Review: Edirol R-09HR & M-Audio MicroTrack II
Pages: 1, 2, 3

Edirol R-09HR: Roland with the Changes

Edirol's R-09HR sounds as smooth as its skin.

Covered in soft black silicone, the revamped Edirol R-09HR feels downright sensual. As before, most everything you need is within easy reach for one-handed operation. Even better, labels for the various switches and sliders appear in easy-to-read white script.

The flimsy door covering the battery compartment, USB port, and memory-card slot on the original is gone. Dual AA batteries now fit under a sliding panel on the back, while the card slot and USB port hide under a smaller — and sturdier — door in the bottom. You still have to remove the unit from the optional case to access any of these areas, but at least I didn't worry about breaking something.

I was happy to see the R-09HR comes with just about everything you need to start recording in the box, including a 512MB SD card. (The HR supports cards up to 32GB.) A little S-shaped piece of clear plastic piqued my interest; it took me a moment to realize it was a simple table stand. Because the only way to attach the R-09 to a tripod is to purchase an expensive optional case, this is a welcome gadget indeed.

For me the R-09HR's biggest new feature is also its smallest: a tiny wireless remote. Now I could set up the recorder in an inconspicuous spot and wait, setting levels and recording without disturbing anyone. How much better than fumbling with the controls and then sticking the unit in someone's face! Here's a great, laid-back, slack-key song played by Kevin Brown for his class; even the birds got into the spirit:

• R-09HR: Kihoalu Birds (1.5MB MP3)

Kevin Brown's guitar class (and some wild birds) play into the R-09HR.

Edirol claims the remote has a range of 12 feet; I found it worked admirably under a variety of conditions and distances. In addition to standard transport functions, the remote also lets you split audio files on the fly — handy for recording a live concert. You can also pause and resume a recording without creating a new file — something not all digital recorders can do.

Play, pause, record, set levels, and even split files from up to 12 feet away with the R-09HR's included remote control.

In case you're curious how the R-09HR handled that jam session I mentioned a while back, here's a clip from the first song Robyn and Bob played:

• R-09HR: Vocal and Steel (2.5MB MP3)

Like its predecessor, the R-09HR boasts an impressive array of file-management features. The revamped faceplate sports a couple new controls: the Finder (for navigating audio files and folders) and Menu functions now have dedicated buttons. One new function, Speed, changes the playback, slowing it down or speeding it up based on a pre-selected value. Slowing down the audio is useful if you're attempting to transcribe an interview with a nervous subject or struggling to learn a difficult musical passage. Why speed it up? Well, ever wish your science teacher would hurry up and end the lecture?

You'll have to buy the case to get a tripod socket, but the HR does include a handy plastic stand.

Probably the biggest change is in recording resolution; the R-09HR (for High Resolution) now supports uncompressed WAV files up to 24-bit/96kHz, like the MicroTrack. Is the extra resolution worth the memory hit? That depends on you. Higher resolutions won't make bad recordings better, but if you take care, you can get excellent recordings using the built-in microphones — and even better ones with external mics.

The Sound of HR

Late one night I played my uke on the lanai and recorded tracks at various sample rates and bit depths. Listening back, I could hear a difference, sure; but would I record everything at the highest resolution because it sounds better? No, I wouldn't. That's just me; I don't necessarily need jaw-dropping audio all the time.

Due to space limitations, I can't post one of the uncompressed files, but here is something I recorded at 24/96 and converted to MP3. You'll have to take it from me that it sounded pretty darn good — as good as an 'ukulele played next to the ocean can sound:

• R-09HR: Ukulele Waves (1.3MB MP3)

I was taken with the Edirol R-09 back in 2006. With high-resolution recording and a nifty little wireless remote, the newest incarnation is a big step up.

And, in the End...

The MicroTrack II includes a case, T-mic, and charger, but M-Audio no longer throws in a Compact Flash card.

I was admittedly skeptical when my editor asked me to look at the MicroTrack II and the Edirol R-09HR. I'd already given them both a thorough going-over; how much could they have changed in a couple of years? I expected at best modest improvements rather than any revolutionary changes.

By examining the two recorders at the same time, I found that they serve very different needs.

The MicroTrack v.1 suffered from poorly implemented phantom power. That has been addressed, making the MicroTrack II more useful and a better value. It is particularly strong when used with external microphones, making it an excellent choice for serious field recording where audio quality is a concern. With full 48V phantom power, the range of microphones is limited only by your budget. Of course, you still need to scare up XLR-to-TRS cables, but it beats hauling around a separate preamp and power supply.

Although the battery is still problematic, inexpensive battery packs are readily available — or you can make your own. You can even buy an inexpensive solar charger for those extreme recording sessions! Just remember that you will have to send the unit back to M-Audio when the battery eventually fails.

I would not recommend the MicroTrack II to everyone. Its quirky interface (do you see any transport controls?), hard-to-read display, and lack of even basic file maintenance routines could prove frustrating to novices. With no tripod or mic stand adapter, it's pretty much relegated to handheld or shirt-pocket operation. It is so light that your external mic cords threaten to send it flying if you set it on a table.

The MicroTrack II lacks many of the bells and whistles found on its competitors, sure; but that is just the point. It does one thing, and it does it well. If you like to record with your own mics, but you were put off by the insufficient phantom power in the original, you will like the MicroTrack II.

In addition to what comes in the box here, Roland offers numerous optional accessories for the R-09 recorders.

In some ways the Edirol R-09HR is on the opposite end of the spectrum. Whereas M-Audio has obviously targeted audio professionals and experienced amateurs, Edirol goes out of the way to educate the consumer. The documentation includes a big manual and a very good illustrated Practical Guide (23MB PDF) with tips on recording, mic placement, uploading files to your computer, and more.

The R-09HR remains one of the easiest recorders to use and it is a good choice for anyone wanting to capture songs at a music festival, record lectures, or create podcasts. You can use external microphones via its 1/8" stereo mic input, but you'll need a preamp and power supply for studio-grade mics.

Although the R-09HR still does not have a built-in windscreen, the redesigned mics are a little better at resisting wind. You might want to engage the low-cut filter — or you can take Edirol's advice and drape a handkerchief over the mics when recording outside. You'll still need to accessorize to get a tripod adapter, but the addition of high-resolution recording, a new remote, and the clever plastic stand make a good recorder great.

Which One's for You?

See how this recorder stacks up in our
portable recorder comparison chart.