Lectrosonics SPDR User manual

SPDR
Stereo Portable Digital Recorder
INSTRUCTION MANUAL
Rio Rancho, NM, USA
www.lectrosonics.com
Fill in for your records:
Serial Number:
Purchase Date:
Quick Start Steps
1) Install batteries (or connect to external power) and
turn the power on (p. 5).
2) Insert microSDHC memory card and format it with
the SPDR (p. 6).
3) Jam to a timecode source, if needed.(p. 10).
4) Connect microphone or audio source (p. 7).
5) Set input type and level, if analog source (p.12).
6) Select record mode (p. 11).
7) Set output level (HP Volume p. 10).
8) Begin recording (p.8).
microSDHC Logo is a
trademark of SD-3C, LLC

SPDR
LECTROSONICS, INC.
2

Stereo Portable Digital Recorder
Rio Rancho, NM 3
Table of Contents
Technical Highlights...............................................................4
Broadcast Wave Format........................................................4
iXML HEADER SUPPORT ...................................................4
Standard TA5 mic/line inputs.................................................4
AES3 Digital Input.................................................................4
Timecode Support ................................................................4
Dual Sample Rates...............................................................4
Linked vs. Independent Stereo .............................................4
Split Gain Mode ....................................................................4
Dual Power Sources .............................................................4
Power Options ........................................................................5
Battery Installation ................................................................5
Power Input Connector .........................................................5
Memory Card Preparation......................................................6
iXML HEADER SUPPORT ...................................................6
Features and Controls ...........................................................7
Settings.................................................................................7
Locking and Unlocking Settings............................................7
Powering On .........................................................................8
Powering Off .........................................................................8
Recording Screens ...............................................................8
Recording Screens ...............................................................8
Navigating
Menus ...............................................................................9
Main Menu and Sub Menus .................................................10
Timecode ............................................................................10
Inputs ..................................................................................10
HP Volume ..........................................................................10
Scene & Take .....................................................................10
SD Card ..............................................................................10
Settings...............................................................................11
About SPDR........................................................................11
Default.................................................................................11
Operating Instructions.........................................................12
Recording in Analog Mode..................................................12
Recording in Digital Mode...................................................12
Browsing/Playing Back Recordings ....................................13
Copying Recordings to a Computer....................................14
Recovering an Interrupted Recording.................................14
Using a Remote Control App ..............................................15
5-Pin Input Jack Wiring ........................................................16
Microphone Cable Termination
for Non-Lectrosonics Microphones.............................17
Timecode Jack Wiring..........................................................17
Input Jack Wiring for Different Sources .............................18
Line Level Signals...............................................................19
Wiring Diagram for MCAES3 Digital Cable.........................19
Optional Accessories...........................................................20
Specifications .......................................................................21
Recording............................................................................21
Service and Repair ...............................................................23
Returning Units for Repair ..................................................23

SPDR
LECTROSONICS, INC.
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Introduction
The second recorder from Lectrosonics, the SPDR
(Stereo Portable Digital Recorder) delivers advanced
technology and features, including stereo mode with
two channels available. As a backup recorder in a bag,
the recorder is small, yet packed with features, including
extended run time, optional external power and higher
sample rates.
On occasion, there is a need to record high quality, ste-
reo audio in circumstances where a traditional full sized
recorder is impractical or when a reliable backup is
needed. When talent is at an extreme distance or using
a wireless microphone is not practical (knights in armor
come to mind), the SPDR can travel with your subject
and record professional quality stereo audio, synchro-
nized with timecode.
The SPDR can be tethered to a camera to capture a
higher quality or backup audio recording. The head-
phone output doubles as a line output to feed the AV
input on a camera.
Setup and adjustment is made through an intuitive
interface provided by the keypad and LCD. The housing
is an aluminum extrusion with machined aluminum top
and control panels, as well as a hard anodized finish.
Technical Highlights
Broadcast Wave Format
With a timecode jam at the start of the production, the
audio data file contents include a timing reference to
make it easy to synchronize with a video track in the
time line. The industry standard BWF/.WAV file format
is compatible with essentially any audio or video editing
software.
iXML HEADER SUPPORT
Recordings contain industry standard iXML chunks in
the file headers, with the most commonly used fields
filled in.
Standard TA5 mic/line inputs
The input connectors are the industry standard TA5M
jacks that accept analog mic or line level signals. If
using mic inputs, the SPDR provides bias voltage to
power a wide variety of electret lavaliere microphones.
The input connection and wiring is compatible with
microphones pre-wired for “compatible” and “servo bias”
configurations to feed 5-pin inputs on Lectrosonics wire-
less microphone transmitters.
AES3 Digital Input
An optional digital input is available with a suggested
Lectrosonics MCAES3 cable to connect the output to
the AES3 digital input of a mixer or recorder; TA5F jack
to 3-pin female XLR connector.
Timecode Support
Timecode can be copied from the internal real time
clock, for projects where it is desirable for timecode to
approximately match time of day but it is not necessary
to synchronize with other devices. Timecode can also
be “jammed” from an external source.
Timecode defaults to zero at power up if no timecode
source is used to jam the unit. A timing reference is
logged into the BWF metadata.
Dual Sample Rates
The SPDR has two sample rate options available (48
kHz and 96 kHz); 48 kHz is an industry standard rate
and should be suitable for nearly all purposes. At 96
kHz, the microSDHC memory card will be used up
twice as fast, but will have slightly less phase distortion
near the top end of the audible spectrum (close to
20 kHz).
Linked vs. Independent Stereo
The Linked Stereo option operates limiters on both
channels together to preserve the balance of the stereo
image. Use Independent Stereo when you have two
separate sounds/voices and each input will have a
separate limiter.
Split Gain Mode
There are two recording modes available in the menu,
HD Mono, which records a single audio track and Split
Gain, which records two different tracks, one at the nor-
mal level and another at -18 dB as a “safety” track that
can be used in place of the normal track in the event
that overload distortion (clipping) has occurred on the
normal track. In either mode, recordings over 4GB are
broken into sequential segments so very long record-
ings (over approx 5 hours in HD mode or 2.5 hours in
split mode) will not be a single file.
Dual Power Sources
The SPDR has an external power input with internal
battery switch over, allowing all day recording with im-
mediate fall back to the internal batteries should there
be an external power loss.

Stereo Portable Digital Recorder
Rio Rancho, NM 5
Power Options
Battery Installation
The audio recorder is powered by two AA Quantum
(recommended) or Lithium batteries. Run time for 2 AA
Quantum batteries:
• Analog Stereo Mode (48KHZ sample rate) -
13H00M
• Analog Stereo Mode (96KHZ sample rate) -
9H40M
• Digital Mode 48KHZ sample rate - 7H50M
• Digital Mode 96KHZ sample rate - 7H30M
NOTE: Zinc-carbon batteries marked “heavy-duty”
or “long-lasting” are not adequate.
Push outward on the battery compartment door and lift
it to open.
Push outward and
lift to open
Insert the batteries according to the markings on the
back side of the housing.
Battery polarity
markings
Power Input Connector
The SPDR is designed to be used with the CH12 exter-
nal (or equivalent) power source. The nominal voltage
to operate the unit is 12 VDC, although it will operate
at voltages as low as 6 VDC and as high as 17 VDC.
External power sources must be able to supply 200 mA
continuously.
NOTE: There is an automatic switch over to
internal batteries if power is interrupted.
Power Input

SPDR
LECTROSONICS, INC.
6
Memory Card Preparation
Compatible Cards
We have tested a wide variety of microSDHC memory
cards and these performed the best with no issues or
errors.
• Lexar 16GB High Performance UHS-I (Lexar part number
LSDMI16GBBNL300).
• SanDisk 16GB Extreme PLUS UHS-I (SanDisk part number
SDSDQX-016G-GN6MA)
• Sony 16GB UHS-I (Sony part number SR16UXA/TQ)
• PNY Technologies 16GB Elite UHS-1 (PNY part number
P-SDU16U185EL-GE)
• Samsung 16GB PRO UHS-1 (Samsung part number
MB-MG16EA/AM)
Installing Card
The card slot is covered by a flexible cap.
Pull up on this side of cap to open
Insert the card with
the contacts facing the
control panel side of the
recorder.
Formatting Card
microSDHC memory cards come pre-formatted with a
FAT32 file system which is optimized for good perfor-
mance. The SPDR relies on this performance and will
never disturb the underlying low level formatting of the
SD card. When the SPDR “formats” a card, it performs
a function similar to the Windows “Quick Format” which
deletes all files and prepares the card for recording.
The card can be read by any standard computer but if
any write, edit or deletions are made to the card by the
computer, the card must be re-formatted with the SPDR
to prepare it again for recording. The SPDR never low
level formats a card and we strongly advise against do-
ing so with the computer.
When a card is installed, or when the SPDR is powered
on with a card already installed, the card is scanned to
see if it has been formatted for use with the SPDR. If it
hasn’t, a prompt appears offering to do so. Follow the
on-screen prompts to format the card. If the scan finds
an interrupted recording, the Recovery screen will ap-
pear. The formatting operation may also be performed
on a card which is already formatted, to erase all
recordings and start over with an empty card. To do this,
select Format Card from the menu.
WARNING: DO NOT PERFORM A LOW LEVEL FOR-
MAT (COMPLETE FORMAT) WITH A COMPUTER.
DOING SO MAY RENDER THE MEMORY CARD UNUS-
ABLE WITH THE SPDR RECORDER. WITH A WINDOWS
BASED COMPUTER, BE SURE TO CHECK THE QUICK
FORMAT BOX BEFORE FORMATTING THE CARD.
WITH A MAC, CHOOSE MS-DOS (FAT) IF THE CARD IS
32 GB OR SMALLER, EXFAT IF CARD IS 64+ GB.
IMPORTANT
The formatting of the SPDR SD card sets up contigu-
ous sectors for maximum efficiency in the recording
process. The file format utilizes the IXML wave format
which has sufficient data space in the header for the file
information and the time code imprint.
The SD card, as formatted by the SPDR, can be cor-
rupted by any attempt to directly edit, change, format or
view the files on a computer.
The simplest way to prevent data corruption is to copy
the .wav files from the card to a computer or other Win-
dows or OS formatted media FIRST. Repeat – COPY
THE FILES FIRST!
Do not rename files directly on the SD card.
Do not attempt to edit the files directly on the SD card.
Do not save ANYTHING to the SD card with a comput-
er (such as the take log, note files etc) - it is formatted
for SPDR use only.
In short - there should be NO manipulation of the data
on the card or addition of data to the card with anything
other than a SPDR. Copy the files to a computer, thumb
drive, hard drive etc that has been formatted as a regu-
lar OS device FIRST - then you can edit freely.
iXML HEADER SUPPORT
Recordings contain industry standard iXML chunks in
the file headers, with the most commonly used fields
filled in.

Stereo Portable Digital Recorder
Rio Rancho, NM 7
The main functions of SPDR, Record, Stop Recording,
Playback are indicated by the status indicator. Both the
status indicator and soft buttons change to accommo-
date the current SPDR function.
-40 -20 +0
TC
00 : 26 : 10
i
REC
HOLD HOLD
In Playback Mode, the soft buttons on the LCD change
to provide the functions needed during playback. There
are three variants of playback :
• active playback
• paused playback in the middle of the recording
• paused playback at the end of the recording
The soft buttons in the corners of the LCD and the
status indicator will change depending on the status of
the playback.
TC
00 : 01 : 33
-40 -20 +0
TC00 : 13 : 11
Locking and Unlocking Settings
The LOCKED mode protects the recorder from acci-
dental changes to its settings. When locked, menu navi-
gation is possible, but any attempt to alter settings will
prompt a “LOCKED/can use menu to unlock” message.
The unit can be unlocked using the Lock/Unlock setup
screen or by removing the batteries. The PDRRemote
app will still work.
Features and Controls
AES Dual Channel or
Analog Single Channel Input
Analog
Input
LED Level Indicators
LEMO
TC Input
Headphone/
Line output
Power
LED
The audio input circuitry is essentially the same as on
Lectrosonics SM and L Series transmitters. Any mi-
crophone wired as Lectrosonics “compatible” or “servo
bias” will work with the SPDR.
The Power LED is green when the SPDR is running on
battery power. When recording, the light will blink green.
Once battery power is low (30 minutes remaining), the
LED will turn red. Once the red LED begins flashing, the
SPDR can die at any moment.
The Power LED is blue when the SPDR is running on
external power. When recording, the light will blink blue.
If both batteries and external power are connected to
the SPDR, it will run on external power and the LED will
be blue.
The Power LED will briefly blink blue rapidly on receiv-
ing a successful time code jam.
Settings
Settings are accessed by pressing MENU/SEL on the
keypad, and then using the UP and DOWN arrow but-
tons and BACK button to navigate through the menu
items and select functions. The buttons also provide
alternate functions as labeled by the soft buttons (or
icons) on the LCD. The Main Window is shown below:
REC
i
LAST
TC
00 : 01 : 33
-40 -20 +0
Functions
indicated by
the soft buttons
on the LCD are
activated by
pressing the
adjacent buttons
on the keypad
Status Indicator
Soft buttons in each corner of the LCD define the alter-
nate functions of the adjacent buttons on the keypad.
For example, in the screen shown above, recording is
started by pressing the UP arrow button on the keypad,
in which case, the display will switch to Recording.

SPDR
LECTROSONICS, INC.
8
Powering On
Press and hold the Power Button until the Lectrosonics
logo appears on the LCD.
Powering Off
Power can be turned off by holding the Power Button in
and waiting for the countdown. The Power Button will
not work while the unit is recording (stop recording first
before powering down) or if the SPDR has been locked
(unlock the recorder first).
If the power button is released before the countdown
reaches 3, the unit will remain turned on and the LCD
will return to the same screen or menu that was dis-
played previously.
Recording Screens
While recording, the screen provides a view of the bat-
tery status, timecode and the input audio level. Soft but-
tons in the four corners of the screen provide access to
the Menu, Info (available recording time if microSDHC
memory card installed, SPDR info if no card in unit),
and the REC (record start) and LAST (play last clip)
functions. These functions are invoked by pressing the
adjacent keypad button as shown on the previous page.
Battery status
Record Start
REC
i
LAST
TC
00 : 01 : 33
-40 -20 +0
Play Last Recording
Card Info
Timecode
Menu
Audio Levels
Press the keypad
button next to each
icon to operate the
functions indicated
by the soft buttons
Amount of
space used
on card
The status indicator will alert you if there is no
microSDHC memory card in the SPDR.
REC
i
LAST
TC
00 : 01 : 33
?
?
-40 -20 +0
Question mark
blinks
To start recording, press the REC soft button in the top
right corner of the screen using the UP arrow. The sta-
tus indicator will switch to the Recording function.
-40 -20 +0
TC
00 : 26 : 10
i
REC
HOLD HOLD
Recording
info
Menu
Record icon
blinks
Press and Hold BACK
and DOWN arrow to
stop recording
HOLD
BOTH
TO
--STOP--
If both buttons
are not pressed
to stop recording,
you will receive
this reminder.
Playback Screens
Soft buttons in the Playback function provide the com-
mon button functions used for playback on a recording
device. The soft buttons will change depending on the
status of the playback: active playback, paused in the
middle, or paused at the end.
TC
00 : 52 : 29
TC
00 : 13 : 11
Paused in
the middle
Paused at
the end
Play from
pause
Play from
beginning
Press the
keypad button
next to each
icon to operate
the functions
indicated by the
soft buttons
TC
00 : 01 : 33
-40 -20 +0

Stereo Portable Digital Recorder
Rio Rancho, NM 9
Navigating
Menus
Sequence
Clock Time
Scene/Take
Timecode... SEL
BACK
TC Jam
Plug in time code
source and sync
JAM NOW
Inputs... SEL
BACK
HP Volume Use arrow keys
to move volume
up and down
HP Volume SEL
BACK
Scene&Take SEL
BACK
Scene&Take Use arrow keys to set
scene or take number
Scene: 1
Take: 1
Press to choose
scene or take
Input Level
Use arrow keys to select
level
-40 -20 +0
1 2
42 42 Press to choose
1 or 2
Input Type
Stereo Mode
LF Rolloff
Analog
Digital
Use arrow keys to select
analog or digital
Press to set
function
Linked
Indep.
Use arrow keys to select
linked or independant
Press to set
function
Use arrow keys to select
level
1 2
70 70
Hz Hz
Press to choose
1 or 2
Frame Rate 30 Use arrow keys to select
frame rate of 30, 29.97, 25,
24, 23.976, 30DF, or 29.97DF
Press to set
function
About SPDR SEL
BACK
About SPDR Rev: v0.14
Ser: 28
Use arrow keys to return
to default settings
No
Yes
Restore
defaults?
Default SEL
BACK
Settings... SEL
BACK
Record Mode
Sample Rate 48 kHz
96 kHz
Use arrow keys to select
sample rate
Press to set
function
HD Stereo
Split Gain
Use arrow keys to select
record mode
Press to set
function
Date & Time
Lock/Unlock Yes
No
Use arrow keys to select Press to set
function
2017/01/15
11:03
Use arrow keys to make
changes
Backlight
Bat Type
Always On
30 Seconds
5 Minutes
Use arrow keys to select
backlight duration
Press to set
function
Remote
Yes
No
Use arrow keys to select
analog or digital
Press to set
function
Alkaline
Lithium
Bat 3.16 v
Use arrow keys to select
battery type
Press to set
function
Press to select
date and time options
Remote
enabled?
SEL
BACK
SD Card...
Format Card
Takes/Play
File Naming
S 1 T 1
S 2 T 1
Use arrow keys to
choose take
Press to select
take and play
Files/Play #.wav
#.wav
Use arrow keys to select
file number
Press to set
function
About Card
Use arrow keys to select
time tracking
Press to set
function
Use arrow keys to select
No or Ye s
No
Yes
(files lost) Press to set
function
Storage
used
Use Clock LOADING
TIMECODE
FROM
CLOCK
Plug in clock
source and sync
[SPDR ]
E.......................F
0/ 14G
Max Rec Time
14:24:42
Fuel gauge
Storage capacity
Available recording time (H : M : S)

SPDR
LECTROSONICS, INC.
10
Main Menu and Sub Menus
Timecode
TC Jam (jam timecode)
TC Jam
JAM NOW
When TC Jam is selected, JAM
NOW will blink on the LCD and
the unit is ready to be synced
with the timecode source.
Connect the timecode source
and the sync will take place
automatically. When the sync is
successful, a message will be
displayed to confirm the operation.
Timecode defaults to zero at power up if no timecode
source is used to jam the unit. A timing reference is
logged into the BWF metadata.
Frame Rate
The frame rate affects embedding of the timing refer-
ence in the BWF file metadata and display of timecode.
The following options are available:
• 30 • 23.976
• 29.97 • 30DF
• 25 • 29.97DF
• 24
NOTE: While it is possible to change the frame
rate, the most common use will be to check the
frame rate which was received during the most
recent timecode jam. In rare situations, it might be
useful to alter the frame rate here, but be aware
that audio tracks many not line up correctly with
mismatched frame rates.
Use Clock
Choose to use the clock provided in the SPDR as
opposed to a timecode source. Set the clock in the Set-
tings Menu, Date & Time on next page.
NOTE: The SPDR time clock and calendar (RTCC)
cannot be relied on as an accurate time code
source. Use Clock should only be used in projects
where there is no need for the time to agree with
an external time code source.
Inputs
Input Level
Press MENU/SEL to select which input to adjust. Adjust
the input gain with the UP and DOWN arrow buttons.
Input Type
Based on the input source, choose Analog or Digital.
Stereo Mode
Linked:
The limiters on both channels operate together to pre-
serve the balance of the stereo image. Both red LEDs
will come on at the same time, along with the “L” block
on the LCD, even when limiting is only required on one
channel, but the audio bar graph meters will operate
independently.
Independent:
Use this mode if you are recording two separate
sounds/voices, and each input will have a separate
limiter.
NOTE: Input Level and LF Rolloff screens have
one control in Linked Mode and two controls in
Independent Mode.
LF Rolloff
Press MENU/SEL to select which input to adjust. Adjust
with the UP and DOWN arrow buttons.
HP Volume
Select HPVolume in Main Menu and use UP and
DOWN arrows to adjust.
Scene & Take
Scene&Take
Scene: 6
Take: 3
Each time a recording is
started, the SPDR automati-
cally increments the Take
number. Scene and Take
numbers can be manually
updated. Takes can run up to
999 and scene number can run
up to 99.
The progressive scene and take automatically cataloge
each time a recording is begun. Scene numbers are en-
tered manually. Take numbers increment automatically.
For example: S01T001.WAV. The initial ‘S’ is meant
to suggest “Scene” but also serves as the overwrite
prevention character, decrementing to ‘R’, ‘Q’, etc. as
needed to avoid a naming conflict. The “01” after the ‘S’
is the scene number. ‘T’ means take, and the “001” is
the take number. An eighth character is used only for
the second and subsequent (4 GB) segments for very
large recordings.
SD Card
Format Card
This item deletes all files on the microSDHC memory
card and prepares the card for recording.
WARNING: Previous files are not securely
deleted from the card during the formatting
process.
Files/Play
Choose to play the files Files/Play
111657A .WAV
111649A .WAV
030951A .WAV
071140A .WAV
based on their name. Use
the arrows to scroll,
MENU/SEL to select the
file and the DOWN arrow
to play.

Stereo Portable Digital Recorder
Rio Rancho, NM 11
Takes/Play
Takes/Play
S 1 T 2
S 1 T 1
S 1 T 16
S 1 T 15
Choose to play the files based
on scene and take. Use the
arrows to scroll, MENU/SEL to
select the file and the DOWN
arrow to play.
File Naming
File naming can be set as Sequence, Clock Time
or Scene/Take. Use the arrows to scroll, MENU/SEL to
choose.
About Card
View information about the microSDHC memory card.
See storage used, storage capacity and available re-
cording time.
[SPDR ]
E.......................F
0/ 14G
Max Rec Time
14:24:42
Fuel gauge
Storage capacity
Available recording
time (H : M : S)
Storage used
NOTE: Press BACK from the Main Window to
display About Card. Any button returns to the Main
Window.
Settings
Record Mode
Two record modes are available:
HD Stereo: Records a stereo audio track
Split Gain: Records two stereo pairs, for a total of four
tracks, one of each pair at the normal level and another
at -18 dB as a “safety” track that can be used in place
of the normal track in the event that overload distortion
(clipping) has occurred on the normal track.
Sample Rate
Use the arrows to scroll, MENU/SEL to choose one of
two sample rate options available; 48 kHz is an industry
standard rate and should be suitable for nearly all pur-
poses. At 96 kHz, the microSDHC memory card will be
used up twice as fast, but will have slightly less phase
distortion near the top end of the audible spectrum
(close to 20 kHz).
Date & Time
To set the date and time, use the MENU/SEL button to
toggle through the fields and the UP and DOWN arrow
buttons to choose the appropriate number.
Lock/Unlock
Choose Yes to lock the functions of the recorder to pre-
vent accidental changes.
Backlight
The LCD backlight can be set to turn off after either 5
minutes or 30 seconds, or to stay on continuously.
Bat Type
Choose either Alkaline (recommended) or Lithium AA
battery type. The voltage of the installed battery pair will
be shown at the bottom of the display.
Remote
The recorder can be configured to respond to “dweedle
tone” signals from the PDRRemote smart phone app or
to ignore them. Use the arrow buttons to toggle be-
tween “yes” (remote control on) and “no” (remote control
off). (See Using A Remote Control App.)
About SPDR
The SPDR’s firmware version and serial number
are displayed.
Default
To return the recorder to its factory default settings, use
the UP and DOWN arrow buttons to choose Yes. SPDR
default settings:
Frame Rate 30
Input Level 22 both sides
Input Type Analog
Stereo Mode Linked
LF Rolloff 70 Hz both sides
Headphone Volume 60% of the way up
Scene 1
Take 1
File Sequence Number 1
File Naming Sequence
Record Mode HD Stereo
Sample Rate 48 kHz
Backlight Mode Always On
Battery Type Alkaline
Remote Control Disabled

SPDR
LECTROSONICS, INC.
12
Operating Instructions
Recording in Analog Mode
1) Connect microphone or audio source.
2) Set Input Type to Analog:
When the Input Type is set to Analog, this menu item
will allow you to adjust the input gain. The two tricolor
audio level indicator LEDs on the top of the SPDR pro-
vide a visual indication of each analog audio signal level
entering the recorder. The LEDs will glow either red or
green to indicate audio levels, as shown in the following
table.
Signal Level LED
Less than -20 dB Off
-20 dB to +0 dB Green
+0 dB and up Red
3) Set Input Level.
When setting input level in Analog Input Type, it is best
to go through the following procedure before recording.
1) With fresh batteries in the SPDR, power the
unit on.
2) Prepare the signal source(s). Position
microphone(s) the way it will be used in actual
operation and have the user speak or sing at the
loudest level that will occur during use, or set the
output level of the instrument or audio device to the
maximum level that will be used.
3) Press MENU/SEL to select which input to adjust.
Adjust the input gain with the UP and DOWN arrow
buttons so that the input LED glows green during
the loudest peaks in the audio. The LED will turn
red if the peak is being limited in the preamp.
4) Set Stereo Mode.
Linked:
The limiters on both channels operate together to pre-
serve the balance of the stereo image. Both red LEDs
will come on at the same time, along with the “L” block
on the LCD, even when limiting is only required on one
channel, but the audio bar graph meters will operate
independently.
Independent:
Use this mode if you are recording two separate
sounds/voices, and each input will have a separate
limiter.
12
44 36
Input Level
-40 -20 +0
Input Level
-40 -20 +0
38
Input Level:
Input Type: Analog
Stereo Mode: Independent
Input Level:
Input Type: Analog
Stereo Mode: Linked
5) Set LF Rolloff:
Low frequency audio content may be desirable or
distracting, so the point at which the roll-off takes place
can be set to 35, 50, 70, 100, 120 or 150 Hz.
12
LF Rolloff
70
Hz Hz
120
LF Rolloff
70 Hz
LF Rolloff:
Input Type: Analog
Stereo Mode: Independent
LF Rolloff:
Input Type: Analog
Stereo Mode: Linked
6) Set HP (headphone) Volume.
7) Begin recording.
Return to the Main Window and press the UP arrow to
start recording (see page 7).
Recording in Digital Mode
1) Connect microphone or audio source (p. 7).
2) Set Input Type to Digital:
When the Input Type is set to Digital, the two tricolor au-
dio level indicator LEDs on the top of the SPDR will be
blue for a signal above -40 and off otherwise. In Digital
mode, the input is AES 3 compatible. In this configura-
tion, pin 4 is + and pin 1 is -.
12
Input Level
-40 -20 +0
[AES INPUT]
Input Level
-40 -20 +0
[AES INPUT]
Input Level:
Input Type: Digital
Stereo Mode: Independent
Input Level:
Input Type: Digital
Stereo Mode: Linked
3) Set Stereo Mode.
Linked:
The limiters on both channels operate together to pre-
serve the balance of the stereo image. Both red LEDs
will come on at the same time, along with the “L” block
on the LCD, even when limiting is only required on one
channel, but the audio bar graph meters will operate
independently.
Independent:
Use this mode if you are recording two separate
sounds/voices, and each input will have a separate
limiter.

Stereo Portable Digital Recorder
Rio Rancho, NM 13
4) Set LF Rolloff:
Low frequency audio content may be desirable or
distracting, so the point at which the roll-off takes place
can be set to 35, 50, 70, 100, 120 or 150 Hz.
12
LF Rolloff
[AES INPUT]
LF Rolloff
[AES INPUT]
LF Rolloff:
Input Type: Digital
Stereo Mode: Independent
LF Rolloff:
Input Type: Digital
Stereo Mode: Linked
5) Set HP (headphone) Volume.
6) Begin recording.
Return to the Main Window and press the UP arrow to
start recording (see page 7).
Browsing/Playing Back Recordings
Soft buttons in the Playback function provide the com-
mon button functions used for playback on a recording
device. The soft buttons will change depending on the
status of the playback: active playback, paused in the
middle, or paused at the end.
TC
00 : 52 : 29
TC
00 : 13 : 11
Paused in
the middle
Paused at
the end
Play from
pause
Play from
beginning
Press the
keypad button
next to each
icon to operate
the functions
indicated by the
soft buttons
TC
00 : 01 : 33
-40 -20 +0
Users can choose to play the files based on their name
or based on scene and take.
Files/Play Choose to play files by the filename. File-
names of the recordings contain industry standard iXML
chunks in the file headers, with the most commonly
used fields filled in. File naming can be set as:
• Sequence: a progressive sequence of numbers
• Clock Time: the time of the internal clock at the
beginning of the recording; recorded as DDHHM-
MA.WAV. DD is the day of the month, HH is hours,
MM is minutes, A is the overwrite-prevention
character, incrementing to ‘B’, ‘C’, etc. as needed
to avoid a naming conflict A final character serves
as the segment identifier, being absent in the first
segment, ‘2’ in the second segment, ‘3’ in the third
and so on.
• Scene/Take: the progressive scene and take
automatically cataloged each time a recording
is begun; S01T001.WAV. The initial ‘S’ is meant to
suggest “Scene” but also serves as the overwrite
prevention character, decrementing to ‘R’, ‘Q’, etc.
as needed to avoid a naming conflict. The “01” after
the ‘S’ is the scene number. ‘T’ means take, and
the “001” is the take number. An eighth character
is used only for the second and subsequent (4 GB)
segments for very large recordings. Scene numbers
are entered manually. Take numbers increment
automatically.
Takes/Play Choose to play the files based on scene
and take. Scene and take numbers can be manually
entered, and are embedded in the filenames and iXML
headers of recordings. Take number automatically incre-
ments each time the record button is pressed. When
browsing by scene and take, recordings that span
multiple files are listed singly and played as one long
recording.
Battery status
Record Start
REC
i
LAST
TC
00 : 01 : 33
-40 -20 +0
Play Last Recording
Card Info
Timecode
Menu
Audio Levels
Press the keypad
button next to each
icon to operate the
functions indicated
by the soft buttons
Amount of
space used
on card
The status indicator will alert you if there is no
microSDHC memory card in the SPDR.
REC
i
LAST
TC
00 : 01 : 33
?
?
-40 -20 +0
Question mark
blinks

SPDR
LECTROSONICS, INC.
14
Copying Recordings to a Computer
1. Remove your MicroSD card from the SPDR by
lightly pressing inward on the card and, when
released, the card should pop out of the recorder
enough to remove it.
2. Insert the MicroSD card into
Write Protect Tab
Insert MicroSD card
into adapter here
the adapter.
3. Slide the white button on the
side of the adapter to the
locked position and insert the
adapter (with MicroSD card
inside) into your computer’s
memory card slot.
NOTE: The MicroSD card adapter
has a write protect tab. Sliding
the tab downward to the locked
position prevents recording of
data and protects existing data.
When recording to, erasing from
or formatting the MicroSD card,
slide the tab upward.
4. If using a Windows operating
system, the computer should detect the card and
assign it to a drive. Open the selected drive by click-
ing on the “Start” button and select “Computer” to
launch Windows Explorer, the native file manager.
Open the folder that was assigned to your MicroSD
card.
If using a MAC operating system, the card will
appear as an icon on the desktop. Double-click to
open it.
5. Copy the files you wish to download from the card
and paste them into the selected file on your com-
puter.
6. Be sure to safely eject the card adapter when fin-
ished copying the files.
Recovering an Interrupted Recording
Recordings can be reliably recovered even if the mi-
croSDHC memory card is accidentally removed or the
battery dies while a recording is in progress. If a record-
ing is interrupted, all of the audio is present on the card
and can be easily recovered by the SPDR. The SPDR
keeps track of the length of the most recent recording
so it can supply a good suggestion for the length to
recover. If the length is ever unknown or the SPDR’s
suggestion seems incorrect, it is always possible to
override the suggested length. If in doubt, specify the
maximum length possible, in which case the entire
remainder of the card is recovered. All of the interrupted
recording will be present, followed by extra contents
which might be random noise or audio from previously
deleted recordings.
NOTE: A good battery or external power supply is
required to begin the recovery process. If recovery
is attempted with a weak battery, a message will
appear saying that a fresh battery will be required.
Once a fresh battery has been installed, power on the
SPDR and insert the card with the interrupted record-
ing. The SPDR will detect the interrupted recording and
display:
INTERRUPTED
RECORDING
FOUND
And then:
Recover?
for safe use
see manual
No
Yes
If “No” is chosen, nothing is done to the card and the
SPDR will not use the card. If “Yes” is chosen”, a prompt
appears asking for the length of the recording to re-
cover, specified as a number of hours and minutes. The
default suggestion will be the approximate length of the
most recent recording. It is always safe to recover a lon-
ger recording than was made. To specify the recovery
time, use the MENU/SEL button to navigate and specify
the hours and minutes fields.
Length to
recover?
08:10
hh mm

Stereo Portable Digital Recorder
Rio Rancho, NM 15
Once set as desired, use MENU/SEL to navigate to the
“GO” soft button and press the DOWN arrow button to
begin the recovery process.
Length to
recover?
08:10
hh mm
GO
Recovery is nearly instantaneous. When completed, the
display will show:
RECOVERY
SUCCESSFUL
Using a Remote Control App
PDRRemote By New Endian LLC
Convenient remote control is provided by a phone app
available on the AppStore and Google Play. The app
uses audio tones (“dweedle tones”) played through the
phone’s speaker that are interpreted by the recorder to
make changes:
• Record Start/Stop
• Mic Gain Level Adjustments
• Lock/Unlock
The SPDR tones are unique to the SPDR, and the
recorder will not react to “dweedle tones” meant for
Lectrosonics transmitters.
The screens appear differently for iOS and Android
phones, but perform the same functions.
For Best Results
The following conditions are required:
• The microphone must be within a few inches.
• The recorder must be configured to enable remote
control activation. See Remote on the menu.
Please be aware this app is not a Lectrosonics
product. It is privately owned and operated by
New Endian LLC,
www.newendian.com.
iOS Version
Select Function
Select
Mode
Tap to
play tone
Playback
Volume
Android Version
Select
Function
Tap function
name or down
arrow to select
mode
Playback Volume
Touch and hold
to play tones

SPDR
LECTROSONICS, INC.
16
The wiring diagrams included in this section represent
the basic wiring necessary for the most common types
of microphones and other audio inputs. Some micro-
phones may require extra jumpers or a slight variation
on the diagrams shown.
It is virtually impossible to keep completely up to date
on changes that other manufacturers make to their
products, thus you may encounter a microphone that
differs from these instructions. If this occurs please call
our toll-free number listed under Service and Repair in
this manual or visit our web site at:
www.lectrosonics.com
10k
1k
5
4
3
2
1
To Audio Amplifier
5V SOURCE
MIC
VOLTAGE SELECT
LINE IN
GND
+15uF
+5 VDC
Servo Bias
Pin 4 to Pin 1 = 0 V
Pin 4 Open = 2 V
Pin 4 to Pin 2 = 4 V
+
To Limiter Control
30uF
500 Ohm
100 Ohm
2.7K
200 Ohm
+
3.3uF
5-Pin Input Jack Wiring
Audio input jack wiring:
PIN 1
Shield (ground) for positive biased electret lavaliere
microphones. Shield (ground) for dynamic microphones
and line level inputs.
PIN 2
Bias voltage source for positive biased electret lavaliere
microphones that are not using servo bias circuitry and
voltage source for 4 volt servo bias wiring.
PIN 3
Microphone level input and bias supply.
PIN 4
Bias voltage selector for Pin 3.
Pin 3 voltage depends on Pin 4 connection.
Pin 4 tied to Pin 1: 0 V
Pin 4 Open: 2 V
Pin 4 to Pin 2: 4 V
PIN 5
Line level input for tape decks, mixer outputs, musical
instruments, etc.
Installing the Connector:
1) If necessary, remove the old connector from the
microphone cable.
2) Slide the dust boot onto microphone cable with the
large end facing the connector.
3) If necessary, slide the 1/8-inch black shrink tubing
onto the microphone cable. This tubing is needed
for some smaller diameter cables to ensure there
is a snug fit in the dust boot.
4) Slide the backshell over the cable as shown above.
Slide the insulator over the cable before soldering
the wires to the pins on the insert.
5) Solder the wires and resistors to the pins on the
insert according to the diagrams shown in Wiring
Hookups for Different Sources. A length of .065
OD clear tubing is included if you need to insulate
the resistor leads or shield wire.
6) If necessary, remove the rubber strain relief from
the TA5F backshell by simply pulling it out.
7) Seat the insulator on the insert. Slide the cable
clamp over the and of the insulator and crimp as
shown on the next page.
8) Insert the assembled insert/insulator/clamp into
the latchlock. Make sure the tab and slot align
to allow the insert to fully seat in the latchlock.
Thread the backshell onto the latchlock.
TA5F Latchlock Insert
Insulator Cable clamp
Backshell with
strain relief
Remove strain relief
if using dust boot
Backshell
without strain
relief Dust boot (35510)
Note: If you use the dust boot, remove the rubber
strain relief that is attached to the TA5F cap, or the
boot will not fit over the assembly.

Stereo Portable Digital Recorder
Rio Rancho, NM 17
Microphone Cable Termination
for Non-Lectrosonics Microphones
TA5F Connector Assembly
Mic Cord Stripping Instructions
1
23
4
5
VIEW FROM SOLDER
SIDE OF PINS
0.3"
0.15"
NOTE: This termination is intended for UHF
transmitters only. VHF transmitters with
5-pin jacks require a different termination.
Lectrosonics lavaliere microphones are
terminated for compatibility with VHF and UHF
transmitters, which is different from what is
shown here.
Crimping to Shield and Insulation
Shield Insulation
Strip and position the cable so that the clamp
can be crimped to contact both the mic cable
shield and the insulation. The shield contact
reduces noise with some microphones and the
insulation clamp increases ruggedness.
Crimp these
fingers to
contact the
shield
Crimp these
fingers to
clamp the
insulation
Timecode Jack Wiring
The timecode connection is made via a standard LEMO
5-pin connector. Pin connections are as follows. Viewed
from outside the connector.
1 - Ground
2 - SMPTE Timecode In
3 - ASCII In/Out
4 - Tuning Out
5 - SMPTE Timecode Out
1
2
34
5

SPDR
LECTROSONICS, INC.
18
Input Jack Wiring for Different Sources
BALANCED AND FLOATING LINE LEVEL SIGNALS
*NOTE: If the output is balanced but center
tapped to ground, such as on all Lectrosonics
receivers, do not connect Pin 3 of the XLR jack
to Pin 4 of the TA 5F connector.
TA 5F
PLUG
XLR JACK
Fig. 7
Comp
atible Wiring for Both Servo Bias Inputs and Earlier Transmitters:
Simple Wiring - Can ONLY be used with
Servo Bias Inputs:
Servo Bias was introduced in 2005 and all trans-
mitters with 5-pin inputs have been built with this
feature since 2007.
In addition to the microphone and line level wiring hook-
ups illustrated below, Lectrosonics makes a number of
cables and adapters for other situations such as con-
necting musical instruments (guitars, bass guitars, etc.)
to the transmitter. Visit www.lectrosonics.com and
click on Accessories, or download the master catalog.
A lot of information regarding microphone wiring is also
available in the FAQ section of the web site at:
http://www.lectrosonics.com
Hover over Support and click on FAQs. Follow the instructions
to search by model number or other search options.
SHIELD
TIP
PIN
5
4
3
2
1
SLEEVE
LINE LEVEL
RCA or 1/4” PLUG
AUDIO 1
2
3
4 5
TA5F
PLUG
UNBALANCED LINE LEVEL SIGNALS
For signal levels up to 3V (+12 dBu) before limiting. Fully
compatible with 5-pin inputs on other Lectrosonics transmitters
such as the LM and UM Series. A 20k ohm resistor can be
inserted in series with Pin 5 for an additional 20 dB of
attenuation to handle up to 30V (+32 dBu).
Fig. 8
1
2
3
4
5
PIN
SHIELD
AUDIO
1
2
3
45
TA5F
PLUG
2.7 k
2 VOLT NEGATIVE BIAS 2-WIRE ELECTRET
Compatible wiring for microphones
such as negative bias TRAM models.
NOTE: The resistor value can range from 2k to 4k ohms.
Fig. 4
Fig. 11
4 VOLT POSITIVE BIAS 3-WIRE ELECTRET
NOTE: This servo bias wiring is not compatible with earlier
versions of Lectrosonics transmitters. Check with the factory
to confirm which models can use this wiring.
2 VOLT POSITIVE BIAS 2-WIRE ELECTRET
Simplified wiring for microphones
such as Countryman B6 Lavalier
and E6 Earset models and others.
NOTE: This servo bias wiring is not compatible with earlier
versions of Lectrosonics transmitters. Check with the factory
to confirm which models can use this wiring.
Fig. 9
Fig. 3 - DPA Microphones
DANISH PRO AUDIO MINIATURE MODELS
This wiring is for DPA lavalier
and headset microphones.
NOTE: The resistor value can range from 3k to 4 k ohms.
Same as DPA adapter DAD3056
Fig. 10
2 VOLT NEGATIVE BIAS 2-WIRE ELECTRET
Simplified wiring for microphones such as negative bias TRAM.
NOTE: This servo bias wiring is not compatible with earlier
versions of Lectrosonics transmitters. Check with the factory
to confirm which models can use this wiring.
Fig. 6
LO-Z MICROPHONE LEVEL SIGNALS
For low impedance dynamic mics or electret
mics with internal battery or power supply.
XLR JACK
Insert 1k resistor in series with pin 3 if attenuation is needed
Fig. 1
1
2
3
4
5
PIN
SHIELD
AUDIO 1
2
3
4 5
TA5F
PLUG
3.3 k
1.5 k
2 VOLT POSITIVE BIAS 2-WIRE ELECTRET
Compatible wiring for microphones such as
Countryman E6 headworn and B6 lavaliere. Also see Fig. 9
4 VOLT POSITIVE BIAS 2-WIRE ELECTRET
Most common type of wiring for
lavaliere mics.
Fig. 2
WIRING FOR LECTROSONICS M152/5P
(N/C)
WHITE
RED
The M152 lavaliere microphone
has an internal resistor and can be
wired in a 2-wire configuration.
This is the factory standard wiring.
Fig. 5 - Sanken COS-11 and others
DRAIN (BIAS)
SOURCE (AUDIO)
SHIELD
4 VOLT POSITIVE BIAS 3-WIRE ELECTRET
WITH EXTERNAL RESISTOR
Also used for other 3-wire
lavaliere microphones that
require an external resistor.

Stereo Portable Digital Recorder
Rio Rancho, NM 19
Line Level Signals
The normal wiring for line level signals is:
• Signal Hot to pin 5
• Signal Gnd to pin 1
• Pin 4 jumped to pin 1
This allows signal levels up to 3V RMS to be applied
without limiting.
If more headroom is needed, insert a 20 k resistor in
series with pin 5. Put this resistor inside the TA5F con-
nector to minimize noise pickup.
See Fig. 8 on
previous page
Line Level
Normal Wiring
Line Level
More Headroom
(20 dB)
Wiring Diagram for MCAES3 Digital Cable
The MCAES3 cable is used to connect the AES output
of a digital mixer or recorder to the SPDR AES input. It
is constructed with a TA5F jack, rugged coaxial cable
and a 3-pin female XLR connector. The connectors
have soldered connections to the cable, allowing them
to be serviced or replaced if the need arises.
Connectors: • 5-pin TA5F female
• XLR-3 female
Cable: RG-174U coaxial
Length: 18 inches
5
4
3
2
1
CH 2
-
CH 2 +
CH 1 -
CH 1 +
GND
PIN
3 -
2 +
1 GND
PIN
3
12 XLRF
Vie
wed from
outside
T
A5F
Vie
wed from
outside
3
1
2
45
NOTE: Do not tie pin 1 to the shell in the TA5F
connector.

SPDR
LECTROSONICS, INC.
20
Optional Accessories
26526 Wire belt clip
CH12 External power source; 120VAC, 120v-60Hz 14W
input; 12 VDC (regulated), 300 mA max. output..
MC35 line level adapter cable. Female XLR to female
TA5F; 37 inches long. Feed line level signal to pin 5 on
the TA5M jack.
MC41 mic level adapter cable. Female XLR to female
TA5F; 37 inches long. Feeds mic level signal to pin 3 on
the TA5M jack.
MCAES3 Used to connect the output to the AES3
digital input of a mixer or recorder; TA5F jack to 3-pin
female XLR connector
P1354 dust and moisture plug for headphone/line out-
put and timecode sync port.