Roland's hot new R-26!

There is a new portable recorder to be on the lookout for. It's the new Roland R-26. What makes it different? 6 channels of recording, high quality pre-amps - zippy touchscreen - along with four high quality built-in mics all at an unheard of price of under $500. 

Clean gain

We were given a demo unit to test. The first one in the country. DVeStore is blessed to be known as a company that provides beta feedback to manufacturers. From the moment we turned the unit on, we knew it was special and the recorded results proved to be impressive - just to put simply - absolutely stunning! Not since the Sony PCM-D50 have we found a recorder's built-in mics to sound this good. Well, it is a combo of choice mics along with the electronics boosting the gain that brings together this superb sound. We've actually had a few customers come in that own the Zoom H4n. After seeing, hearing and experiencing the R26 and it's intuitive touchscreen - they all have said the same thing - that they are selling their H4n. Yes, 3 out of 3. As for the PCM-D50 - that was a $500 recorder with no XLR inputs - to get those would cost hundreds more with an optional XLR accessory. This truly is a ground breaking device - and you actually get 4 mics on board - omni and XY stereo pairs. You'll really have to hear the two and mix the two to understand how cool this is.

Not just for musicians!

The Zoom H4n has been a great device. Especially among indie filmmakers and DSLR owners. However, with popular mics like the RODE NTG-2, many users found the output to be very low. Sure you could bring it up in post, but along with it a bunch of hiss. You really needed a mixer in front to cleanly boost up the levels. Not so with R-26, you see there is a "Sensitivity" button which gives you access to oodles of clean gain. So now once you properly set the sensitivy, you can use the big knobs on the front to finely adjust your levels. This is unlike less expensive recorders where there are no knobs and there are small buttons instead. Nothing like hearing the repeated pressing of "click click click" to turn down your levels.

Inputs for professionals and consumers

There's also an input for 1/8" mics and you can record 2 channels of those, plus, the XLR inputs, all along with the on-board mics. I can see this being useful with 3 channels of wireless and a boom plus nat sound. For folks that are packing a lot of gear around, they're going to love this recorder. For those on a budget that do not want to initially invest in a mixer, this is the recorder to get.

Discover True Multi-Dimensional Sound

Superior detail, depth, and unparalleled flexibility—welcome to a new world of portable recording.
The R-26 captures audio with high-definition direct sound, as well as the rich natural ambience of the recording environment. With dual stereo mics, six channels of simultaneous recording, and much more, this portable recorder offers true professional quality and flexibility, opening the door to limitless creative possibilities.

Two types of built-in stereo mics—omnidirectional and directional—operate independently of each other.
The R-26’s dual stereo mics provide the ultimate flexibility in different recording applications. In addition to capturing recordings that leverage the individual characteristics of OMNI (omnidirectional) and XY (directional) mics, you can mix the mics together to achieve the optimum balance.

Support for up to six channels of simultaneous recording—a powerful tool for professional applications.
In addition to the onboard mics, the R-26 provides XLR/TRS inputs for up to six channels (three stereo) of simultaneous recording. For example, you can capture an instrument up close with the built-in mics, record room ambience with external mics, and save them as separate files for mixing together later.

Three-channel IARC circuitry reduces interference between inputs for high-quality sound.
The R-26 is equipped with Roland’s proprietary IARC (Isolated Adaptive Recording Circuit) on the inputs for the built-in mics and as well as the external inputs. This analog circuit is completely isolated from the digital circuitry and has its own power supply, reducing digital noise and achieving very clear sound.

Hand-held field recorders have been hot commodities for musicians, recording engineers, and sound designers for years. Today, the mercury rises in this dynamic market with the debut of the game-changing R-26. This innovative recorder is portable yet loaded with first-class, professional features, the likes of which the industry has not seen before. There are two types of stereo microphones built into the R-26, plus a pair of XLR/TRS combo inputs for external mics, and an input for a stereo plug-in powered mic. Choose simultaneous combinations of the built-in mics (directional and omnidirectional), as well as the external inputs. Capture live performances with simultaneous line and ambient signal paths, record important speeches, lectures, and presentations, or take the R-26 into the inner city or deep forest for pristine field capture. The sky’s the limit with this powerful, portable, and incredibly flexible recorder.

• Two types of built-in stereo microphones (omnidirectional and directional) that can be used in various combinations
• Two XLR/TRS combo inputs with 48 V phantom power, plus an input for a stereo plug-in powered mic
• Supports up to six channels (three stereo channels) of simultaneous recording
• Large LCD touchscreen display for intuitive navigation
• Large input-level knobs for fine adjustment
• Built-in Hi-Speed USB interface for use as an audio interface or external storage
• Loop-Back function; combine this with the built-in or external mics for the optimum live video streaming setup (only with Audio Interface function)
• Bundled with SONAR LE software (PC)