Fostex FR-2 Digital Recorder, only $1299.00
*note: we currently have some FR-2 factory B-stock units available, for only
$995 each. Factory B-stock means that either the units had very minor cosmetic
blemishes, or were used for demo or display by Fostex. These are NOT customer
returns; and are considered NEW as afar as warranty is concerned. Hurry, supply
is limited!
Now Available: the new Fostex FR-2/TC Digital 2-track
(with timecode) portable field recorder for under $1900!
Now available... the new Fostex FR-2 non-timecode**
version is on sale at Equipment Emporium for
only $1299.00. Optional AC adapter (not included with FR2) is just
$59.95 (or just $49.95 if you purchased your FR2 from us)
**The non-timecode version can be upgraded with the
timecode module (now available) for $599. The price includes factory
installation of the module. Shipping charges not included.
Accessories:
PortaBrace protective shoulder case, only $225. ($200 if
you bought your FR2 from us)
USB full keyboard, $25.
USB A-B cable, $9.95
Omnicron 12vDC 7amp battery pack with CIG socket & overnite charger, $69.95
12vDC cig adapter cable. $29.95 (or $19.95 if you
purchased your FR2 from us)
8-bay AA charger, $29.95
rechargeable AA (10 pak), $16
Toshiba MK5002MPL or Kingston 5 gig PCMCIA mini hard-drive (find them
on the internet for around $150-ish)
SanDisk Ultra II high speed compact flash card: 1, 2, 4, or 8 gig sizes
available. See Expendables section for current pricing.
Finally, a fully professional digital recorder (with
complete SMPTE timecode) that we can actually afford to own! Ideal for
universities, colleges, independent filmmakers, videographers, and all manner of
sound folk.
Main Features:
•Records to PCMCIA 1.8" HD or Type II Compact Flash card
•Stereo/mono selectable
•Up to 24 bit/192 kHz
•8 AA batteries will last around 2 hours
•File transfers via PCMCIA cards or USB
•Quick file naming
•Optional timecode
Initial Specs:
•8 x AA batteries or 12v DC power
•5w power consumption
•10"(w) x 4"(h) x 8.5"(d)
•About 2 Kg w/o batteries
•100 dB dynamic range
•2 analog audio inputs via 3 pin XLR connections
•+48v phantom power
•RCA analog outputs
•1 watt speaker output
•Digital XLR input
•Optional timecode cards
Our review:
The FR2 is fun and easy! It
WILL be the machine to own, and WILL replace the Nagra as the common standard of
the industry! Sure, the major studios will use the expensive PD6 and DEVA
recorders, but the FR2 will be what all of the rest of us are going to have.
It can record two tracks
(stereo) or single track (mono), in sampling rates from 22k up to 192k, with 16
or 24 bit quantization. Chances are, you will never need anything above 48k
sampling rate (with a freq response of up to 22k), but the FR2 can do it all.
Every time that you hit the
record button, you create (record) a FILE. Within each file (I prefer to use the
term TAKE), you can place cue points (markers) so that you can easily cue up to
that part of the take. After the fact, you can even go into the menu and edit
the cue points that you created. Cues can be deleted, named, and even slid back
or forth (like when you hit the cue button a moment AFTER talent says something
notable during an interview).
FILES (takes) are
automatically named every time you begin recording. The names can be a time
stamp or a SCENE/TAKE. When you select to use the SCENE/TAKE mode, the FR2
allows you to select a name from the menu. The default is "SCENE 01, TAKE 01"
from a menu including up to SCENE 99. The system will stamp TAKE 01 on the first
take, and then automatically increment the take numbers every time you hit
record. The scene number does not update by itself; you have to manually select
a new scene name.
You can plug in a USB
keyboard, and easily create (rename) the scenes. (If you love text messaging on
your cel phone, you can also 'search & tap' letters and numerals via the
menu buttons.)
In production, we tend to use
scene names like SCENE 101A, and SCENE 101B, etc. It is simple to customize the
scene names to whatever you like. You can also change the take numbers if you
need to. SCENE and TAKE labels can be edited anytime after the recording, so you
are free to go into the data and correct your "paperwork" whenever you need to.
Powering is from the optional
AC adapter (have no idea why Fostex did not include one in the box with the FR2,
but take that up with them); or from a custom configured 12vDV external cable (Fostex
may be offering these in the very near future, but we have already
started making our own); or from 8 internal AA batteries. Disposable AA
batteries work fine, though the price adds up after a while. 8 AA for approx 1
1/2 to 2 hours. Rechargeable AA batteries are better, and there is a menu
setting to tell the FR2 what kind of AA's you are using so it can monitor the
power. We sell an 8-bay AA charger, so it is easy to cook up a batch of
batteries.
The FR2 makes file transfers
(WAV format) to your PC or MAC a breeze. Just connect a USB A-B type cable
between the recorder and your computer; select USB mode on the menu; and your
computer will recognize the FR2 as an external drive. Just drag and drop.
Nothing complicated about it!
With a Kingston 5 gig PCMCIA
mini hard-drive card, the display indicates that we could record over 14 hours
of 48k/16bit/stereo audio.
The newly released timecode module features
convenient RCA jacks for timecode in/out. Menu supported settings include all of
the popular rates. Also supported are pull-up and pull-down capability.
| 
We are authorities in production sound recording
for video and filmmaking. We also have lots of accessories for videography; and
are dealers for Casablanca, AVIO, and Renommee
non-linear video editors; as well as turnkey AVID & AVID Liquid (aka
Pinnacle) editing solutions.
If you would like a copy of our
2005/2006 "cowboy cover" catalog (free, of course), please phone or
e-mail us. We are working on a new 2007 catalog, coming later this year.
