When Fostex embarked on the process to design a successor to the industry standard PD-2 and PD-4 portable timecode DAT machines, we knew we had set ourselves no easy task. Having invented both timecode and portable timecode DAT, Fostex location recorders had become, and still are, the most widely used and respected DAT machines for film & television sound production around the world, helping their users earn respect, gain work and to win many coveted international awards.
That’s why we knew it was important to follow the design and philosophy processes that had made our previous machines the first choice of sound mixing professionals. Namely, to prove the technology in a stationary, stand-alone format and obtain comprehensive & wide-ranging user-feedback prior to taking it out into the field.
Every aspect was looked at and offered up for evaluation; the recording media, the functionality of the mixer, the interfacing connections, the timecode implementation and, of course, the user interface.

Extended information

MEETING THE CHALLENGES OF LOCATION RECORDING
The result of this process in which some of the world’s top sound mixers took part, is the new Fostex PD-6 Portable Location Recorder, a recorder which offers spectacular 24-bit / 96kHz audio quality and six independent audio tracks.
A recorder offering timecode-locked DVD-RAM recording to an easy to use 8cm removable media which answers all the new challenges for location recording today.
And a recorder featuring a full-function, feature-rich 6-channel mixer, ‘easy access’ monitoring and all the connectivity one would expect, and need, from a thoroughly professional unit.
The new PD-6 Portable Location Recorder. Nothing in the field comes close.

REVOLUTIONARY REMOVABLE MEDIA
Location recorders need a removable media, it was one of the requests that we heard from the field again and again. Part of the success of the portable timecode DAT format was the fact that at the end of the shoot, the days work’s there in your hand. We knew that normal DVD-RAM drives, are not really built for the rigours of location recording and certainly not suited to being slung over a shoulder.
Therefore we decided upon a brand-new 8cm DVD-RAM drive. A drive specially developed for the rigours of portable use and a drive designed from the ground-up to provide vibration stability, high speed access and most importantly, high reliability.
Already proving itself in motion pictures, tv productions and outside broadcast, the removable 8cm DVD-RAM cartridges provide two 1.46GB sides, offering, for example, 108 minutes per disc of 4 track recording at 48KHz/16-bit.
And the discs fit right into conventional DVD drives.

FULLY FEATURED ON-BOARD MIXER
The six channel mixer accepts either microphone level, with both T-Power (12V) and Phantom power (48V) available, or line level. Phase reverse is provided on the three even channels while each channel features adjustable input gain; a generous defeatable and variable high pass filter and an individual defeatable limiter, with software selectable characteristics and linking, suited to location recording.
The most ingenious part of the mixer however is the routing capability: working in conjunction with each channel’s level control mounted on the face of the PD-6, the ‘Disc Feed’ switch allows the recording section of the machine to derive its audio ‘feed’ PRE the channel level control, meaning levels are set once with the earlier trim pot, leaving the front level controls for bus mixing; POST of the channel level control providing for regular level adjustment on the easily-accessible controls; or from the Stereo Bus, routed by the PAN switch providing not only simple stereo mixing of all six channels, but also by using a combination of the modes, parallel mix (guide) tracks can be made whilst recording of either five tracks (mono guide track) or four tracks (stereo guide track).
We call these "1+5" and "2+4" recording modes as separate BWF files are created. Additional features such as PFL monitoring and peak led indication on each channel complete this very flexible mixer.

Technical specifications

GENERAL
Recording Device E-IDE DVD-RAM (8cm)
Recording Format BWF (SDII™ & AIFF planned future option)
Recording Medium 8cm DVD-RAM
Sampling Frequency 44.1 / 48 / 88.2 / 96kHz
Quantization 16bit (44.1 / 48kHz)
24bit (44.1kHz / 48 / 88.2 / 96kHz)
Recording Tracks 6, Timecode x1
Track Mode 2tr; 44.1 / 48 / 88.2 / 96kHz
(verify write : on) 4tr: 44.1 / 48kHz
5tr: 44.1 / 48kHz
6tr: 44.1 / 48kHz
2+4tr: 44.1 / 48kHz
1+5tr: 44.1 / 48kHz
INPUT / OUTPUT CONNECTORS
(0dBu = 0.775Vrms)
ANALOG AUDIO INPUT CH. 1-6 (Line/Mic selectable)
Connector XLR-3-31 type (Pin2:Hot)
Input Level -30 - +4dBu (+/-5dB, Line)
-60 - -26dBu (+/-5dB, Mic)
Maximum Input Level +24dBu (Line) / -40dBu (Mic)
Input Impedance More than 10k ohm
ANALOG AUDIO OUTPUT TR. 1 - 6
Connector XLR-3-32 type (Pin2:Hot)
Reference Output Level +4dBu
Maximum Output Level +24dBu
Output Load Impedance More than 10k ohm
AUX INPUT / OUTPUT
Connector 10pin – male / balanced (Hirose)
Reference Input Level +4dBu
Maximum Input Level +24dBu
Input Impedance More than 10k ohm
Reference Output Level +4dBu / -10dBu / -60dBu (switchable)
Maximum Output Level +24dBu
Output Load Impedance More than 10k ohm
DIGITAL INPUT / OUTPUT CONNECTOR
Connector D-sub 25pin (auto software selection)
Input Format IEC60958 (S/P DIF) or
IEC60958 (AES/EBU), auto selection
Output Format IEC60958 (S/P DIF) or
IEC60958 (AES/EBU), auto selection
LTC INPUT
Connector XLR-3-31 type (Pin2:Hot), balanced
Format SMPTE/EBU
Reference Input Level 2Vp-p
Minimum Input Level 0.25Vp-p
Input Impedance More than 20k ohm
LTC OUTPUT
Connector XLR-3-32 type (Pin2:Hot), balanced
Format SMPTE/EBU
Reference Output 2Vp-p
Output Impedance Less than 1k ohm
Output Load Impedance More than 600 ohm
VIDEO / WORD INPUT
Connector BNC (auto software selection)
Reference Input Level TTL level (w/ 75ohm termination SW)
WORD OUTPUT
Connector BNC
Output Level TTL level
AATON INPUT / OUTPUT (Option)
Connector LEMO 5pin
Format Complies to ASCII & LTC I/O
IEEE1394 P1394a Draft 2.0 4 pin
USB Serial A Receptable
HEADPHONE OUTPUT SOLO or STEREO/MONO: 1+2, MS,
3/5+4/6, 1/3/5+2/4/6, 3/5+2/4/6,
1/3+2/4, ST. AUX IN, ST. BUS
Connector 6mm dia stereo phone jack
Load Impedance More than 32 ohm
Maximum Output Level 200mW (at 32 ohm)
PARALLEL REMOTE
Connector MINI DIN 8pin female
DC12V - 18V IN
Connector XLR-4-32 type
DC12V OUT
Connector HR10A-7R-4S (Hirose 4pin female) x2
Max. 0.5A (Total combined)
PERFORMANCE
R/P Frequency Response 20Hz to 20kHz +/-1dB (fs : 44.1 / 48kHz)
20Hz to 40kHz +/-1dB (fs : 88.2 / 96kHz)
Signal to Noise Ratio
Line: 100dB (ADC-DAC, 24bit,
ref:-20dB, fs:48kHz) typical
Mic: 87dB (ADC-DAC, 24bit, ref:-20dB, fs:48kHz) typical
Dynamic Range 100dB (ADC-DAC, 24bit, ref:-18dB, fs:48kHz) typical
T.H.D. Less than 0.01% (1kHz, -1dB, ADC-DAC, 24bit,
ref:-18dB, fs:48kHz typical)
Reference Recording Level -18 / -20dB (switchable)
Cue Point Chunk 100
Power Life 2 hours continuous operation estimated,
NP-1 type Li-ion
PHYSICAL
Power Requirement NP-1 type battery
AC Adaptor - option model AD-15B/C
DC 12V - 18V
Power Consumption 25W
Dimension 334 (W) x 109 (H) x 241 (D)mm
Weight 3.5kg (w/o battery)
OPTIONAL ACCESSORIES
ZP-6 Carrying Case
AD-15B/C AC Adaptor
ATC-4 AATON Interface