Topic: Edirol R-44 - Solid State 4 channel recorder

[98indypacer]

I did, but I was the 3rd person to order one.
[/quote]

Thanks.  I'm not sure what my order number (place in line) was.  I hope I get this before June 9th.

[digifish_music]

Well Australia has them

I am (initially) blown away by this, much less plastic than I was expecting, feels professional...sounds (great)...I'll post some comparisons between this and other gear later...



Nice touch the buttons illuminate (should have read the manual Can all be adjusted, on/off etc.



One negative, I love gadgets but finding all the menu-based systems annoying to use for some reason, the R-09 doesn't cause me the same stress...perhaps when I get used to the layout I will feel happier.

[digifish_music]

I've got my couple of questions to this big little unit:

2 how long does it take the R-44 from being powered up/switched on until when the record can actually start?

It takes about 5 seconds to boot and get it recording.

Two features I miss from the R09 -

1. the ability to set a maximum file-size and have the unit do seamless splits when the limit is reached.
2. The lack of mp3 encoding and playback.

Some things that seem odd it can't do (yet?)

1. Can't turn off the lights completely like on the R-09.
2. Can't play and record simultaneously.

Annoying

1. I mentioned the pages of menu interfaces in a previous post. The interface needs you to use both the buttons and the scrub wheel, it's like they added the scrub wheel in the menus because they could, rather than needed to.
2. The 1/100ths of a second time display while recording...it looks too frenetic whizzing away
3. It's actually very heavy for its size, the metal chassis I suppose.

Useless feature

1. 196 kHz recording ... like that's ever going to be useful.
2. Blue power on LED...it's obvious the unit has power as the display is on 

digifish

[Ozpeter]

Keep the info coming!  Thanks for comments so far.  Some questions arising -

1. the ability to set a maximum file-size and have the unit do seamless splits when the limit is reached.

I forget whether anyone has determined whether it splits seamlessly at the set 2Gb (?) value, or misses some stuff?

3. It's actually very heavy for its size, the metal chassis I suppose.

I was going to ask whether it tends to skid around when you press the front buttons esp the monitor selector, but perhaps the weight prevents that?

it's like they added the scrub wheel in the menus because they could, rather than needed to.

Renaming files with no scrub wheel to quickly select characters would be tedious, no?

2. Blue power on LED...it's obvious the unit has power as the display is on

But the display can be set to turn off after a set time, I think?

[Colin Liston]

Can anyone confirm or deny if the digital input resamples the input?

[Rick]

Keep the info coming!  Thanks for comments so far.  Some questions arising -

1. the ability to set a maximum file-size and have the unit do seamless splits when the limit is reached.

I forget whether anyone has determined whether it splits seamlessly at the set 2Gb (?) value, or misses some stuff?

2. Blue power on LED...it's obvious the unit has power as the display is on

But the display can be set to turn off after a set time, I think?

It's seemless @ 2GB

Nope, just not as bright.

[hypnotoad]

Well Australia has them

I am (initially) blown away by this, much less plastic than I was expecting, feels professional...sounds (great)...I'll post some comparisons between this and other gear later...

Excellent picture digifish, thanks for sharing.  +T 

[Colin Liston]

Okay, just got off the phone with Edirol.  I called the number on the "support" page at Edirol.com.

I asked, "Does the digital input resample the incoming digital signal."

THe first person I spoke did not know the answer, so he asked someone else.  After a few minutes on hold this is the answer I got:

"The digial input locks on to the clock of the incoming digital signal, so no it does not resample the input."

They didn't seem sure, but this was the answer I was hoping for.  Hopefully someone here can confirm this.

[Rick]

Okay, just got off the phone with Edirol.  I called the number on the "support" page at Edirol.com.

I asked, "Does the digital input resample the incoming digital signal."

THe first person I spoke did not know the answer, so he asked someone else.  After a few minutes on hold this is the answer I got:

"The digial input locks on to the clock of the incoming digital signal, so no it does not resample the input."

They didn't seem sure, but this was the answer I was hoping for.  Hopefully someone here can confirm this.

I got the same response from Edirol which supposedly confirmed it with the engineers in Japan. I'm going to try to get with someone here in Austin to test it though.

[digifish_music]

I was going to ask whether it tends to skid around when you press the front buttons esp the monitor selector, but perhaps the weight prevents that?

IMO no chance of skidding. It's weighted to the spot After examining the unit closely I can see it's a metal box/chassis with some plastic covering the corners of it (basically).

But the display can be set to turn off after a set time, I think?

Only dim from what I can see. I hope a firmware update will fix this...why waste precious power?

Renaming files with no scrub wheel to quickly select characters would be tedious, no?

Yes. But renaming files with a scrub wheel is tedious too   My issue is that there seems to be an inconsistent use of the scrub wheel through the menus.

digifish.

[Ozpeter]

The manual seems pretty clear on the resampling issue -

* The R-44 is able to synchronize to the clock signal of the Digital input jack.
* When the input sampling frequency and set sample size differ, the sampling frequency display blinks and mute data
is generated.
* When Sync Mode is set to Slave, digital input is disabled. Set Sync Mode to Master when recording from a digital
device. See '“5 System Setup” (p. 69) in “System setup” for settings.

[BayTaynt3d]

I wonder if I'm going to be able to settle with one R44 to replace both my R4 and PMD660? It's probably going to come down to how much bigger is it really from my PMD660 I think. If it's not much bigger, then out with the PMD too, lol! Although it is Oade-modded and hella-small for those two-channel 16-bit gigs, heh...

[BayTaynt3d]

I'm still having problems with 16gb cards and 4 X 1 record setup...

What is the class/speed rating of these cards?

Doesn't appear to manifest itself with stereo X 2 parameter

Like I said, heh... Just use 2x stereo...

[digifish_music]

I wonder if I'm going to be able to settle with one R44 to replace both my R4 and PMD660? It's probably going to come down to how much bigger is it really from my PMD660 I think. If it's not much bigger, then out with the PMD too, lol! Although it is Oade-modded and hella-small for those two-channel 16-bit gigs, heh...

Initial impressions - I only had a bit of time to experiment last night, I was recording with the R44 vs MixPre mic-preamps using an NT4 pointed at monitor speakers. The main difference seemed to be cranking the pre-amplification, the MixPre was quieter, but for most people here I don't think they will need to be using anywhere that much gain.

...and I am not really sure how true that is...since I had no idea how much gain I was using relatively. I set the R44 to +4 dB which is the least sensitive setting and the smaller knob to the 12 O'Clock position. Then used the MixPre to bring the R44 meters to the same level, as I was with the internal pres ~ Peak level was ~ -20 dB. I need to get organized and start recording some ticking clocks

More pics of the R44 with other things you may own...





digifish

[mfoley]

I'm still having problems with 16gb cards and 4 X 1 record setup...

What is the class/speed rating of these cards?

Doesn't appear to manifest itself with stereo X 2 parameter

Like I said, heh... Just use 2x stereo...

It was a class 6 card...
Talking with edirol, they admit not every card available will work in the R44 as architecture differs among manufactures...and they agree the 4X1 is a problem that needs to be addressed to the engineers in Japan...