Published 24/9/08
The solid state casts its vote
Even in a market that’s heading more towards the computer with every passing hour, there will always be a need for stand-alone stereo recorders. But should the shape and form of the simple two-channel recorder (such as the humble DAT or CD-burning device) change in order to embrace modern technologies? Fostex think so.
The UR2 is a stereo recorder with a difference. Instead of using CDs or DATs, it stores data on to one of two SD cards, or a conventional USB memory stick inserted in the front of the device. Of course, it also works as a playback device, and can play audio stored on any of the three flash memory devices. Currently, the device can only play WAV files (at common sample rates between 44.1kHz and 96kHz with 16- or 24-bit wordlengths), but Fostex hope to implement MP3-playback capabilities with the release of a firmware update some time before the end of 2008.
Recorded data is saved in BWAV (Broadcast WAV) format and, should the capacity of one card be reached, the recording will continue on the second installed card. It’s compatible with the SDHC format (Secure Digital High Capacity), giving the user a theoretical maximum recording time of over 30 hours, recording at 24-bit/96kHz, when using a pair of the largest 32GB cards! A PC connection, which uses the USB 2.0 protocol, enables the user to retrieve the audio from the UR2, for editing and post-production.
The OLED (Organic Light Emitting Diode) display shows time elapsed and remaining information, as well as audio levels on bargraph meters. In ‘scrub mode’, a waveform of the audio is visible, to ease the process of setting cue points.
Usefully, and rather unexpectedly, the UR2 has a phantom-powered microphone input, with which announcements, for example, can be mixed with the main audio output. There are also stereo line-level and AES-EBU inputs, enabling other devices to be summed with the on-board audio.
Analogue and digital outputs enable the device to be plugged directly into a variety of other devices, and there are sockets for remote control of the device. As a finishing touch, there’s a headphone jack on the front, with its own level control.
The Fostex UR2 costs £703 in the UK and has a retail price of $1299 in the USA.
SCV London +44 (0)208 418 1470
www.scvlondon.co.uk
www.fostexinternational.com
The UR2 is a stereo recorder with a difference. Instead of using CDs or DATs, it stores data on to one of two SD cards, or a conventional USB memory stick inserted in the front of the device. Of course, it also works as a playback device, and can play audio stored on any of the three flash memory devices. Currently, the device can only play WAV files (at common sample rates between 44.1kHz and 96kHz with 16- or 24-bit wordlengths), but Fostex hope to implement MP3-playback capabilities with the release of a firmware update some time before the end of 2008.
Recorded data is saved in BWAV (Broadcast WAV) format and, should the capacity of one card be reached, the recording will continue on the second installed card. It’s compatible with the SDHC format (Secure Digital High Capacity), giving the user a theoretical maximum recording time of over 30 hours, recording at 24-bit/96kHz, when using a pair of the largest 32GB cards! A PC connection, which uses the USB 2.0 protocol, enables the user to retrieve the audio from the UR2, for editing and post-production.
The OLED (Organic Light Emitting Diode) display shows time elapsed and remaining information, as well as audio levels on bargraph meters. In ‘scrub mode’, a waveform of the audio is visible, to ease the process of setting cue points.
Usefully, and rather unexpectedly, the UR2 has a phantom-powered microphone input, with which announcements, for example, can be mixed with the main audio output. There are also stereo line-level and AES-EBU inputs, enabling other devices to be summed with the on-board audio.
Analogue and digital outputs enable the device to be plugged directly into a variety of other devices, and there are sockets for remote control of the device. As a finishing touch, there’s a headphone jack on the front, with its own level control.
The Fostex UR2 costs £703 in the UK and has a retail price of $1299 in the USA.
SCV London +44 (0)208 418 1470
www.scvlondon.co.uk
www.fostexinternational.com
