Tapers Section World Scoop (LOL) - Marantz PMD620

[Arni99]

Great job on the tests, Arni. Keep 'em coming. Here are the things that I'd like to know:

-What is the quality of the internal mics for recording music?
-How high SPL can the internal mics handle before distorting?
-How does the 620 do with external mics without a battery box (mics straight in) with high SPL?
-How does the sound quality compare to the Iriver H1xx?

Thanks!!!!

I´ll test this as soon as shows are being played here in Vienna..seems everybody is still on xmas-holidays .

[Arni99]

Great news!
2 rechargeables 2700mAh in my PMD620 made 10 hours at 24bit 48kHz until the batteries died using the internal mics.
All power-saving options were activated:
no LEDs
LED(display)-brightness set to 1 of 10(brightest)
5V plugin-power OFF


As I mentioned in some post above, the 8GB card was filled 100% after 7h43min.
I formatted the card and startet recording again.
Now it recorded for another 2hours and 12min.

[Arni99]

Using 24bit at 44,1kHz(taper´s setting for concerts) makes 8h24min on the 8GB card.
The 4GB-WAV-limit would then be at about 4h12min at this quality-setting.
In order to avoid the 620 being shut down at 4GB, simply press the REC-button at about 4hours, which results in a new seamless file.
Smarter solution => use the auto-track-function at ie. every 2 hours (4 hours not available in the menue).
Using these settings it will continiously record 8h24min at 24bit 44.1kHz.

The same goes for 24bit 48kHz.
3h52min the 4GB shut-down-limit for WAV files then.
Using auto-track at every 2 hours will result in a 7h43min recording using a 8GB sd-hc card at 24/48.

Another smart feature is the storage of presets on the SD card.
3 presets can be stored as a file and used for ie. mailing to other tapers.
each preset contains all important parameters such as:
input(internals, mic, line-in or AUTO)
resolution/sample rate
low-cut
LEDs
MIC-attenuation
etc.....

A useful preset-configuration could be:
preset 1: for the venue I most frequently tape at
preset 2: for another venue I tape quite often
preset 3: for speech recordings

[aaronji]

In order to avoid the 620 being shut down at 4GB, simply press the REC-button at about 4hours, which results in a new seamless file.

Hey arni, are the splits truly seamless?  They sound like it, but the manual is a bit ambiguous about that...

And I like the presets too...

[Arni99]

In order to avoid the 620 being shut down at 4GB, simply press the REC-button at about 4hours, which results in a new seamless file.

Hey arni, are the splits truly seamless?  They sound like it, but the manual is a bit ambiguous about that...

And I like the presets too...

http://www.transom.org/tools/recording_interviewing/200712_marantz_620/

Not bit for bit but I doubt it´s audible.
I will never face this "issue" using 24/44.1 for concerts as no band plays more than 4h .

[Dede2002]

Using 24bit at 44,1kHz(taper´s setting for concerts) makes 8h24min on the 8GB card.
The 4GB-WAV-limit would then be at about 4h12min at this quality-setting.
In order to avoid the 620 being shut down at 4GB, simply press the REC-button at about 4hours, which results in a new seamless file.
Smarter solution => use the auto-track-function at ie. every 2 hours (4 hours not available in the menue).
Using these settings it will continiously record 8h24min at 24bit 44.1kHz.

The same goes for 24bit 48kHz.
3h52min the 4GB shut-down-limit for WAV files then.
Using auto-track at every 2 hours will result in a 7h43min recording using a 8GB sd-hc card at 24/48.

Another smart feature is the storage of presets on the SD card.
3 presets can be stored as a file and used for ie. mailing to other tapers.
each preset contains all important parameters such as:
input(internals, mic, line-in or AUTO)
resolution/sample rate
low-cut
LEDs
MIC-attenuation
levelmeter-display adjustment(the look+feel comparable to iriver´s rockbox levelmeter settings can be adjusted here)
etc.....

A useful preset-configuration could be:
preset 1: for the venue I most frequently tape at
preset 2: for another venue I tape quite often
preset 3: for speech recordings

Arni,

Wonderful job with the tests. Thanks for that.

Take care,

Sergio

[udovdh]

Is there a simple test to find out how many samples (if at all) are lost when switching to a new file on the PMD620?
If so: I'd be very interested to know the details.

Thanks!

[Arni99]

Is there a simple test to find out how many samples (if at all) are lost when switching to a new file on the PMD620?
If so: I'd be very interested to know the details.

Thanks!

Can you here the tracksplit?
IMHO the split created by pressing REC is not audible - thus it´s seamless  !

Here I did a testrun at home using the REC-button for creating a new track.
Then I converted the 2 WAV files to a single track using "foobar" software.
Tell me where the 2nd track in this single file begins? .

recording settings:
standing in my living room recording some show coming from my hifi
24bit, 44.1kHz
internal mics
mic-attenuation -12dB (-24db = max. attenuation/low-sens and 0db = no attenuation/high sens)
gain at -4dB (-30 = MUTE and 0 = max. gain)


download the single file here:
http://www.file-upload.net/download-585477/pmd620-2-tracks-converted-to-1.wav.html

[rdvdijk]

Here I did a testrun at home using the REC-button for creating a new track.
Then I converted the 2 WAV files to a single track using "foobar" software.
Tell me where the 2nd track in this single file begins? .

I think there's a minor click audible at 1:35 into the file, right? (or after about 4207250 samples)

Don't think this is seamless, then?

Could you try the auto-track option and see if that is seamless?

Roel

[Arni99]

Here I did a testrun at home using the REC-button for creating a new track.
Then I converted the 2 WAV files to a single track using "foobar" software.
Tell me where the 2nd track in this single file begins? .

I think there's a minor click audible at 1:35 into the file, right? (or after about 4207250 samples)

Don't think this is seamless, then?

Could you try the auto-track option and see if that is seamless?

Roel

Yes you are right  !
Well, i used internal mics, could have been the mechanical click being recorded when pressing REC.
Seamless in my understanding is not audible when playing back in the living room .
I don´t hear the click then.
Did you hear it OR find it with your audio software?
Nevertheless during a live recording there is no 0,1-10 seconds gap as other recorders run into .
AND as said many times before, no band plays more than 3h52min (4GB wav limit for a single file at 24/48).

Will record a file now using my DPA 4061 on mic-in with plugin-power on........and post the result here in some minutes.....

[Arni99]

....here the new testfile with dpa 4061 on mic-in with plugin-power activated:
http://www.file-upload.net/download-585768/pmd-620-dpa-4061.wav.html

mic-attenuation: 0dB(high sens)
plugin-power: ON
max. gain = 0dB

[Will_S]

AND as said many times before, no band plays more than 3h52min (4GB wav limit for a single file).

That's not entirely true.  Maybe no band you tape does.  Also, it can be handy in festival situations to leave a recorder running all day, including the breaks between sets (if the recorder is somewhere not very easy to access, for example).  So  even though it might not matter to you, seamless file splits are very important to some of us, even at the 4G mark.

[Dede2002]

AND as said many times before, no band plays more than 3h52min (4GB wav limit for a single file).

That's not entirely true.  Maybe no band you tape does.  Also, it can be handy in festival situations to leave a recorder running all day, including the breaks between sets (if the recorder is somewhere not very easy to access, for example).  So  even though it might not matter to you, seamless file splits are very important to some of us, even at the 4G mark.

It's just a digital recorder, not the Second Coming, friends

[Arni99]

AND as said many times before, no band plays more than 3h52min (4GB wav limit for a single file).

That's not entirely true.  Maybe no band you tape does.  Also, it can be handy in festival situations to leave a recorder running all day, including the breaks between sets (if the recorder is somewhere not very easy to access, for example).  So  even though it might not matter to you, seamless file splits are very important to some of us, even at the 4G mark.

It's just a digital recorder, not the Second Coming, friends

Yes, for stealthing in 24bit it´s perfect and THAT`s what I´m doing more than 50 times a year .
Also 2 day festivals are no problem for the PMD620.
Grab 4 x 1.5V rechargeables in your pocket and you are set for 24 hours recording.

For continous recording, I´d use the auto-track function and nobody can tell me by LISTENING to the recording where the new track begins(ok after 2 hours HAHA, but it´s not audible just by listening on your homestereo).
With a 16GB sd-card you could record 16 hours 49min at 24/44,1 switching batteries after the 1st 8GB(8h24min 29sec) card is used .

Happy New Year...only 4 hours left of 2007 here in Austria!

[Dede2002]

Arni,

Happy New Year to you, your family and friends.

It's been a pleasure talking to you, friend.

Good luck and a Great 2008!