Edirol R-09--a fantastic tool for field recordings
Pros:
Great sound quality, easy to use, solves a number of minidisc frustrations for field recording
Cons:
Limited in-unit editing, kind of flimsy feel
The Bottom Line:
I highly recommend the Edirol R-09 to anyone engaged in field recording. It is a great gift to ethnomusicologists!
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Overall Rating:
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Author's Review
I purchased the Edirol R-09 soon after they began shipping in 2006. Prior to the R-09 I had been using a Sharp minidisc recorder for my ethnomusicology fieldwork. The MD was acceptable, but some quirks made it frustrating for field recording. I'm happy to say that the R-09, thus far, seems to have solved a number of the frustrations.
There are a few things that I require of a field recording device, and the R-09 delivers. First, I have to be able to adjust the recording input levels in the midst of recording. Most MD units are limited in this way, but the R-09 allows it with ease.
Second, I want to be able to make pure digital copies of my recordings. Again, most MD units do not allow you to move the recording to a hard drive without some interference, and most do not feature a digital output. I think this is my favorite feature about the R-09, that once you've recorded, moving the recording to a hard drive is a simple as dragging it from the SD card to the computer.
Third, I want to be able to record in as high quality as possible. MD was acceptable quality for me, but most mp3 or digital voice recorders fall quite short of good quality. The R-09 records extremely high quality, and also allows the user to set the quality. So if I'm recording interviews and don't need them to be absolutely perfect, I can use an mp3 setting rather than a full-quality wav.
I enjoy that the R-09 (with the latest firmware update from Edirol's website) allows for any size of SD card. 2GB cards are reasonably priced now, and the thought that I could have 4GB or more to work with someday as prices continue to fall is phenomenal.
Working in a tropical location, I appreciate that the R-09 is solid-state, with no moving parts to break quickly, as things do in the tropics. That said, however, I do wish that the unit felt a bit more sturdy. It's very lightweight (which is both a plus and minus) and feels like cheap plastic. With proper care, however, I hope that it will last for years.
Another disappointment with the R-09 is that, unlike the MD recorder, it doesn't allow splitting tracks in the midst of recording. The only way to make a new track is to stop and restart the recording, which might not always be as precise as I need it to be.
The built-in mics seem actually decent, at least decent enough for recording spoken word. For the best music recording, however, I'll be using my Audio Technica AT822 stereo mic, which works well with the R-09 too.
I've read complaints about the access door for the SD card, USB connection, and batteries. I can see where those complaints come from, but I think if one is careful, there's no reason the door should break. It is a bit awkward and I wish the design could have been slightly different, but it doesn't bother me too much.
Overall, I love the R-09. Edirol has done what Sony hasn't ever been able to with their MD recorders: create a nearly perfect portable digital field recorder. I recommend it.
