You
have probably seen from the specs the unit comes with an AC power adapter,
a 64 MB flash card (useless), and a USB cable that links the unit to your
computer for file transfer. At the time I put my order into Marantz
for several units I also did a search and found a 2.2 gig microdrive for
about $209. I put the microdrive in the 670 and proceeded to work
through the set-up menu. Lots of different recording configs available.
I set it up to record 16/44.1 stereo using the digital input as I have
my V3 sitting in front of the 670. With clearly written manual in
hand, the set-up process is very straight forward and intuitive.
Should not take longer than 30 minutes the frist time you get aquainted
with the set-up menu.
More about set-up...if you are running
an a/d converter in front of the unit and will be sending the signal via
the Digital In, note there is an extra step in the set-up to apply file
type to the Digital In input.
Power
- several options are available here. It comes with a battery sled
that holds eight AA's of any kind. You have to program into the unit
the type of batteries you are using. - Ni Cad , NmHD, Alkaline. Marantz
offers both Ni Cad And NmHD batteries at like $100 a pop. If you
want them, you'll have to call that in to us until I get them added to
the site. MicSupply has worked up an external 12V power supply for the
670 - cost $150. Includes: 12V 7 AH SLA battery, power cable and
Intellitender charger. For now, you will have to call that order in.
For
the first night of use I loaded the unit with the eight NmHD's. The
manual says we can expect 7 hours of run time. I ran it with the
backlight display on for three hours an never encountered a low battery
signal. I think the microdrive also draws more than the compact flash.
The backlit display is excellent and easy to read from different angles.
Left and right channel levels are prominent but the metering is not as
fast as they could be. I found I was looking at the levels on the
V3 most of the time. Elapsed time presentation is big and the battery
meter helpful.
Size
- about the same as a DA-P1, but lighter. Plastic chassis again from
Marantz. Don't drop the unit on a hard surface and transport it in
a protective case. Although, without any moving parts (except in
microdrive) it should last a long time.
Recording
in the field - as straight forward as a cassette deck. Hit record
and away you go. That easy. The headphone jack provides adequate
levels for monitoring.
Sonic
results - SUPERB!
File
transfer - this is the bottom line on why you would buy this unit.
You have the option of connecting the 670 directly to your computer via
the supplied USB. I opted for a Card Reader ($25). I popped
the microdrive out of the deck and slid it into the card reader.
Went to Windows Explorer and drag and dropped the files onto my hard drive.
From
this point on it's business as usual in terms of tracking, fades, etc.
Final
summation, the PMD670 is now my deck de jur. The 2.2 gig card is
good for about 3 hours 22 minutes at 16/44 or 16/48.
I do
know I saved my first $5.00 last night by not using DAT tapes. Let's
see...only forty-two more shows until I saving money by not buying blank
DATs. Beyond the cost saving of DAT tapes, I also saved a whole lot
of time in the transfer. I used to master to CD-R in real time, then
rip the discs to my hard drive. With the 670, I popped the microdrive
in the reader and the two-hour show transferred to my hard drive in about
thirty minutes. That is the
single best feature of this deck. No more real time mastering.