Marantz PMD661 Portable SD Recorder

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Price: $599.00    

Product Feature

• MP3/WAV (BWF) recording, with files saved directly to SD/SDHC memory cards
• 44.1/48/96kHz sample rate selections, in 16 or 24-bit quantization
• Switchable balanced XLR Mic/Line inputs with +48V phantom power
• Battery-powered operation via 4 AA Alkaline, providing over 5 hours of typical operation (unit also accepts off-the-shelf rechargeable NiMH batteries. Batteries not included)
• USB 2.0 data port for fast transfer of files to PC/Mac

Product Description

A robust and versatile professional handheld PCM / MP3 recorder, the PMD661 recorder from Marantz offers a streamlined form factor, a superior feature set, and the use of SD flash media. Major design innovations include a smaller footprint and an improved top facia layout with fewer buttons and more highly developed use of multi-functional operation. Measuring a mere 6.5 in x 3.7 in x 1.4 in (165 x 93 x 36 mm), the PMD661's small footprint, combined with the improved control layout, ensures comprehensive single-handed operation. The Marantz PMD661 features switchable balanced mic/line XLR inputs and a S/PDIF digital input, as well as unbalanced line-outs on RCA connectors and a secondary unbalanced line-in on 3.5 mm mini jack connector. Also included for the first time at this price point within the Marantz range is a high-resolution 24-bit/96kHz recording option (PCM).

Marantz PMD661 Portable SD Recorder Review

Update Notes: 10/2010: Another buyer asked me to look into the power draw for battery usage reasons. After using the TWO independent battery conservation modes on the 661 (turn off the leds and minimize the big display from 5 rows to just one row of data) the jumpy current waveform settled down to 315 mA DC +/- 15 mA. For battery usage, you can use a 315mA draw for conservative recording power usage estimates. So that perspective users of the 661 can get a feel for it I've uploaded 5 most often seen sample screenshots with notes in the pictures section above. The notes cover what each screen does and how the function keys work. The instruction manual shows you how to wire pushbuttons and resistors to the 4 terminal remote plug which is VERY hard to find (most are 3 terminal - left/right/ground) - you can use the 3 terminal because the only 2 points you need are ground and the tip, but here is the 4 pin version for $0.28 on amazon 6FT 3.5 mm to 3 RCA AV Camcorder Video Cable Sony JVC 6 with this cable and the instructions in the manual you can build your own remote with LEDs and extended switches beyond the marantz remote from the PMD660 Marantz RC600 Mic Mount Remote Control which could be operated by computer or other automated systems. Basically the 4 terminal plugs are becomming more common now. The resistor values chosen for pushbutton operation are common values and easy to find.

UPDATE 8-2010:

I've put alot of hours on my PMD661, made a custom case for it, and now I must report a MINOR negative about a whole class of products (the 661, the H4n, certain flashlights, etc)

While doing flashlight testing on the Fenix TK-40, 'Menace' pointed out that it seemed to drain AA batteries without being used AT ALL while a similar light, the TK30 did not. I confirmed his findings using an inline ampmeter - a small amount of power was flowing with the light turned off. As I measured other products that used the AA NiMH cell, the problem proved to be a bigger issue than just one flashlight.

This "trickle" power is just like your car - leave it in a garage at the airport for 30 days and don't expect the battery to be full when you return. The amount is small, but placing a plastic strip between a battery and the spring then routing it out of the battery compartment will stop the power from flowing. The "off" power is higher on the PMD661 because it has a timer and can turn itself on for play or record functions with preprogrammed times which other recorders can not do.

Update 9-12-2009 - I just returned from a cruise ship using the 661. I used a Canon hs-10 avchd camera for capturing the main stage video and the 661 to plug into the ship's mixing board for audio. The ship's audio engineer was excited to see the 661 and hapily pulled out an XLR patch cord set to give me the house mix line level out, which was recorded in the same lossless format (24bit/48 khz) used by the camcorder audio making synchronization in adobe premiere pro a breeze. The final benefit was hearing the show audio as it left the mixing board to the amps instead of being picked up by the camera set on a tripod in the audience full of echo and laughter, clapping etc. The final production to blu-ray disc sounded like I was right on stage with the camera. The marantz ALC circuit performed better than expected and prevented digital clipping while maximizing dynamic range. End of edit.
[ACTUAL PRODUCT REVIEW BEGINS HERE]

When Marantz added a line level XLR input that bypassed the microphone preamps as opposed to just a mic level input in the 660 (prior model) I finally jumped at it. Since I work alot of mixing boards I have access to the final stereo mixdown at line level voltages. Whats the big deal? Recording at line level gives you 20dB more signal to noise - thats 100 times better for those who don't speak dB - compared to mic level xlr inputs. Also recorders that put an attenuator in front of microphone amplifiers tend to be noisy - marantz is not built this way (the H4n I use for MIC level recordings is - it is not well suited to line level input because it must attenuate the signal to 0.8% before recording it) If you look at your dvd player at home all the outputs are line level simply to get rid of noise. With such a fabulous recorder, why in the world would you want 100 times more noise in your recordings?

There are many other factors Marantz did that made the 661 the optimum professional recorder to get - the display is bright and easy to read under all lighting conditions, they used a 1/4" headphone jack so the little 3.5mm headphones wouldn't pull out at the worst moment (another pro move) - and they improved the case quality. There is also a digital input for people who are 100% digital already, however it stops at 44.1/48 KHz sampling.

Given these features, the PMD-661 sits head and antlers above all the other compact recorders out there offering professional connectivity at an economical price. It's also fully customizable - the bright display is dimmable through 8 steps for indoor club use at night, and it features dual rca line level outputs for analog playback. About the only thing I would like to have seen would be a worldclock input for synchronizing analog recordings to digital cameras, but the size of the bnc connector would have nixed that option in this handheld product.

Prices are starting to drop - I bought in early but you can save 50 bucks off the original price. Good job Marantz (from a former dedicated tascam fan!)

PROS:

+2 levels of power saving (dual VU meter cutoff and 5 line down to 1 line OLED display) - both are independent of each other
+runs on AC power through a 5V converter and also runs off USB power when doing file transfers
+Easy to create multiple folders and levels within them using the 4-way rocker buttons for character selection - in fact naming your settings is also easy.
+remote control is customizable with just resistors and switches if you know how to solder and need to operate it by computer or other external devices
+XLR ins are well designed and quiet compared to other products on the market.
+1/8" line level TRS input as well lets you use a 3.5mm trs male to male jumper for recording computer outputs
+digital input as well [COAX] - I purchased a Cables to Go 40019 Optical to Coaxial Digital Audio Converter (Black) when needed for $13
+2 ea built in mics as the 4th source
+tripod mount
+pre-record buffer captures 3 seconds of audio prior to entering record
+standard SD card format can be ejected and read on a pc quickly instead of doing USB transfers
+easily updates firmware when improvements are made
+12 hour runtime on 2700 mah nimh cells with full power conservation recording mp3 from XLR in (tested)
+When batteries are exhausted it closes all files and shuts down politely.
+internal stereo speakers can be used to monitor recordings or 1/4" headphones
+rugged, well built design including the battery door which has a large latch to prevent accidental opening or loss
+ALC design is well engineered and not noticable in recordings - seems like it uses fuzzy logic to prevent clipping.
+coaxial manual level adjustment allows for separate l/r level difference and ganged level adjustment of both simultaneously

Cons
-timer based recording draws more "off" power - inserting an insulator made from a plastic battery case easily prevents draining batteries until you need to start if you do not use the timer functions.
-can not entirely shut off the display - most minimal power usage is to shut off LED vu meter and just have one line of text in the OLED window with essential data on it.
-lacks a 1/8" mic in but has a 1/8" stereo TRS line in instead so all mic level voltages must go in via XLRs
-4 input sources but only 3 personalities means one input won't be used without reconfiguring (usually digital in)
-lacks digital out (other than USB and removing SD card)

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