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Marantz Professional Launches PMD620 Pocket Size' Flash Card Recorder for CD Quality and MP3 Recording on the Move (11/12/2007)

Marantz Professional has launched a new handheld flashcard digital audio recorder for musicians, recording enthusiasts, podcasters, reporters and programme makers who need a high quality digital recorder and editor in their pocket.

The PMD620 solidstate recorder uses the most widely available SD flashcard recording media. Supporting 24-bit and 16-bit PCM linear, and MP3 compressed audio formats for both recording and playback, and featuring USB connectivity to PCs, the extremely neat and compact unit is also a powerful digital music player.

The fully integrated compact form is designed especially for quick and easy operation - for instant on-the-spot recording of musical ideas, songs or sounds, and live performance. To this end, the PMD620 features an integrated stereo condenser microphone array, and intuitive front facia mounted interface controls and user menu screen.

Controls include a thumb operated transport scroll wheel - familiar to users of personal media players - and one touch record operation via a large tactile, red illuminating, engage button. Another first for the PMD620 is the OLED (organic LED) display screen, providing vivid alpha-numeric and icon display, and reduced power draw from the units two AA batteries. The display is user configurable between a large easily read font size for field operation, and a smaller size for display of greater information per screen. Level and peak LEDs display input signal status, and display screens showing elapsed time, time remaining, and other key data can be toggled between. The recorder also features a built in replay speaker, external line and mic level inputs, and headphone output.

The use of the mass market SD flash media is a first for Marantz Professional recorders. The highly stable SD (secure digital) card is the most widely available flash media format, and the PMD620 is also compatible with SDHC (high capacity) cards, which means digital recording file size is only limited by SDHC card capacity. Recording time with a 4 GB card extends from 3 hrs 44 mins for stereo PCM audio at 24-bit / 48 kHz, to 283 hrs 44 mins - almost 12 days - for mono MP3 at 32 kbps. At quality settings between these two extremes, a 4 GB card will provide stereo recording times of 6 hrs 24 mins at 16-bit / 44.1 kHz PCM (CD quality); 47 hrs 12 mins at 192 kbps MP3; 70 hrs 56 mins at 128 kbps MP3; and 141 hrs 52 mins at 64 kbps MP3.

The PMD620 also offers serious on-board editing for those who require it; this include non-destructive cut-and-paste "Copy Segment' editing to create new sound files. The USB 2.0 port enables drag and drop file transfer to and from PC. Recording quality is ensured with the two integrated omni-directional condenser microphone capsules. The unit is supplied with a 512 MB SD card, power supply, tripod mount adaptor and wrist strap.

Commenting on the very wide user base to which the PMD620 is designed to appeal, DMi General Manager, Mark Perrins, stated, "The attractive form and layout configuration of the PMD620 provides an 'at a glance' user appeal that extends beyond the usual markets for Marantz professional recorders. It is clear from first sight that functions are both powerful and very easily accessible. Like any modern consumer electronic device, it can be operated straight out of the box, while at the same time retaining the powerful options and features of a fully professional field recorder."

The manufacturer's recommended price for the PMD620 will be £255 / Û365 ex VAT, and it will be available from December 07.

www.dm-i.eu  

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