Sonic Studios™ DSD* Hard Disc Portable Recorder Review

*Direct Stream Digital

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This review is narrowly focused ONLY on deck operational features, ease of use, consistent recording ability/quality, and design fault issues related to stereo-surround field recordists with direct connected external mics/Preamp; issues usually not discussed in commercial magazine reviews.

In other words, how suitable is the KORG MR-1 as an 'all-in-one' 2-channel stereo deck solution for both amateur / professional field recordist? And if connected to a full featured external preamplifier, how well does it handle the LINE input levels?

Introduction:

The MR-1 model is KORG's FIRST digital portable recording deck model to enter the market closely followed by its far bigger brother the MR-1000. The MR-1 remains the most popular for being quite small, stylish, moderate priced, and easy to operate.

MOST Unique to portables is ability to record DSD with 10-100k Hz bandwidth (also DFF, WSD, DSF) digital audio. AND 10-40k Hz 24 bit PCM wave at all standard sample rates from 44.1-to-192k.

MR-1 features include shirt-pocket-size, bolted inside rechargeable lithium battery giving <2.5 hours portable power, 3 sec fast boot-up, ~10 second shutdown. Also good size, easy to read LCD/VU, and the low-noise tactile 'transport' buttons are nicely front-panel positioned. Record/pause/stop deck response is quick.

With latest 'Operating System' firmware upgrade v1.5.1 installed, MR-1 tests out to be an excellent choice for higher resolution (HD) audio recordings with most self powered mics, and good for some electrets using direct connected 3.3 volt 'plug-in-powering' input feature.

Switch to LINE input connecting to more featured, higher performance external MIC preamp with up to +10.5 dBu (= +8.2 dBV = 2.83 Vrms) maximum output.

User MENU process is fast responding, but a bit AWKWARD (ergonomic) at first, and might be improved upon in a version 2. Menu 'on/back' button seems a little hard to find, and SCROLL/SELECT scrollwheel too easily rotated during push-for-select.

This action needing practice with either TWO HANDED operation using index finger pushing 'slippery rotating' wheel inward, and maybe best to use with the case for a far more secure one-hand grip using right thumb for both controls. I preferred using one-handed thumb technique over two-handed index finger technique, but only after some practice.

Unique to any portable I remember is dual channel balanced inputs using 3.5 mm 'stereo' jacks.

Most recordists will need a few different input adapter patch cables (like that shown at right) to access MR-1's deck's two balanced stereo minijacks.

3.5mm minijack mic input has menu controlled on/off 3.2 volt power. Not quite enough voltage for powering DPA 4060 series, and my own Sonic Studios DSM™ mics are under-powered by not enough current from a stock MR-1. The powering feature is still adequate for a wide variety of lapel, and most electret condenser types needing direct 'plug-in-mic' type power.

Yes, it's not pretty, and feels like a throwback to early 50-60's stiff, hard-edged cases from the far east, and this type still used for rough treated industrial test instruments, but you get to appreciate the nice vinyl window giving full VU view, and operation of all transport controls while inside. And case gives best chance of deck surviving being dropped, and getting less wet from rain/being splashed. Still, can't help wishing for softer leather, more flexible vinyl window, and way more accessible Power/Hold slide currently too covered to work without very-hard-pressed applied fingernail.

Case and layout of function buttons are well designed. However, the small size and stylish slippery plastic case is a liability to getting dropped even though MR-1's side panels feature a welcome sculptured 'finger channel' making grip way more secure than otherwise. Still seems wiser using deck with the supplied case.

MR-1 has NO digital audio (SPDIF) input/output. Everything digital is handle by the fast working USB-2 port on this deck. All digital deck input/output is handled when computer connected working exactly as an external hard drive storage device.

What's different from Microtrack and some other USB connected decks is NO USB POWER connection. All MR-1 deck power is from either internal battery or external 5 Volt input jack used by the supplied AC adapter. USB 2.0 patch and 5 volt AC adapter is included.

MR-1 LCD display is good size and adequately backlit much like Microtrack's giving bright daylight viewing ability. Very easy read VU scale, that's 25% wider, and almost 3 times taller than Microtrack VU.

MR-1 lacks dedicated 'overload' or near clip indication, only slightly thicker '0 dB' end-of-scale segment.

No clip warning less an issue with 24 bit depth dynamics recording at conservative levels leaving plenty of headroom.

With MR-1 it seems wise not having chance of ANY momentary signal clips; as easy to miss seeing these. GOOD THING MR-1 now has extended DISPLAY HOLD setting. This gives more VU peak hold time to notice maximum occurring peak level. Not so useful is choice to set max peak hold time forever. Still, better not pushing levels on this deck.

Backlight menu gives 'always on' or choose 'auto turn off' 2 seconds to a minute after working a control.

Backlight power draw is not significant to battery runtime, so use without any known liability.

NOT so visible blinking red LED inside REC button gives standby/recording indication.

When tested while recording, NO blinking last battery bar as manual claims. Stopping the recording with 'low' indication may immediately force deck to 'save file/auto shut down' until external 5V power is restored 'unlocking' power ON activation.

External battery models using non rechargeable alkaline cells seem best for very long deck running times in remote locations. For most users, the many low cost rechargeable lithium power-pack type products are practical for shorter 4-7 hour runtimes closer to home.

GOOD to know power plug is same exact locking 4.0x1.7 mm barrel type as used for D7 and all later model Sony miniDAT portables. So fitting this deck with external regulated 5 volt @ 1+ ampere battery supply for potentially unlimited MR-1 charging/REC time should prove easy. But not all external 5 volt sources prove to work as expected. See table at right.

BUYER CAUTION: Some low cost external power packs sold for powering iPOD and other portable devices may not work reliably for MR-1 powering.

Deck has momentary high +0.85 amp demands on external power especially during startup even with fully charged battery. AND very quick ~0.75 amp surges (HD access) challenging some external regulated 5 volt sources to drop below full 5 volts needed by the deck.

KNOW THE FOLLOWING: MR-1 shuts down the external supply connection trying its OWN internal battery (if charged enough) if supply voltage drops at any time to ~4.65 volts.

But battery gage still shows charging(!) unless external supply voltage is disconnected, OR external supply drops further to 4.1 volts where MR-1 battery gage shows (no charging) normal 3-bar battery gage display.

So now there's chance of knowing external power with poor load regulation often causes MR-1 to not function at startup, and at times of intensive disk access. Hope users have less problems than before selecting and running MR-1 from 'working' external power supply products in the market. See this TS thread for more.

Summary: KORG MR-1 deck is a very good to excellent 'all-in-one' recorder most useful with external (self-powered) mics, or for connecting the LINE input to the analog output of your favorite external mic preamplifier. Mic preamp inside is very good quality with (mostly right channel) very low level to likely be inaudible bands of high frequency noise, so deck's preamplifier seems adequate for not needing external preamplifier for most low noise recording purposes.

However great the deck overall, most users will desire some kind of external battery supply to extend the limited <2.5 hours typical runtime of the internal battery.

PRESETTING THE RECORDING LEVEL WITH MR-1's GAIN SET CONTROLS

MR-1 has independent and 'stereo-linked' channel MIC/LINE gain settings used for REC Level adjustment operated in a separate menu screen.

MR-1's adjustable LINE GAIN IS DECIBELS CALIBRATED to be nearly EXACT terms of:

(the formula) dBu max input + dB MR-1 GAIN = 0dB.

Knowing your MAX signal input in dB allows simple deck preset. Simply dial in MR-1 (-/+)dB set gain that when added to your input (-/+)dB = 0 dB. Now MR-1 REC level will record near maximum VU reading. In other words, to use MR-1's unique calibration to preset the REC gain, you need know your preamp's max dBu output ability, or your mics max signal at SPL (peak loudness).

Obviously, its way more difficult presetting mic inputs verses preset line. For mic preset, needed before (above) math figuring giving 0 dB MR-1 set gain, figure first:

MIC sensitivity x max SPL = MIC max signal output

So mic preset is not so practical for most. MUCH easier is knowing your preamp has ability to output ONLY so much (dBu/dBm), and has peak output indications to show it, then you just run it hot with MR-1 gain set to expect near maximum preamp at its line input.

So look up your preamplifier's maximum (clip indication) specs and dial in (opposite -/+) dB MR-1 gain to equal zero. Then you will never overload MR-1. And only preamplifier adjustments needed for control the recording level. Maybe wise to preset deck gain 2-to-5 dBless for having some error headroom.

So what could be simpler than that? Well, it is simple once you understand how simple it really is! And that understanding took me some time!

FOR EXAMPLE: If knowing your external preamplifier has +3 to +4 dBu maximum output, then setting MR-1's LINE SET GAIN to (opposite sign) -4 dB will keep deck input maximums in sync with preamp's maximum.

With preamp set for maximum output/deck gain set for maximum input, the recordist can expect optimize mic+preamp+deck system performance. Good to remember external preamp's clip/overload indication is now also close to deck's maximum input, so preamp's level indications show same or very near to MR-1's VU meter.

MR-1 INPUT/GAIN CHART: ADJUSTMENT RANGE, MIC/LINE INPUT MAXIMUMS

* NOTES: 0 dBV = 1.00 volt RMS = 2.21 dBu; dBV is used by KORG for MR-1 MAX/Nominal input specifications reference level.

0 dBu = 0.775 volt RMS = 0 dBm = -2.21 dBV (VERY NICE dB conversion page HERE)

 

Just the facts: MR-1 -10 dB gain setting is maximum for this deck.

While MR-1 gain setting has +31.5 to -31.5 dB adjustment range in 0.5 dB steps, the -10 dB MIC/LINE gain is the setting limit that works to keep deck input clipping from occurring.

In other words, if at -10 dB deck gain setting in MIC mode, AND IF you are getting overload VU indications, go to LINE input mode, and increase MR-1 gain.

If already in LINE mode at -10 dB gain, no further MR-1 downward control works, so decrease external signal level, or use a passive pad in-series to attenuate the external preamp's line output signal.

LINE mode input gain reads nearly as indicated (see PRESETTING at left) in the REC gain adjustment screen.

Good to know MR-1 MIC mode STARTS AT +30 dB gain even though gain scale shows mic input gain -/+ 0 dB, it's really +30 dB actual gain (see chart below).

Measured MIC mode input overload occurs with anything greater than -22 dBu signal, and LINE mode maximum is +10.5 dBu.

Maximum control range for both MIC/LINE shows same -10 dB deck gain setting.

TIP: Consider working LINE signal input maximums of -21 dBu to +10.5 dBu is acceptable with corresponding MR-1 gain settings of +22.5 dB to -10 dB respectively.

MIC mode gain adjustment range max's out at -10 dB (+20 dB actual), just where LINE mode highest gain setting begins at +22.5 dB. So it seems MR-1 has continuous -10 dB to +72 REC (actual) gain adjustment range.

Below photo somewhat showing MR-1 input gain (REC level) set screen.

 

TIP: About -4 to -8 dB LINE GAIN seems good setting to run with most external battery powered preamplifiers. Is ~ UNITY deck gain

 

 

Noise spectrums of dual balanced/unbal. minijack MIC/LINE inputs

(Inputs loaded with 1000 ohms 1% metal film resistor + input to ground unbalanced, and across -/+ inputs balanced; 24bit/88.2K PCM wav sampled data)

No signal (1K loaded) input noise plot at +6.5 dB (36.5 actual) MIC input gain, and -3.5 dB LINE set gain.

Right channel seems always to have higher average noise, AND large mid-to-high frequency spikes likely from deck's switching power supply.

While inside audible frequency band, and looking kind of bad, the 1K-to 20K Hz noise PEAKS at -114 dB for LINE, and -102dB MIC input seems too far below audible levels for concern.

If still looking for input issues with MR-1, consider MIC input >20K Hz noise climbs as high as -95 dB balanced, and maybe less concerning -100 dB unbalanced mode.

Noise plots at -38 dBv reference input for -2 dB VU; near full scale.

MIC balanced/unbal. Input set gain of +6.5 (+36.5 dB total deck gain)

LINE input +3.5 set gain + PA-3SX +35 dB set gain (+38.5 total applied gain)

MIC POWER OFF

External PA-3SX preamp shows ~4 dB more noise at very low frequencies, but still very low at <-103 dB.

MR-1's internal mic preamp noise graphs are RED/YELLOW colors. External PA-3SX noise graphs are GREEN single color, but on first plot only are RED=Right, BLUE=Left.

Noise plot comparing PA-25A (prototype) shows lower high frequency noise, no switching noise spikes with external preamp.

However, PA-25A shows more or less greater mid-low band noise.

And right channel is so much more noisy I am thinking from substandard component needing replacement?

Left PA-25A channel is not half bad in low/mid frequency range maybe showing more expected preamp noise performance for this design.

Again using PA-25A balanced output into BOTH MR-1 and MT-1 decks for comparison.

While my tests may be off by 1-2 dB, MR-1 seems to have general lower noise advantage by 3-4 dB over MT-1 comparing only the better LEFT channel results.

 

This recording time chart was gleaned from MR-1000 manual, and is useful for MR-1 DSD 2,8 MHz recording time per 1 Gbyte.

MR-1 has 20 GIG total capacity drive, but much less than this available for recorded files. Check in SYSTEM menu list for capacity remaining to know for sure.

Nature recordists be advised, 'maximum continuous' recording time is said to be 6 hours.