Edirol R4 Vs. R44

[indianajambash2006]

I am thinking about getting a new recorder ( i would like an all in one box) i have a Busman Tmod 660 right now but would like to be able to have the 4 channel option as well as 24bit.... Will either or both of these work as an all in one?  And if so which is better in your opinion and why! 


Thanks In Advance!

[willndmb]

r44
smaller
sounds better out of the box
uses flash vs hd

[flintstone]

The R4 was introduced in Fall of 2004, the R44 in early 2008.   
Today's machines offer improved performance and more features
for less money.  I'm not saying the R4 is a poor performer, just
that the R44 is better.

Flintstone

[tgakidis]

- The R-44 has the ability to run both digi in and analog in on the back channels.  The R-4 can't run digi and analog in at the same time.

- The R-44 does not resample the digital line in.  The R-4 resamples the digital line in.

- The R-44 uses expensive SDHC cards (32gig cards around $130), R-4 has a built in 40gig hard drive.

If you can find a good deal on an R-4, go for it.  Otherwise you can get an R-44 for around $800 on ebay and apply the 20% cash back and get it for $600.

[Ozpeter]

The R-4 has preamps said to be noisy.  The R-44 has preamps said to be the same as the R-4 Pro and opinion seems to be that they are fine for music use.

[flintstone]

"R-44 uses expensive SDHC cards (32gig cards around $130)"

The 32 GB SDHC cards are unusually expensive because they are new and
and manufacturing efficiencies have not fully developed.  After a while,
the 32 GB cards will fall into line with other SDHC sizes, where the cost is
generally $2 to $2.50 per GB. 

Here are two examples, available at today:

Kingston 8 GB SDHC Class 6 $15, free shipping
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820134483

Transcend 16 GB SDHC Class 6 $30, free shipping
http://www.amazon.com/Transcend-Memory-TS16GSDHC6E-Frustration-Free-Packaging/dp/B001ECQVTM/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1228573134

Recording at 24/96, an 8 GB card can hold 4 hours worth of tracks.
Switch down to 24/48 and you've got space for 8 hours.  Double
these numbers for a 16 GB card.  You'll be changing the recorder's
battery before you run out of room on the card.

Flintstone

[leehookem]

Transcend 16 GB SDHC Class 6 $30, free shipping
http://www.amazon.com/Transcend-Memory-TS16GSDHC6E-Frustration-Free-Packaging/dp/B001ECQVTM/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1228573134

anybody use this one successfully with the R44?

[Busman Audio]

The R-44 preamps are not the same as the R4pro. 

I stick with the R4 because I like having the hard drive instead of having to buy media. I also like the ability to fit better components in for the mod on the R4.

[edtyre]

Transcend 16 GB SDHC Class 6 $30, free shipping
http://www.amazon.com/Transcend-Memory-TS16GSDHC6E-Frustration-Free-Packaging/dp/B001ECQVTM/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1228573134

anybody use this one successfully with the R44?

Yep, i have have two of these cards. No problems at all.

[bugg100]

Care to comment on what these two boxes do have?  I love my R44 but am curious.....  Thanks.

The R-44 preamps are not the same as the R4pro. 

I stick with the R4 because I like having the hard drive instead of having to buy media. I also like the ability to fit better components in for the mod on the R4.

[Ozpeter]

The R-44 preamps are not the same as the R4pro. 

Edirol reps must be fibbing then - on video - see http://www.soundonsound.com/news?NewsID=9898 - and they told the reputable John Willett the same thing, see http://www.gearslutz.com/board/2378683-post11.html

[kirk97132]

Recording at 24/96, an 8 GB card can hold 4 hours worth of tracks.
Switch down to 24/48 and you've got space for 8 hours.  Double
these numbers for a 16 GB card.  You'll be changing the recorder's
battery before you run out of room on the card.

Flintstone

8GB 4tracks @ 24/48 gives you 4 hours recording time

[digifish_music]

The R-44 preamps are not the same as the R4pro. 

Edirol reps must be fibbing then - on video - see http://www.soundonsound.com/news?NewsID=9898 - and they told the reputable John Willett the same thing, see http://www.gearslutz.com/board/2378683-post11.html

I'm a (small) Edirol dealer, and based on the information I have seen from the guys in R&D Japan, it may not necessarily be the reps making up stories. They ask straight questions and (often) get some strange engrish back, that requires some 'interpretation'



digifish

[John Willett]

The R-44 preamps are not the same as the R4pro. 

Interesting - because the guy from Edirol told me that they were when I spoke to them at an exhibition in London when they launched it.

[Busman Audio]

The circuits may be somewhat close but they are not the same and do not use the same components unless they have changed the R4pro since the last one I had come through my hands.

Believe what you want.