Review by Stacy Zemon
At the recent DJ Expo in Atlantic City, Alan Cabasso, President of GCI Technologies, handed me the new iKEY HDR7 Portable Digital Recorder and asked me to check it out. I did and I liked it a lot. Here’s why.
This professional-quality stereo recording device in a compact package features a full color LCD screen and two stereo condenser omni-directional microphones. It has an SD card slot that allows for recording onto SD or SDHC cards while allowing direct transfer of your recorded audio easily via USB 2.0 to your computer or recording software.
The HDR7 offers you the choice to record as an MP3 or AAC from 64kbps to 320kbps as well as a WAV or AIFF up to 96khz/24-bit.WAV and MP3 recording up to 24-bit/ 96kHz, on-board X/Y mics, SD/HC card slot up to 32GB, Compressor/Limiter and Input/Output jacks.
The unit comes with an AC adaptor, USB cable, tripod stand, windscreen, cloth carrying case, 4 AA batteries and a 1GB SD memory card, so you can record right away! The street price of about $170 won’t break the bank either.
The iKEY HDR7 Impressive List of Features
- Record WAV files up to 24-bit/ 96 kHz, or MP3s at three different rates up to 320 kbps
- 1/8″ line input with 3-level INPUT GAIN switch (-20, 0, or +1- dB)
- 1/4″ Headphone/Line Out
- Jog Wheel control for File Search and Record Level
- Easy-to-navigate FULL COLOR LCD screen with Digital VU Meter
- Built in X-Y microphones
- Records direct to an SD (4GB max, 1GB card included) or SDHC card (32GB max)
- Records direct to USB key drive (not included)
- Input gain switch with 3 levels:- 20, 0, and +10 db
- Mic Sensitivity switch for on-board mics (High/Low)
- Dynamic tools for recording: Compressor, Limiter, and Auto Gain Control
- Phantom Power for 3V external mics
- Auto-Track, Auto-Record, Mark and File Timer functions
- NOISE GATE function
- File download to PC via included USB cable
- Date and Time settings to document files
- Weight: 0.55 lbs
- Size: 6.2″ h x 2.9″ w x 1.5″ d
You can take the iKey HDR7 anywhere and use it to audio capture anything. I recommend using it to record your DJs at events for continuous improvement as well as doing away with laborous note-taking during meetings and seminars by recording them instead.
For more information, visit the ikey website
