Is the idea that the noise floor advantage is retained even though you
are converting the file to PCM in the end? If not...what's the point?
what does "generally sounds better" mean?
Interesting new recorders joining the fray!
Danny
- In "oryoki2000" <> wrote:
>
> A message appeared on the Tapers Section forum today noting that Korg
> is offering two new field recorders. The fellow who posted the note
> saw the recorders at the Korg booth at the AES show in San Francisco.
>
> The first machine is the MR-1, an iPod-size handheld with a pair of
> 3.5mm inputs, and a single 3.5mm TRS analog output. Data is recorded
> on a 20GB hard drive. Data is transferred via a USB 2.0 port. The
> MR-1 runs on an internal lithium battery. Estimated price is less
> than $800.
>
> The second recorder is the MR-1000, a model designed to be carried
> from the shoulder. The MR-1000 has a pair of XLR and phone plug
> inputs, and XLR or RCA outputs. The hard disc is also reported to be
> 20GB. USB 2.0 is used to transfer data. Power is from a set of AA
> batteries. Korg describes the MR-1000 as having studio-quality
> preamps. Price is expected to be around $1200.
>
> The machines shown at AES had durable metal cases and high quality
> controls.
>
> The most interesting aspect of the Korg recorders is their ability to
> record audio as a "one bit" data stream as well as a broadcast WAV
file.
>
> One bit delta-sigma modulation is an alternative to pulse code
> modulation (PCM) used in virtually all other recorders. The Korg
> units are the first one-bit recorders I'm aware of that are designed
> with battery-powered field use in mind.
>
> The online documents I've looked at this evening indicate that one-bit
> recordings have a lower noise floor and generally sound better than
> PCM recordings made at rates lower than 24/96. At 24/96 and especially
> at 24/192, PCM sounds as good as one-bit.
>
> Fortunately, the Korg machines allow you to choose if you want to
> record in one-bit format, or in PCM at sample rates up to 24/192. So
> you can decide which format you prefer.
>
> Included with the Korg recorders is software for Mac or PC that
> enables you to convert one-bit recordings into standard PCM formats.
>
> The 20GB hard disc is necessary because the one-bit data stream is
> very large. An hour of two channel recording takes 2.5GB of storage!
>
> Korg plans to release the new recorders in Spring of 2007. It will be
> interesting to explore the features and performance these new machines
> provide to the field recordist.
>
> --oryoki
>
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