Marantz introduced a new professional solid-state recorder PMD-670, which I think will be a hot piece for the documentary and the ENG/EFP industry. It has all the professional features you need, like Dual phantom power, compressed or uncompressed (DAT quality) recording, long battery life, direct connection to a computer plus lots of other great features.

The recorder uses Compact flash type cards and is compatible with the IBM Microdrive that can handle up to gig (if not more). However, after doing some research, I think that the best way to use it would be to buy only a 640MB card along with a portable Compact Flash to CD recorder that is battery operated and does NOT Require a computer, so you can transfer your files to a CD on the fly, empty the card and continue recording. A Compact Flash to CD recorder is only about $299

The PMD-670 Lists for $899

http://www.marantzpro.com/Products/PMD670.html

http://www.marantz.com/p_product.cfm?id=2418&cont=e&line=prd&cat=pro

Yes these are cool, played with them at InfoCom 2003. I'll take a couple please.

Originally posted June 25, 2003:
http://www.dvinfo.net/conf/showthread.php?s=&threadid=11240&highlight=solid+state+CF

Check these two solid state CF recorders from Marantz:
http://www.marantzpro.com/Products/PMD680.html
http://www.marantzpro.com/Products/PMD690.html

Pretty cool and under $1000 I believe.

And, from Denon:
http://www.usa.denon.com/catalog/ph...F20R%2Ejpg&c=47
http://www.usa.denon.com/catalog/pdfs/DNF20RLIT.pdf

Nice.

- don

What was originally posted on Jun-25 where the old model's PMD-680/690. The PMD-680 "under a $1000" did not have Stereo Recording.

The NEW model also supports many other file formats, the AA batteries will last almost a days worth of shooting and some other differences.

Therefore I do believe that this model offers greater versatility for people who are looking for another source for there audio recording and/or are doing NLE.

While MD is a cost effective choice, most MD recorders in the lower price range (under a $1000) do not have decent MIC PRE's or XLR's and also do not offer "digital out" which means that if you want to transfer the file to a computer, it has to be converted from Digital to Analog and back to Digital.

The 670 is being advertised as low as $698US

Cost aside, which is better you think? This Marantz recorder, the HHB Mini Disc recorder, or a Tascam DAT?

As far as audio quality, I don't think there will be a different between DAT and the new Marantz PMD 670, and it's definitely better then MD. However, the Marantz will have to prove itself as being a reliable unit in order for it to take over the DAT market.

As far as the quality of the Mic Pre's, Marantz is not new to this industry, in fact their cassette recorders are industry standard, and while it may not be the Nagra quality I believe that it will be as good as the Tascam +/-

The only downside to the Marantz "so far", is that the media is still a little too expansive. This is the reason why in my original post I wrote about the CD backup. Since on a stand-alone CD recorder you can backup up to a 640MB card, CD's are cheap and quite reliable.

If you are carrying a laptop, you can use even higher capacity CF cards since you can backup alot more at once.

I would like to hear all arguments.

Thanks for posting I was getting ready to order a HHB minidisc recorder out of flustration with consumer units. Now I think I will save $600 bucks and order this one.

One question that I have is if ATRAC is better or worst than the MP2 codec that they offer.I would love to use PCM to record but man it really kills the Flash card according to the list of times that Marantz posted. But then again for weddings is 48kHz PCM really neccasry? Does anyone think there would be something to gain by using uncompressed audio? I personally like the idea of poping in a 512meg card and recording the entire DJ directly from the line out of his console. Changing the Disc every hour is certainly a big PIA.

Thanks
Scott

First you should check what file formats your editing software supports.

ATRAC at the High Quality setting is better then MP2, But MP3 At the higher rate is probably better the ATRAC. Unless you have a real trained ear you will not hear the difference between DAT and MP3 or ATRAC (if recorded at the higher bitrate).

For what you are doing, I would record in MP3 at 256kbps and you will get over 4 hours of high quality sound on a 512mb card.

You can get up to 7 hrs if you select 160kbps and still get excellent quality sound.

If you want to know more about ATRAC vs. MP3 please check out http://www.minidisc.org/

BTW: I just checked and I found that Marantz posted a new .pdf on their site, which has a little more specs.
http://www.marantzpro.com/Products/docs/PMD670lit.pdf

I do all of my audio editing in Steinberg Cubase SX so I can support any file format.

Forgive my if I am wrong but isnt MP3 Mpeg1 layer 3. And isnt MP2 Mpeg2. If this ia true wouldnt Mp2 at 384 bitrate provide the best sound quality.

As far as quality goes I am not so worried about myself. I usually can tell the difference between a Mp3 and a 48 kHz 16 or 20 bit PCM recording. I am worried about clients. After all there paying for it.

I am suprised that Marantz isnt offering a 24/96 recording mode for it. It would make a nice little "mini studio" for recording away from the house.

Scott
MP2 vs MP3....

I found a couple of links that you may find interesting.

http://www.wikipedia.org/wiki/MP3
http://www.dvdrhelp.com/forum/archive/t154398.html
http://www.mp3clubpro.com/english/techniques_en.html
http://www.solorb.com/dat-heads/digests/V5.600/D611#Msg12

That was quite fascinating. took some of the "sorcery" out of audio codecs. However I think that I have more questions now than before and very few of them have clear defined answers. Mainly because like so many things in the audio world this is all subjective to the listners ear. As I stated earlier Mpeg1 Layer 2 seems to be the best but only at extreme high bitrates such as 320 or 384. But then again is there a large enough difference between that and Mpeg1 Layer 3s ' "sweet spot" 128-196 kbps. Would there be a disearnable seperation in the audio quality at these settings. I guess the only person that can answer that question is myself. So many things in audio seem to be based on personal tastes.

My question about the clients seems to be answered. As one article stated. Broadcast radio stations have been using MP3s for sometime now. I rarely hear the layman complaining about the acoustical dynamics of there radio signal.

Thanks for the wonderful links,

Anyone purchase one yet? Any recommendations on where to obtain media for it?

It utilizes standard Compact Flash Cards/Media that you can find in any computer and/or photo store.

Thanks, Marty - I also meant to add which brands to look out for or avoid for this kind of media. I have no experience with them. I was wondering if there was any place that sold them at a good price too.

Just to name a few, Sandisk and Lexar I would feel comfortable with. I am sure that there are other good brands out there.

Marty,

In your original post, you make reference to a 640 MB card. Although I'd like to use the PMD-670 for an upcoming video project for school, I'd also like to use it for taping concerts as an alternative to DAT. Two 640 MB cards would be ideal, but a quick search on www.pricesearch.com doesn't show any 640MB cards. It goes from 512MB to 1GB microdrive. shopping.yahoo.com shows a few cards but they're already in or over the price range of a 1 GB IBM microdrive. The Lexar is over $400! Two other brands were also listed, but I have never heard of them: Delkin ($200) and SimpleTech ($150). Has anyone had experience with these brands? Are there any concerns using microdrive instead of compact flash?

Thanks

I don't think audio memory would have to be the fastest. $235 to $450 is a big swing for lexar (1 gig at B&H)and you only spend the bucks for the fastest when you need it, or have more money than I do>
That may be ok when you're using a 5 megapizel still and shooting multiple frames.

I did a quick search on eBay and I did find the Sandisk 1GB at $189.

At little OT here but its nice to see another Upstater in the Forums...I was begining to think I was the only one! As far as Compact Flash memory goes i have yet to see any that are different than others. Remember in most camera that picture is transfered to a buffer memory first and then copied to the Flash Memory. I am sure the Marantz works in the same way. I have all kinds of different card..Sandisk,Lexar,Canon you name it there all basically the same....Also IBM micro drives are great but with 1 gig cards here and 2 gig cards on the way there days are pretty much numbered.

Mike maybe if you pick up the marantz would it be possiable for me to take a look at it when I am out that way. I want to see it before I buy and B&H is a 7-8 hour drive away.

Thanks

I just came across a device that allows you to copy data on a battery operated hard drive straight from the Compact Flash Card, which may be a perfect companion to the Marantz PMD-670

Scott,

I'm in Ithaca for school from NJ, so though I've been here for 4 years, I don't know if I'm a NY upstater. In fact, local residents say this is better referred to as central New York. ?( I'm not sure when I'll be picking up the PMD-670, but hopefully before summer's end so I can record some summer concerts in the Ithaca area and use it for some video work. I'll let you know when that happens.

Marty,

What's the make/model on that device you mentioned?

Here's a link to a performance review of various compact flash cards:

http://www.dpreview.com/articles/mediacompare/

Although the performance comparison is a bit dated, it's clear the reviewer revealed a HUGE performance difference. The IBM microdrives seem to have the most balanced performance. For digital cameras, write speed is more important in reducing the wait betweens taking pictures and movies and their transfer from device local memory to flash card memory.

I purchased my first compact flash card from some unknown web site. It was listed as a Samsung flash card. Samsung
is a Korean DRAM manufacturer, so I figured I'm getting something good. The card has no manufacturer listed on the label. Apparently, the only thing "Samsung" about this card is
the flash memory controller. Be careful. Buy one of the brands listed on the performance chart.

Mike,
I am sorry that I forgot to mention it to begin with. I found one by Buslink at Office Depot and I also found some at B&H

http://www.officedepot.com/ddSKU.do?level=SK&id=358480

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh3/controller/home?O=breadCrumb&A=search&Q=&ci=3369

Well I stand corrected...I guess there "IS" a difference in memory cards. I never noticed a difference with my Canon G2 or my G3 between the different cards I have. But according to that page there is. ..

Mike, I am also a transplant. I have only been here a year I am originally from Tampa, FL....As far as location your close enough. There are very few people on the forum that are that close to me. I was planning on getting a Marantz sometime this fall. Like I said if you do get one before my I would love the chance to check it out. I end up in Ithaca once a month or soo. ...please keep me posted

Thanks,

Great article! Exactly what I was looking for when I posted earlier. Thanks.

CF cards do fail and when they go you may loose every thing on them. I have 2 IBM Micro Drives and about 10 other cards of various sizes by several makers. 2 of those cards I bought on sale for a cheap price believing they were all the same, those cards are made by I/O Data, they both failed with data on them.

As the storage capacity of these cards continues to grow and cost less take into consideration what you will loose if the card fails. Is it better to have all 4 hours audio on one card or 4?

I love my Micro drives but I do not fill them up "just because I can". It is to scary to have that much of a job riding on that one little piece of media.

Steve

Steven, that's a very good point. I should get into the habit of backing up audio the way we back up computers...