Topic: new marantz PMD 661

[Sunday Driver]

Wow, just read almost every page in this thread. I had no idea this existed until now. I am seriously thinking about ditching my PS-2 / R-09HR and switching to this all in one box.
(I realize this adds nothing to the thread, but I just can't believe how versatile and compact this thing is.)

[su6oxone]

Wow, just read almost every page in this thread. I had no idea this existed until now. I am seriously thinking about ditching my PS-2 / R-09HR and switching to this all in one box.
(I realize this adds nothing to the thread, but I just can't believe how versatile and compact this thing is.)

Really?  I just used my PS-2/R-09HR combo tonight and it sounds freakin' sweet!

[Sunday Driver]

Wow, just read almost every page in this thread. I had no idea this existed until now. I am seriously thinking about ditching my PS-2 / R-09HR and switching to this all in one box.
(I realize this adds nothing to the thread, but I just can't believe how versatile and compact this thing is.)

Really?  I just used my PS-2/R-09HR combo tonight and it sounds freakin' sweet!

Don't get me wrong, I love how the PS-2>R-09HR sounds, but often than not the problem I have is that the mic input is too sensitive while the line in doesn't supply enough gain. So I was thinking about putting the Sound Devices MixPre in front of it, but at that price point, I could get this instead as an "all in one box".

You ran your Schoeps mics/bodies with a PS-2? Interesting, I've never heard a tape with that set-up before, but I bet it sounds killer. 

[su6oxone]

Don't get me wrong, I love how the PS-2>R-09HR sounds, but often than not the problem I have is that the mic input is too sensitive while the line in doesn't supply enough gain. So I was thinking about putting the Sound Devices MixPre in front of it, but at that price point, I could get this instead as an "all in one box".

You ran your Schoeps mics/bodies with a PS-2? Interesting, I've never heard a tape with that set-up before, but I bet it sounds killer. 

Ah, that makes sense.  I use the MixPre usually instead of the PS-2, and rather like it.  Here's the DBT show I used the MK4>CMC6>PS-2>R-09HR:

http://www.archive.org/details/dbt2009-02-20.mk4.flac16

I was surprised how decent it sounds. 

[intpseeker]

I'll have to recheck.  I coulda swore mine didn't...

With mine, the file isn't saved until 'stop' is hit. I had the power kicked out at one gig before stopping the track and came up empty. I also finished a set one time and immediately turned the box off. Also came up zeros.

[newplanet7]

I'll have to recheck.  I coulda swore mine didn't...

With mine, the file isn't saved until 'stop' is hit. I had the power kicked out at one gig before stopping the track and came up empty. I also finished a set one time and immediately turned the box off. Also came up zeros.

Yep.
I posted in the 661 thread on how to get it back though.
First you need to recover it.
I used bad copy pro. It costs $ but 
Then i used fixwav to overwrite the header.

[JohnnyAcey]

The literature says "SD" cards.   What about SDHC cards?   Whats the maximum size of the SD cards that folks have been using successfully?
Thanks .......

[audBall]

I've been using Kingston 8gb SDHC cards just fine.  I seem to recall the manual stating that 32gb was the limit.



edit-

The recorder does NOT appear to save the file if the plug is pulled while running on external power. 

The PP-99 external li-ion battery seems to run the box just fine.  I got almost 3 1/2 hrs on set of new AA Sanyo 2700mah's with their first and only charge so I imagine the PP-99, at 4000mah, to handle most of our situations just fine.  However, I should note that the adapter tip that comes with the battery (that fits the 661) absolutely sucks.  If you rotate it ~90deg the unit shuts off.  I hacked and old PS with a tip that fits the 661 much better and joined it with the battery cable. 

[audBall]

Re:  24/96 digi-in


I'm currently feeding the 661 a 24/96 signal via the coax input from the V3's digi out.  It clocked on the first try.  I had a chuckle when I attempted to adjust the gain levels on the 661 after I started recording.  A box appears briefly on the screen stating, "Can not...". 



Some random pics I took recently:  1, 2

[ArchivalAudio]

Re:  24/96 digi-in-  I had a chuckle when I attempted to adjust the gain levels on the 661 after I started recording.  A box appears briefly on the screen stating, "Can not...". 

very funny
that is cool
 

-- Ian

[nak700s]

Don't know if it has been done yet, but could somebody show a size comparison between the 661 and a Sony PC-M1 DAT...maybe with the R-09HR in the picture too??

[leehookem]

Don't know if it has been done yet, but could somebody show a size comparison between the 661 and a Sony PC-M1 DAT...maybe with the R-09HR in the picture too??

http://www.sizeasy.com/page/size_comparison/20215-PMD661-vs-Tascam-DR-1-vs-Olympus-LS-10-vs-R-09HR-vs-PMD620

just plug in the dimensions of what you are looking for.

[su6oxone]

I got almost 3 1/2 hrs on set of new AA Sanyo 2700mah's with their first and only charge

Curious what mics you were using with the Sanyos...

[audBall]

Curious what mics you were using with the Sanyos...

Nak CM-1000's modded to accept phantom power, not sure on the draw...unfortunately, not commonly used mics.

[kbergend]

My concert 661 arrived from Oade yesterday and I just tested it with internal batteries.  Got 4:43 of recording time powering a pair of Senn 8040s at 24/44.1 using a fully charged set of Sony 2500mA NiMH batteries.  A new file was created without any audible interruption at 4:11:57, and the second file was properly closed before the unit powered down.  Seems to be working fine with a PNY 16Gb SDHC chip.  These are pretty much the results I was hoping for.   

Really looking forward to using this rig in the field!