Building on the R-1, Roland’s R-09 ($399/£228) takes many of the most desired features - 24-bit uncompressed recording and a built-in stereo mic - and shrinks it all down into a more streamlined, stylish, and affordable package.

It’s also ultra small and looks like a gadget, but make no mistake - the R-09 looks like a serious, top-quality professional recorder with time-stamp capability. It allows you to capture source material at a 24-bit resolution with your choice of 44.1- or 48kHz sample rates.

You can record and playback in MP3 format (up to 320Kbit/s) as well as WAV. Once recorded, files can be monitored through the R-09’s headphone jack and exported to a computer via USB. Data is stored onto an SD card (supports 32MB to 2GB).

To record audio into the R-09, there’s no extra gear to buy or no cables to connect. A quality stereo microphone is built right into the unit, complete with a dedicated input control, mono/stereo selector, low-cut filter, and gain boost. Just point and record! The R-09 also offers a 0.25-inch mic input.

The R-09 should be a really sweet device for bootlegging recording live music events, recitals, and rehearsals. It may even be handy as a songwriter’s sketchpad, ensuring that no moment of inspiration is lost. Students can even use it to record lectures. Broadcasters and journalists can throw away their antiquated cassette recorders and use the R-09 for in-the-field interviews...

[Best Portable Audio UK]
[Best Portable Audio US]

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BIOS, 28.03.06