AEQ Pro Digital Recorder
The new AEQ DR-100 is the smallest professional digital recorder currently available. Ideal for journalism and broadcast applications, the DR-100 is designed for fieldwork and records with exceptional quality. Recordings can be made using the internal mic, the included external mic, or your preferred field microphone. The internal flash memory holds 4.5 hours of FM quality or 1.5 hours of CD stereo quality recording.
Also included, an internal non-destructive audio editor with waveform, marker, time indicator, and zoom. The DR-1oo comes wth a full kit of accessories. [MSRP $699 US]
-paul.
Stereo or Mono.
• Manual Gain / AGC. Automatic Record Start when input
is detected.
• Internal Flash Memory and External Smart Media.Built-in Flash
Memory stores up to 4.5 hours FM Quality Audio, or 1.5 hours
stereo CD Quality.
• Internal Non-destructive Audio Editor with Waveform, Marker,
Time Indicator and Zoom.
• Internal FM Receiver with 20 Presets, Sensitivity Control and
Automatic Program Recording.
• Nine Automatic Recording Alarms with input selection:
Mic, Mono/Stereo Line or built-in FM Tuner.
• RS-232 Port for connecting external modem to send audio file
via the Internet. TCP/IP File Transfer capable of auto-point
resumption if file transfer is interrupted. Transfer files to a PC
via USB. PC Software included.
• Li-Ion 3.6 V, 700mAh Battery. 10-hour cycle.
• Signal/Noise Ratio is > 85 dB, THD <0.05 %.
• Frequency Response 20 Hz – 20 KHz.
• Size: 4.5″ x 1 13/16″ x 13/16″ (120 x 45 X 22 mm).
• Weight 3.5 Oz (98 grams) with battery.
Seems this rig really is priced so high because of it trick of the size. It is missing many pro features like the ability to connect xlr mics, (it only accepts 3.5 mini plugs) and phantom power for condensor mics. The form factor reminds me of an old Olympus digital recorder with built-in mic and the audio quality was extremely poor.
While this device postiions itself as a Pro audio recorder by price, it really appears to be a consumer recorder especially with the FM radio with 20 presets. Is FM radio critical for pro quality audio? I can buy a FM radio with presets for $20, not $699. I can get a FM program recording for $69.
Has anyone gotten their hands on the AEQ DR-100? It would also be great if there were a site that did side-by-side comparisons charts of digital recorders and rigs as well as provide sample sound files so we could hear differences in quality. Users could upload files, provide sample rates, compression and even externals like mics used. If you ever visited the dvreview.com site and see how they do side-by-side comparsions of digital cameras and provide sample images to see the difference in quality, it would be a great service to see the same done for digital audio devices.
I agree, this is a strange device. It reads like it was designed by a team that never quite bothered to check what anyone else was doing. The more I read the spec the more it seems like a first-generation MP3 player with a few extra features wedged in.
1.5 hours recording seems very small for a modern flash recorder (the on-line documentation never seems to say just how much memory it actually has). Sure it is extendable using SmartMedia, but that’s a clumsy, fragile and limited format which seems to top out at a puny 128MB compared to the 1GB-plus of the likes of SD/MMC and CompactFlash.
On the other hand the choice of line level and two pre-amp gains as well as the built-in mic is pretty good for a portable device, and the built in (basic) audio editor is probably suitable for trimming the heads and tails of a recording before upload.
Worst thing, though. Just like most early MP3 players it doesn’t seem to honor the USB “mass storage profile”, and so needs its own specific software to upload recordings. Yeugh.
I’m guessing this was designed to order for a corporate customer, and they are trying to make a buck or two from the R&D investment. On the open market I simply can’t see it competing at this price when you can get a little recording iRiver with 512MB or more for under $200.