Hi-Hi loud one. My first post, but I'm an old dog having taped GDead a couple of times 20 years ago. Taped on cassette tape. Sony portable-AKG C-33 stereo mic.
Done some classical music recording on location, and for the last 12 years in film dept. at a college. I just bought one of this FR-2LEs and the sound quality is very good. I believe the mic pres have 40db of gain, with trim pots to cut them down, i.e., adjustable pad. Mic amp clip LEDs. Minimal metering. -48,-24,-12,-6,-3,OL.
Headphone amp has hiss, but this doesn't end up in the recording. Full +48 phantom. User friendly menu. Can only record in the FSbit depth that you format the CF card to. So, if you want to record 44.1K16bit and you have already formated the card to 48kK24bit, you need to reformat. I just bought a Tamiya type RC 4200mah NiMH battery, and I think it's going to run this thing for 10 hours. I'm using external Phantom BTW.
Have used the Fostex FR-2 also. Fostex is right there in the location sound film stuff, and their service is top notch.
Right now I'm using it with a Senn MKH60, Schoeps CMC441 and a Senn G2 wireless. Some others have said preamps on the low side.
Very interesting forum. I'm not yet used to the terms talked about here. Like, Dead Rat=Rycote Softie.