Marantz PMD-650

Professional Portable MiniDisc Recorder

Key features Frequency Response: 20-20kHz Signal to Noise Ratio: >90dB XLR mic/line inputs, Digital XLR output 48V Phantom power SP and LP mode (74 minutes Stereo or 148 Mono) One touch recording Level Sync Recording (LSR) Dual Level Mono recording (Left =0dB, Right=-15dB) MiniDisc editing system: Divide, Combine, Move and Erase Pre-Rec memory cache 20 seconds (40sec mono) audio buffer for shock resistance Preset function for customizing settings Time & Date stamp Pre-UTOC writing at recording start to secure recordings 3-way power supply: 8xAA Batteries, Ni-Cad battery or AC adaptor Dimensions: 2.2" x 10.4" x 7.3" Weight: 2.8 lbs

Description:

The Marantz Professional PMD650 has been designed from the ground up as a fully professional portable MiniDisc recorder. Following a long heritage of highly regarded, professional portable recorders, that includes the PMD430 cassette deck which we have offered in a modified crystal sync version for many years, the PMD650 retains many of the original design concepts which have established Marantz Professional as a world leader in the field of professional portable recording technology. This fine heritage combines with the latest generation in electronics and transport design to produce a portable MiniDisc recorder with unparalleled recording and editing facilities. The Marantz PMD650 is a reasonable priced, professional-quality recording system that is perfectly suited for the independent filmmaker on the move. Marantz has clearly established a new benchmark of features and functions for the digital age.

The use of MiniDisc recorders for sync sound follows a natural progression. We have lived through the analog reel-to-reel and audio cassette period, the advent of DAT (digital audio tape), with its ups and downs and now, finally, we have professional MiniDisc. This digital disc format represents a welcome breakthrough both in terms of it's remarkable audio quality and implied longevity as a recording format. Since, by their very design, MiniDisc recorders are inherently speed-stable, they can work reliably as a double-system audio recorder for professional lip sync sound filmmaking. The motion picture camera must, however, be equipped with its own crystal control system or be modified to include one.

The PMD650, while not the least expensive MiniDisc recorder on the market, does provide all of the features a professional filmmaker or sound recordist should demand from a sync recorder together with a liberal 1 years parts and 90 days labor warranty.

The PMD650 comes completely equipped with a full compliment of professional inputs and outputs, including:

• Stereo XLR Mic/Line inputs with 48v Phantom Power
• Ultra-quiet mic pre-amps with variable attenuator: 0dB, -15dB, -30dB
• Stereo RCA analog line outputs
• RCA digital input (SPDIF) with sample rate converter
• XLR digital output (SPDIF)
• Headphone jack with level control

The recording modes can be tailored to the specific assignment:

• One touch recording with separate record-pause button
• Record level settings: manual, manual w/limiter and automatic
• Recording Modes: mono, dual mono, stereo and combined stereo (L&R on 1 track)
• Two position ambient noise cancel (ANC) filter: high pass, band pass
• Controls of SCMS: on or off
• Time/Date stamp

To protect the integrity your recordings, the following features have been included:

• Pre-UOTC writing at track start to secure recordings in case of power loss
• Pre-Record audio cache (up to 2 sec.) to protect against missed starts
• 40 second (20 sec. per track) audio bugger for shock resistance
• Low battery alarm

The PMD650 is fully outfitted with the latest MiniDisc standards:

• Complete onboard editing system
• Full text display and editing
• Supports recording and playback in single-track mono (148 mins) and 2-track stereo (74 mins)

Resolving MiniDisc:

Resolving from MiniDisc depends on the destination medium to which you are transferring. If you are recording to 16 or 35mm fullcoat magnetic film and if you are using a late-model mag recorder with DC servo drive, then no speed correction would be required of the MidiDisc. You would simply dub your takes straight to fullcoat. If the magnetic recorder is an older AC synchronous type you would not be able to do the transfers accurately. The PMD650 will not, from the factory, accept an external sync reference from the AC line. If you are transferring to video tape using a Rank-type scanner system that is locked to 59.94hz. you must resolve the MiniDisc at some point, depending on how you will complete your post-production.

If you will edit directly from the video tape you will need to resolve the MiniDisc before it is dubbed to video. You should have a sound lab do the transfers for you using a studio MiniDisc deck with programmable pitch control. If you are editing non-linear you can do the resolving later, after the material is dubbed to hard disk, using a data-rate conversion utility*. Telecine transfers using a projector locked to crystal at 24fps. do not have to be speed-corrected. You can dub straight to video tape or to the hard disk with no additional attention needed.

For a more complete description of sync sound and resolving, please see our FAQ section.

NOTE: At the present time we are not dealers for this unit.

We are supplying this technical data for information, only.

* For PC users, a program like Goldwave (www.goldwave.com) can be used to convert the speed of the wave file downwards by 1/10 of 1 percent (-.1%). Go to >Effects >Time Warp >Speed and input the factor of ".999". The wave file will be downconverted in speed by -.1% and will be in sync with your telecine transfers done at 23.976. You will need to do this to each of your audio files.