Hey slutz,

Anyone using the Marantz PMD661 for field work? I'm looking for a quality stereo field recorder with 2 great sounding mic pres and decent battery life.

I don't need to sync with video, just using it for podcasts and interviews. It would be ideal if the mic pres could handle a dynamic mic ie. Shure SM58's.

The Marantz is looking good but I'm open to other sugestions. My budget is sub $500 USD. Your help is appreciated.

I don't know the Marantz. Sorry.

For this application most the talk around here is about the Zoom H4.

Yeah that's the other unit on my short list. The Marantz has a few features I really like and I have owned several of their products over the years which have been rock solid.

I just don't do that much field work and thought maybe you guys might know of a hidden gem...

I picked one up a few months ago and have been pretty pleased with it. I typically use a Sound Devices MixPre in front of it but have also used the onboard pres and find they are pretty good, haven't used it with dynamics though. I bought it cause I liked the big clear display, the non-display meters, and the more analog record level knobs. I bought some Nimh batteries for it and they last pretty long (5-6 hours).

Downsides I've found with it since I got it are that you can't pre-name the files before you record, there is a delay with the record level knobs, and the headphone amp leaves a little to be desired (not loud enough in my opinion).

It's really easy to use though and that was huge for me as I mostly record sound fx with it and sometimes you just don't have time to futz with menus and the like.

Hope that helps.
JR

JR,

I was looking at that as well. Currently I use an H4n with a MixPre on the front end, but even when using the tape-out and the lowest H4n levels, it only gives me 18dB of headroom above the 0dBu test tone.

Generally I prefer 20dB of headroom and keeping my MixPre's limiter threshold at +18dBu. Do you know if the 661 can let me do that?

Thanks,


And to the OP, if you're not using a separate front end, you might have a look at these mods...
PMD-661 Modifications

Heard from other people they're pretty good.

Gohanto,

Ya you can send the tone out of the mixpre into the 661 and align it for -20dBFS. I think the record levels end up being around 6 or 7 on the 661.

JR

Thanks for the info guys. Those mods look cool but place the unit a little out of my budget.

Do you have any other suggestions for sub $500 units that you think are better than the Marantz? I would really like to avoid putting a pre on the front end...

I don't know of any that are better for the price.

The preamps on the H4n aren't all that quite (although better than the H4).

A tricky issue is that dynamics, by design, need more out of a preamp than condenser mics. If you're just using dynamics for louder sounds, that shouldn't be much of a problem though.

I'll be using both dynamics and condensers. I just prefer the sound and rejection of a good dynamic for interviews on the move.

I also have a pair of Audio Technica AT4051a small diaphragm condensers. Do you guys think they might work in a field situation?

The hypercardioid version of those mics (AT4053a) are commonly used as a boom mic, especially indoors when you've got some reflections off of walls.

A cardioid should still work (as it's just a slightly wider pattern), but will also pickup more sound from the surrounding area.

I'm in the market for one myself. There aren't many portables out there with XLR connectors. Tascam has one now, but I don't like the 1/8" out. It's cheaper than the 661, but I like the 1/4" headphone out, RCA outs, and the simple easy to read big screen on the 661. I think it's worth the extra money. I keep leaning towards the Marantz.

Hey spenceroo,

I started a duplicate thread in the post forum and got some good info. You should check it out.

https://gearspace.com/board/post-pro...-any-good.html

PMD 661 is great*– although I have a tuned version –*Supermod *by OADE bros. I use it with Church Audio mics and its a killer combo. Easy to use menu, sturdy construction and lots of outs and ins (digital, small jack, rca). Even a standard version sound really good. The only beef I got about this unit is its lack o limiter, which is essential in case of field recorders. And as far as I recall the above mentioned Zoom H4 has this option. PMD 661 is more for professional recordings. If You want to do podcastign with it, I would save money and get the H4 instead, which is a really decent unit.
Good luck
Marty

SaschaP,

Thanks for the heads up on your other thread. I sent you a PM.

Dave

I have one and it is awesome. Built like a tank, well thought out.
Xlrs are a must with these portable units. The inboard mikes are good on the 661. I have been doing lots of recording with quiet nature stuff with external mikes and the noise floor is pretty good, better with external mikes than the onboards though.
Grab a 8 gig sd card and off you go. Battery life is good too even with phantom.
A couple samples with Octave mc012 omni mics and the 661
- creek
-rocks

..in a track,the motor bike, raven, chains, stick smack all recorded with the 661
backyardjam

Hey halljams,
Do you have a preferred SD card or are they all the same? Sorry for the dumb question, but I have never used one before.

Thanks,
Dave

I just got a sandisk 8 gig on ebay exactly like this! Works fine.
You may want to avoid the "micro or mini" versions(like they use in cell phones) that need the adapter card.

How are you guys dealing with the lack of limiters on the mic inputs?

there are pad options on the inputs

Still not the same as a limiter. Have you guys found that recording without limiters is not a problem?

Well turn the inputs down if you are concerned. @ 24bit you have 144db dynamic range. I am going to record a 747 take off next week, i'm gonna start low!
Limiters? Yuck.

Limiters seem to be a common feature on most field recorders. I myself have found them handy at times.

Is anyone else having an issue with the lack of a limiter? I would prefer not to buy a separate mic pre / limiter to go with the unit...

Record at a lower level and use a limiter on the file later.

if you can't resist the urge to record at the max.... or just need a dummy proof unit.... buy something with a limiter built in like the Sony D-50...... but even that unit will crap out, and the limiter is pretty slick on the D-50.
Limiters on a small device are only gonna be marginally ok, and might do more damage than good.

The Marantz 661 is the best portable PCM recorder i've owned (and i've had a few!)
The Korg MR-1000 sounds better at 1Bit if youre going for pure high quality audio..... 1Bit is the clear winner over PCM in the audio quality dept.

One feature on the Tascam DR-100 is an internal battery that switches to AA's when it runs down. What do you guys do when your in the middle of recording and the battery's get low?

Also are there any opinions on the above mentioned Tascam unit?

btw. thanks for all the great info guys. This kind of thread is what gearslutz is all about...

Hi,
It depend on how much professionally wise results you expect?
I think that even with today technologies, we are still not there.
I have tested almost all portable audio recorders.
My target was to find best hand held recorder. Money was not the issue.
I can say one certain thing - all of them have cheap, crappy built in microphones.
Most of them have noisy preamps.
Most of them suffer from poor A to D converters.
My winner is Sony PCM-D1. But even this one is far, far away from to be called professional.
I actually don't understand why in $2000 device, Sony couldn't implement two good sounding mics. Cause mics is the weakest point in this device.
But this fact may partially explain the philosophy behind other brands and their quality. BTW PCM-D1 do NOT have excelent preamps or converters either.
Of course I don't speak about connecting external mics as it makes it less portable and erase the mark "hand held".

Theoretically it is possible to build a small decent recorder.
Put together MicroTrack II as a digital recorder, Apogee Mini Me Preamp and Converter and DPA4021 X 2 cardioid mics and you have a superior hand held device. Well you need to design everything from the scratch to fit in one body. But engineering speaking it's possible.
And the price would be $250 plus $900 plus $3600.
So would you pay approx $4750 for the true hand held pro recorder.
I know it's a bit out of topic and your budget is 10 times less.
But I think that there is a niche for this kind of recorders...especially if someone can half this price down...

Back to your question. Maranz 661 is OK. Sony PCM-D50 is fine. Zoom H4n OK. Tascam DR100 is good. But again, all of them is a compromise between quality and size /price.
If you broad your budget, there are Tascam HD-P2, Fostex FR2 and Sound Devices 702. But then you need to buy two mics... But this is another story.

While I appreciate your feedback mgoorevich. The Sony PCM-D1 doesn't even meet my basic requirement of having 2 phantom powerd xlr inputs.

Does anyone else have advice regarding my battery question above?

if you are really not near a power source for 4 or 5 hours at a time, you should consider spending the money for a unit that is designed for what you require.
are you recording over 4 hours straight without being able to stop and change 4 AA batteries?
maybe the DR-1000 is for you if it meets your power needs.

I guess I have read varying review on the battery life of the Marantz ranging from 3 hours to 4 or 5. 3 Hours might be a bit slim...

One last question I PROMISE! What kind of carrying case are you guys using for this thing? The only one I could find is the Portabrace and it's a bit expensive and looks a little junky.

If you don't use digital recorders often, i highly suggest NOT recording a high bit rate 3+ hour file without stopping if possible. Yes i know that many times it is not applicable to stop a recording...... but it is in your best interest to try to stop and create a new file.

I would also suggest giving whoever you are recording a break every 3+ hours.

Good advice sir! I would never let Pro Tools run for 3 hours without a file break...