Korg MR2 High Resolution Mobile Recorder

Manufacturer's Description for Korg MR2 High Resolution Mobile Recorder

We live in a "point and shoot" world. Every day, people are using their phones and flip cams to take pictures and videos and share them with their friends and fans around the world. As video fidelity improves exponentially, the form factor continues to shrink. The new Korg MR-2 provides the same benefits to the audio enthusiast or recording professional; impeccable fidelity in a hand-held unit that is completely self-contained. Imagine the flexibility of being able to record anywhere at any time with superb audio quality. This - and more - is what the MR-2 can offer.

The MR-2 is an unsurpassed capture device; your audio "butterfly net." With it, you'll never miss a musical moment, whether it's a band rehearsal, performance, concert, your own personal practice - or any event, for that matter. While no other hand held recorder can match the MR-2's DSD fidelity, recordings made on the MR-2 can be converted into nearly any multi-bit format for use on any project and within any DAW software/hardware platform.

Features

- Multi-format recording and playback, including SACD ultra-high quality 1-bit DSD@2.8224 MHz; multi-bit PCM formats up to 24-bit@192 kHz.
- (DSDIFF/WSD/DSF/WAV[BWF]/MP3/MP2 recording and playback are supported.)
- High-performance X-Y configuration stereo electret condenser mic; capable of rotating 210 degrees.
- Screw mounts provided on two surfaces allow mounting to a commercially available camera tripod for flexible placement.
- High-performance analog limiter, low-cut filter, and bass EQ are provided.
- 40 Recording Setups call up specific mic sensitivity, limiter, low-cut filter, and bass EQ settings to suit a variety of situations. Ten custom user settings can be memorized.
- Records directly to (and plays back from) SD or SDHD cards.
- USB 2.0 (Mini-B type USB connector) allows high-speed data transfer to and from a computer.
- Convenient, high-performance KORG chromatic tuner is built in.
- 128 x 128 pixel LCD with noiseless backlight provides excellent visibility.
- Two-way power; operates either on two AA nickel-metal hydride batteries, or on USB bus power.

DSD - Astounding Audio Quality

DSD is the highest quality audio format available today, using Direct Stream Digital technology to faithfully reproduce the original sound. Today, DSD is used by recording and mastering studios around the world as the preferred audio format for recording and mastering. We encourage you to try out the MR-2 so that you can experience DSD audio for yourself. When recording DSD audio, the signal is recorded without further conversion, and can then be played back in its original format, ensuring that every sparkling nuance of the sound is reproduced. This means that a DSD recording is able to preserve the sound in a form that is closest to the original sound, making it suitable as a future proof archive that can support changes in formats through the years. Top engineers and mastering experts proclaim that DSD offers the closest representation of analog warmth and the presence of the original recording than any other format.

Format Fiesta

Today, audio quality is an important consideration, even for mobile recorders. The KORG MR-2 is simply the highest resolution portable recorder available, covering every need from critical recording of music performances to field recording. Despite its compact and convenient size, the Korg MR-2 supports a wide range of audio formats.

Supported Formats Include:

DSD:
- 1-bit DSD @ 2.8224 MHz (DSDIFF/WSD/DSF supported) to allow SACD quality recordings.
PCM:
- 24-bit @ 192 kHz (the highest resolution available in a hand-held recorder)
- 24-bit @ 176.4/96/88.2 kHz
- 16-bit/24-bit @ 44.1/48 kHz (WAV [BWF] format)
Other:
- Audio formats such as MP3/MP2 can also be recorded and played.

Point and Shoot

The pro-quality stereo electret condenser mic built into the MR-2 can rotate a total of 210o toward the front, top, or rear of the unit in eight 30o steps. This gives you the freedom to point the mic toward the target recording source. The MR-2 also provides two screw mounts for attaching to general-purpose camera tripod, allowing flexible mic'ing and positioning. There's also an external input jack for you to connect your favorite mic.

EQ and Limiter Built-in

Squeezed into the MR-2's handy size are an analog limiter, a low-cut filter, and a bass EQ. To ensure that the benefits of the MR-2's high-quality DSD recording are unimpaired, this high-performance analog circuitry is under accurate digital control, just as in the sophisticated consoles used in professional recording studios. This thoughtful design elevates recordings on the MR-2 to an even higher level of quality.

40 Recording Setups

The MR-2 includes 40 easily-selectable Recording Setups. Each contains its own settings for mic sensitivity, input level, analog limiter, low-cut-filter and bass EQ. These setups offer optimized settings for a range of recording environments such as ensemble performances, solo vocal, or piano performance, as well as settings suitable for field recording or documenting meetings. It's just like having your own personal recording engineer at your side. This allows anyone to easily make pro-quality recordings using the Korg MR-2. The addition of 10 user programmable setups provides ready-to-record settings for specific tasks, and eliminates repetitive steps when recording in a known environment over multiple days.

Chromatic Tuner

A high-performance and highly-reliable KORG chromatic tuner is built in. Calibration is adjustable in 1 Hz steps over a range of 435 Hz to 445 Hz. This is perfect for capturing quick ideas when practicing and during rehearsals.

Easy Operation

The MR-2 features a highly visible 128 x 128 pixel liquid crystal display. The noiseless backlight allows operation even in dim locations. Dedicated buttons and switches allow quick adjustments of input level, Hold on/off, etc.

Store and Manage Data

Data recorded on the MR-2 is stored directly to an SD/SDHC* card. There is no motor - as would be required for a hard drive - so there's no danger of unwanted drive noise being captured and recorded. SD/SDHD media is widely used; the recorded data can be conveniently stored on individual cards. The recorded data consists of two files, the audio file and the project file (containing project and mark information), and these two files are collectively referred to as a "project." On the MR-2, a project is handled as if it were a single audio file, and project operations such as renaming, deleting, and song editing can be performed on the MR-2 itself. Up to 400 projects can be created on the MR-2 in each recording date folder.

*sold separately

USB 2.0

The MR-2 is equipped with a USB 2.0 connector (Mini-B connector) that allows the recorded data to be transferred to your computer at a high rate of speed. This connection also allows the MR-2 to be used as a USB card reader and to charge while connected to your computer.

Power Supply

Two AA nickel-metal hydride batteries (1900 mAh) allow approximately four hours of continuous recording or playback. USB bus power is also supported. (Note: Nickel-metal hydride batteries cannot be recharged using bus power.)

Integrated Software Support

The MR-2 is bundled with Korg's AudioGate audio format conversion software. In addition to converting files from 1-bit DSD to multi-bit PCM (or vice versa) this software is an ideal way to edit the recorded material or to manage your archival masters. By using AudioGate, you can take advantage of "MR style" recording in which you record the material in DSD format, and then convert the file as appropriate for the task at hand. This method assures you will be preserving the highest audio quality at all times. In fact, many experts have judged that audio recorded at these high DSD rates and then converted downward sound better than recordings originally made at these lower rates.

AudioGateV2.0 supports reading and writing of numerous audio formats including DSD, WAV, AIFF, FLAC and MP3. Audio CDs - and even DSD discs - can be read and written. AudioGateV2.0 can use the computational power of your computer to apply painstaking optimization to your data. For example during conversion, you can use the "Normalize" function to automatically export the data at the optimized level, and even choose from two different types of dither processing: "TPDF Dither" which improves the quality of the exported product, or KORG's newly developed "Noise Shaped Dither (KORG AQUA)" which matches the perceptual response of human hearing. This means you'll be able to easily create high-quality audio CDs that are a step above what could be created by common CD writing practices. zZounds is an authorized dealer of Korg products.

Recorder section
Number of tracks:
2 tracks
2 tracks simultaneous playback
2 tracks simultaneous recording

Recording formats:
Compressed audio format
MP2 format (extension .mp2)
48 kHz@128, 192, 256, 320 kbps
MP3 format (extension .mp3)
44.1 kHz@128, 192, 256, 320 kbps

PCM audio format
WAV format (extension .wav), BWF compliant
44.1 kHz @ 16/24-bit, 48 kHz @ 16/24-bit
88.2 kHz @ 24-bit, 96 kHz @ 24-bit
176.4 kHz @ 24-bit, 192 kHz @ 24-bit

1-bit audio format
2.8 MHz @ 1-bit
DSDIFF format (extension .dff), DSF (extension .dsf), WSD (extension .wsd)

Recording Time:
Maximum 6 hours @ 44.1 kHz/16-bit (for 4GB memory card)
Maximum continuous recording 6 hours

Number of projects:
Recognizes a maximum of 400 projects of each date folder

Mark points:
100 points per project *No mark names

USB functionality:
Connect to computer via USB 2.0, usable as FAT32 USB removable drive

Song editing:
Rename, Delete, Protect

Tuner
Temperament:
Equal temperament, chromatic tuner

Range (sine wave):
27.50 Hz - 1,318.5 Hz (A0 - E6)

Reference pitch:
A = 435 - 445 Hz

Memory Card (SD)
Supported cards:
SD and SDHC cards with a capacity of 512MB-32GB
(SDHC card of class 4 or higher recommended)

General
Display:
128 x 128 pixel LCD with backlight

Power supply:
AA/LR6 alkaline battery x 2;
AA nickel-metal hydride battery x 2;
USB bus power

Power consumption:
1.5W

Dimensions:
(W x D x H): 2.52" x 4.72" x 0.9"

Weight:
4.94 oz. (not including a memory card and batteries)

Main specifications
Frequency response:
20 Hz - 20 kHz +/-1.5 dB (MP2/MP3)
10 Hz - 20 kHz +/-1.5 dB @Fs44.1 kHz/48 kHz
10 Hz - 40 kHz +/-1.5 dB @Fs88.2 kHz/96 kHz/176.4 kHz/192 kHz
10 Hz - 100 kHz (1-bit)

S/N:
90 dB (typical) @IHF-A

THD+N:
0.018% (typical) 20 Hz - 20 kHz

A/D conversion:
2.8224 MHz (1-bit), 24-bit (PCM)

D/A conversion:
2.8224 MHz (1-bit), 24-bit (PCM)

Mic
Connector:
3.5 mm stereo mini phone jack (switchable to Plug-in-Power)

Input impedance:
10k ohms

Nominal level:
-39 dBV

Maximum level:
-27 dBV

Line In
Connector:
3.5 mm stereo mini phone jack

Input impedance:
75k ohms

Nominal level:
-10 dBV

Maximum level:
+2 dBV

Phones
Connector:
3.5 mm stereo mini phone jack

Maximum level:
20 mW+20 mW @ 16 ohms

USB
Connector:
Type mini-B

Format:
USB 2.0 compliant, USB mass storage class

Supported operating systems:
Windows 2000, or later; Mac OS X 10.4 or later

Included items
Install CD ("AudioGate" audio file conversion application)

AudioGate (v2.0) System Requirements

Windows
Supported OS:
Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition/Professional Edition Service Pack 3 or later
Microsoft Windows Vista Service Pack 2 or later
Microsoft Windows 7

Supported Computers:
Processor: Intel Pentium III/1GHz or faster
Memory: 256MB or larger (512 or larger recommended)
Hardware: A USB port that meets the operating requirements of Windows;
A writable CD/DVD drive is required in order to create audio CDs or DSD discs.

Mac OS X
Supported OS:
Mac OS X 10.4 or later

Supported Computers:
Processor:Apple G4/800MHz or faster (Intel-based Mac recommended)
Memory: 256MB or larger (512 or larger recommended)
Hardware: A USB port that meets the operating requirements of Mac OS X;
A writable CD/DVD drive is required in order to create audio CDs or DSD discs.

Specifications and features are subject to change without notice.
Installed in this product are the MP3/MP2 encoder "ISC-MP3/MP2 BF542 eKorg" and the MP3/MP2 decoder "ISC-MP3/MP2 BF542 dKorg" developed by Institute of Super Compression Technologies, Inc. (ISCT), Japan.
"DSD" is a registered trademark.
Logos, product names, and company names are their trademarks or registered trademarks.