Topic: Edirol R-44 - 4 Channel Recorder (Part II)

[digifish_music]

Hey all. I now have the transparency mod worked out for the R-44. The vintage mod will have to wait until I find the right components that will fit in that tiny box.
The pre amps different in this box from the R4 and R4pro and they don't leave any room for much but I have crammed my components in there for an awesome sound.

It consists of the usual op amp and capacitor changes in the input path. No gain stage changes as it doesn't need it.

Thanks for this information. Is there any chance of doing a ticking-clock comparison of stock vs your mod, like this one I did vs the MixPre?

http://taperssection.com/index.php/topic,103270.msg1387447.html#msg1387447

I see you also mentioned some display-noise bleed into the mic-pres (a conversation copied into this forum), I have been looking closely at R44 recordings in spectrographs and haven't seen/heard anything like this, can you point me to a spectral range?

digifish

[DSBD]

B&H Photo Video says they have the R-44 in stock now, $895 including shipping

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/sitem/sku=542280&is=REG&bi=E15

Sweetwater says they have it in stock, too, same price.

Anyone know of better prices anywhere?  There's a member here who I believe is an Edirol dealer, and I'd heard second-hand he was offering a substantially better price, but he hasn't responded to my inquiries.

We are selling the r-44's at $800 shipped.  the caveat is the wait as i can't keep 'em on the shelf.  right now we are running at a 2 week wait.  all orders need to be emailed or called in at 201-679-4164.  - dave@micsupply.com

[Gutbucket]

^^^
I..can't..resist..much..longer..

[leehookem]

I finally go to use this little box for the first time last night at Robert Walter Trio.  I ran AKG 481 (stage lip, DIN) and soundboard.  Just the stock unit, no additional preamp.  I gotta say, this thing right out of the box smokes.  Any mods that Doug comes up with will be icing on the cake.

I wouldn't hesitate to run it stock if I had to.  Sign me up.
I will post a link to the archive in a few days when I finish.

[NOLAfishwater]

I finally go to use this little box for the first time last night at Robert Walter Trio.  I ran AKG 481 (stage lip, DIN) and soundboard.  Just the stock unit, no additional preamp.  I gotta say, this thing right out of the box smokes.  Any mods that Doug comes up with will be icing on the cake.

I wouldn't hesitate to run it stock if I had to.  Sign me up.
I will post a link to the archive in a few days when I finish.

I taped his trio on Thursday night here in NOLA. ran AKG461>V3 + AKG414 Subcard from the lip of stage. Got a board patch for the second set with my MTII so I mixed the 4 AKG + SBD for just the 2nd. I too am very pleased with the stock preamps.

[leehookem]

oh, and thanks goes to Rick for letting me run his R44.

[leehookem]

Here is a sample of last nights show.  50/50 Matrix  flac file

Robert Walter Trio

I am in the process of tracking out the AKG files.  When I finish I will post the same track with mikes only.

AKG 481

[kgreener]

I finally go to use this little box for the first time last night at Robert Walter Trio.  I ran AKG 481 (stage lip, DIN) and soundboard.  Just the stock unit, no additional preamp.  I gotta say, this thing right out of the box smokes.  Any mods that Doug comes up with will be icing on the cake.

I wouldn't hesitate to run it stock if I had to.  Sign me up.
I will post a link to the archive in a few days when I finish.

sweet Lee, sounds great. 

any chance you'll be upping this show?  (fingers crossed  )

+t

[leehookem]

Trying to get the setlist together.  Matrix source will be heading to the archive.

This is what I have so far:

Robert Walter Trio
2008-06-06
Threadgill's
Austin, TX

Taped and transferred by Lee Hart
leehookem21 at yahoo dot com

Source:  AKG 481 > Edirol R44
         SBD > Edirol R44
Location:  Mics stage lip, DIN
Transfer:  Edirol R44 > Soundforge 7.0 (fades, resample, dither) >CDWave (tracking) > flac level 6

Set 1
Disc 1

01
02
03 Parts and Holes
04
05
06
07
08

Set 2
Disc 2

01 -intro by Barbara Prashner-
02
03 Snakes and Spiders
04 El Cuervo
05
06
07 Dr. Watson
08
09
10 Kickin' Up Dust
11

Robert Walter - keys
Brad Houser - bass
Jonny Vidacovich - drums

[NOLAfishwater]

4 channel matrix sample:
Papa Grows Funk
2008-6-9
AKG414 subcard from the lip of stage>V3  + SBD

track 4
http://www.sendspace.com/file/arxop5

[kskreider]

4 channel matrix sample:
Papa Grows Funk
2008-6-9
AKG414 subcard from the lip of stage>V3  + SBD

track 4
http://www.sendspace.com/file/arxop5

Sorry I couldn't hang out longer for that one.  I felt like they were just getting going when I left.

[Rick]

4 channel matrix sample:
Papa Grows Funk
2008-6-9
AKG414 subcard from the lip of stage>V3  + SBD

track 4
http://www.sendspace.com/file/arxop5

Man that sounds awesome! +T

[sonidista]

I encountered a PROBLEM with my R-44 a few days ago when I recorded 4 tracks (44/24, 4xmono with 2x phantom, run with external power). 8 and a half minutes into the recording you can hear clicks/glitches or something like that. There was no clipping, and the sounds are not recorded, they're digital. Weird thing is, they're only on the first two tracks (the ones with phantom power switched on), for a duration of about ten seconds.
Now of course I am puzzled about the source of this. Either this has to do with the R-44 (worst case), or my SD card (Kingston class 6, 8gig), or (maybe more likely) the somewhat dodgy electricity in the space - maybe someone in the next room switched some electric device on and off? The last assumption would imply that in conditions like these you should only record with battery power!?

Any ideas, hobby electricians maybe?

If someone's interested, here's the part of the recording with the glitches (mixdown of the two phantom tracks):
http://www.fileden.com/files/2006/12/23/547356/glitch.mp3

[Nick's Picks]

I've been talking w/Doug about this deck.  I want one and was listening to his opinions.
He finds it "thick and slow" sounding, like a vintage piece of gear.

His hears are tuned to fast and transparent.

He also said that the stock preamp add nothing (noise, hiss, other crap), and that their lack of speed is a crime of omission, and very easy to accept and deal with.  Probably not a warm mod coming any time soon..but more of the T/ACM/HD flavor would be my guess.
Prices will be good! 

[kgreener]

Hey Nick, check a few pages back, I had posted this about a week ago:

FWIW I had inquired with Doug a week or two ago about his planned R44 mods and this was his response (remember, these are his words, not mine ):

Hi!
I have had one for a while and I like it.  It does have a serious issue if you intend to record soft sounds.  You can hear the digital noise of its display in the background at high gain.  At lower gain settings, from about -44 on up it sounds fine.  The stock sound is a bit thick and slow or "smooth" with a bit of hiss, a sound I would call vintage.  I expect to offer a concert upgrade for recording music.  I used the R44 with Concert Upgrade for the third time recording stage sound on 2 channels and the board feed on the other 2 and it works great. The sound is very fast with exceptional detail, depth and clarity.  I love the way it is designed, ergonomics are excellent as is the feature set, battery life is good and it is tiny!  The trouble is the upgrade dramatically increases detail and clarity which has the unfortunate side effect of making it easier to hear the noise at high gains.  I want to see if I can fix the digital noise before I release any upgraded machines.
I plan on asking 895.00 for them with the Concert upgrade installed.  I have hopes I will be able to pull off a high gain MOD, like the R4 or R4pro ambient upgrades, it is likely to be around 1k.
I hope this helps and thanks for the inquiry....Doug