franken-Recorder."
It's really the large capacity of the hard disc
that makes this setup interesting compared
to just putting a minidisc recorder and mic in
your pocket. A 48Khz stereo WAV recording
captures 768kbits per second in each of two
channels. That means you can record about 3
hours nonstop before you reach the 2GB
file size limit imposed by the Windows FAT-16
file system. Double that time for mono
recording, but you're likely to run out of
battery power in the recorder before reaching
2GB. Maybe you'd get 5 hours of nonstop
recording.
--oryoki
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Product specs:
Creative "Zen" portable digital player/recorder
Delivery scheduled for early October 2002
~$350 at buy.com, ecost.com and other sources
Records WAV files from stereo mini-jack line input
Hard disk capacity 10 GB
Reprogrammable firmware for OS updates
Playback formats=20
MP3 [ 8kbps - 320kbps ] VBR support
WMA [ 8kbps - 192kbps ] WMA 9
WAV [ 11kHz - 48kHz ]=20
Dimensions 113 =D7 76 =D7 25 mm 268g (w/ battery)=20
compare to
Apple iPod 102 x 61 x 18 mm 184g $350
Sony MZ-R50 110 x 77 x 20mm 240g $150 eBay
Sony MZ-N1 79 x 72 x 17mm 117g $300
S/N ratio 98dB=20
Channel separation 75dB=20
Total height harmonic wave distortion factor (THD) <0.1%
Frequency characteristics 20Hz - 20kHz=20
Built-in lithium ion battery
wildly optomistic factory estimate of playback time =3D 12 hours
Case anodised aluminum alloy
Liquid crystal display 132=D764 pixels
Blue LED back light equipped
Jog-dial thumbwheel for navigation of menus
Computer Interface USB 1.1 and IEEE 1394
Mac and PC compatible
up and download to computer
transfer any data file in addition to music files
The Creative Jukebox 3 appears to offer equivalent
function in a larger package with bigger hard disc.
The latest firmware for the Jukebox 3 offers
1) audio monitoring for Line-In prior to recording
2) stereo level meters on the lcd screen, and
3) recording level adjustment -12dB to 12dB
Hopefully these features will be available in
the Zen unit as well.
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