Topic: Differences in the various 2 track recorders?

[jnorman34]

Can someon please outline the principal differences in the various marantz recorders - the pmd660, 661, 620, 671, etc - and how they compare to other units such as the fostex FR-LE2 and others?   

i need a good 2 track machine for chamber music, that has preamps good enough that all i need to carry is a pair of good mics and the recorder.  a used PMD 660 just sold on ebay for $265 - is that thing good enough, or are there benefits to newer models, more expensive models?  what is best bang for buck?  thanks.

[fmaderjr]

i need a good 2 track machine for chamber music, that has preamps good enough that all i need to carry is a pair of good mics and the recorder.  a used PMD 660 just sold on ebay for $265 - is that thing good enough?

No, the 660 needs the Oade/Busman mod or too much danger of overloading. A modded 661 would certainly be a good choice, but an owner of an unmodded one could let you know how that would work. A stock 661 supposedly has much better preamps than a 660, but most TSers who run one seem to have it modded (perhaps just because of all the problems people had with unmodded 660's).

The 671 (or Fostex FR2-LE) is supposedly better unmodded, but most people here run them modded as well, so not sure of the risks running one umodded.

A stock 620 is fine if your mics don't need phantom power, but I imagine they do.

[oudplayer]

i need a good 2 track machine for chamber music, that has preamps good enough that all i need to carry is a pair of good mics and the recorder.  a used PMD 660 just sold on ebay for $265 - is that thing good enough, or are there benefits to newer models, more expensive models?  what is best bang for buck?  thanks.

We have a stock PMD 660 here - it has neither quiet nor neutral-sounding preamps and I would never use it for chamber music if I had other options available. It also provides insufficient phantom voltage for some models of mics. I also find the interface to be maddening.

[DigiGal]

My stock PMD661 just did a fine job recording a chamber orchestra Oct 30th.

[datbrad]

My stock PMD661 just did a fine job recording a chamber orchestra Oct 30th.

You should post a torrent so we can hear what a stock unit sounds like. I can honestly say I have never heard a single recording made with a stock 661, and would really like to hear what it sounds like.

I am curious if my well saturated ears can actually hear the difference between the 65db SNR at the mic in of the stock unit, compared with the 120db SNR chips used in the Oade modded unit.

[flintstone]

Will you be taping in the open, and able to position the mics close for optimum results?  Will you have access to mains power, or will you run on batteries?  Do you care how large the recorder and mic setup will be?  Have you chosen the mics already?

What's the goal for the recording:  indie publication, sound check for the musicians, personal interest?  This will help us understand what you mean by a "good recording."

Flintstone

[jnorman34]

hi flint - mics are km184s or at4051s.  am now considering the DR-100 unit.  yes, i get to control where mics are placed - this is for private remote venue recording purposes, from small halls, to living rooms - no concert halls or audiences.  currently using 184s>lexicon u42s>thinkpad t61 running reaper, and looking for more portable solution while keeping quality.  no experience with what the preamps in units like the DR-100 sound like, but pres are my greatest concern, and i prefer flattish, warmish sound, so perhaps there is a warm-mod unit of some type that wold suit me.  thanks.

[su6oxone]

A modded 661 would certainly be a good choice, but an owner of an unmodded one could let you know how that would work.

I have an unmodded 661 and I've run it a few times so far (Cranberries and Los Lobos) but I love it so far.  Great results and low noise, stock preamp sounds good to me.  I'll be running it tonight for a LMA show so you can check that one out tomorrow also.  My Cranberries pull is on Dime and the Los Lobos show is on etree. 

[aaronji]

hi flint - mics are km184s or at4051s.  am now considering the DR-100 unit.  yes, i get to control where mics are placed - this is for private remote venue recording purposes, from small halls, to living rooms - no concert halls or audiences.  currently using 184s>lexicon u42s>thinkpad t61 running reaper, and looking for more portable solution while keeping quality.  no experience with what the preamps in units like the DR-100 sound like, but pres are my greatest concern, and i prefer flattish, warmish sound, so perhaps there is a warm-mod unit of some type that wold suit me.  thanks.

Oade has a warm mod PMD661 that might fit the bill (http://www.oade.com/digital_recorders/hard_disc_recorders/PMD-661MODS.html)...Only a little bigger than the DR-100 (about 1/2" longer and wider) and runs about four and a half hours with phantom.  I think DATBRAD has this flavor and likes it...