Topic: PT: 2 - New Marantz PMD661

[dactylus]

First show I have plans to record is McCoy Tyner and Bobby Hutcherson this Sunday. Woohoo.

I'd love to hear the McCoy Tyner show if it turns out nice...

 

[audBall]

Alex Skolnick Trio from last night:
http://www.archive.org/details/ast2009-04-24.cm1k.flac16

nak cm1k (~25cm, ~80deg) > oade concert 661 (-18db)

~3ft back from stage lip, ~3ft high


I also have nak 700 omnis (nos) > v3 from the same stand here:
http://www.archive.org/details/ast2009-04-24.cm702.flac16

[ArchivalAudio]

First show I have plans to record is McCoy Tyner and Bobby Hutcherson this Sunday. Woohoo.

I'd love to hear the McCoy Tyner show if it turns out nice...

 

Dito!

[dactylus]

I think that several of you are using these cards with the  PMD661, is everything still unproblematic with these, if this is the card that you're using:
 
http://www.amazon.com/SanDisk-SDSDRX3-8192-A21-Extreme-SDHC-Black/dp/B000XZCIX4


edging closer...

 

[cottle]

Those recordings sound great! Thanks for posting them.  I've been thinking alot about putting together my first rig, and I'm leaning toward and Oade-mod PDM-661 as my deck, so it's nice to hear this unit combined w/ various mics.  Especially without an external pre or A/D, b/c I think that's how I'm gonna go, at least to start.  A proper pre can always be added later if needed. 

If anyone has recordings of AKG 480's>PDM-661, please let me know...I've searched LMA, but the closest I can find is 568's>661.  Since I don't plan on running guns, I don't know how accurate of  a prediction this is as to what I can expect.

FWIW: Chris: Those 568>661 Dead shows are SMOKIN'!

[audBall]

Chicago Afrobeat Project - The Underground @ Carnegie Mellon University - 4/23/09

stage lip, ~3ft high, center, wide ~DIN

http://www.archive.org/details/cabp2009-04-23.cm1k.flac16


These guys were on point!  If you are remotely into Fela or afrobeat, definitely give this one a spin.

 

[newplanet7]

First show I have plans to record is McCoy Tyner and Bobby Hutcherson this Sunday. Woohoo.

I'd love to hear the McCoy Tyner show if it turns out nice...

 

Dito!

Same here.

[JohnnyAcey]

I am using exacly that card with no issues ~10 shows so far.

I think that several of you are using these cards with the  PMD661, is everything still unproblematic with these, if this is the card that you're using:
 
http://www.amazon.com/SanDisk-SDSDRX3-8192-A21-Extreme-SDHC-Black/dp/B000XZCIX4


edging closer...

 

[dactylus]

Thanks for the confirmation!!

 

I am using exacly that card with no issues ~10 shows so far.

I think that several of you are using these cards with the  PMD661, is everything still unproblematic with these, if this is the card that you're using:
 
http://www.amazon.com/SanDisk-SDSDRX3-8192-A21-Extreme-SDHC-Black/dp/B000XZCIX4


edging closer...

 

[JasonSobel]

Thanks for the confirmation!!

 

I am using exacly that card with no issues ~10 shows so far.

I think that several of you are using these cards with the  PMD661, is everything still unproblematic with these, if this is the card that you're using:
 
http://www.amazon.com/SanDisk-SDSDRX3-8192-A21-Extreme-SDHC-Black/dp/B000XZCIX4


edging closer...

 

in my opinion, there's no need to pay extra for the SanDisk Extreme III series of cards.  One of the cards I use is an 8gb SanDisk Ultra II card, and no issues with 24/96 over extended periods of time.  I have no doubt that the Extreme III is a great card and will work with no problems, but you'll pay more for it relative to the Ultra II series.  (FWIW, I also use a 16gb PNY class 4 card - also have no issues with 24/96 over extended periods of time.)

[dactylus]

Thanks for weighing in Jason - I hope to order my concert mod 661 this week...

I wonder if future firmware upgrades will enhance compatibility with Kingston sdhc cards?  The only reason that I bring this up is that I already have a bunch of Kingston sdhc cards on hand.



 

[bephillips]

Well, I was really excited about this McCoy Tyner and Bobby Hutcherson show, but it was also the last day of the ski season at Kirkwood. I thought I could get a half day in and make it down for the show. Everything went great, I was able to pick up an SD card at Costco, get home and change, get the rig ready and I got to the show well before 8:00, which would have been great if the show hadn't actually started at 7:00! Great disappointment and panic. The little old lady pulling up and tearing our tickets couldn't have been nicer or slower. We missed about half the show.

The good news is that the new rig performed very well. I was not well set up upon arrival, and so had to make some connections and get started discretely in the dark after having drawn attention to myself by arriving in the middle of the show. I did this mostly by feel, and that went fine. The three songs I got sound fantastic, best I've ever recorded. I'm impressed that even with my same little mics, between the higher resolution and the improved preamps, it sounds so much better than what I was getting with the good old DAT deck.

My impressions on using the new 661: The screen is very bright even on the lowest brightness setting. The screen can be set to auto darken, but this is only the upper part of the screen, the strip along the bottom indicating the functions of the buttons and the recorder status never darkens. I think I'll be covering this with a flap of black cardboard, or maybe a dark lighting gel. The XLR plugs being opposite the record level knob is not ideal for recording with the 661 in a bag. I have ordered some right angle XLR extensions to help with this. Otherwise I love it.

This is my first 24/96 source recording. I work in Peak 6 on a Mac. I was presented with about 15 different dithering algorithms, ended up using DCAT15, described as best for high dynamic range music. I'd welcome any input on peoples preferences for dithering, particularly in Peak. I've attached a shot of the EQ settings I used.

McCoy Tyner Trio with Bobby Hutcherson - Palace of Fine Arts, San Francisco, CA - April 26, 2009 (partial show)
24/48 version:
http://www.dimeadozen.org/torrents-details.php?id=247229

16/44.1 version:
http://www.dimeadozen.org/torrents-details.php?id=247226

Enjoy!

[dactylus]

Thanks for the links...

[audBall]

My impressions on using the new 661: The screen is very bright even on the lowest brightness setting. The screen can be set to auto darken, but this is only the upper part of the screen, the strip along the bottom indicating the functions of the buttons and the recorder status never darkens.

Is this setting within the Presets?  I don't recall reading about this in the manual.  Once set, I assume you can only view the dotted (colored) levels at the bottom of the unit?

[bephillips]

Is this setting within the Presets?  I don't recall reading about this in the manual.  Once set, I assume you can only view the dotted (colored) levels at the bottom of the unit?

There are some settings under Display at the top level. When set to darken, a strip along the bottom of the screen does not darken, this is where "Rec" "Play" "Stop" etc are displayed, and also the various functions of the two function buttons are displayed here. Touching the display button causes the rest of the screen to illuminate, which then goes off after the interval set.

There is a separate setting for the LED levels. Turning these off also turns off the red LED around the record button which otherwise blinks on record pause and is steadily lit during recording.

I wish the unit came with the wired remote. I'm having a hard time finding anyone who has it in stock, all backordered. Maybe marantz didn't anticipate how popular this option would be.