Marantz 661 If they keep making them, we'll keep testing them. Jeff Towne has been working with the new Marantz 661 Digital Audio Recorder, an update of the 660 (also reviewed on Transom). For radio production use, this machine has nice features like XLR inputs, AA batteries, and a 1/4-inch headphone jack. Jeff says the pre-amps are much better than in the earlier unit and that the 661 now uses SD cards. While it's bigger than a lot of the tiny new digital recorders, this one looks to be a good workhorse in the field. Check it.

Recording Phone Calls At last! For years, people have been asking Transom for advice on recording over the phone. Slowly, we've been acquiring phone interfaces and software tools for Jeff Towne to review and incorporate in his primer, and it is finally done. Jeff covers high and low tech options--analog phone couplers and hybrids, digital hybrids, cell phone taps, computer-based telephony like Skype, taping little mics to telephones, and instructions on configuring "mix minus". Various hardware and software options are reviewed, with audio samples. There are links to other resources. This is a really good rundown. You can stop asking now. Drop by to tell us about your own tips and ask questions.

Pro Tools Shortcuts If you work in audio production, you end up having some kind of relationship to Digidesign's ubiquitous software, ProTools. Generally, the relationship is dysfunctional. We at Transom are no exception and we asked our TOOLS Editor to come up with a set of ProTools tips specifically for the public radio producer.

So, now we bring you the result of years of conversation and complaint about this powerful, troublesome software in a single guide, Jeff Towne's "ProTools Shortcuts," which comes with its own handy print-out to keep by your bedside. You know you need it.

HHb FlashMic DRM85 Continuing in Transom's tradition of reviewing the new digital field gear for radio reporting, our Tools Editor Jeff Towne has just finished testing the HHb FlashMics, in both cardioid and omni versions. He posits, "What if you could have a good interview mic, and not worry about cables, or phantom power, or whether the mic is compatible with your recorder? What if you could hold it and operate it with one hand? Well, you can." This is a unique field recorder, albeit expensive and with a few other downsides--but, depending on your requirements, certainly a tool you should check out.

Olympus LS-10 TOOLS Editor Jeff Towne has been living and working with another of the new little digital recorders and just added his review to our roster. Like all Jeff's reviews, it approaches the machine from the radio producer's perspective, complete with lots of photos, sound tests, and a comparision chart. The Olympus LS-10, depending on your needs, is pretty close to the mark... and it's cute, especially when it's wearing its little earmuff windscreens.

Sony PCM-D50 Transom is committed to testing new tools for public radio producers. To that end, our TOOLS editor Jeff Towne has reviewed a lot of the new small digital recorders. They're getting better. In fact, of the Sony PCM-D50, Jeff says, "Among all the small handheld flash recorders, the Sony D50 certainly is near the front of the pack. It does most things right, with only a few minor problems, and no tragic flaws." So, it's not quite perfect, but if you're in the market, you should check out this review.

Marantz PMD 620 For the Season of Gifts, we have a Jeff Towne review of another tiny new digital audio recorder, this time the Marantz PMD620. The 620 is getting pretty close to the mark, but still has a few weird quirks that may drive you crazy, or maybe you can work around them. Check out all Jeff’s thorough, radio producer-specific reviews at Transom—lots of pictures, details from field use, comparison charts, and audio samples with various microphones.

Zoom H2 Adding to his reviews of new digital audio recorders, our Tools Editor Jeff Towne now presents a comprehensive test of the Zoom H2, focusing on field recording for radio. As ever, it aint perfect, but it has some unusual capabilities, along with the customary weaknesses common among these little machines. Jeff says, The Zoom H2 is a very convenient small recorder, and can give remarkably good sound when using its internal microphones. Its especially good at picking up musical performances or collecting stereo ambiences of events that are at least moderately loud. Come by Transom to see the full review and listen to sample recordings.

Tascam HD-P2 Jeff Towne continues his evaluations of new digital recorders for radio work, this time putting the Tascam HDP2 through its paces. "The trend in flash-memory-based field recorders has been toward smaller, lighter, and simpler, but count Tascam as one of the few swimming against the current. The HD-P2 is an unabashedly old-school recorder: bulky and a little pricey, with broad flexibility and few concessions made to the consumer market. But with the bulk, and the $999 price tage, one gets XLR mic inputs, full phantom power, excellent mic preamps, flexible signal routing and headphone monitoring, a built-in speaker, and an informative, readable display." Come read another of Jeff's thorough reviews of the tools we use, and check out the comparison chart of all the recorders we've reviewed so far.