Deity PR-4 Recorder

Compact size, proper recording spec

The PR-4 suits productions where sound still matters, but crews do not always have room for a separate mixer or a larger rig. It is small enough to sit on a camera setup or tuck into a lightweight sound bag, yet it still gives you four inputs and six-track recording. This feature makes it a sensible fit for interviews, documentary work, wedding coverage and small commercial shoots where you need more than a basic scratch track but do not want to overbuild the rig.

Input layout that works in practice

The connection layout is simple, and that is part of the PR-4’s appeal. Two XLR inputs handle your main microphone channels, while the stereo 3.5mm TRS input covers channels 3 and 4, which is ideal for dual-channel wireless receivers. In practical terms, you can run a boom and multiple lav mics at the same time without stepping up to a much larger recorder. Recording isolated tracks alongside a stereo mix also gives you a cleaner handoff for editing while keeping full control over each source later.

32-bit float and clean gain

One of the main benefits of a recorder like this is the extra margin it gives you when levels move unexpectedly. The PR-4 records in 32-bit float and uses dual-ADC microphone preamps with up to 60 dB of clean gain, so it is far easier to handle sudden peaks, quiet speakers and uneven dialogue than with a simpler camera-mounted setup. That extra gain is also useful when you are working with more advanced microphones. On a small production, it gives you a bit more confidence that a good take will still be usable once you get it into post.

Better control for smaller productions

Automix is a useful feature of the PR-4 because it suits the sort of jobs this recorder is truly designed for. In a group interview or an unscripted scene, it helps manage which microphones are active, keeping the mix more focused while isolated tracks are still recorded for proper editing later. Flexible routing adds to that, letting you send different feeds to the camera, headphones or custom mixes depending on the shoot set-up. The wireless timecode sync and Sidus Audio app also make the PR-4 easier to control when mounted out of reach or used across a small multi-device setup.

Backup recording without the fuss

The most reassuring part of the PR-4 is its recording security. It writes to an SD card up to 1TB and its internal 64GB SSD at the same time, so the recorder creates an automatic backup as you work. For long interviews, events or one-take documentary moments, that is the sort of feature that matters more than it might on paper. Add the colour touchscreen, NP-F battery support and compatibility with AES3 and AES42 digital audio equipment, and it feels like a compact recorder that has been thought through for real location use rather than stripped back for size alone.

What’s in the box?

• 1 x Deity PR-4 Recorder