Topic: Anyone know anything about this Fostex FR2 LE (previously FR3 LE)

[qpwoei]

Dunno if a link to this video has been posted before, you can get an idea on the real size of the machine http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hWoW8pLFB64

A bit dissapointing to me... Bulkier, and maybe heavier than I imagined

[danlynch]

Dunno if a link to this video has been posted before, you can get an idea on the real size of the machine http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hWoW8pLFB64

A bit dissapointing to me... Bulkier, and maybe heavier than I imagined

Yes, its much bigger than I had anticipated.  Not exactly stealth-sized.  The lack of a digital i/o is really a deal-breaker, though.

[OOK]

Dunno if a link to this video has been posted before, you can get an idea on the real size of the machine http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hWoW8pLFB64

A bit dissapointing to me... Bulkier, and maybe heavier than I imagined

Yes, its much bigger than I had anticipated.  Not exactly stealth-sized.  The lack of a digital i/o is really a deal-breaker, though.

Dam that is big.....hhhhmmmmm...I'm still waiting for the right stealth recorder.  I am wondering when the IKEY pro comes out?

[OFOTD]

With the current offerings in the compact flash / small HD recorder who is this now marketed to?   Sound effect engineers?  Us?  Film?   

I just can't see how thing box is anything but a year or more late to market and that's it.   Many products introduced in the last year appear to at the very least be equal with what this box is doing and in some cases other products exceed the Fostex at the same (guesstimated) price range.

[qpwoei]

Full specs, at last:

http://www.scvlondononline.co.uk/acatalog/fr2lepop.html

Can't believe it, that thing is HUGE, way larger than PMD671! Useless to me

[kgreener]

Full specs, at last:

http://www.scvlondononline.co.uk/acatalog/fr2lepop.html

Can't believe it, that thing is HUGE, way larger than PMD671! Useless to me

Wait a minute, I'm confused!  Getting mixed info here.  This is straight from the Fostex International website and shows it as 57(H) x 206(W) x 132(D), about the size of a SD 722 but a tad longer (from the .pdf file below):

http://www.fostexinternational.com/pdf/fr2le_broch.pdf
http://www.fostexinternational.com/docs/pro_products/fr2le.shtml
http://www.fostex.com/mercuryboard/index.php?a=topic&t=2180&f=22&min=15&num=15

So, which is it?  Who knows.  There's been so much back & forth with this unit that who knows what the heck is up with it.  I can only imagine how irritated folks like B&H are when their latest catalog has the FR2-LE printed and listed as available

[flintstone]

The larger dimensions are for the FR-2, not the FR-2LE.
Even so, the FR-2LE is not a small recorder.  It's about
the size of a Sound Devices 722.

I think it's amusing that people say the FR-2LE is too big,
but don't think twice about attaching an external battery
and external preamp to a smaller recorder.

No, nobody will mistake a FR-2LE for a cell phone, and
you'll look funny with one stuffed down your pants.  But
a larger recorder offers stronger construction, controls that
are easy to use with adult-size fingers, meters you can
actually see, built-in XLR jacks that can take some abuse
without breaking, and enough battery to run for hours while
providing 48V phantom power.

Flintstone

[kgreener]

The larger dimensions are for the FR-2, not the FR-2LE. Even so, the FR-2LE is not a small recorder.  It's about the size of a Sound Devices 722.

I think it's amusing that people say the FR-2LE is too big, but don't think twice about attaching an external battery and external preamp to a smaller recorder.

No, nobody will mistake a FR-2LE for a cell phone, and you'll look funny with one stuffed down your pants.  But a larger recorder offers stronger construction, controls that are easy to use with adult-size fingers, meters you can actually see, built-in XLR jacks that can take some abuse without breaking, and enough battery to run for hours while providing 48V phantom power.

Flintstone

My thoughts exactly. 

+T

[OFOTD]

The larger dimensions are for the FR-2, not the FR-2LE.
Even so, the FR-2LE is not a small recorder.  It's about
the size of a Sound Devices 722.

I think it's amusing that people say the FR-2LE is too big,
but don't think twice about attaching an external battery
and external preamp to a smaller recorder.

No, nobody will mistake a FR-2LE for a cell phone, and
you'll look funny with one stuffed down your pants.  But
a larger recorder offers stronger construction, controls that
are easy to use with adult-size fingers, meters you can
actually see, built-in XLR jacks that can take some abuse
without breaking, and enough battery to run for hours while
providing 48V phantom power.

Flintstone

But this thing has no features when compared to other units in its target market.  The lack of a digital in (coax or aes) for starters is a problem.  Fostex seems to have really dropped the ball on this one.

[qpwoei]

The larger dimensions are for the FR-2, not the FR-2LE.
Even so, the FR-2LE is not a small recorder.  It's about
the size of a Sound Devices 722.

OK then, I'm relieved, sorry that I posted the wrong info !
Actually I dont stealth, but try to replace my SD Mixpre + R09 by an equivalent all-in-one box (as regards quality/size/weight). Would be perfect if just 200 mm wide

Cheers

[flintstone]

I think Fostex designed this recorder for ENG, not for use as a bit bucket.  The competition at this price point is the Marantz PMD660.  I think it's likely that the FR-2LE will have less self-noise than the PMD660, and won't brickwall the way the PMD660 does (Oade mod units excluded, of course).

Fostex didn't add a digital input to the FR-2LE because they wanted to keep the price reasonably low, and they already make a recorder with digital input, the FR-2.

If you're in the market for a recorder with digital input, consider the Marantz PMD671.  It's on sale at Martel Electronics, 714-692-6690, for around $700.

[mandoman]

April Musicians Friend catalog shows this at $499, even though it
shows $599 on their website. Anyone interested in this deck might
try and push for the catalog price. Catalog item# is 240346
Good luck.

[kgreener]

wow, if you want one stock, this (B&H) is the place to jump on one, looks like they haven't (yet) raised their prices a hundred bucks like other places have

http://www.musiciansfriend.com/product/Fostex-FR2LE-High-Definition-Field-Recorder?sku=240346

who's going first?   

[Rick]

wow, if you want one stock, this (B&H) is the place to jump on one, looks like they haven't (yet) raised their prices a hundred bucks like other places have

http://www.musiciansfriend.com/product/Fostex-FR2LE-High-Definition-Field-Recorder?sku=240346

who's going first?   

They might match the B&H price.... They say "Guaranteed Lowest Price!"

I'm waiting to see if oade will mode these... If he does I might go back to the 2 channel world. 

EDIT: Someone should e-mail Doug 

[thegreatgumbino]

EDIT: Some I should am going to e-mail Doug 

Fixed that for you, Rick.