Marantz PMD660

[Jim Hoene]

Im putting together equipment for making short films using the Super8 format (Canon 814's) and I have been considering what to record sound with. I'd like to keep my basic equipment (recorder, mic's and cords, booms etc) below $2,000.

 

I have been looking at the pmd660 which although it looks a little small appears to have many good features including XLR inputs, an optional wired remote with a peak indicator (I wonder does this mean you can adjust levels remotely or just monitor). I also like the flash media and ease of downloading to a computer and it is a solid state device with few moving parts.

 

Anyone have any experience with this or a suggestion for another unit?

 

Here's a little info on the pmd660:

 

 

? Records uncompressed 16-bit PCM .wav files at 44.1 kHz or 48 kHz.

? Records mono .mp3 files at 64 kbps

? Records stereo .mp3 files at 128 kbps

? Uses inexpensive, widely available Compact Flash media (CF)

? 1 GB CF card can hold over 1 hour of uncompressed stereo

? 1 GB CF card can hold over 17 hours (stereo) or 36 hours (mono) .mp3

? Operates for four hours on four AA batteries

? Two XLR mic connections with +48v phantom power

? Two built-in condenser mics for easy, true stereo recordings

? Stereo line I/O

? Solid State Design

? No moving parts-no maintenance

? "Copy Segment" cut-and-paste editing to a new sound file

? 99 "Virtual Tracks" for EDL-style editing

? Built-in USB port for easy file transfer

? Optional wired remote control with peak indicator

[Dennis Kisilyov]

You want the bit rate for noisy "on-location" digital sound to be at least 24bits and should prob be 48khz (for DVD publishing)

 

If you do any less, you'll have two problems.

 

 

1) Filtering out ambient noise at 44.1/16 CD quality is PAIN, Even with Sound Soap/ Protools DINR / Adobe Noise Reduction.

 

2) You'll have to up-sample/interpolate for DVD publishing and any serious audio POST.

 

 

For far less money get a M-Audio, Edirol or Zoom even. They are capable of doing 24bit 48,000hz.

I would not do any less for acoustic sound.

 

 

Marantz is a good pro-sumer brand of equipment for Home A/V. I would go with something different for production.

 

If you're looking at Marantz look at Fostex FR-2.

 

Records 24bit up-to 192khz

BWF Support. Take/Roll stamping. (e.g. Take 1 Scene 4 )

Auto Punch-in.

Built in Peak Limiter if you don't have a good audio guy.

 

Marantz is stuck at 16bit. That is bad for POST/EFX.

 

 

P.S. Compressed audio specs are BS, You just need something with a good battery life and XLR jacks.

P.P.S. Even though it has XLR jacks does not mean the mic pre-amp will be any good.