Topic: Yamaha Pocketrak 2G

[digifish_music]

FYI - NAMM 2008

http://www.sonicstate.com/news/shownews.cfm?newsid=5915



Yamaha has introduced the Pocketrak 2G, a light and compact pocket recorder featuring 2GB of built-in memory, long battery life, easy USB file transfer, and Steinberg Cubase AI DAW software.

Yamaha say that the Pocketrak 2G builds upon their successful lineage of recording technology and features 2 tracks of CD quality recording in PCM, MP3 and Windows Media (WMA) formats. They believe that it’s perfect for podcasting, field and location recording, audio for video and more.

Athan Billias, Director of Marketing - Technology Products for Yamaha, told us, “The goal of any pocket recorder is to be ready to capture audio wherever and whenever it happens.The Pocketrak 2G’s small size, long battery life, and large built- in memory provide Yamaha quality recording anywhere, anytime, and comes with Cubase AI for a complete music production solution.”

The Pocketrak 2G includes a rechargeable AAA nickel-hydrogen battery capable of providing 19 hours of MP3 recording to it’s 2GB of internal memory. Plugging its sliding USB connector into a powered USB bus simultaneously recharges the battery and transfers files to a PC or Mac.

The Pocketrak 2G is the only portable recorder to house an on-board speaker in addition to a headphone jack, making it a handy portable music player that supports MP3 and WMA files with DRM10 support.

Included in the box is the Pocketrak 2G, a USB extension cable, stereo earphones, a leather carrying case and stand adapter, as well as Cubase AI, an “Advanced Integration” version of Steinberg’s legendary digital audio workstation software specially built to seamlessly integrate with Yamaha hardware.

Features

Only 1.7 Ounces and 1/2 Inch Thick -Take it Everywhere!
2 GB Memory for High Audio Quality and Extended Recording Times
High-sensitivity Tilt-up Microphone
Level Meters and ALC for Optimum Record levels
Long-lasting Rechargeable Battery
Direct USB 2.0 Computer Connection
CUBASE AI Digital Audio Workstation Software Included
DRM10 Playback Support and Comprehensive Playback Functions
Other Features

Pricing and Availability:
The Pocketrak 2G will be available in April, 2008 and will retail for $449.

[colorado_bob]

Here are photos of the other sides (from http://www.mtechmarketing.com/YAMA_011708_Pocketrak2G.html ).

Other details gleaned from photos:
 - mic in, headphone out, no other I/O
 - no removable media

[paulbaptiste]

looks very tiny, a usb jump drive with recording capabilities?  looks like shat

[Fatah Ruark (aka MIKE B)]

$449?! For that...no thanks.

[aaronji]

The Pocketrak 2G is the only portable recorder to house an on-board speaker in addition to a headphone jack, making it a handy portable music player that supports MP3 and WMA files with DRM10 support.

Except for the Marantz PMD620 and and the soon-to-be-released Olympus...Not that I find it a very useful feature, but one of Yamaha's marketers seems to have gotten a bit lazy!

No line-in?  That's pretty limiting, isn't it?  Sort of cool how the USB pops out, though...

[digifish_music]

$449?! For that...no thanks.

Indeed ouch!

Could be nice and stealthable however.

digifish

[spyder9]

$449 for cheese.   

[dogmusic]

No line-in?  That's pretty limiting, isn't it?

The mic input is switchable between mic in and line in.

[colorado_bob]

No line-in?  That's pretty limiting, isn't it?

The mic input is switchable between mic in and line in.

Thanks.  I hadn't found that in the specs, but now I see it.  Specs are available at

  http://www.yamahasynth.com/products/pocketrak/specifications.html

They also show that the 19hr record time is for MP3.  The spec for WAV recording is half as long (8.5 hrs NiMh, 9 hrs alkaline).

There's also a S/N graph available from the "features" tab (presumably based on internal mics, comparing it to an unnamed "conventional" voice recorder):

   

[dogmusic]

I hadn't found that in the specs, which are available at

  http://www.yamahasynth.com/products/pocketrak/specifications.html

From the specs at the above link:

"Internal Stereo Microphone, Internal Speaker, Ext. Mic. Input (stereo recording available),
LINE IN Recording (microphone input switchable)"

Also, the included rechargeable Eneloop battery is removable, so it should be possible to use any AAA battery in a pinch.

This unit looks handy but the price is too high.

[colorado_bob]

Apparently $449 is the list price, and $350 is the standard street price (Sweetwater is now taking advance orders).  Still not in anyone's hands, so no real word on recording quality.

[boyacrobat]

maby if they sell it without cubase lite software it can come down
in price but doubt it.

you get rec plus cubase for editing.

i got cubase already, just price on rec would be nice.

i like it

g

[sunjan]

I didn't see anyone mention it here yet, but Yamaha must have gotten the license to sell this from Sanyo as OEM:
Sanyo released the same unit on the Japanese market March 2007, and has already released an updated version with 8GB built in instead:
http://taperssection.com/index.php/topic,93901.msg1354907.html#msg1354907

[cybergaloot]

I didn't see anyone mention it here yet, but Yamaha must have gotten the license to sell this from Sanyo as OEM:
Sanyo released the same unit on the Japanese market March 2007, and has already released an updated version with 8GB built in instead:
http://taperssection.com/index.php/topic,93901.msg1354907.html#msg1354907

8GB is better. With memory prices the way they are there is no excuse for building in only 2GB. And I'd trade that speaker for a SDHC slot. I'd have to read some seriously good reviews before I'd drop $350 on it.  The size is way cool though!

[digifish_music]

YouTube videos...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4YEAmH9alqM

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4RrooyjKglE