Sonic LAB: Portable Recorders - Edirol R-09HR

Last year Edirol released an updated version, based on the same form-factor, but addressing a few small issues and offering an upgraded performance.

I had my hands on a pre-release version, and did a short video piece at the time comparing the two.

Since, there's been a slew of newer models appearing from other manufacturers, each offering their own take on the now highly-popular pocket recorder format, so there's a bit more competition – we'll see how it stacks up, using our regular 10 criteria, and focussing on use from the perspective of musicians, journalists, and videographers.

-----Pros-----
• Very straightforward to use - easy access to Record, Levels and Volume
• On-board microphone sounds very good
• Resistant to handling noise – good hand-held performance
• Tasty OLED display works well in most lighting conditions
• 24bit / 96kHz recordings
• Built-in Monitor Speaker – yay!
• Records to SD card, with SDHC compatibility
• Records to WAV or MP3 (lots of b/w options)
• Can split recordings on the fly
  -----Cons-----
• On-board mic not so good at Low Gain setting
• Dumb-ass place for a headphone jack!
• No Case or Windshield included (available as optional extras)
  3rd party ones are available at better value.
• Limited connectivity
• No onboard memory
• No stand mount; Case (for tripod/stand mounting) hideously over-priced

I should say at this point, that although I do appreciate the needs of those 'recordists' using portable units to record the highest quality recordings, they usually will have the means to monitor and adjust levels, etc. for maximum fidelity – musicians will more likely use them in a more 'set & forget' style, so ergonomics, on-board mics and limiters come more into play.

It's clear that the R-09 and R-09HR are well-suited for this latter usage – the clear OLED display, and essential transport controls and Big Red Record Button are right on the front of the unit, ready for take-off.

The new unit feels secure in the hand (the original did feel a bit like a bar of soap when things got hot & sweaty ;-) and the resistance to handling noise is excellent.... unlike some we've tested.

It's not all roses, though – the input and playback level controls are small black buttons on the side of a matt black unit - sure looks stylish, but in low light at live gigs I found them very hard to see and use.

And whoever thought a good place for the headphone jack was right on the top of the unit next to the mics, deserves to be beaten round the head with a wet fish. If you have to have anything there (and why, really?) then surely the External Mic socket would make more sense – it would disable the on-board mics anyway when plugged in, rather than introduce the extra handling noise, both from plugging/unplugging and the inevitable movement of headphone cable. It also totally unbalances the unit... Bah!

Yeah, I have a few grumbles for sure – it's not perfect, and there are things I'd love to change, but overall I do really like the Edirol R-09HR – as a no-frills, grab & go pocket recorder, it's hard to beat.

Andy McCreeth

Pricing $399.99/£299.99

• R-09HR at Edirol
• The Blessing - band featured in recordings
• Rob Chapman guitar dude
  Other Pocket Recorder Reviews:
  
• Pre-release Video Comparison: Edirol R-09 and R-09HR
• Yamaha Pocketrak 2G Review
• M-Audio MicroTrack II
• Yamaha PocketTrak CX

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• EDIROL And Cakewalk At Unique Beats festival 21-May-09
• MESSE09: Edirol & Cakewalk Round Up 03-Apr-09
• MESSE09: Headphones For Hand-Held Recorder 01-Apr-09