Roland R-05 Studio WAVE/MP3 Recorder

This is one of the simplest, most reliable, most versatile machines I've ever used. Fancy displays, lots of lights, pop ups, features, options? Nope almost none, in fact.

But if you want durable, reliable, simple, high quality recording in a variety of wav & mp3 formats, this machine is for you. It does what it does, easily, every time.

I've recorded music in concert halls and living rooms. I regularly record 2 hour lectures it all fits into a $10 SD card and txfers to computer immediately via the card or cable.

I suppose someday there will be a better machine.

I have an R-09 and now a R-05. I like them both. I think the R-05 had some excellent improvements.

1. The battery compartment is a much better design, easier to access and change batteries.

2. mini usb jack and sd card slot now on outside of unit not within battery compartment.

3. SD capacity supported is now 32GB rather than 4GB

4. input level and volume controls are now on front of unit rather than the sides.

5. Power on/hold switch better design, easier to feel.

6. Smaller, stronger more attractive form factor.

7. 'Set'/Record button is no longer labeled 'Rec'. Was confusing.

Operation and software is logical, a good carryover. Record quality is outstanding.

My wife has the R-09 now. I have the R-05. I find it to be an elegant recorder.

Buy Roland R-05 Studio WAVE/MP3 Recorder Now

This is my first MP3 recorder, so I don't have much of a comparison but for what it's worth this is a great product. I wanted something of good quality and easy to use, and this product definitely fits the bill. The microphones are high quality and very sensitive. You can also hook up an external microphone but I have not tried that yet. Transferring to computer via USB is super easy and convenient. I also like the fact that you can edit the recordings on the unit itself and add reverb. I have Cakewalk Home studio so I can import the files and add other effects if desired. The unit is very portable and can be attached to a tripod which is a nice feature. The batteries last a long time. Would highly recommend this product.

Read Best Reviews of Roland R-05 Studio WAVE/MP3 Recorder Here

I am not much for an audio technical genius so, I will keep this simple.

This is a great little recording unit. My wife and I use it to record our weekly podcast. We put it on the table, hit the center button once, check the levels and hit record. The unit can record in both WAV and MP3 formats at multiple levels of quality.

The on-board condenser microphones pick up more than you might imagine and are great for on-site recordings in order to pick up the ambiance of the recording location.

The unit is also great as a recorder for productions with an audio mixer. Simply connect the line-in to the main out of a mixer and adjust the recording level. It is great for that because, unlike a hard drive, there are no moving parts to "crash". You might need to replace a SD card after extensive use but, other than that, the solid-state recording almost never fails except due to user error.

There are 2 minor gripes that I have. The windscreen that came with the unit is a bit small and flimsy. I don't use it anyway but, it was disappointing to see.

The other issue is that the AC adapter for this unit is only available in a few places and is pricey. The fact is, I use this mostly at home and would prefer not to waste the AA batteries.

Speaking of which, the battery life in this unit is outstanding. Depending on your frequency of use, one set of AAs will last you a LONG time, especially if they are the lithium ones, designed for digital devices.

This a great recorder at a great price and I highly recommend it.

Want Roland R-05 Studio WAVE/MP3 Recorder Discount?

I've had this product for 24 hours now and used it at a live Karaoke session last night. I was sitting closest to the speakers and the recording was amazing. I know the first thing anyone is going to think about this is.. But it is $200.00.. As I told others, you get what you pay for. At first, I bought a different unit for 1/2 the price and it had major problems for live band and Mixer recording. The split feature works well so I can split the recording without having to hit stop and record again... It is so small, It fits in my shirt pocket..

Pro's for me:

Amazing Sound: nuf said.. The recordings seems true and clear. No detectable hormonic distortion, compression noise or anything that I've heard from cheaper recorders.

Battery Life: 16 hours recording, confirmed with power saving turned on. (peak and red recording lights turn off)

Immediate Recording (Setup and Start): The cheaper units go through an "Initialization phase" when you hit the record button. The R-05 is immediate. When you press the REC button, it automatically pauses for level adjustments and start of song queueing.

Options: Too many to list; Very well done and well thought out for recording live instruments / voice / etc.

Sensitivity and Direction I noticed pattern that I could use to dampen back group (audience) sounds. This is useful when your primary interest is the music.

Power Saving Features: Lights can be turned off automatically when you want to conserve power.

Ease of Use: Very simple and easy to use.. Well thought out interface.

Cons:

V1.03 is required to use NI-MH batteries.. If you have V1.02, it will show the battery is dead within an hour of use. After the update, I have tested it so far for 3 hours recording with 1 bar drop..

The aluminum case is only a shell, it is mostly plastic with what amounts to a phone case around it. If it is dropped, it will respond like plastic so don't drop it.

While corners were cut to bring a very good recorder to be affordable at this price point, I would highly recommend the R-05 to anyone who wants a recorder that works exactly as advertised.

Save 43% Off