Ever since I first spotted the Edirol R-09 SD-based flash recorder at the NAMM show, it’s been an absurdly hot item. There are some 50 comments going on that item, largely from people wanting to know how it is. Only problem: I don’t have one. While I talk to Edirol about that, here’s an early reader report.

Via the CDM forums, our friend masterslave (guessing that’s not his real name), sends a detailed first impressions report, complete with sound samples. It’s not a full review, but the sound samples are impressive; the built-in mics sound great. (Never knock lowly electret-condensers; they’re cheap, reliable, rugged, and have a nice, warm sound.)

Edirol R-09 First Impressions [r09.ocbka.org]

Anyone else who’s gotten a hold of this or other gear and wants to share the results, don’t be shy!

Finally, ultra-portable digital recording is catching on. Edirol got the party started with the R-1, a CompactFlash-based USB device packed with a decent built-in stereo mic, effects, a metronome, and tuner. The extras on the R-1 are nice, but the unit was big and boxy, so when M-Audio introduced their cuter, iPod like MicroTrack, also a CF recorder, much of the attention turned to them.

Now it’s Edirol’s turn again with the R-09. It’s got a small, curvy form factor like the MicroTrack, costs $450 list, and includes an excellent built-in mic. How do these units compare (on paper, anyway)?

Musician and author Mark Nelson tries out the highly anticipated M-Audio MicroTrack recorder for O’Reilly Digital media. Mark takes the test seriously, actually heading out into the field (Maui) and recording with it. (See Hawaii, above. Now why don’t I get to do a review like this?)

The verdict? The recorder isn’t perfect: no real phantom power (30V instead of 48V), as others have noted, made worse by the inclusion of TRS inputs (read: don’t fry your mic), and it’s hard to get adequate signal level. Setting record levels is unusually tricky, and there’s no standby mode for recording. The MicroTrack also weirdly doesn’t start over its file numbering from 1 after you’ve deleted old recordings (odd, as even my iRiver can do that). But overall, he loves the recorder for its portability, low price (relative to other options), and computer connectivity. If you’re in the market, don’t miss his detailed review and sound samples; this is the most info on this recorder I’ve seen yet:

Review: M-Audio MicroTrack 24/96 Pocket Digital Recorder [O'Reilly Digital Media]

M-Audio appears committed to this device, and I’d say it has a serious edge on its competitors at the price point (HD-MiniDisc, I’m talking to you).

Previous product reviews in scenic locales:
Numark’s $99 Portable Turntable, Torture Tested in the Burning Man Desert

Now we’re talking. Tascam’s upcoming HD-P2 is finally a portable Compact Flash recorder that doesn’t skimp on pro features. Incredibly, its street price will be under US$1000, but the preliminary specs read like a device costing a lot more, and by providing timecode input on a cheap device, it’s an indie filmmaker’s dream recorder:

Up to 192 kHz / 24-bit

Absolutely silent (no transport noise, cough, DAT!), latched CF slot (so it doesn’t pop out accidentally)

Broadcast WAVE recording

FireWire for connecting to PC/MAC for instant file access

Data loss protection (continually re-saves data)

XLR mic inputs with phantom power and analog peak limiting

Unbalanced RCA I/O plus S/PDIF digital I/O

Built-in mic and speaker

Runs on AA batteries for 5.5 hours (battery pack could be an accessory in the future, a la the DA-P1)

Timecode input, video clock input, input chasing

Let’s focus on that last one for a moment: a $900 street recorder will have timecode input for sync in video shoots. That’s something even most DAT recorders don’t have. Edirol’s R-4 recorder is great, and has a 40GB hard drive instead of a CF slot, but it costs $600-700 more and lacks sync.

Timecode in has never been this cheap before. People might actually start syncing their audio recordings. Wow.

I got a chance to handle this box at AES, and quite simply, it’s beautiful. It’s got the same solid, crisp feel as Tascam’s DA-P1 portable DAT I’ve used a zillion times. It’s simple and inexpensive enough that amateurs and education will pick it up, but with serious enough features that it could become a hallmark of video shoots. Bravo, Tascam.

Tascam HD-P2 Recorder [Product Info]

The hunt for mobile recording solutions continues, and yesterday brings breaking news: flash memory has even found its way into a microphone:

New HHB FlashMic Is World’s First Digital Recording Microphone [HHB PR]

Fasinating, but not terribly useful to musicians: you’re limited to mono recording, since the mic is the recorder. Some interesting features, though: Mac/PC configuration of defaults, powered by AA batteries, single-button recording, USB connection, linear .WAV support. No word yet on pricing or availability. Now if they’ll just make a stereo mic version . . .

HHB comes highly recommended as a portable recording vendor, as a couple of you have tipped us off. So if this mic-that’s-a-recorder seems too limited — or simply unnatural — look to HHB’s pro-grade portable recorders, the PortaDrive (hard drive recorder) and PortaDisc (MiniDisc recorder). This ain’t your Circuit City Sony MD, folks: think US$1500 for the HHB MDP500 (shown). But you’ll get a serious rival for a DAT recorder. For one of HHB’s main rivals, see the Fostex FR2, previously on CDM. We’ve now heard from readers happily using both the MDP500 and FR2 (read the comments on the link before if you haven’t already).

See also part I (and extensive comments): iPod Nano Still Not a Recorder; Portable Recording Alternatives