Marantz PMD620 Portable SD card recorder with FREE 2GB SD Card
The Marantz PMD620 is a hand-held digital recorder that records to SD flash-card media in either PCM (.WAV) or MP3 audio formats, in stereo or mono, using an integral microphone, external electret or dynamic microphones, or the line input socket. Lightweight, compact, and easy to operate it will be of interest to a wide range of users, including journalists, reporters, programme makers, and even sound recordists.
It has a integral stereo electret microphone for simple recording, and an 'intuitive control surface' for single-handed operation, including a thumb-operated transport wheel and, red, illuminating, record button. Journalists will appreciate the non-destructive onboard editing, with non-destructive cut-and-paste 'Copy Segment' editing to create new sound files. Transcription is simple with the 'Skip Back' function, and file transfers to a computer are drag-and-drop via the USB 2.0 connectivity.
A high contrast, low power draw organic LED (OLED) screen displays which guide the user through set-up and operation for their application. Recording settings are selectable between those for high quality music recording through to extended voice recording. SD cards and SDHC flash cards are supported, with recording file size limited only by card capacity. Recording time with a 4 GB card extends from 3 hrs 44 mins for stereo PCM at 24-bit / 48 kHz, to 283 hrs 44 mins - almost 12 days - for mono MP3 at 32 kbps.
The front surface has two microphone grilles, level and overload LEDs and an low-power organic LED screen to display menus. Large stop/cancel, record pause, record buttons are conveniently in line; the multi-function thumb-wheel adjusts volume, menu navigation, file navigation, play and pause. A 'Display' button is used to alter the screen contents, and select inputs and other parameters; the 'Skip back button is used in play or play pause modes. On the left hand side there are lin in, line out and remote (for the RC600P, not included) jack sockets, and a co-axial input for the external DC supply. If the recorder is operating under battery power, when the external power is supplied the recoder will immediateley begin using external power, useful if the batteries are going flat in the middle of an interview ! Removing the external power will cause an immediate switch to the internal batteries, again useful, when a fellow journalist trips over the power cord (Never!..Ed).
On the opposing side there are a sliding power switch, which has no effect if the recorder is in record or record-pause modes and a key-lock slide switch to lock all functions. Both these may be found extremely useful when leaving the microphone un-attended at, say a press conference, on the podium. Two further buttons are placed to adjust record level up and down with the user's thumb.
On the top, there are extensions of the microphone grilles, which curve over from the front surface, and sockest for stereo headphones and stereo microphone. The bottom has a covered USB socket and a covered slot for the SD card. The rear has a small grille for the mono integral loudspeaker, and a battery compartment taking two standard AA size cells. Alkaline or Ni-MH types may be used. About four hours recording may be expected from 1450mAh alkaline cells: if the batteries run out during recording, the recording stops automatically, the file information is updated, and the recorder shuts down, which is why the type in use should be set in the menu before recording!
Either stereo or external mono microphones may be used. An attenuator offers 12 and 24dB of level reduction, and a microphone power setting provides 5V DC power for use with professional microphones, which is reccommended by Marantz. The bass-cut function will be useful on location.
Technical Specification
| Usable media |
SD and SDHC memory cards |
| Recording formats |
Mp3 at 192, 128, 64 kbits/s stereo, 96, 64, 32 kbits/s mono and 16 or 24-bit linear PCM .WAV files |
| Sample rate |
44.1 or 48 kHz |
| Microphone input |
12mV RMS, 30kohms |
| Line input |
500mV RMS, 20kohms |
| Microphone power |
5V, 1mA |
| Response |
20Hz to 16kHz, +/- 0.5 dB |
| Noise |
-65dB microphone, -80dB line, IEC-A weighted |
| Distortion |
0.1% THD microphone, 0.015% THD line, 0VU |
| Dynamic range |
90dB |
| Outputs |
1.0V , 10kohms line, 16mW, 16 ohms headphone |
| Power source |
5V DC, 4W, external input |
| Dimensions |
102 x 62 x 25 (w x h x d)mm |
| Weight |
0.11kg |
Included accessories
User guide, wrist strap, tripod adapter cradle, audio cable. miniature jack to two RCA(phono), USB cable, AC power adapter (takes C7 lead, included), 2GB SD card.
Optional accessories
RC600P remote control. This attaches directly to a microphone using a rubber strap and provides record, pause, mark (track) buttons, three-colour LED for record status and peak level. It may be used with several Marantz portables. Lead length: 1.5m approximately. Microphone cables and break-out cables to connect the line in and out sockets to professional equipment are to be found in cable assemblies.