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EDIROL Presents the R-4 Pro Field Recorder Now with Video Sync (9/10/2006)

EDIROL announces the R-4 Pro, a brand new four-channel portable field recorder based on the hugely-popular R-4 but with added video sync capabilities ...

EDIROL produces some of the best field recorders in the business and the R-4 represents something of a milestone for the company. Featuring up to four simultaneous channels of quality recording, an on-board hard drive, built-in effects and a highly intuitive user interface, the R-4 already has a lot of admirers, but now EDIROL is releasing a Pro version with added video sync appeal. The new R-4 Pro accepts SMPTE time code meaning that it can easily be sync'd to video equipment as the slave device, so up to four channels of high quality audio (up to 24 bit/96kHz) can be fully synchronized with video. (Selecting four channels rather than two gives users the ability to capture more ambient sound at a shoot, place mics on multiple participants and increase redundancy/backup in case of camera mic noise or drop out. Also, most video editing environments now support multi-channel audio as a standard.) In addition, the R-4 Pro can also act as the master, sending out time code to slave devices.

"The R-4 Pro provides the most affordable four-channel portable solution to users with time code in their workflow. We've essentially halved the cost," says Massimo Barbini, Managing Director of EDIROL Europe. "It's an ideal solution for the growing number of attractively priced HDV cameras equipped with time code such as the Canon XL H1 and the recently announced JVC GY-HD250U."

The R-4 Pro comes with an 80GB drive installed which is enough for more than 100 hours of audio at 16 bit/ 48 kHz. For back-up and more storage options, the unit is also USB 2.0 compatible so on board audio can be backed up to flash keys, memory cards or onto the drive of a connected PC or Mac. The unit is also equipped with a 4-pin XLR DC input to enable use of Anton-Bauer style external battery power. Like the EDIROL R-4, the Pro features wave editing, recording resolution selection, pre-buffer recording, effects and limiter.

At £1,099 (Û1590) the original R-4 is still easily the most affordable and effective choice for the existing SD camera base and the growing number of HDV cameras that are not equipped with time code. It is still the only four-channel solution equipped with LANC capability as an alternative way to sync to non-time code equipment. In fact the new R-4 price point matches well with SD/HDV cameras and even competes with many two-channel solutions with fewer features! Price and availability

The R-4 Pro is expected to ship in September, price £1,499 and Û2,199, both inc VAT.

www.edirol.com/europe

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