Topic: Anyone know anything about this Fostex FR2 LE (previously FR3 LE)

[Rick]

My FR-2LE has arrived and I will be doing some sample tracks soon!

First impressions are that it is a solid little box.  I like the feel of it.  Not sure how I feel about getting it mod'ed...

Anymore thoughts about the unit?

[qpwoei]

looks like this box is a dream for nature recordists (like me) due to the quiet preamp, but no idea on how it will deal with high pressure sounds (?). One guy tells me it brickwalled when fed the line level signal from a Shure FP24 preamp (equivalent to a MP2). Hope this is any use.

oh, a couple test files:
http://freesound.iua.upf.edu/samplesViewSingle.php?id=34524
http://freesound.iua.upf.edu/samplesViewSingle.php?id=34581

[flintstone]

There's a web site that reports recorder preamp self noise and
input clipping level.   FR-2LE did very well. See the discussion here
http://taperssection.com/index.php?topic=84350.0

Flintstone

[Jamos]

Looks like the price at Musician's Friend is back up to $599 from $499.
 
bummer.

I'm liking the box so far.  Haven't had a lot of time to get through all of it's little quirks yet, but the first recordings I've made sound very good. 
I've found the headphone amp to be more than adequate.
Anyone else have one of these yet?

[flintstone]

B&H Photo Video started the $499 price point.  Now they're back
to $599.  I suspect that Fostex got on the phone and told
everybody to advertise the $599 price.

Since the FR-2LE is new and in relatively short supply, I think
it will be a while before we see much competition on price.

Sweetwater offers free shipping, and a 30 day return policy,
so they may be the best choice for the FR-2LE right now.

Flintstone

[kgreener]

fyi this is my recent correspondence with Doug:

Hi Doug, thanks for your note last week regarding FR-2LE availability.  As I see your mods won't be available until June, how does the unit sound right out of the box for music recording?  Any caveats such as brickwalling or overloading?  How do the stock preamps sound?  I've read a few good reports but none regarding live music recording.  I'm debating whether to grab one now and then send back later for the mods, or just wait until next month. 

If you have any prelimary findings regarding these questions please let me know what you think when you have a minute.
 
Thanks!
Keith

Hi!  It is not bad but uses the same op amps as the M1, TCD100 and Stock 660 among others use.  30 cent JRC 2122s and JRC 2115s occupy the signal path. They also use low grade caps in the signal path and lots of them. In short, it measures well by 1930's audio standards (THD+N) but sounds like cloudy coffee.  I think it will be ok for interviews and the like but not so good for "ear critical" applications like music, ambient/FX and nature sounds.  The good thing is it has room to work with so I know what I can do with it.  So far no bad news in users reports or signs of early failure or manufacturing problems so I feel good that it will be a solid performer.  If it had Digi I/O it would be a giant killer!
Peace...Doug

[snoknight]

I think Fostex designed this recorder for ENG, not for use as a bit bucket.  The competition at this price point is the Marantz PMD660.  I think it's likely that the FR-2LE will have less self-noise than the PMD660, and won't brickwall the way the PMD660 does (Oade mod units excluded, of course).

Fostex didn't add a digital input to the FR-2LE because they wanted to keep the price reasonably low, and they already make a recorder with digital input, the FR-2.

If you're in the market for a recorder with digital input, consider the Marantz PMD671.  It's on sale at Martel Electronics, 714-692-6690, for around $700.

LMAO! +t bro. right on the nose. and thanks for the other avisoft info, nice.
so i ordered mine from oade on tuesday and its on the ground in utah now! 200 for a super mod is totally ripping'
after i test the sucker, stock, behind some mk41's at bonnaroo, ill get on to sending it back.
doug oade has an extremely discerning ear, props for sure but the coffee cant be anymore cloudy than most stock A/D units under 500.00 out there. i want to test it stock, just for shits and grins.
as for the overall features... when you add an 8-16G flash and a 4400mAh rc battery i found on the e bay,
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=130113795119&sspagename=ADME:B:AAQ:US:1
and with this little bad boy you can charge up anywhere.
http://www.onlybatterypacks.com/showitem.asp?ItemID=10139
thats from 9 to 11 hours run time with plenty of gig to spare if you choose 16G flash
or if you want smaller cheaper flash cards...
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/367686-REG/Wolverine_7060_60GB_FlashPac_7000_7_in_1.html
will post the cracker show next week, if FOH does a good job mixing!

[Will_S]

Anyone had a chance to test out an unmodded unit in a PA recording environment yet?  Any recordings to share?

[timP]

getting closer to making the jump on this box


asking cascade now what it is going for.... I wonder i busman has had the chance to pop on open and think about MODs


oade has them listed online now w/ T and AC mods....    hmmmmmmmmmmmmmm

[Jamos]

getting closer to making the jump on this box


asking cascade now what it is going for.... I wonder i busman has had the chance to pop on open and think about MODs


oade has them listed online now w/ T and AC mods....    hmmmmmmmmmmmmmm

Hey all...
Busman has had my FR-2LE for a couple weeks and he is just about done with it.  It was the first one that he has worked on and from what Chris has said, it is sounding really good! 
I emailed with Doug Oade as well before deciding to send it to Busman, and he was very positive about the box in general, but was adamant about not modding boxes he hasn't sold.   
I'm really happy with it so far, and can't wait to get it back as I'm sure the mods will really clean up any of the cheaper chips/parts that are in there.

I think Cascade is selling them for $529, but I'm not positive.

[flintstone]

Fostex has released a firmware update, version 1.10.  Read about it here
http://www.fostexinternational.com/docs/pro_support/FR2LE_V110_supplement.pdf

The update adds 3 new features.
-Mono recording is now possible (except when recording 192K MP3)
-Info about manufacturer and serial number of the Compactflash card is available
-Metering can be set to peak or continuous.

No word about what bug fixes might be contained in the release.

Flintstone

[Jamos]

Fostex has released a firmware update, version 1.10.  Read about it here
http://www.fostexinternational.com/docs/pro_support/FR2LE_V110_supplement.pdf

The update adds 3 new features.
-Mono recording is now possible (except when recording 192K MP3)
-Info about manufacturer and serial number of the Compactflash card is available
-Metering can be set to peak or continuous.

No word about what bug fixes might be contained in the release.

Flintstone

Nice!
They told me that I was the first to ask for a change in the front-panel metering...Glad they ended up doing it.  At least now you have the choice!  Mono recording is a no brainer also.

I don't think any bugs have been found, just little tweaks like this that make it more user-friendly.

[timP]

I wonder how this box is with seamless file splits, and if you can pick the file size for the split


also need to know how it works with CF cards over 4gb



hmmmmmm

[sygdwm]

we look forward to your reports concerning those issues.

[timP]

Prompt response from their tech:


1. auto split set to 2gb, but can be smaller if chosen thru the menu options. They stated it was seemless and no loss of any sound

2. up to 8gb cards may be used.  It was not stated if anything larger has been tried.......