Topic: New Edirol R4 "Pro" Model Released?

[BayTaynt3d]

See here:
http://www.edirol.com/products/r4pro/index.html

Seems like the same thing, but with timecode (master/slave, but not jamable like the 722/744t?) and AES in/outs. Personally, not enough for me to upgrade, but I wonder if they changed any of the firmware/software that's running under the hood. I do like the black color though...

 

[bgalizio]

80GB hard drive as well.

Is the USB external storage connection new?

"4-pin XLR type battery power input". Guess you'd need a different cable than the old WalMart battery > UA-5 power cable.

[sleepypedro]

also looks like it doesn't have the 1/4" inputs anymore, just XLR

[bgalizio]

also looks like it doesn't have the 1/4" inputs anymore, just XLR

Yup. Missed that one.

[modmike]

also looks like it doesn't have the 1/4" inputs anymore, just XLR

The 4 XLR/Phone combo jacks come with switchable phantom power and give you a choice of MONO, STEREO, STEREO X2, or 4CH recording.

[sleepypedro]

The 4 XLR/Phone combo jacks come with switchable phantom power and give you a choice of MONO, STEREO, STEREO X2, or 4CH recording.

that may well be in the writeup, but in the pictures of the unit, it's XLR only.

[guysonic]

The pro model 'upgrade' is very cool and makes R-4 deck much better over previous 'prosumer' model in my opinion. 

However, what keeps me from wanting one is the lack of 88.2K sample rate. 

In my mind, this sampling rate is needed so that recordings can be made for both high definition DVD--Audio AND be most compatible with 44.1K conversion for CD with minimum artifacts. 

So far, 744T is most affordable 4-track with 88.2K sampling.

[eric.B]

hey yall.. probably covered in other R4 threads but..

will this unit record digi in (aes on this unit obviously) AND a single mic input (phantom xlr in) to run three channels?  I "think" the r4 resamples digi in, and I would think the third channel would have to run on same clock as digi signal.. am I thinking correctly..?

[BayTaynt3d]

hey yall.. probably covered in other R4 threads but..

will this unit record digi in (aes on this unit obviously) AND a single mic input (phantom xlr in) to run three channels?  I "think" the r4 resamples digi in, and I would think the third channel would have to run on same clock as digi signal.. am I thinking correctly..?

On the original R4 you could not record digi in and mic-in at the same time.

[Sanjay]

i wonder if they improved the pre's in this at all?

also i think this will lower the cost of the normal r4

finally i love the black color, just wish it was metal too.  rock solid!

[BayTaynt3d]

The pro model 'upgrade' is very cool and makes R-4 deck much better over previous 'prosumer' model in my opinion. 

However, what keeps me from wanting one is the lack of 88.2K sample rate. 

In my mind, this sampling rate is needed so that recordings can be made for both high definition DVD--Audio AND be most compatible with 44.1K conversion for CD with minimum artifacts. 

So far, 744T is most affordable 4-track with 88.2K sampling.

Does the 744 have 4 channels of XLR, 4 pres, and 4 phantom built-in?

[BayTaynt3d]

The 4 XLR/Phone combo jacks come with switchable phantom power and give you a choice of MONO, STEREO, STEREO X2, or 4CH recording.

that may well be in the writeup, but in the pictures of the unit, it's XLR only.

They are combo-jacks, you just plug the 1/4" right into the hole in the center of the XLR jack.

Maybe not...

[wbrisette]

Does the 744 have 4 channels of XLR, 4 pres, and 4 phantom built-in?

 

That's why I skipped the 744T. I wanted at least 4 pres with phantom.

Wayne

[eric.B]

hey yall.. probably covered in other R4 threads but..

will this unit record digi in (aes on this unit obviously) AND a single mic input (phantom xlr in) to run three channels?  I "think" the r4 resamples digi in, and I would think the third channel would have to run on same clock as digi signal.. am I thinking correctly..?

On the original R4 you could not record digi in and mic-in at the same time.

thanks! +t

[BayTaynt3d]

The 4 XLR/Phone combo jacks come with switchable phantom power and give you a choice of MONO, STEREO, STEREO X2, or 4CH recording.

that may well be in the writeup, but in the pictures of the unit, it's XLR only.

They are combo-jacks, you just plug the 1/4" right into the hole in the center of the XLR jack.

MY BAD. The pics sure don't look like combo jacks anymore. I wonder if they just haven't updated some of the text that might have been copied from the R4 stuff? Also, nowhere in the specs does it say 1/4" inputs anymore. That's kind of a bummer, I love my combo jacks. But I guess all you really need is a couple shorty converter cables...

I'm personally not seeing anything that makes me want to upgrade, but I do wonder about the pres and the whole sensitivity thing (line-in vs. mic-in).

[sleepypedro]

"4-pin XLR type battery power input". Guess you'd need a different cable than the old WalMart battery > UA-5 power cable.

as long as it's got an AC in -- and the powering specs haven't changed -- the same battery / cable would work.

i haven't had any power disconnects running into the AC <yet> but having a locking XLR mechanism is a nice touch.

[BayTaynt3d]

"4-pin XLR type battery power input". Guess you'd need a different cable than the old WalMart battery > UA-5 power cable.

as long as it's got an AC in -- and the powering specs haven't changed -- the same battery / cable would work.

i haven't had any power disconnects running into the AC <yet> but having a locking XLR mechanism is a nice touch.

It says "AC power (via adapter)." So, the question is can you just use the adapter. I wouldn't be surprised if you could just splice off part of the "adapter" with our current cables and then run straight into the DVD battery and it would work fine cause I'm betting the power requirements are the same as before.

On another funny, but related note, I had been gaffer-taping my power cord to both the R4 and my DVD battery to prevent accidental disconnect, but a couple of weeks ago I just flat out taped the whole damn DVD battery to the underside of the R4 itself, with both ends of the cord taped to the R4 and the battery such that they can't disconnect. It's been like that for two weeks now, and it even fits in my bag like this and in the original (crappy) Edirol case. Totally classic hack job, but it's actually kind of nice to never worry about hooking up or disconnecting or even forgetting the battery now. HOWEVER, after that whole MicroCrapper explosion catch on fire thing, I've been a little more nervous about permanently affixing the battery to the R4. LOL!

[bhtoque]

It's 4ch analog out now too. Wonder if the monitor settings still change those outs though.

That was the one thing I really did not like about using the r-4.

The ability to dump to a usb drive is nice too, though with 80 gigs in there, I can't see the need too often.

They need to make an r-4 "plus" so I can get the 4 analog outs and xlr power but keep the combo jacks and not have to pay for aes and timecode.

Oh, and I second the call for a metal chassis.

JAson

[cascademedia]

The pricing on the standard R-4 has come down with the release of the new Pro Model.  Contact me for more details. 

thanks,
Frank

[Nick's Picks]

aaaahhhh...
if only this thing sounded good enough to run stand alone and satisfy a pickey ear.

[bgalizio]

aaaahhhh...
if only this thing sounded good enough to run stand alone and satisfy a pickey ear.

There's always the busman mod. And, FWIW, I contacted Frank about the new pricing and it's quite nice.