HHB FlashMic DRM85 C Digital Recording Microphone Cardioid

HHB DRM85 Details ^top

The HHB FlashMic is the world’s first professional digital recording microphone. It combines a high-quality, Sennheiser omnidirectional (DRM85) or cardioid (DRM85-C) condenser capsule with an inbuilt, broadcast-quality Flash recorder. FlashMic is a convenient, easy to operate and durable recorder that’s perfect for use in all voice recording applications, including press and broadcast journalism, radio interviewing, podcasting, meetings, etc

With no messy cables, just one button press is all it takes to start recording in either linear or MPEG 2 formats. Simple ‘drag and drop’ file transfer at up to 70x real time to a Mac or PC for editing or onward transmission is enabled by a ‘plug and play’ USB connection. Two AA batteries provide more than 8 hours continuous power and, with a 0 - 10 seconds prerecord buffer and 1GB of flash memory, you can be sure that you’ll never miss a word of that important interview with a FlashMic. With a total capacity of 999 tracks and more than 18 hours recording to 1GB of internal Flash memory, FlashMic entirely eliminates the worry of running out of tape or disc space. Holding the record button down for more than 2 seconds locks the FlashMic in record mode for complete security during, for instance, podium recordings, and visible warnings of low battery life and low recording memory add further peace of mind.

Pressing the record button briefly during a recording inserts a location marker which can be read by popular editing applications.

FLASHMIC MANAGER SOFTWARE FOR STREAMLINED WORKFLOW

With AA batteries included as standard, the FlashMic operates ‘straight out of the box’. However journalists and news organisations will welcome the included FlashMic Manager PC/Macintosh software to configure the FlashMic for specific applications and streamlined workflow.

In an organisation with multiple users, every FlashMic can be given its own name which appears in every track name recorded by that microphone. Alongside the major recorder functions (see panel right), the 9 user presets can be used to store a session name which also appears in the track names. So, when FlashMic JOHN is interviewing Oasis in the morning and the ENO in the afternoon, track file names can be preconfigured as JOHN_OASIS_TRK001, etc., and JOHN_ENO_TRK020, etc. A Company Name, Reporter Name and Reporter’s Notes can be stored with each preset, which is embedded in every file along with the Date and Time stamp, providing users with an unrivalled range of facilities for the naming and organisation of files.

DRAG AND DROP FILE TRANSFER

Downloading recordings to Macintosh or PC computers is extremely straightforward. Connecting via USB with the cable supplied, files are transferred from the FlashMic using Windows Explorer or the Macintosh Finder. The FlashMic mounts as a USB mass storage device, and the audio files appear in a folder in the root directory.

ALL THE PRESENCE OF A SERIOUS BROADCAST MICROPHONE

Alongside the obvious advantages of pristine sound quality, ease-of-use, dependability and enhanced workflow, FlashMic also brings the additional benefit of an imposing physical presence – which, as experienced journalists know, can be invaluable in a ‘media scrum’!

EY FEATURES

* Convenient, portable and extremely easy to use
* Rugged build quality, designed to withstand the rigours of portable recording
* High-quality, omni-directional (DRM85) or cardioid (DRM85-C) Sennheiser condenser microphone capsule for broadcast-quality recording
* Very high quality microphone preamplifier with full manual or automatic gain control (AGC)
* 1GB Flash memory for digital audio data
* Maximum record time of over 18 hours (see over for table of record times)
* LCD display with backlight for time, level and status information
* USB-Interface for transfer of audio data (configured as a mass storage device), also used for configuration presets and FlashMic firmware updates
* Headphone amplifier with volume control
* 9 user templates can be configured externally using the FlashMic Manager PC/Mac software supplied
* Real time clock, time-date updated when linked to host PC/Mac
* Uses 2 x AA batteries – either primary cells or rechargeable
* Battery remaining indicator with visible low battery warning
* Battery life greater that 6 hours (1500mAh primary cells)
* Pre record buffer adjustable from 0-10 seconds
* Records linear 32, 44.1 or 48kHz, or MPEG 1 Layer 2 encoded audio (128- 192 kbps) broadcast wave (.wav) files including time stamp.
* Simple mode of operation where presets from external PC/Mac templates can be recalled
* Expert mode of operation where all variables are accessible on the FlashMic
* Record time remaining indicator with low time remaining visible warning
* Switchable high pass filter, 12dB/octave @ 100Hz

FLASHMIC MANAGER SOFTWARE

FlashMic Manager PC/Mac software (supplied) allows FlashMic functions to be configured and stored in 9 user presets. Presets can be setup and then downloaded to non-volatile memory in the FlashMic via its USB port.

Function 1 Select record mode.

Function 2 Pre record buffer adjustable from 0 – 10 seconds in 2 second steps.

Function 3 Record volume, set to either AGC (Automatic Gain Control).

Function 4 High pass filter (12dB / Octave @ 100Hz) on or off.

Function 5 LCD backlight – on, off or powersave.

Function 6 Enable configuration in DRM85. When set to ‘Yes’, EXPERT mode is engaged and many functions may be configured from the mic itself. If this parameter is set to NO, then users can only access the preset, and not the manual settings.

BWF/MPEG file information can be entered in the fields on the right hand side of the FlashMic Manager window. This will then be written into the extensions in the audio file to enable easy identification of recordings.

For convenience of use, the headphone level is set at a default value, and is not set as part of the FlashMic Manager software. It can be manually adjusted from the mic via a rotary control.

RECORDING TIMES
Record Mode Audio Format Sample Rate MPEG Bitrate MPEG Bitrate
LIN48K Linear PCM 48 kHz – – 3 hrs 00 mins
LIN44.1K Linear PCM 44.1kHz – – 3 hrs 15 mins
LIN32K Linear PCM 32 kHz – – 4 hrs 30 mins
MP48K MPEG1 Layer 2 48 kHz 192 kbps 12 hrs 15 mins
MP44.1K MPEG1 Layer 2 44.1 kHz 160 kbps 14 hrs 40 mins
MP32K MPEG1 Layer 2 32 kHz 128 kbps 18 hrs 25 mins

CAPSULE

The high-quality Sennheiser omnidirectional (DRM85) or cardioid (DRM85-C) microphone capsule is specially shockmounted to minimise the transference of mechanical and handling noise through the microphone body.

CONNECTIVITY

FlashMic has a built in USB port for fast transfer of recorded data to a computer. Both USB 1.1 and USB 2.0 protocols are supported.

The headphone socket accepts a standard 3.5mm jack. The mono signal from the A/D converter is buffered and sent to both channels of the headphone jack. The output from the headphone socket can also be connected to the analogue line-in on any soundcard, should external recording be required.

HHB DRM85 Specs ^top

SPECIFICATIONS

Sampling Frequency 48kHz, 32kHz. Selection by FlashMic Manager software or on DRM85
Bit Resolution (Linear 16 Bit
Audio Formats Linear PCM, MPEG 1 Layer 2, Selection by FlashMic Manager software or on DRM85. 6 mode settings
Bitrates (MPEG) 384, 256. 192, 128 kbps
Frequency Response 20 Hz - 20 kHz ± 1dB @ 48 kHz FS Linear PCM
THD + N < 0.1% (20 Hz - 20 kHz) @ 48 kHz FS Linear PCM
Number of Channels 1 (Mono)
Microphone Capsule Omni-directional
Record Level Automatic Gain Control (AGC = on), Manual Gain Control (AGC = off)
High Pass Filter Switchable on/off, 12 dB/octave @ 100Hz
Data Storage System Fixed internal memory, capacity 1 GB
Date / Time Internal real-time clock, running as long as power supply is available. Back-up supply for 1 minute to allow battery change. Set / synchronized automatically by host computer application according to host computer clock. Manual setting on DRM85 by menu item.
File Format Linear PCM: .wav, Broadcast Wave File (BWF). MPEG 1 Layer 2: .mp2, ISO/IEC-11172-3. Date / Time stamp is stored in file header. Filename generated automatically by DRM85, basic text string provided from PC software.
File System FAT32. Mounts as a removable drive via USB mass storage device protocol. File transfer is possible with the FlashMic Manager software or through Windows Explorer and Mac OS Finder.
Headphone Output 3.5mm stereo socket, mono signal to both channels. Manual volume control by rotary switch. Output may be used for audio recording on PC. Drive capability for 32 Ω headphone, short circuit protection.
Optional Accessories Wind shield, table stand.
Weight 366 grammes / 13 ounces (excluding batteries)
Dimensions Length 244mm / 9.6 inches. Diameter at widest point (mic capsule) 50mm, 2 inches.

HHB DRM85 Documentation ^top

DRM85 Brochure (pdf)

HHB DRM85 Downloads ^top

Version 4/4/06 Firmware upgrade

Technical Bullitan Version 4/4/06