Roland Edirol R-09HR MP3 Recorder/Player – A Major Contender For ‘Ugliest Gadget Of The Year’

Except that it’s NOT an MP3 player. It’s an MP3 RECORDER with a built-in (and pretty reasonable) stereo microphone, which is an entirely different thing. I’ve been using a vanilla R-09 for about a year for my harpsichord practice, and it’s one of the best purchases i have ever made.

Strangely enough I don’t much care what it looks like. However, since the only other affordable portable MP3 recorder on the market, from Sony, has more superfluous chrome than a T-bird, I’d say Roland did a reasonable job on this.

Just thought to write after coming across this posting about the R-09HR:

First of all, I own one, so I can say first hand a few things about it.

As far as design taste goes, everyone’s entitled to their own, and for that matter
I don’t particularly find the R-09 ugly, it looks pretty slick and classy, especially
in my hands.

Secondly, I think it’s quite wrong what you posted above about the R-09.
To compare it to the Toshiba MP3 player really shows that you’ve clearly
missed the point with it. A bit like comparing a mobile phone to a walkie talkie!
This isn’t an MP3 player, ipod style, its a high quality handheld recorder.
The fact that Roland are marketing it as HR standing for High Resolution, 24 Bits 9600 Wav resolution goes to show that’s what it’s made for.

I’m not from Roland, but I just think this post doesn’t do it any justice, because
I use the R-09 to record really professional stuff, all the way from live performances, to pots and pans around the house to use in my own productions.
Its a fab field recorder. The built in mics rock! And all music tech mags seem
to second that…

Let’s just hope this gets posted and I didnt waste my time!