Marantz PMD670 users, please

chi_red

chi_red

Well-known member
Hi,

I would like to ask PMD-670 users if they are happy with the sound quality of it.  
I haven't read anything about the sound quality of it.
How is it compare to other recorders(DAT, MD etc. or compare to DVX).
Is is good enough for a low to mid budget indie film(I know it is a subjective matter, but in your opinion)?
thanks :)
 
Re: Marantz PMD670 users, please

I've been using mine for several weeks now. I normally interview with the DVX, but needed an option for people who aren't comfortable with a video setup and for situations where I need to travel light.

I am extremely happy with mine, in terms of features, sound quality, durability, etc. Now, I offer the caveat that I have 52 year old ears -- to me the sound is comparable to the DVX, certainly not worse, but to a 20 y.o. audiophile? I'm not sure.

I can tell you that a lot rests on the settings you choose. If you want, you can record uncompressed sound that takes a lot of room but gives best quality. (P.S. Ordered mine from Full Compass. They give a discount and are very honest folks to deal with.)
 
Re: Marantz PMD670 users, please

I don't have one, but it appears to be a great unit. I would think that it'd be difficult for marantz to put out a bad product. Good digital gear is becoming common place. I will assume the pre amps are adequate & the limiter is acceptable... this stuff isn't rocket science anymore to produce. I'm sure it will work great for everything a DVX site user will most likely encounter. Is it good for low/mid budget work?...yes! it's digital....... & has great specs.

I picked up one of the new HD mini disc recorders. They record at 44.1 & they're are really cool. I think I'll use it for gathering sounds for my sound library. It's the size of a pack of smokes and records very clean sounds. I've used the older models for all sorts Foley, Sound FX work....yes, it sounded fine!


The real challenge for all of us is miking good clean sounds.

have fun!
 
Re: Marantz PMD670 users, please

thanks Power Dog and 10s, :)

I just bought the PMD670 yesterday and testing it out right now with my trusty AT4073a mic.

but having some minor questions.
What control set up do you usually go by?

with the ANC switch, do you usually keep it on FLAT(no filter) or Band pass or high pass?

Do you record MONO or Stereo? I assume Mono/Mic in most cases, right?

also some questions about Algor/File menu choice.

I went to
[glow=red,2,300]Menu ---> Algor/File --->
set to Mono ---> set to PCM ---> set to 48kHz --->[/glow]then there is a file extension selection, so I picked bwf file then it asks me to pick either extension .wav or .bwf.
It seems like it can record to .bwf and can use both .bwf or .wav extensions.

but if I choose .wav at the file selection, it does not ask me to pick the extension.
this kind of confuses me..... ???

what is the difference between .wav and bwf? Quality difference?
I have only dealt with .wav so I am curious.
 
Re: Marantz PMD670 users, please

I would be interested in knowing this as well. I bought a PMD-670 right after Christmas, but have been too busy with other projects to do much experimentation. I use a Mac if that makes a difference as to which file I should use.
 
Re: Marantz PMD670 users, please

I'll do my best, tho I'm no expert: I chose the setting for dual channel mono, which gives you two recording levels as a safety measure. Since I record interviews, I don't need stereo.
I have it set for MP2, which seems like a good compromise between quality and flash card capacity. Here's the secret about using it, which I discovered after trying for hours to import, convert, etc. my files with QT Pro, shareware, etc. The nice thing is, you don't need to spend any $$:
1. After moving the file to your Mac, change the file name so it ends with ".mp2" (The 670 gives it a different extension...I think it's mpg, but don't remember.) Even the little icon in the file changed when I did that.
2. Double click the file. It should open in iTunes automatically. If not, use iTunes to open it.
3. With the file selected, choose "convert to AIFF" That converted file should import into FMP without problems.

Not sure what's going on with the wav/bwf menu, because I haven't needed to use PCM, but I've read that bwf is really for broadcast use. I think it stores some file data. No quality diff.

There's a tech guy at Marantz who's been very helpful in the past, although I haven't gotten a reply to an email I sent a week or two ago. Maybe he's on vacation, but you can try him - name is Bill Loulousis.
bloulousis@d-mpro.com
 
Re: Marantz PMD670 users, please

I don't have one, but that won't stop me from trying to help.

I'm not sure about your band pass switch. The high pass setting, usually a line that starts low and slopes up, is for cutting out low freq. rumbles. i.e. a hand held, or if your boom man is heavy handed, sometimes it helps with wind. It usually cuts out (really just reduces) anything below 80-100 Hz. Therefore, try to use flat. Especially if you recording music.

A .wav file and a .bwf are just about the same. The .bwf (broadcast wave file) has some header info in it. You may or may not be able to read that header stuff. Depends on your software. Userbits, encoding, time, etc. It's the format the pros use. You SHOULD be able to read the .bwf file with any software that read .wav files. Even if you have to rename the .bwf to .wav. They are both the same format.

HTH, Chris
 
Re: Marantz PMD670 users, please

Thanks CCraig and Powerdog :) :) :)
You made my day.

but, powerdog,
I thought PMD670 reduces -15dB on the right channel when Dual Level Mono is on.
Isn't that a problem that one channel is louder than the other?
Wouldn't it be easier to just create dual channel during post production?

CCraig,

So if there is no quality difference between .wav and .bwf, then do you recommend using .bwf?
Should I keep the .bwf extension or change it to .wav? Does it loose the header if I change the extension to .wav(PMD670 asks you to choose the extension between two when I record in .bwf)

Thanks again,
have a wonderful weekend.
 
Re: Marantz PMD670 users, please

I'm only using one channel, and probably it's the louder one. But in case I have unexpected peaks, I have the second channel as a backup without distortion.
 
Re: Marantz PMD670 users, please

wow,
that is really good idea powerdog,
thank you for the advice. :D
 
Re: Marantz PMD670 users, please

It's really the expected use of the two channel mono setup...but I'm happy to take credit anyway!
 
Re: Marantz PMD670 users, please

Thanks, Powerdog and CCraig for the info. You've been most helpful! And thanks, chi_red, for asking the question. :D

Here's another... I need to record a small town's high school band playing their fight song for a documentary. It will be inside their band room.

Unfortunately, I am limited to a few Sennheiser shotguns (one ME64, one ME66 and two ME65 capsules... but only two K6 power mods between them all) and I have three Senn G2/ME2 systems. I also have a SD302 and the PMD670.

Considering that:

1.) I am the producer/director/videographer/sound guy/editor/DVD author/everything else for this project...

2.) That there is no budget, whatsoever...

3.) That I only have access to the above gear...

4.) This project is a labor of love...

How would you advise I mic the room and what settings would you advise for the PMD670?

Thanks in advance for your replies! :)
 
Re: Marantz PMD670 users, please

Beyond deciding whether your final product (DVD?) needs the tune in stereo and the quality it requires, I wouldn't think there are many variables on the 670.

Since yours is more of a general question about mic selection and placement, you might re-post this question in a new audio forum thread, in hopes of attracting responses from more experienced sound folks.
 
Re: Marantz PMD670 users, please

Giving your qualification I would not bother with the ME66, it will add too much off axis coloration. Stick with the 2 ME65 and throw out the wireless all together.

I am not familiar with your band room but from the ones I have been in I would recommend taking them outside. My experience is the band room at high schools do not have good acoustics.
 
Re: Marantz PMD670 users, please

chi_red,

I'd just do it as a .wav file. If you're sending it to a post house, a .bwf is more common. It's like the user bits on the camera. It lets them know what they are dealing with. I don't think you loose the meta info on a re-name. Just hang with .wav, that what you'll use most.

Terry,

wabbit's got the solution. IF you had a third track to record to, you could use the wireless omni. (funny how fast we run out of tracks). If I had the time to do a test. I'd put the ME65's into the PMD670, (X-Y), then I'd run omni (placed center) to one channel on the camera. Really check it in post. You'll probably throw it out (phasing/timing probs). (note: I don't do much stereo, can you tell)

HTH, Chris

Oh yeah, ditto on moving them outside.
 
Re: Marantz PMD670 users, please

Thanks for the advice everyone. I'll run some tests with the ME65s and the PMD670 before the actual shoot.
 
Re: Marantz PMD670 users, please

Terry and all,

I've had my PMD-670 for about a month now and it has been great. I've used it on 4 projects already, and each one has been terrific. I bought 2 1GB CF's from Fry's ($49 each with rebate) and I have never even needed the second one. I record at 48 and just go for the maximum.

I've hooked it up to my mixers and run mics directly into it (an exterior shot, in the rain, with two wireless mics) and all sounded great. Battery life has been fairly good (5-6 hours fairly continuous recording).

One quirk I found is that if you hit pause between takes, just pressing record once to restart for the next take does not create a new file, just appends to the previous one. If you hit record twice, a new file is created (this gives you a file per take, which is really helpful in editing.). The double record deal may be a setting issue, I haven't figured it out enough yet. But it works, so it's not too much of a problem.

The other "accessories" I got to go with it is my notebook computer and an MP3 player that accepts and copies CF cards to the internal hd. My notebook lets me back up and burn a CD immediately to hand to the director/editor and the MP3 player gives me another backup.
 
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