Topic: new marantz PMD 661

[JasonSobel]

I've attached the two mp3 clips that the guy sent me, in case anyone else is interested.  actually, it's better than I thought it would be, based on his description.

edit to add:
these mp3 clips were made using the S/PDIF input (because I told the tech guy that I was only interested in using the S/PDIF input).  So these files are no indication of how the deck will actually sound.


edit again to add his exact email to me:

The file labeled 661_No_Edit.mp3 contains 5 files that have been placed
together in a playlist using Peak software.  I basically recorded a
SPDIF signal into the PMD661 and pressed the manual track button 5 times
at approximately 10, 14, 19, 23, and 26 seconds.  I then bounced it out
the playlist as one file.  When listening to the file, you can hear
slight "pops" only at some points when I manually put new tracks in when
recording. Some points don't contain the "pop" at all.  It really
depends on the audio signal.

The second file labeled PT-EDIT_2MIX.mp3 contains the same exact files
but has been brought into ProTools software.  After performing minor
edits, the "pop" sounds are now gone.

[Ozpeter]

In the case of the R-44 you can use the pre-record facility* to give you an almost-seamless split at a point of your choice - as I recall it, something like 100th of a second is lost - which sounds like the 661 "autotrack" facility.  So you pick a spot like applause and do your manual split there, where it won't show.  Wouldn't that be sufficient in almost all real-world situations?

[*What you do is have prerecord on, press 'stop', press 'record', and the pre-record buffer takes over in the gap between you pressing stop and record, dumping the buffer onto the card at the point you press 'record'.]

[rsimms3]

That's a good point, but I am in the Ron Popeil school of thought...."Set it and forget it".

[JasonSobel]

yes, realistically, it would not be hard to manually do this "autotrack" at some point within 2 hours (assuming 24/96) during a crowd noise section where it wouldn't be noticed.  But I also like to "set it and forget it".  call me lazy if you will, but let's also call Marantz lazy for not designing a seamless split in the first place.

[Javier Cinakowski]

 

but let's also call Marantz lazy for not designing a seamless split in the first place.

or we could applaud marantz for breaking new ground on features and size... 

[flintstone]

Remember that the PMD661 has a 4 GB file size limit, not 2 GB like most pocket size recorders.  That's 2 hours of recording at 24/96, or 4 hours at 24/48.  If you need to record for longer, near the 4GB limit you push the "start a new track" button.  From the files posted above, it seems that the new track starts with less than a second's delay. 

I think the quality of the PMD661's preamp will be a bigger issue than the seamless split.

Flintstone

[JasonSobel]

Remember that the PMD661 has a 4 GB file size limit, not 2 GB like most pocket size recorders.  That's 2 hours of recording at 24/96, or 4 hours at 24/48.  If you need to record for longer, near the 4GB limit you push the "start a new track" button.  From the files posted above, it seems that the new track starts with less than a second's delay. 

I think the quality of the PMD661's preamp will be a bigger issue than the seamless split.

Flintstone

I realize that it's 4GB, I'm just pointing out the fact that it's not seamless.  As far as what's a bigger issues, pre-amps or lack of seamless splits, it will all depend on how you are planning to use it.  For people just looking for a small, reliable recorder with a S/PDIF input, the quality of the internal pre-amps means nothing.

[Ozpeter]

It's high time someone released a wavpack (or whatever) lossless recording portable to further extend the recording time available in a single file.  There's no such animal is there??

[JasonSobel]

It's high time someone released a wavpack (or whatever) lossless recording portable to further extend the recording time available in a single file.  There's no such animal is there??

the Sound Devices 7xx units can record straight to FLAC.

[Will_S]

It's high time someone released a wavpack (or whatever) lossless recording portable to further extend the recording time available in a single file.  There's no such animal is there??

A rockboxed iRiver can do this, but only in 16 bit.  And it offers seamless splits anyway. 

[ironbut]

If it weren't for the iffy economy, I'd have bought a new recorder before I saw this thread. I'm really surprised they couldn't have pushed it out of the door before the Xmas shopping season though. Hopefully that indicates that the design/engineering/QC depts are more in charge than the marketing guys. This thing has everything I was looking for,.. please make it sound great!
Does anyone know if they're shipping yet?

[JasonSobel]

Does anyone know if they're shipping yet?

sweetwater's website says that they expect to have the 661 in stock the week of Jan 4.
http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/PMD661/

retail price: $800
sweetwater is advertising it at $600

Apparently they are now in stock @ Sweetwater and shipping.....

[Ozpeter]

the Sound Devices 7xx units can record straight to FLAC.

Well there's a thing.  Thanks for the info.

[datbrad]

Anyone good with interpreting published specs, please chime in.

For the XLR line input, it states input sensitivity of 0dBu/4.2kohms. Any idea if this measure would indicate the maximum line level input that this unit can take? Some recorders out there can take up to 20db input, and my pre can output 20 db max before clipping, so knowing the max line input level on the 661 is very key for me. Some recorders clip at the inputs well below 20db, which would rule them out for me.

Thanks in advance !!!

[spyder9]

That's a good point, but I am in the Ron Popeil school of thought...."Set it and forget it".

Did he invent Popeil's Pocket Fisherman by chance?