Topic: Roland R-26 - initial review

[ashevillain]

- The miniplug input that is styled as a plug in power mic input cannot really be turned into a true line-in as far as I can tell.  Even setting it to LOW and setting the Aerco to 0dB output, I still had to turn the levels pretty far down (around 30) to get a signal in the -12 to -6 range.  I have not tried running SBD into it, but based on this I would be hesitant to run SBD without an attenuator.  Yet, I may try doing so tomorrow just for kicks.  Anyone else have any thoughts here? 

I've posted previously [somewhere on this site] about my experiences with this [not sure exactly which thread it was though.]

Basically I found that running the SBD feed into the 1/8" input on LOW will work for all but the hottest of hot SBD signals. For those situations 10dB attenuators would work just fine. If you are entering an unknown situation, might as well just attenuate to be on the safe side. For the one situation where I had clipping, the soundguy had the SBD feed cranked to 11.

[yates7592]

OTOH, with a +4dbu max input, I think that in most cases one should be able to use this input connected to an external mic preamp for your aud mics, as long as you can set the preamp to provide no more than about 10db gain.  Depends then on you minimum gain from your preamp -- an Oade m148 or PSP2 might be problematic, but I think most other preamps we tend to use in the field have lower minimum gain settings.

FWIW I have run both Countryman B3's and CA-14's with a battery box into the miniplug input, recording very close to the stage, with levels set at 50 and had no problem peaking at around -12dB. But these are low-sens mics and I think you would get different results with higher sensitivity mics.

[acidjack]

Quick update.  Ran the deck last night as follows:

Schoeps MK5>KCY>PFA>R-26 analog ins w/ phantom power ON + SBD>attenuator>R-26 "plug in" power input.

The attenuators were -20dB. 

First, I thought the pres of the unit sounded good. Now this wasn't particularly detailed music - standard config 4-piece rock band - but I do record that  config a lot in this venue.  I didn't hear what I thought was any appreciable loss of quality between this and other recordings I've done with other decks.  I would certainly be fine running this deck on its own.

Second, even after running P48 for another 2 or so hours, the battery meter is still at 100%.  Meaning I have had it on for a total of about 4 hours with 2hrs of that being with P48 and the batts are still going strong.

Third, the attenuators certainly are the way to go if you have any worry about the SBD overloading that PIP input.  The PIP input seems to be pretty quiet and there was no audible distortion or hiss on the SBD.  I could easily have run w/o the attenuators for this as I had the levels up around 50 with them in-line.

Things that still bug me about the unit:
1. I do not love having to change the levels on the PIP with a touch screen. 
2. I do not love that the miniplug in cannot be set to a regular line-in

[yates7592]

Thanks for the update.

One point regarding your dislike of setting of miniplug/PIP levels on the touch screen, I agree. But if you set the 'analog in' XLR inputs as 'linked' in the menu, i.e. same input level for L/R channels (using the left side level dial), then the minplug levels can be set with the right hand level dial, not the touch screen. If your XLR mics are reasonably well matched, would it not be ok to set the levels as linked and adjust in post if necessary?

[acidjack]

Thanks for the update.

One point regarding your dislike of setting of miniplug/PIP levels on the touch screen, I agree. But if you set the 'analog in' XLR inputs as 'linked' in the menu, i.e. same input level for L/R channels (using the left side level dial), then the minplug levels can be set with the right hand level dial, not the touch screen. If your XLR mics are reasonably well matched, would it not be ok to set the levels as linked and adjust in post if necessary?

Thanks. Did not realize that. That is very helpful! Do you have to set anything else to get it to do that, or just set the analog ins to "linked"?

[yates7592]

^^^^

You're welcome! That's all you have to do, it's in the [Recording > Input Settings > Analog In Settings > Input Type <Linked>] menu

I have always used this cos its a pain in the arse trying to adjust each channel, especially when stealthing.....

[ashevillain]

Note sure if this is common knowledge or not but there is an updated firmware (v1.11) on Roland's site:

http://www.rolandus.com/products/details/1178/downloads/