When I saw the news that this had been announced, I had a bit of deja vu. I was sure I’d heard of it before, quite a while ago. And it turns out I had. Deity first showed off the Deity PR-2 ($229) wireless microphone at NAB in Las Vegas last year.
Well, it’s taken a while to come to market, but now it’s finally here. It’s Deity’s first dedicated audio recorder. And despite not containing wireless audio transmission, it could present some tough competition for the Rode Wireless Pro ($350).
Deity PR-2 Pocket 32-Bit Recorder
This is not a wireless microphone like Deity’s similarly sized devices. This is just a recorder. Well, I say “just”, it includes a couple of pretty important features. It records 32-bit float audio and has built-in timecode for easy syncing.
Deity says that the clock crystal used in the Deity PR-2 is the same used in its other timecode devices. This means all of Deity’s timecode devices boast a frame drift of only 1 frame every 72 hours. That kind of accuracy is very impressive when many crystals and oscillator can drift by several seconds per day.
The Deity PR-2 is compatible with the Deity TC-1 timecode generator ($169) and the Deity TC-SL1 Smart Slate ($849). This means you’re able to sync up all your Deity devices together to ensure everyone’s on the correct time. You can also jam sync from 3rd party devices, such as Tentacle Sync.
Control it all with your smartphone
The third timecode compatibility option is your smartphone. The smartphone app allows you to communicate with up to 48 Deity timecode devices using their proprietary “Bit Connectify 2.0” technology. You’re able to adjust the settings to each device, sync the timecodes for all devices, and start/stop recording at will, right from your phone screen.
Output sync is supported via the TRS headphone jack. This gets fed into your camera’s audio system, similar to something like the Rode Wireless Pro, which also features timecode. And this seems like a good time to compare the two a little.
Deity PR-2 vs Rode Wireless Pro
I said earlier that this is potentially a serious competitor to the Rode Wireless Pro and I think I should explain why. When Rode released the original Rode Wireless GO, its selling factor was its compact size. When they released the Wireless GO II, it was the built-in recoding capabilities.
When the Rode Wireless Pro arrived, its two big selling points over the Wireless GO II were 32-bit float recording and timecode support. But it’s a fairly limited timecode support. You can’t sync multiple Wireless Pro kits and you can’t output that audio sync track to more than one camera.
Also, when you’re using the Rode Wireless Pro with timecode, you’re not really sending a usable audio track anyway. So, wireless audio transmission becomes a redundant feature and you’re still pulling the recordings off each transmitter. They’re essentially just 32-bit float audio recorders and timecode generators, like the Deity PR-2.
The Rode Wireless Pro Kit, including a single receiver and two transmitters (recorders), costs less than buying a pair of Deity PR-2 recorders. That being said, those who bought the Wireless Pro just for its 32-bit float and timecode features might be better served with the Deity PR-2.
While the PR-2 might work out a little more expensive per unit – and there’s no wireless audio transmission – you can link 48 of them together via your smartphone. This means you can add to your setup as needed. You can have one recording each microphone on your subject and another (or a Deity TC-1) or several on each of the cameras, feeding timecode into its audio track.
For those who will never need more than two wireless lavs into a single camera, the Rode Wireless Pro is an excellent option that delivers quality results and excellent value for money. But power users who either already have a more complex camera and audio setup or want to grow into one in the future should probably look at the Deity PR-2.
Price and Availability
The Deity PR-2 is available to pre-order now for $229. It’s expected to begin shipping in the coming weeks.
