AV News 194 - November 2013
Buffering: This is a feature that I've found increasingly useful. When you
have set the unit into record mode (press the red REC button), the unit
buffers 5 seconds of recording. Pressing the PAUSE button sets the
recording in motion, and includes the previous 5 seconds of recording.
The Display: This is quite large and shows a lot of information (perhaps too
much at times). Level meters seem accurate and sensitive.
So what disadvantages have I found?
Firstly, I often use a Rycote 'dead
mouse' (mini-windjammer) which slips
elastically over the microphones. This
works well in gentle wind, but has the
disadvantage that the elastic of the
'mouse' can nudge the mic sensitivity
switch from HI to LOW. (See picture of
switch below)
Secondly, though I said that it's
possible, getting the micro-SD card
out of the unit requires the dexterity of
a watchmaker.
Fortunately the USB-lead way of
transferring files works well.
And lastly, the menu system covers
lots of things, but is not the most user
friendly, for example it took me 5
minutes to find how to format the
micro-SD card. The manual is typical
of consumer electronic devices, it also
took me 5 minutes to find the same
information in the manual.
However, overall I have found
this to be an excellent recorder,
the inbuilt microphones produce
nice sound, an external mic is
easy to connect and the files are
fairly noise and very distortion
free. The REC, PLAY, etc
buttons are quite big and
illuminated and the screen is
backlit, so very usable in
dimmer conditions.
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