Edirol on Thursday announced its latest digital audio product: the R-4, a four-channel portable digital recorder and .WAV file editor with a 40GB hard drive and USB 2.0 connectivity. It can hold up to 17 hours of recordings at maximum quality — 24-bit/96kHz — and up to 58 hours at 16-bit/44.1kHz CD quality. The R-4 features a built-in limiter and five processors — a three-band parametric equalizer, a six-band graphic equalizer, a noise gate, an enhancer and a compressor/desser — as well as four XLR/TRS combo microphone jacks, RCA analog output, S/PDIF coaxial input and output and built-in stereo microphone and speakers. It can also operate as a mass storage device for transferring any types of files between computers, and it has a CompactFlash slot for using that media to move data.
.WAV file editing takes place on an LCD display that allows you to trim, append, split and merge audio clips as well as drop markers for shuttling between important spots and loop any section of audio with A-B repeat. Its recording buffer constantly captures the last few seconds of audio entering the mic, enabling you to still grab what you need after pressing the record button. Power comes from the included AC adapter or eight AA batteries.
The company said it will start shipping the R-4 next February but no pricing was given. In the meantime, Edirol will have the R-4 on display during the AES trade show happening Oct. 28 to 31 in San Francisco’s Moscone Center.