Topic: New Gear (2013) - Portable Digital Recorders

[Chimney Top]

What are all the (2 channel size) portable recorders with XLR inputs on the market now?


2 Channels:

(Handheld/Pocket Size)

Tascam DR-100 (XLR/3.5mm)
Tascam DR-100 mkII (XLR/3.5mm/digital)
Marantz PMD 660/661 (XLR)/MKII
Marantz PMD 620 (3.5mm)/MKII
Roland R-05 (handheld, 2 channel (3.5mm)
Edirol R09/R09H (handheld, 2 ch, 3.5mm) - discontinued
Sony M10 (handheld, 2 channel (3.5mm)
Pyle Pro PPR80 (3.5mm)
Ikey Audio M3 (3.5mm)
Olympus LS-10/LS-10S/LS-11/LS-20m (audio and video)/LS-12/LS-14 (3.5mm)
Olympus LS-100 (XLR/TRS/3.5mm - 2 ch simultaneous recording, multitrack editing)
Tascam DR-40 (XLR/TRS, no 1/8" input)
Tascam DRV1-HD (audio - 3.5mm, and video)/DR-05/DR-03 (3.5mm)
Nagra SD (XLR adapter), Ares, Lino, Pico (3.5mm)
Sony PCM-50 (3.5mm/digital)
Korg MR-1, Korg MR-2 (SD 1-bit, 3.5mm)


(Larger Size)

Marantz PMD 670/671 (XLR, 3.5mm/digital)
Fostex FR-2
Fostex FR-2LE (XLR/TRS)
Tascam HDP2
Korg MR-1000
Sound Devices 702/702t/722
Nagra VI/LB




More than 2 channels:

(Handheld/Pocket Size)

Zoom H4 (XLR/TRS/3.5mm - 4 ch) - discontinued
Zoom H4n (XLR/3.5mm - 4 ch)
Zoom H6 (6 ch, 4XLR input, 6 XLR input with attachment)
Roland R-26 (2 XLR/TRS, 1/8" stereo, 6 total ch w/ internal mic's) http://www.rolandsystemsgroup.com/products/100093
Tascam DR-2d (handheld, 4 channels (both inputs 3.5mm)
Tascam DR-40 (handheld, 4 ch, 2 external/2 internal)
Tascam DR-60d (4 ch, 2 XLR, 1/8" stereo inputs) http://tascam.com/product/dr-60d/
Sonosax MiniR82 (handheld 8 Channels)

(Larger Size)

Tascam HSP82 (8 ch)
Sound Devices 744 (4 ch)
Sound Devices 788 (8 ch)
Edirol R4/R44 (4 ch)
Tascam DR-680 (6 XLR/TRS, 8 total ch)
Cymatec LR-16 (TRS, 16 ch)
Aeta 4MinX (2-8 ch)
Fostex DCR302 (3 ch)
Sound Devices 664 (6 ch)
Roland R-88 (8 ch)
Zaxcom Nomad 4-8 channels
Sonosax SX-R4 8 Channels

IOS Recording Devices:
Tascam IXJ2
Apogee One/Duet/Quartet IOS (5 series apple products use the all-digital lightning connector, 4 series etc. use analogue 30 pin connector)
Fostex AR4i
Mikey Digital Blue
Rode iXY (mic's only, no external input)


updated Feb. 2013

[spyder9]

Please update your list. 

Roland Edirol R-26
Tascam DR-100mkii (newest version)

[flintstone]

More additions:

Marantz PMD661
Fostex FR-2LE

These are a little larger than the Roland R-26, but still easily portable. 

[kirk97132]

Tascam HD-P2

[George2]

This will be my next purchase for small recorder:
http://www.microsofttranslator.com/bv.aspx?ref=SERP&br=ro&mkt=en-US&dl=en&lp=JA_EN&a=http%3a%2f%2fwww.fostex.jp%2fproducts%2fDC-R302

[Fried Chicken Boy]

This will be my next purchase for small recorder:
http://www.microsofttranslator.com/bv.aspx?ref=SERP&br=ro&mkt=en-US&dl=en&lp=JA_EN&a=http%3a%2f%2fwww.fostex.jp%2fproducts%2fDC-R302

That deck looks pretty slick.  Supposed to hit the US shortly with a MSRP of $799

Not being a video guy myself, can anyone explain to me why it's 3 channels as opposed to 4 or 2?

[Chimney Top]

This will be my next purchase for small recorder:
http://www.microsofttranslator.com/bv.aspx?ref=SERP&br=ro&mkt=en-US&dl=en&lp=JA_EN&a=http%3a%2f%2fwww.fostex.jp%2fproducts%2fDC-R302

That deck looks pretty slick.  Supposed to hit the US shortly with a MSRP of $799

Not being a video guy myself, can anyone explain to me why it's 3 channels as opposed to 4 or 2?

yeah, i'm not quite sure how practical that machine is.  camera goes on top?  where are the mic's?  easily movable?

[George2]

Standard ENG kit was/is 3 channel mixer. One boom and two lavaliere mics.
This goes a step further and adds a 2 track recorder. Does not come with mics, you buy your own.. you were asking about 2 track recorders with XLR inputs!
Made for the DSLR people with a mic mix out to cam.
Use your imagination.....take off the camera mount and use as 2 track recorder, with 3 XLR inputs.
I'm sure these preamps are better than the usual handheld all-in-one recorders.
Betting it will go 8 hours with 4 lithium AA batteries.

More here:
http://www.fostexinternational.com/docs/products/DC-R302.shtml#3

[spyder9]

Standard ENG kit was/is 3 channel mixer. One boom and two lavaliere mics.
This goes a step further and adds a 2 track recorder. Does not come with mics, you buy your own.. you were asking about 2 track recorders with XLR inputs!
Made for the DSLR people with a mic mix out to cam.
Use your imagination.....take off the camera mount and use as 2 track recorder, with 3 XLR inputs.
I'm sure these preamps are better than the usual handheld all-in-one recorders.
Betting it will go 8 hours with 4 lithium AA batteries.

More here:
http://www.fostexinternational.com/docs/products/DC-R302.shtml#3

Agreed.  This is Fostex's long awaited update to the original FR-2.  The FR-2 was great sounding, but it was big and more importantly:  horrible to power.   This thing runs on four AA batteries?  Hmmmm..... 

If it had digi-in, this thing would've gave the Sound Devices 702/722 a run for its money.  It will definitely kill dead the SD 302 in the marketplace. 

At $799 MSRP and 3 inputs, it will sell.  3 channels would be fun at any festie, IMO.

[spyder9]

Please add Fostex FR-2 to your list.  It is the predecessor to the FR2LE

Please add Zoom H4 to your list.  It is the predecessor to the H4n. 

[George2]

[/quote]

Agreed.  This is Fostex's long awaited update to the original FR-2.  The FR-2 was great sounding, but it was big and more importantly:  horrible to power.   This thing runs on four AA batteries?  Hmmmm..... 

If it had digi-in, this thing would've gave the Sound Devices 702/722 a run for its money.  It will definitely kill dead the SD 302 in the marketplace. 

At $799 MSRP and 3 inputs, it will sell.  3 channels would be fun at any festie, IMO.
[/quote]

I'm interested in this new Fostex, but will wait until after NAB in Las Vegas to see if SoundDevices comes out with something new.

[Ozpeter]

What's with the wonky display on that Fostex recorder!  Clearly ineptly photoshopped in....

[spyder9]

http://www.fostexinternational.com/docs/latest_news/EFkkkkyllEjYCfGMuM.shtml

[John Willett]

You are forgetting the Nagra SD - pluggable mic. heads that can be replaced by an XLR mic. or line input if needed.

[notlance]

And why are not the Sound Devices 702, 702T, and 722 on your list?  Am I missing something?