Published 13/11/08
Korg rack up their DSD recorder
Just over a year ago, we reported on the Korg MR1 and MR1000 stereo audio recorders, which are capable of capturing sound in the DSD format. If you missed the news, and the ensuing discussions about DSD, this format samples audio at up to 5.6MHz with a wordlength of just 1 bit, giving results that Korg, and other proponents of DSD, say is superior to even 24-bit/192kHz PCM recordings.
The latest addition to the range of Korg’s stereo DSD recorders is the MR2000S, a 1U rackmountable device designed for the studio user. As with the other products in the range, it can record PCM audio with 16- or 24-bit wordlengths, at sample rates of up to 192kHz. The MR2000S has got a built-in 80GB hard drive, which is capable of storing 120 hours of ‘CD-quality’ (16-bit/44.1kHz) audio, or 14 hours of 5.6MHz DSD audio, although the maximum length of a single file can be no more than six hours. A USB 2.0 connection permits file transfer to and from a computer.
Differing from the MR1 and MR1000, the new product has dedicated 24-step LED meters (the original MRs had an LCD with integral meters), and there are no mic preamps, just line inputs — mainly because it’s designed to be a master machine in a studio, not a mobile audio-capture device.
The reference levels of the analogue inputs can be set to five different settings between -12dB and -20dB, and there are digital inputs and outputs on S/PDIF. The digital input can only be used for PCM recording, however. Word clock connections enable synchronisation to other equipment, or additional MR2000S units, for multi-track recording.
Included with the hardware is a piece of software called Audiogate, which allows the user to change the format of the recorded files, and save copies in a variety of formats, while still keeping a master copy in a high-quality format. The MR2000S costs £1299 and is shipping now.
Korg UK +44 (0)1908 857100
www.korg.co.uk
The latest addition to the range of Korg’s stereo DSD recorders is the MR2000S, a 1U rackmountable device designed for the studio user. As with the other products in the range, it can record PCM audio with 16- or 24-bit wordlengths, at sample rates of up to 192kHz. The MR2000S has got a built-in 80GB hard drive, which is capable of storing 120 hours of ‘CD-quality’ (16-bit/44.1kHz) audio, or 14 hours of 5.6MHz DSD audio, although the maximum length of a single file can be no more than six hours. A USB 2.0 connection permits file transfer to and from a computer.
Differing from the MR1 and MR1000, the new product has dedicated 24-step LED meters (the original MRs had an LCD with integral meters), and there are no mic preamps, just line inputs — mainly because it’s designed to be a master machine in a studio, not a mobile audio-capture device.
The reference levels of the analogue inputs can be set to five different settings between -12dB and -20dB, and there are digital inputs and outputs on S/PDIF. The digital input can only be used for PCM recording, however. Word clock connections enable synchronisation to other equipment, or additional MR2000S units, for multi-track recording.
Included with the hardware is a piece of software called Audiogate, which allows the user to change the format of the recorded files, and save copies in a variety of formats, while still keeping a master copy in a high-quality format. The MR2000S costs £1299 and is shipping now.
Korg UK +44 (0)1908 857100
www.korg.co.uk
