Fostex FR2-LE

[StevePreddy]

It's now available at last, I understand - has anyone here tried it out yet?

[Ceejay2000]

Hi Steve,

Quick reply, mine has (literally) just arrived. Still looking at instructions.

More info at Yahoo group "Nature Recordists".

Regards Charles

[griffin]

It's now available at last, I understand - has anyone here tried it out yet?


Yep. It is the bollox - and I own it's big brother the FR2 ! There are some bugs and design quirks but nothing that should put you off or that can't be fixed with a firmware update.

Linz

[Xenopsaris]

Does anyone have any more experience of this recorder please? Cheers, DT

[StevePreddy]

Thanks for the help above. Any suggestions for a suitable microphone to use with this recorder would also be appreciated.

Thanks

[ermine]

Any suggestions for a suitable microphone to use with this recorder would also be appreciated.


What do you want to record, and at what typical distances?

a medium shotgun mic like the Me66 + K6 would give you good (mono) recordings of single species at about 20-30m (varying with background noise and species loudness of course). After that you are into parabolic dish territory. If you are after soundscapes, you would use something different. To the cost of the mic you msut add the cost of some sort of wind protection.

take a look at http://www.wildlife-sound.org/equipment/newcomersguide/index.html for more

[horukuru]

means this is suitable for bird recording ?

[ermine]

means this is suitable for bird recording ?

The FR2-LE is a fine machine about which I've only heard good things from users, and it's preamp noise is fine, unlike some other CF recorders. However, if you are starting out as a rule of thumb your microphone(s) should take about 50% of your budget if not more. If $ is strapped you'll get better recordings with a ME66/K6P/HiMD than MKE300/FR2LE, though a ME66/K6/FR2LE will be easier to use and transfer recordings from. This all assumes you want to make species recordings in mono rather than stereo soundscapes.

[Sounds-a-tweet]

One thing to watch on this machine is the card formatting system.
You have to make the decision whether you wish to record at 44.1, 48, 16 or 24 bit, mono or stereo.
You can't mix modes on the same card. (Eg 48/24 birds and mono mp3 bats !)

Good recording time if you use a 7.2V race car battery in the compartment, in place of the 4AA battery holder.

Andy

[alsirhan]

Hi

If I buy Fostex FR2-LE and SENNHEISER ME67 microphone which phantom power do I need K6 or K6P? Can't the Fostex FR2-LE provide power to the microphone?

In the specification of Fostex FR2-LE it says: 2 x professional phantom powered XLR mic inputs with precise recording level adjustment control

Any difference between K6 and K6P?

Regards,

Alsirhan

[Andrew Whitehouse]

Hopefully this link (http://www.sennheiser.com/india/icm_eng.nsf/root/03280) will answer your questions about the K6 and K6P. I have the K6 with the FR2-LE and it works fine. The K6P should also work fine so long as you have the phantom power switched on. I guess which one is best for you will depend on whether you sometimes want to use microphones with recorders that can't provide phantom power.

[alsirhan]

Hi Andrew,

Thanks for the link and the information.
So K6 is the better choice, I think the Sennheiser ME67 ships bare and needs a windscreen, what do you recommend? Doesn't it need a handle or grip?
I realy need the information to order my equipment as soon as possible. Thanks in advance

Alsirhan

[Andrew Whitehouse]

I'm using an ME66 with Rycote windshield and pistol grip. This makes for an easy to use and carry system and makes good recordings with the Fostex. I think a windshield of some sort is pretty essential for bird recording (they're remarkably expensive for what they are though!) and the pistol grip makes the microphone a lot easier to use. I've not tried using it without a pistol grip but I'd imagined there'd be a lot more handling noise. I'd recommend a look at the recording equipment on the Wildsounds site (http://www.wildsounds.com/). They deliver worldwide.

[alsirhan]

Thanks for the Wildsounds site I think have ordered from them before, they ship very fast, but I can get cheaper prices else where.
One more question! Do I get the cable that connects the microphone to the recorder or I have to buy it separately?
I am about to finalize my order from amazon.com a Fostex FR2-LE and Sennheiser ME67/K6, but unfortunately they don't have the Rycote windshield nor the pistol grip, I'll have to buy them else where.

[griffin]

I use a Reinhardt Whisper system and Pistol Grip PG2 on my ME67 :

http://www.reinhardt-film.com/whisper.php

Their new foam Zep might be wirth considering also ?

Their stuff is expensive but very well made and effective and should give many years of use - the Whisper is really effective on the ME67.

Lindsay

[alsirhan]

Thanks Lindsay, I think I'll buy the Reinhardt Whisper W22-300-HW, I have just ordered my Fostex FR2-LE and Sennheiser ME67/K6.
Anything else worth considering? Is the microphone cable included?

Alsirhan

[griffin]

Thanks Lindsay, I think I'll buy the Reinhardt Whisper W22-300-HW, I have just ordered my Fostex FR2-LE and Sennheiser ME67/K6.
Anything else worth considering? Is the microphone cable included?

Alsirhan

Hi Alsirhan,

The 67 does not come with a lead ( certainly mine didn't ) so you will need a male to female Balanced XLR cable - 1m may be enough if you are hand holding the mic - there is nothing worse than leads that are too long if they don't need to be !

IMO a good set of 'phones is essential for monitoring - I was recommended the Beyer Dynamic DT990 Pro by Magnus Robb via Klas Strandberg (of Telinga mics). Not only do these sound really good ( eg. 'true') they have taken quite a bit of abuse over the last two years and are still working fine, if now somewhat 'grubby' in appearance ( they look 'cool' ! ).

Lindsay

[griffin]

Oh, nearly forgot...... I use the racing car batteries for the FR2LE:

http://goblin.xssl.net/rabsport.com/store/product_info.php?cPath=41_326&products_id=1182&osCsid=96736a1e0ad9a360662838e02a2d9f3d

(it is now a 4300 BTW)



And this charger works good ( @6 hours to charge):

http://www.tantronics.co.uk/acatalog/Ansmann_ACS_410T_UK.html


The charger I was supplied by the company I bought the FRLE took 18 hours to fully charge the battery so be warned !

Batteries last ( after several full charge/discharge cycles) around 6-7 hours.

Lindsay

[alsirhan]

Hi Lindsay,

Thanks a lot, I have been away from the internet for a while, I followed your sound advice and bought the wispher W22-300-HW, I am thinking now about the phones.
Many thanks again you are saving me time.

Alsirhan