Deity PR-2 Pocket Recorder

[jj69]

Does the PR-2 have a Bluetooth app or not?  There's no mention of an app in the owner's manual?

The Sidus Audio app is used by the PR-2 and in my experience it works very nicely with my android phone.

I'm not familiar with that app.  Is it difficult to set up and use? 

[Gutbucket]

I've not tried the Sidus Audio app yet, but I intend to. I'll also be using it on Android.  That will have to wait until my return mid Oct. 

Dalman- I take it you've not had any obvious problem with dropped samples as was reported over at Audio Science Review when using the Sidus Audio app..  I don't know the details, might have been doing so when the bluetooth connection is lost and it reconnects again.  Dunno.  I'll test that at some point, but am curious to hear more about your experience thus far.

[jj69]

Follow up question:  It appears from the specs that the 32-bit float is available only in mono, correct?  For 32-bit float stereo, there's just the Zoom H1 Essential, and soon the new Tascam? 

[grawk]

Follow up question:  It appears from the specs that the 32-bit float is available only in mono, correct?  For 32-bit float stereo, there's just the Zoom H1 Essential, and soon the new Tascam?

no 32bit stereo on the pr2

32bit stereo on the sound devices mixpre ii series and the zoom f series

[Gutbucket]

Yep. PR2 produces a 24bit file when set to record two channels / stereo (even though it really only provides performance specs equivalent to around 16bits)

For 32-bit float stereo, there's just the Zoom H1 Essential, and soon the new Tascam? 

As far as the category of small, 2ch only, 32bit-fp recorders goes, there are currently a few different models offered from Zoom I believe.  The Zoom F3 was one of the earliest and I believe still has the best specs.. other than MixPre3ii which is larger (especially compared to PR2), which is the smallest recorder SoundDevices offers currently.  We are very likely to see more small recorders show up in this category. 

Edit to add- Will be interesting to see how good the new Tascam is, but we know it will feature XLR inputs just like F3 and H1E so no question it is going to be significantly larger than PR2.  Hopefully Tascam is able to produce a small 32bit float recorder with input range specs that are at least equivalent to the old non-XLR input DR2d, first produced 14 years ago.  Sad that newer manufacturers don't seem able to match much less surpass that in a similarly priced recorder today.

PR-2 is somewhat unique in its combination of featuring minijack input only (making it much smaller than it could otherwise be if it had XLR inputs) and providing 5V mic power.  The attraction for most folks following this thread is the combination of those two features. 

[checht]

IMO, 32 bit float isn't that essential for these small recorders, but a control app becomes important.

Running my mixpre6, I don't run too hot, don't need the ability to over-record.

Sony a10 w mics chopped is quite small and bluetooth app is rock solid.

[unidentified]

Follow up question:  It appears from the specs that the 32-bit float is available only in mono, correct?  For 32-bit float stereo, there's just the Zoom H1 Essential, and soon the new Tascam?

Also Zoom F3

[rumbleseat]

Yep. PR2 produces a 24bit file when set to record two channels / stereo (even though it really only provides performance specs equivalent to around 16bits)

Hey Gut!  I appreciate all the testing and reporting you and everyone else has done on the PR-2.  But I was a bit confused by your statement about performance - I've read the thread but I don't quite see what you mean by "equivalent to around 16 bits."  Are you specifically referring to recording low volume performances? or the overloading you saw with DPA 4060s?

And grawk said "I believe all gain on the PR2 is digital, so best bet imho is to run at 0, then normalize in post."  Is that your recommendation as well?

I'm considering a PR-2 to replace my antique 16 bit iriver H320 and running my CA-11 mics straight in without Chris' preamp/battery box.  Others have said this setup works well for loud shows.

Thanks!

[dallman]

I've not tried the Sidus Audio app yet, but I intend to. I'll also be using it on Android.  That will have to wait until my return mid Oct. 

Dalman- I take it you've not had any obvious problem with dropped samples as was reported over at Audio Science Review when using the Sidus Audio app..  I don't know the details, might have been doing so when the bluetooth connection is lost and it reconnects again.  Dunno.  I'll test that at some point, but am curious to hear more about your experience thus far.

Easy to use and robust. I have not had issues with it al all.

[Gutbucket]

Yep. PR2 produces a 24bit file when set to record two channels / stereo (even though it really only provides performance specs equivalent to around 16bits)

Hey Gut!  I appreciate all the testing and reporting you and everyone else has done on the PR-2.  But I was a bit confused by your statement about performance - I've read the thread but I don't quite see what you mean by "equivalent to around 16 bits."  Are you specifically referring to recording low volume performances? or the overloading you saw with DPA 4060s?

Reflects its actual, real-world dynamic range capability (from noise-floor to max level before clipping) when recording in stereo mode and producing a 24bit file output. See the bench testing done over at Audio Science review for details.  A link to that can be found in one of my earlier posts in this thread. 

And grawk said "I believe all gain on the PR2 is digital, so best bet imho is to run at 0, then normalize in post."  Is that your recommendation as well?

Yes as long as the output level of the microphone does not overload the PR2 when it is set to 0db gain. That's the problem I was having with DPA 4060 which has a sensitivity of 20mV/Pa. Setting PR2 gain lower than 0dB gain in an attempt to accommodate that higher output level from the mic was reported to not increase the PR2's input level capability any further.  My testing seemed to confirm that but need to double check to make certain.

You should be able to use some positive input gain as necessary when using microphones that have a lower sensitivity and thus a lower output level, in order to achieve optimal gain-staging and make the most of the available dynamic range.  Doing that should provide better low-level noise performance verses normalizing an overly low recorded level afterward.

I'm considering a PR-2 to replace my antique 16 bit iriver H320 and running my CA-11 mics straight in without Chris' preamp/battery box.  Others have said this setup works well for loud shows.

So far it seems okay with DPA 4061, which has a sensitivity of 6 mV/Pa.  If your mics have a sensitivity of around that or less, and operate correctly when supplied with 5V, I suspect you should be good with PR2

[Gutbucket]

I've not tried the Sidus Audio app yet [..snip..] curious to hear more about your experience thus far.

Easy to use and robust. I have not had issues with it al all.

Good to hear.  I look forward to trying it in October.

[Powerage5]

I'm seriously considering impulse buying one of these after reading through this thread. I've been wanting a very "easy" stealth rig for when I'm traveling, and this seems like it would be a great solution. I don't like having to keep track of my gear when I'm on a trip that might be a couple weeks long, so a small recorder of this size plus a pair of mics (And nothing else) really appeals to me. I'm heading to Japan next week and that would be a great opportunity to test this out if I do.

[dallman]

I'm seriously considering impulse buying one of these after reading through this thread. I've been wanting a very "easy" stealth rig for when I'm traveling, and this seems like it would be a great solution. I don't like having to keep track of my gear when I'm on a trip that might be a couple weeks long, so a small recorder of this size plus a pair of mics (And nothing else) really appeals to me. I'm heading to Japan next week and that would be a great opportunity to test this out if I do.

This is why I purchased the deck, and I have been very pleased.
Here is a sample:
https://archive.org/details/maggierose2024-08-25.Deity

[Powerage5]

I'm seriously considering impulse buying one of these after reading through this thread. I've been wanting a very "easy" stealth rig for when I'm traveling, and this seems like it would be a great solution. I don't like having to keep track of my gear when I'm on a trip that might be a couple weeks long, so a small recorder of this size plus a pair of mics (And nothing else) really appeals to me. I'm heading to Japan next week and that would be a great opportunity to test this out if I do.

This is why I purchased the deck, and I have been very pleased.
Here is a sample:
https://archive.org/details/maggierose2024-08-25.Deity

Samples sound great - thanks for sharing! That's almost the setup I'll be running here, CA14 cards into the Deity. I did order it and out for delivery today, perfect timing as I leave for Japan on Tuesday. Looking forward to testing this thing out.

[Powerage5]

Reporting back after my first test of this thing...I'm happy with it in short. Easy to use once you know the controls, and the iOS app is pretty intuitive other than the sliders for mic gain. It was a heavy metal band I taped in an arena, 30 feet or so from the stacks. There was no support act to gauge my levels, so I went in as blind as the possible. I did some screwing around with my gain during the intro tape trying to find a sweet spot and settled on +12 in each channel, that still only yielded peaks around -15 db I think. The only things I'm struggling with on the device are playback directly from the device, and transferring to a computer via USB-C (I opted to use a microSD adapter to transfer the file). Spot checking the recording I'm quite happy with it given the real bare bones rig of CA-14 cards right into the Deity. I'll post a sample when I get a chance if there's any interest. May be a few days, as I have 8 events in 8 days so quite a busy schedule while I'm abroad.