New Marantz PMD620

[Aidan Wilson]

Hmm. I'm not sold on devices like this, they typically have quite 
inferior preamps, and marantz certainly don't have a very good track 
record with preamps in their smaller devices - the PMD660 comes to mind. 
That said, the 671 is very good and has excellent preamps, but at four 
times the price of the 620, maybe that's a sacrifice you'd be prepared 
to make.
I still think that in the miniaturised device market, the best choices 
are the Edirol R-09 - which has a great pedigree, being made by Roland - 
and the Samson Zoom H4. The H4 is a little above the rest in my opinion 
because it has XLR microphone inputs rather than just 1/8" minijack, 
which most of these devices only have.
I suppose I really should suspend judgement until I've tested it, or 
read a good professional audio review, especially when it comes to those 
issues like ease of use of controls - how quickly can you turn up the 
levels while recording? On a Nagra V - the absolute gold standard of 
portable recording devices, it's a matter of two dedicated dials on the 
front panel of the device, which at the other end of the spectrum, the 
H4 requires you to go through a maze of menu options to find the input 
gain. All these seemingly pedantic details really make a huge difference 
out in the field.
For the record, I use, or have been using, a PMD 660 for my fieldwork, 
despite its inferior preamps, because the menu and interface make it 
great to use.
I'm currently working on a grand fieldmethods website and resource 
centre that will have a dedicated section to choosing audio devices for 
one's specific requirements, so I've done a fair bit of research on 
this. I'll report back when I've got something to show for it.
Here's Marantz's website for the 620:
http://www.d-mpro.com/users/folder.asp?FolderID=4313&CatID=19&SubCatID=188
Also, something else to drool over:
http://www.sounddevices.com/products/702.htm Dat's what I'm talkin' bout.

-Aidan
Audio at Paradisec

Mona Smith wrote:
> drool.  drool.
>
> Mona
> Allies: media/art
>
> phil cash cash wrote:
>> Friday greetings,
>>
>> For all the field audio buffs, you will want to keep an eye out for 
>> the new
>> Marantz digital recorder.  B&H is selling this for 399.
>>
>> There a number of announcements out there of below of which is but 
>> one example.
>>
>> Marantz PMD620
>> http://www.bradlinder.net/2007/10/more-marantz-pmd620-details-emerge.html 
>>
>>
>> l8ter,
>>
>> Phil
>> UofA
>>
>>