While the R-44, the new four channel recorder from Edirol, has not
been released in USA, it has arrived in Australia. A fellow using the
name "Ozpeter" on the Tapers Section forums has posted links to two
MP3 files that provide insight into the quality of the R-44's preamps.
The first MP3 is inspired by Rob D.'s "ticking clock" examples. The
second is from a recording studio. I believe the mics used are
Sennheiser MKH 30 and 40 in a mid-side pair.
First, Ozpeter's report about the recording of the ticking clock:
"What this test does is to attempt to show R-44 preamp noise, or lack
of, at full preamp gain. I used the Sennheiser MKH mics as it seems
to be logical to use low noise mics for such a test. [The recording
is of] a tiny clock about 2 inches from the mics, in a quiet suburban
bedroom during the day."
Link to file:
http://www.fileden.com/files/2007/9/22/1451533/R-44%20test.mp3
or http://tinyurl.com/4fb99o
"The first 20 seconds has the R-44 preamp gain set to -2dB - almost
the minimum. It's fed from a Sennheiser preamp with its gain knob set
pretty high.
The next 20 seconds is with the mics connected to the R-44 direct and
with the preamp gain at its highest level. This bit was with the R-44
powered by an external battery pack.
Then there's 20 secs with internal batteries.
The last 20 secs with external Edirol-supplied mains supply pack.
Surely with that amount of gain I'd be hearing noise behind the
ambience if it was significant? But I can't.
Looking at the file using Audition's spectral view, there's a very
obvious 18kHz tone during the second 20 secs, arising from use of the
third-party external battery pack - it could have arisen acoustically
as the battery pack is close to the mics and it contains circuitry to
supply multiple voltages from the batteries.
But other than that, it looks pretty good to me."
Second, Ozpeter's comments about using the R-44 in a recording studio:
"Tonight I had the chance to try the R-44 in a recording studio. I
used the same mics and the same levels as I'd recently used for a
string quartet concert in a church. Then I simply recorded the
'silence' in the studio. [I have edited the silence] onto the
fortissimo ending of one of the quartet pieces (peaks to about -2dB
below full scale), to simulate the full dynamic range available.
The mics were very low noise Sennheiser MKH series connected direct to
the R-44, so the test is close to optimum in my view...The limiter was
not on in this sample, so the dynamics are entirely natural. The only
thing that was on apart from phantom was the R-44 "MS" effect."
Link to the second MP3 file:
http://www.fileden.com/files/2007/9/22/1451533/R-44%20dynamc%20range.mp3
or http://tinyurl.com/4cfeut
Many thanks to Ozpeter for these tests! The original posts can be
found on page 3 of this thread on the Tapers Section web site.
http://taperssection.com/index.php/topic,103270.30.html
The Edirol R-44 is expected to arrive at USA retailers in mid-June.
Dealers are advertising a price of $895.
--oryoki
"While a picture is worth a thousand words, a
sound is worth a thousand pictures." R. Murray Schafer via Bernie Krause
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