Published 25/10/04
24-bit stereo recording on the move
The new Edirol R1 is a compact 24-bit audio recorder with a built-in stereo mic that should interest location recordists, sound collectors and cub reporters alike.
The rugged unit measures 10 x 13.5 x 3 cm (WHD) and audio is stored on a removable Compact Flash card. The R1 has nine recording modes, offering different levels of recording quality ranging from 64kbps MP3 to uncompressed 24-bit/44.1kHz WAV.
The R1 is equipped with a pair of omnidirectional electret microphones, allowing users to instantly record at a moment’s notice with no additional equipment, and, because it’s solid-state, the R1’s self-noise is negligible, allowing you to make clean and quiet recordings.
The R1 has external mic and line inputs on mini-jack plugs, plus stereo output and headphone output jacks, the latter doubling as an optical S/PDIF out. The R1 can also connect to a computer via USB 2.0 for the import and export of audio files.
There are 11 built-in effects to choose from, including mic simulators optimised for the internal mic and external mics, noise reduction, hum cancelling, reverb, a preset EQ and a fully-editable 10-band EQ (32Hz-16kHz). There’s also a built-in chromatic tuner and metronome, should the need arise. The backlit, two-line LCD screen doubles as a level meter when recording, and there are transport and menu buttons and a data wheel for adjusting parameters.
The R1 runs on two AA batteries, which will provide approximately two and a half hours of recording time, or six hours playing time. It also comes with a mains adaptor, a carry case and a 64MB Compact Flash card. This won’t hold all that much — 65 minutes of 16-bit/128kbps MP3 audio or just three minutes of 24-bit/44.1kHz WAV audio — but the R1 accepts cards as big as 2GB, which allow for over two hours of 24-bit recording.
The R1 will be available soon, priced £329.
T Edirol Europe +44 (0)20 8747 5949
