Edirol R-4 Pro Portable Recorder Owners Manual

							* 04450201 - 02 *
Information
When you need repair service, call your nearest EDIROL/Roland Service Center or authorized EDIROL/Roland distributor 
in your country as shown below.
As of November 1, 2006  (EDIROL-2)
ASIA
CHINARoland Shanghai Electronics Co.,Ltd.
5F. No.1500 Pingliang Road 
Shanghai 200090, CHINA
TEL: (021) 5580-0800
Roland Shanghai Electronics Co.,Ltd.
(BEIJING OFFICE)
10F. No.18 3 Section Anhuaxili 
Chaoyang District Beijing 
100011 CHINA
TEL: (010) 6426-5050
KOREAKOREA AVICS CO., LTD.463-3 Sunghwa bldg. 3rd F.,
Seokyo-Dong, Mapo-ku,
Seoul, KOREA
Tel: 02-322-3264
TAIWANROLAND TAIWAN 
ENTERPRISE CO., LTD.
Room 5, 9fl. No. 112 Chung Shan 
N.Road Sec.2, Taipei, TAIWAN, 
R.O.C.
TEL: (02) 2561 3339
SINGAPORE/
MALAYSIA
Roland Asia Pacific Sdn. Bhd.
45-1, Block C2, Jalan PJU 1/39, 
Dataran Prima, 47301 Petaling 
Jaya, Selangor, MALAYSIA
TEL: 3-7805-3263
CENTRAL/LATIN
AMERICACZECH REP.CZECH REPUBLIC 
DISTRIBUTOR s.r.o
Voctárova 247/16
CZ - 180 00 PRAHA 8,
CZECH REP.
TEL: (2) 830 20270
DENMARKRoland Scandinavia A/SNordhavnsvej 7, Postbox 880,
DK-2100 Copenhagen
DENMARK 
TEL: 3916 6200
FINLANDRoland Scandinavia As, 
Filial Finland
Elannontie 5
FIN-01510 Vantaa, FINLAND
TEL: (0)9 68 24 020
NORWAYRoland Scandinavia Avd. 
Kontor Norge
Lilleakerveien 2 Postboks 95 
Lilleaker N-0216 Oslo 
NORWAY
TEL: 2273 0074
SWEDENRoland Scandinavia A/S 
SWEDISH SALES OFFICE
Danvik Center 28, 2 tr. 
S-131 30 Nacka SWEDEN 
TEL: (0)8 702 00 20 
Roland Systems Group U.S.425 Sequoia Drive Suite 114, 
Bellingham, Washington, 
98226 USA
TEL: 360-594-4282
AUSTRIA/GERMANY/
ITALY/IRELAND/
UNITED KINGDOM
EDIROL (Europe) Ltd. Studio 3.4 114 Power Road 
London W4 5PY
U. K.
TEL: (0)20 8747 5949
BELGIUM/FRANCE/
LUXEMBOURG/
SWITZERLAND/
HOLLAND/SPAIN/
PORTUGAL
Roland Iberia, S.L. Paseo García Faria, 33-35
08005 Barcelona SPAIN
TEL: 93 493 91 00
CROATIAART-CENTAR
Degenova 3.
HR - 10000 Zagreb
TEL: (1) 466 8493
EUROPE
HUNGARYRoland East Europe Ltd.Warehouse Area ‘DEPO’ Pf.83
H-2046 Torokbalint,  HUNGARY
TEL: (23) 511011
POLANDROLAND POLSKA SP. Z O.O.
UL. Gibraltarska 4.
PL-03 664 Warszawa 
POLAND
TEL: (022) 679 4419
ROMANIAFBS LINESPiata Libertatii 1,
535500 Gheorgheni, ROMANIA
TEL: (266) 364 609
RUSSIAMuTek
Dorozhnaya ul.3,korp.6
117 545 Moscow, RUSSIA 
TEL: (095) 981-4967
SLOVAKIADAN Acoustic s.r.o. 
Povazská 18.
SK - 940 01 Nové Zámky
TEL: (035) 6424 330
UKRAINEEURHYTHMICS Ltd.
P.O.Box: 37-a.
Nedecey Str. 30
UA - 89600 Mukachevo, 
UKRAINE
TEL: (03131) 414-40
Roland Corporation 
Australia Pty., Ltd. 
38 Campbell Avenue 
Dee Why West, NSW 2099 
AUSTRALIA 
For Australia
Tel: (02) 9982 8266
For New Zealand
Tel: (09) 3098 715
CANADARoland Canada Ltd.
(Head Office)
5480 Parkwood Way, Richmond 
B. C., V6V 2M4 CANADA 
TEL: (604) 270 6626 
Roland Canada Ltd.
(Toronto Office)
170 Admiral Boulevard
Mississauga ON L5T 2N6 
CANADA 
TEL: (905) 362 9707  
 
U. S. A.Roland Systems Group U.S.425 Sequoia Drive Suite 114, 
Bellingham, Washington, 
98226 USA
TEL: 360-594-4282
NORTH AMERICA
OCEANIA
04450201          06-12-2N
 To resize thickness, move all items on the front cover and center registration marks to left or right. 
						

							 To resize thickness, move all items on the front cover 
This product complies with the requirements of European Directive 89/336/EEC.For EU Countries
For EU Countries
Apparatus containing 
Lithium batteries
ADVARSEL!Lithiumbatteri - Eksplosionsfare ved 
fejlagtig håndtering.
Udskiftning må kun ske med batteri af
samme fabrikat og type.
Levér det brugte batteri tilbage til 
leverandøren.VARNINGExplosionsfara vid felaktigt batteribyte.
Använd samma batterityp eller en 
ekvivalent typ som rekommenderas av 
apparattillverkaren.
Kassera använt batteri enligt 
fabrikantens instruktion.
CAUTIONDanger of explosion if battery is 
incorrectly replaced.
Replace only with the same or 
equivalent type recommended by the 
manufacturer.
Discard used batteries according to the 
manufacturer’s instructions.
ADVARSELEksplosjonsfare ved feilaktig skifte av 
batteri.
Benytt samme batteritype eller en 
tilsvarende type anbefalt av 
apparatfabrikanten.
Brukte batterier kasseres i henhold til 
fabrikantens instruks joner.VAROITUSParisto voi räjähtää, jos se on
virheellisesti asennettu.
Vaihda paristo ainoastaan 
laitevalmistajan suosittelemaan 
tyyppiin. Hävitä käytetty paristo 
valmistajan ohjeiden mukaisesti.
For Canada
This Class B digital apparatus meets all requirements of the Canadian Interference-Causing Equipment Regulations.
Cet appareil numérique de la classe B respecte toutes les exigences du Règlement sur le matériel brouilleur du  Canada.
NOTICE
AVIS
For the USA
FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION
RADIO FREQUENCY INTERFERENCE STATEMENT
This equipment has been tested and found to comply with the limits for a Class B digital device, pursuant to Part 15 of the 
FCC Rules. These limits are designed to provide reasonable protection against harmful interference in a residential 
installation. This equipment generates, uses, and can radiate radio frequency energy and, if not installed and used in 
accordance with the instructions, may cause harmful interference to radio communications. However, there is no guarantee 
that interference will not occur in a particular installation. If this equipment does cause harmful interference to radio or 
television reception, which can be determined by turning the equipment off and on, the user is encouraged to try to correct the 
interference by one or more of the following measures:
–   Reorient or relocate the receiving antenna.
–   Increase the separation between the equipment and receiver.
–   Connect the equipment into an outlet on a circuit different from that to which the receiver is connected.
–   Consult the dealer or an experienced radio/TV technician for help.
This device complies with Part 15 of the FCC Rules. Operation is subject to the following two conditions:
 (1) This device may not cause harmful interference, and
 (2) This device must accept any interference received, including interference that may cause undesired operation.
Unauthorized changes or modification to this system can void the users authority to operate this equipment.
This equipment requires shielded interface cables in order to meet FCC class B Limit.For the USA
DECLARATION OF CONFORMITY
Compliance Information Statement
Model Name :
Type of Equipment :
Responsible Party :
Address :
Telephone :R-4 Pro
4-CHANNEL PORTABLE RECORDER and WAVE EDITOR
Roland Systems Group U.S.
425 Sequoia Drive Suite 114, Bellingham, Washington, 98226 USA
360-594-4282
2
204* Microsoft and Windows are registered trademarks of Microsoft Corporation.206j* Windows® is known officially as: “Microsoft® Windows® operating system.”207* Apple and Macintosh are registered trademarks of Apple Computer, Inc.209* Mac OS is a trademark of Apple Computer, Inc.220* All product names mentioned in this document are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective owners.236* Fugue © 2006 Kyoto Software Research, Inc. All rights reserved.fig.Fugue-logo.eps
and center registration marks to left or right.
IMPORTANT: THE WIRES IN THIS MAINS LEAD ARE COLOURED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE FOLLOWING CODE.
BLUE: 
BROWN: 
As the colours of the wires in the mains lead of this apparatus may not correspond with the coloured markings identifying 
the terminals in your plug, proceed as follows:
The wire which is coloured BLUE must be connected to the terminal which is marked with the letter N or coloured BLACK.
The wire which is coloured BROWN must be connected to the terminal which is marked with the letter L or coloured RED.
Under no circumstances must either of the above wires be connected to the earth terminal of a three pin plug.NEUTRAL
LIVEFor the U.K. 
						

							3
USING THE UNIT SAFELY
................................................................................................001• Before using this unit, make sure to read the 
instructions below, and the Owner’s Manual.
................................................................................................002c• Do not open (or modify in any way) the unit or its 
AC adaptor.
................................................................................................003• Do not attempt to repair the unit, or replace parts 
within it (except when this manual provides 
specific instructions directing you to do so). Refer 
all servicing to your retailer, the nearest Roland 
Service Center, or an authorized Roland 
distributor, as listed on the “Information” page.
................................................................................................004• Never use or store the unit in places that are:
• Subject to temperature extremes (e.g., direct 
sunlight in an enclosed vehicle, near a heating 
duct, on top of heat-generating equipment); or 
are
• Damp (e.g., baths, washrooms, on wet floors); or 
are
• Humid; or are
• Exposed to rain; or are
• Dusty; or are
• Subject to high levels of vibration.
................................................................................................007• Make sure you always have the unit placed so it is 
level and sure to remain stable. Never place it on 
stands that could wobble, or on inclined surfaces.
................................................................................................008c• Be sure to use only the AC adaptor supplied with 
the unit. Also, make sure the line voltage at the 
installation matches the input voltage specified on 
the AC adaptor’s body. Other AC adaptors may 
use a different polarity, or be designed for a 
different voltage, so their use could result in 
damage, malfunction, or electric shock.
008e• Use only the attached power-supply cord. Also, the 
supplied power cord must not be used with any 
other device.
................................................................................................009• Do not excessively twist or bend the power cord, 
nor place heavy objects on it. Doing so can damage 
the cord, producing severed elements and short 
circuits. Damaged cords are fire and shock hazards!
................................................................................................010• This unit, either alone or in combination with an 
amplifier and headphones or speakers, may be 
capable of producing sound levels that could cause 
permanent hearing loss. Do not operate for a long 
period of time at a high volume level, or at a level 
that is uncomfortable. If you experience any 
hearing loss or ringing in the ears, you should 
immediately stop using the unit, and consult an 
audiologist.
................................................................................................011• Do not allow any objects (e.g., flammable material, 
coins, pins); or liquids of any kind (water, soft 
drinks, etc.) to penetrate the unit.
................................................................................................012b• Immediately turn the power off, remove the AC 
adaptor from the outlet, and request servicing by 
your retailer, the nearest Roland Service Center, or 
an authorized Roland distributor, as listed on the 
“Information” page when:
• The AC adaptor, the power-supply cord, or the 
plug has been damaged; or
• If smoke or unusual odor occurs
• Objects have fallen into, or liquid has been 
spilled onto the unit; or
• The unit has been exposed to rain (or otherwise 
has become wet); or
• The unit does not appear to operate normally or 
exhibits a marked change in performance.
Used for instructions intended to alert 
the user to the risk of injury or material 
damag e shoul d the uni t be use d 
improperly. 
* Material damage refers to damage or 
othe r advers e effect s cause d with 
respec t to the hom e and all its 
furnishings , as well to domesti c 
animals or pets.  Used for instructions intended to alert 
the user to the risk of death or severe 
injur y shoul d the uni t be use d 
improperly. 
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							4
013• In households with small children, an adult should 
provide supervision until the child is capable of 
following all the rules essential for the safe 
operation of the unit.
................................................................................................014• Protect the unit from strong impact.
(Do not drop it!)
................................................................................................015• Do not force the unit’s power-supply cord to share 
an outlet with an unreasonable number of other 
devices. Be especially careful when using extension 
cords—the total power used by all devices you 
have connected to the extension cord’s outlet must 
never exceed the power rating (watts/amperes) for 
the extension cord. Excessive loads can cause the 
insulation on the cord to heat up and eventually 
melt through.
................................................................................................016• Before using the unit in a foreign country, consult 
with your retailer, the nearest Roland Service 
Center, or an authorized Roland distributor, as 
listed on the “Information” page.
................................................................................................019• Batteries must never be recharge, heated, taken 
apart, or thrown into fire or water.
101b• The unit and the AC adaptor should be located so 
their location or position does not interfere with 
their proper ventilation.
................................................................................................102c• Always grasp only the plug on the AC adaptor 
cord when plugging into, or unplugging from, an 
outlet or this unit.
................................................................................................103b• At regular intervals, you should unplug the AC 
adaptor and clean it by using a dry cloth to wipe 
all dust and other accumulations away from its 
prongs. Also, disconnect the power plug from the 
power outlet whenever the unit is to remain 
unused for an extended period of time. Any 
accumulation of dust between the power plug and 
the power outlet can result in poor insulation and 
lead to fire.
................................................................................................104• Try to prevent cords and cables from becoming 
entangled. Also, all cords and cables should be 
placed so they are out of the reach of children.
................................................................................................106• Never climb on top of, nor place heavy objects on 
the unit.
................................................................................................107c• Never handle the AC adaptor or its plugs with wet 
hands when plugging into, or unplugging from, an 
outlet or this unit.
108c• Disconnect all cords coming from external devices 
before moving the unit.
................................................................................................109b• Before cleaning the unit, turn off the power and 
unplug the AC adaptor from the outlet (p.25).
................................................................................................110b• Whenever you suspect the possibility of lightning 
in your area, disconnect the AC adaptor from the 
outlet.
................................................................................................111: Selection• If used improperly, batteries may explode or leak 
and cause damage or injury. In the interest of 
safety, please read and observe the following 
precautions (p.26).
1
• Carefully follow the installation instructions for 
batteries, and make sure you observe the correct 
polarity.
2
• Avoid using new batteries together with used ones. In 
addition, avoid mixing different types of batteries.
3
• Remove the batteries whenever the unit is to remain 
unused for an extended period of time.
5
• If a battery has leaked, use a soft piece of cloth or paper 
towel to wipe all remnants of the discharge from the 
battery compartment. Then install new batteries. To 
avoid inflammation of the skin, make sure that none of 
the battery discharge gets onto your hands or skin. 
Exercise the utmost caution so that none of the 
discharge gets near your eyes. Immediately rinse the 
affected area with running water if any of the 
discharge has entered the eyes.
6
• Never keep batteries together with metallic objects 
such as ballpoint pens, necklaces, hairpins, etc.
................................................................................................112• Used batteries must be disposed of in compliance 
with whatever regulations for their safe disposal 
that may be observed in the region in which you 
live.
................................................................................................118a• Should you remove Grounding terminal screw, 
keep them in a safe place out of children’s reach, so 
there is no chance of them being swallowed 
accidentally.
................................................................................................119• The batteries may become hot, so take care to avoid 
burns.
................................................................................................120• Always turn the phantom power off when 
connecting any device other than condenser micro-
phones that require phantom power. You risk 
causing damage if you mistakenly supply 
phantom power to dynamic microphones, audio 
playback devices, or other devices that don’t 
require such power. Be sure to check the specifica-
tions of any microphone you intend to use by 
referring to the manual that came with it.
This instrument’s phantom power: 48 V DC, 8 mA 
Max
(total of all channels must be 25 mA or less)
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							5
Important Notes
291aIn addition to the items listed under “USING THE UNIT SAFELY” on page 3 and 4, please read and observe the following:
Power Supply: Use of Batteries301• Do not connect this unit to same electrical outlet that is 
being used by an electrical appliance that is controlled by 
an inverter (such as a refrigerator, washing machine, 
microwave oven, or air conditioner), or that contains a 
motor. Depending on the way in which the electrical 
appliance is used, power supply noise may cause this unit 
to malfunction or may produce audible noise. If it is not 
practical to use a separate electrical outlet, connect a power 
supply noise filter between this unit and the electrical 
outlet.
302• The AC adaptor will begin to generate heat after long 
hours of consecutive use. This is normal, and is not a cause 
for concern.
303a• The use of an AC adaptor is recommended as the unit’s 
power consumption is relatively high. Should you prefer to 
use batteries, please use the alkaline type.
304a• When installing or replacing batteries, always turn off the 
power on this unit and disconnect any other devices you 
may have connected. This way, you can prevent 
malfunction and/or damage to speakers or other devices.
307• Before connecting this unit to other devices, turn off the 
power to all units. This will help prevent malfunctions 
and/or damage to speakers or other devices.
Placement351• Using the unit near power amplifiers (or other equipment 
containing large power transformers) may induce hum. To 
alleviate the problem, change the orientation of this unit; or 
move it farther away from the source of interference.
352a• This device may interfere with radio and television 
reception. Do not use this device in the vicinity of such 
receivers.
352b• Noise may be produced if wireless communications 
devices, such as cell phones, are operated in the vicinity of 
this unit. Such noise could occur when receiving or initi-
ating a call, or while conversing. Should you experience 
such problems, you should relocate such wireless devices 
so they are at a greater distance from this unit, or switch 
them off.
354a• Do not expose the unit to direct sunlight, place it near 
devices that radiate heat, leave it inside an enclosed 
vehicle, or otherwise subject it to temperature extremes. 
Excessive heat can deform or discolor the unit.
355b• When moved from one location to another where the 
temperature and/or humidity is very different, water 
droplets (condensation) may form inside the unit. Damage 
or malfunction may result if you attempt to use the unit in 
this condition. Therefore, before using the unit, you must 
allow it to stand for several hours, until the condensation 
has completely evaporated.
360• Depending on the material and temperature of the surface 
on which you place the unit, its rubber feet may discolor or 
mar the surface.
You can place a piece of felt or cloth under the rubber feet 
to prevent this from happening. If you do so, please make 
sure that the unit will not slip or move accidentally.
Maintenance401a• For everyday cleaning wipe the unit with a soft, dry cloth 
or one that has been slightly dampened with water. To 
remove stubborn dirt, use a cloth impregnated with a mild, 
non-abrasive detergent. Afterwards, be sure to wipe the 
unit thoroughly with a soft, dry cloth.
402• Never use benzine, thinners, alcohol or solvents of any 
kind, to avoid the possibility of discoloration and/or defor-
mation.
Additional Precautions553• Use a reasonable amount of care when using the unit’s 
buttons, sliders, or other controls; and when using its jacks 
and connectors. Rough handling can lead to malfunctions.
554• Never strike or apply strong pressure to the display.556• When connecting / disconnecting all cables, grasp the 
connector itself—never pull on the cable. This way you will 
avoid causing shorts, or damage to the cable’s internal 
elements.
558a• To avoid disturbing your neighbors, try to keep the unit’s 
volume at reasonable levels. You may prefer to use 
headphones, so you do not need to be concerned about 
those around you (especially when it is late at night).
559a• When you need to transport the unit, package it in the box 
(including padding) that it came in, if possible. Otherwise, 
you will need to use equivalent packaging materials.
562• Some connection cables contain resistors. Do not use cables 
that incorporate resistors for connecting to this unit. The 
use of such cables can cause the sound level to be 
extremely low, or impossible to hear. For information on 
cable specifications, contact the manufacturer of the cable.
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							6
Important Notes
Handling Hard Disks
Important Performance and Image 
Data
811• Once a hard disk fails to function normally, all data that 
has been stored on it could be destroyed.
All hard disks eventually wear out. We recommend that 
you consider the hard disk not as a permanent storage site, 
but as a place to store data temporarily. We also 
recommend that you back up important performance and 
image data that cannot be recorded again onto the external 
media that is supported by your device. For instructions on 
how to make such backups, refer to the owner’s manual for 
your device.
Note that Roland assumes no liability whatsoever, 
including monetary compensation, for the loss of any 
recorded content in the event of the malfunction of, or 
physical damage to the hard disk, or for any direct or 
incidental damages resulting from the loss of such data.
Precautions Regarding Setup and 
Use
812• Certain hard disk setup procedures and usage conditions 
may result in the corruption of recorded data, malfunc-
tioning, or physical damage to the disk, so be sure to 
observe the following precautions.
• Do not subject the hard disk to vibration or shock, 
especially while the unit is in operation.
• Do not place in locations that experience vibrations, 
unstable locations, locations that are not level, or places 
with extremely large sound pressure (110 dB or more, 
see below). 
If recording is impossible due to vibration or sound 
pressure, a message is displayed in advance. (P.21)
• Do not set up the unit in any location where it may be 
affected by vibration from external sources, or on any 
surface that is not stable and level.
• If the device includes a cooling fan, ensure that the fan 
and the side panel air vents remain unobstructed.
• Do not leave the unit in any environment subject to 
temperature extremes; for example, in a closed 
automobile in summer or outdoors during winter.
• Do not use the unit in conditions of high temperature 
and humidity or in any location subject to rapid 
temperature changes.
• Do not unplug the power cord or switch off any circuit 
breakers in the circuit to which the unit is connected 
while the power is turned on.
• Do not move the unit while the power is turned on or 
immediately after turning off the power. When trans-
porting the unit, first turn off the power and confirm 
that the display screen has gone off, disconnect the 
power plug, then wait at least two minutes before 
moving the device.
* Examples of places with extremely large sound pressure are
under railroad bridges, within 2 meters of an automobile
horn, or near a PA speaker. 
Emergency Procedures
813* The following procedures are to be used as emergency mea-
sures only, and are not recommended for normal operation.
• If the device fails to respond to operational commands or 
does not complete operations, turn off the power. If the 
power does not shut off following normal shutdown proce-
dures, disconnect the power plug.
If the unit does not operate normally when the power is 
turned on again, it may mean that the hard disk has been 
damaged. In such instances, consult your dealer or the 
nearest Roland Service Center. Note, however, that it may 
not be possible to recover any data from the hard disk once 
it has been lost.
If your device features drive check capabilities, use the 
drive check function to regularly confirm that there are no 
problems, even when the device is operating normally.
For more detailed information on the shutdown and drive 
check procedures, refer to the Owner’s Manual.
Copyright851• Recording, duplication, distribution, sale, lease, perfor-
mance, or broadcast of copyrighted material (musical 
works, visual works, broadcasts, live performances, etc.) 
belonging to a third party in part or in whole without the 
permission of the copyright owner is forbidden by law.
852a• This product can be used to record or duplicate audio or 
visual material without being limited by certain techno-
logical copy-protection measures. This is due to the fact 
that this product is intended to be used for the purpose of 
producing original music or video material, and is 
therefore designed so that material that does not infringe 
copyrights belonging to others (for example, your own 
original works) can be recorded or duplicated freely.
853• Do not use this unit for purposes that could infringe on a 
copyright held by a third party. We assume no responsi-
bility whatsoever with regard to any infringements of 
third-party copyrights arising through your use of this 
unit.
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							7
Contents
Checking the included items ...... 8
Introducing the R-4 Pro ............. 9
The R-4 Pro’s controls and connectors.......... 9
Display ............................................................. 18
What is a project? ........................................... 22
Getting ready to use the R-4 Pro24
Basic connection examples ........................... 24
Connecting the AC adapter and 
turning the power on/off ............................. 25
Installing batteries and 
turning on the power..................................... 26
Recording ............................... 30
Recording from a connected mic ................. 30
Recording from the internal mics ................ 33
Recording digital audio 
from a digital device ...................................... 34
Simultaneously recording sound from 
connected mics and a digital device............ 35
Simultaneously recording sound from 
connected external mics 
and the internal mics ..................................... 36
Playing back ........................... 37
Connections before playback ....................... 37
Setup before playback ................................... 39
Playing back .................................................... 41
Finder functions ...................... 44
Selecting a project (Select)............................. 44
Deleting a project (Delete) ............................ 45
Renaming a project (Rename) ...................... 46
Copying a project (Copy).............................. 47
Moving a project (Move)............................... 48
Creating a new folder (Make Folder) .......... 49
Editing .................................... 51
Editing procedure .......................................... 51
Effects settings ........................ 59
Applying effects ............................................. 60
Effects............................................................... 62
System setup .......................... 64
Example operations ....................................... 65
System Menu .................................................. 72
Appendix ................................ 79
Handling external memory device .............. 79
Connecting to a computer ............................ 82Connecting to a video device 
with a timecode port ..................................... 84
Application guide .................... 89
Connecting an external mic for CD-quality 
stereo recording ............................................. 89
Recording birdsongs outdoors .................... 90
Recording audio while filming video ......... 91
Recording audio memos 
using just the R-4 Pro .................................... 91
Simultaneously recording environmental 
sounds (ambience) ......................................... 92
Simultaneously recording at different input 
levels ................................................................ 92
Recording comments simultaneously ........ 93
Messages ................................ 94
Troubleshooting ...................... 95
Computer-related problems......................... 95
Recording-related problems......................... 95
Playback-related problems ........................... 97
Problems with the R-4 Pro operation.......... 98
Main specifications.................. 99
Recorder .......................................................... 99
Audio Input and Output .............................. 99
Other Input/Output Part ........................... 100
Effect Unit Part ............................................. 100
Control........................................................... 100
Others ............................................................ 100
Block diagram....................... 101
Index .................................... 102
Copyright © 2006 ROLAND CORPORATION
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be 
reproduced in any form without the written permission of 
ROLAND CORPORATION.
Before using this unit, carefully read the sections 
entitled: “USING THE UNIT SAFELY” and 
“IMPORTANT NOTES” (p.3
–p.7). These sections 
provide important information concerning the proper 
operation of the unit. Additionally, in order to feel 
assured that you have gained a good grasp of every 
feature provided by your new unit, Owner’s Manual 
should be read in its entirety. The manual should be 
saved and kept on hand as a convenient reference.
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							8
Checking the included items
The R-4 pro comes with the following items. Immediately after opening the package, please check that you 
have all of these items. If any items are missing, please contact the dealer where you purchased the R-4.
■R-4 Pro
fig.R-4.eps_50
■AC adapter
This AC adapter is designed specifically for the R-4 Pro. Do not attempt to use any other adapter with the 
R-4.
■Power Conversion Cable
This is the R-4 Pro dedicated XLR connector (4-pin) and AC adapter conversion cable.
“Connecting the AC adapter and turning the power on/off” (p. 25)
■USB cable (1 meter)
You can use this cable to connect the R-4 Pro to the USB connector of your computer.
“Connecting to a computer” (p. 82)
* If the AC adapter or USB cable becomes damaged or if you need a replacement for any reason, please contact one of 
the Service Centers listed in the “Information” section at the end of this manual.
* Don't remove the ferrite core that's attached to the USB cable.
■Carrying case
You can use this case to protect the R-4 Pro while it is being transported or stored.
■Owner’s manual
This is the document you’re reading. Keep it at hand for easy reference.
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							9
Introducing the R-4 Pro
fig.panel-1.eps_50
Internal mics [MIC-L, MIC-R]
These are stereo mics built into the R-4 Pro. The audio entering MIC-L is recorded on the 1L channel, while 
audio picked up by MIC-R is recorded on the 1R channel. If you’re recording via the internal mics, set the 
System Settings menu item Recording Setup to Int-Mic. For details, refer to “Recording from the 
internal mics” (p. 33).
* Don’t connect anything to input jacks you’re not using.
Internal speakers
These are built-in speakers for monitoring. If you want sound to be heard from the internal speakers, set 
the System Settings menu item Speaker to ON. For details, refer to “Playing back” (p. 37).
* No sound will be heard from the internal speakers if you’ve connected headphones to the Headphone jack 
( ). Nor will sound be heard from the internal speakers while recording or in recording-standby mode; this 
prevents acoustic feedback from occurring.R-4 Pro
Power switch [POWER]
This turns the power on/off. To turn the power on or off, press and hold the power switch for about five 
seconds. The power switch is lit blue when the power is on.
Don’t turn the power off during recording or playback. Before you turn off the power, you must make sure 
that recording or playback is stopped.
* If you accidentally turn off the power during recording, the data that was being recorded will not be stored on the 
hard disk.
* The hard disk may be damaged if you turn off the power of the R-4 Pro while data is being read from or written to 
the hard disk (such as during recording or playback). You must also be careful not to turn off the power while data 
is being transferred between the hard disk and an external memory device.
* Never turn off the power while the R-4 Pro’s display indicates Now Connecting... or Now Processing! Doing so 
will cause the R-4 Pro to become unstable and may damage the internal hard disk.
* During recording, pressing the power switch will not turn off the power.
* The hard disk may be damaged if you turn off the power of the R-4 Pro while data on the hard disk is being written 
or read, such as during playback or waveform editing.
The R-4 Pro’s controls and connectors
Top panel
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							10
Introducing the R-4 Pro
fig.panel-1.eps_50
Hold switch [HOLD]
By selecting the HOLD ON position, you can disable the panel buttons so that unwanted operations will 
not occur if a button is pressed accidentally.
However, even if this switch is set to HOLD ON, the phantom power switches, limiter switch , 
Input level knobs, and Monitor level knob will still be operable.
Phantom power switches [PHANTOM POWER]
These switch the phantom power on/off for the XLR type connectors located on the right panel. Since 
separate switches are provided for channels 1/2 and channels 3/4, you can turn phantom power on/off 
separately for these channels.
fig.jack-type
* Keep the phantom power turned off for any device other than condenser microphones that require phantom power. 
You risk causing damage if you mistakenly supply phantom power to dynamic microphones or other devices that 
don’t require such power. Be sure to check the specifications of any microphone you intend to use by referring to the 
manual that came with it.
This instrument’s phantom power: 48 V DC, 8 mA Max
(total of all channels must be 25 mA or less)
Limiter switch [LIMITER]
This is an on/off switch for an input level limiter in the analog circuitry.
When the input level is too high, the limiter compresses the input level appropriately to prevent distortion.
The limiter can be set to operate each channel independently or use channels 1-2 and 3-4 as pairs (linked). 
"Limiter Link" (P.71)
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