I had some time at AES (Audio Engineering Society) to review some gear
that might be of interest to some of us. Please if you were there and
I missed or mis-characterized something, correct me.
We were well represented this year, I saw nature recordists Dan Dugan,
Rudy Trubitt, Danny Meltzer and Tony Celis on the show floor.
Nagra has a new 6 channel recorder for about $7,000US, has four
analogue inputs plus two digital. It's very large, probably about the
size of two long hardcover books. 40gb internal hard drive and a CF
slot. Aimed clearly at the pro film market.
http://www.nagraaudio.com/pro/pages/products_nagra_vi.php
http://tinyurl.com/ywmgdd
Korg has a new stereo 1bit stereo recorder, the MR-1000, it's about
the size of one hardcover book and records in specialty SACD type
formats. So if you want to edit the files they have to be converted
by the included Mac/PC software. The supposed advantage of the 1bit
method is that you are not bound to the limits of 16 or 24 bit depths.
Not sure of the price. They were also showing a smaller recorder
about the size of the Mtrack, I didn't get a close look at it.
(update: it can evidently record in wav format)
Pro Model:
http://korg.com/gear/info.asp?a_prod_no=3DMR1000&category_id=3D3
http://tinyurl.com/2fulaj
Smaller model:
http://korg.com/gear/info.asp?a_prod_no=3DMR1&category_id=3D3
http://tinyurl.com/2xwayr
Sony was very much showing their PCM-D50 hand held recorder. Oryoki
just posted a good comparison online so I won't list features. The
differences other than the lower price tag ($599US retail) are that
the mic pattern can be physically changed: XY(/ \), AB (l l), ORTFish
(\ /) Dan Dugan pointed out that Sony had cleverly allowed the left
and right to swap between the mics pointing out and pointing in. The
representative reported that the preamps for the built in mics are not
as good as the ones on the higher priced D 1 nor are the mics.
Digital inputs are optical on the end of an 1/8" connector, an
annoying Sony "standard". They also had the 48v phantom power supply
for the PCM series of recorders, the XLR-1.
http://bssc.sel.sony.com/BroadcastandBusiness/DisplayModel?m=3D10013&p=3D10=
&sp=3D83&id=3D90227&navid=3Duwp_series_wireless_microphones
http://tinyurl.com/2bg9sv
Sennheiser was not exactly pushing the new 8000 series of MKH mics. I
believe the specifications have been posted before, but they are very
similar to the original MKH series. There are a plethora of mounting
accessories, capsule extensions, etc. very similar to what Schoeps
provides for the Collette mics. I was told by the rep that they
retain the ability to work under trying conditions (humidity). The
rep mentioned that though the noise spec is similar it has a different
character than the original MKH which they think will be more
desirable. I will post a report if I get a set for evaluation.
Mix online is listing them at $1,299US each. The rep noted that they
are able to make them more efficiently than the old MKH mics, not as
much R&D was required for this. Could be BS but who knows.
http://www.sennheiser.com/sennheiser/icm_eng.nsf/root/products_microphones_=
mkh
http://tinyurl.com/2rjtb9
Those of us that own Grace Designs preamps can send them in to the
factory to get a 9db boost for nature (or other quiet) recording,
which is an option I didn't know about until now.
Anyone else who was there have any things of interest to report?
MixOnline AES preview:
http://mixonline.com/mag/audio_aes_new_product/
--greg weddig
http://gregweddig.net
|