Deity PR-2ii Pocket Recorder Released – Dual-ADC Preamp, IP54 Sealing, and WAV File Recovery

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Deity PR-2ii Pocket Recorder Released – Dual-ADC Preamp, IP54 Sealing, and WAV File Recovery

Deity has released the PR-2ii, the second generation of its PR-2 pocket recorder, the small two-AA box that many sound recordists hide on talent as a backup for their wireless. The new model gets a dual-ADC preamp that Deity says lowers self-noise by 5.4 dB, an IP54 dust and splash rated housing, a PSRAM buffer with WAV file recovery, a brighter color screen, and microSD support up to 1TB. It is available now at B&H as a bundle with Deity’s Avora lavalier microphone.

Pocket recorders are not the most exciting products we cover, but they are often the ones that save the take when a wireless link drops out behind a wall or in a crowd. Deity first showed the PR-2ii with production firmware at IBC 2026 in Amsterdam in September, together with its new TC-2 timecode box and the THEOS D4RX four-channel receiver. At the same show, we gave our Best-of-Show award in the audio category to the Deity PR-4, so I was curious to see what the company would do with its smallest recorder. The answer: the concept stays the same (one 3.5mm input, two tracks, two AA batteries), but almost everything inside has been revised.

The Deity PR-2ii with its new color screen and dedicated record button. Image credit: Deity

What changed from the PR-2?

The main change is the preamp. The PR-2ii uses two acquisition paths within the analog input channel with 32-bit conversion, and Deity rates the internal-recording dynamic range at 124 dB or higher, compared with 123 dB typical for the PR-2 in 32-bit float. Equivalent input noise is specified at -117 dBV (A-weighted, 36 dB gain, 150 ohm source). The PR-2 spec sheet gives -130 dBu at a different gain setting and in a different unit, so the two EIN figures cannot be compared directly. The comparison to look at is Deity’s own claim of 5.4 dB lower self-noise, and that is a manufacturer figure, not one we have measured.

Storage support goes from microSDHC cards up to 128GB on the PR-2 to microSD cards up to 1TB. The USB-C port also does more now. On the PR-2, it worked as a card reader and for firmware updates. On the PR-2ii, it adds USB Audio Class 2.0 class-compliant operation as a two-channel, 48 kHz, 24-bit sound card, plus timecode output. The screen is a 600-nit color TFT, which Deity says is 60% brighter than the one on the PR-2.

Two things have not moved forward. Recording is still 48 kHz only, and 32-bit float is still mono only, so a stereo recording (two lavs, or a stereo feed from a mixer) is 24-bit integer. I would have liked to see two-channel 32-bit float this time (Deity, if you are reading this, that is the first item on my wish list for a PR-3). Rated battery life also goes down on paper: the PR-2 was rated at up to 30 hours with lithium AA batteries, the PR-2ii at 20+ hours with Deity’s AA batteries. Deity connects this figure to the brighter display. My guess is that the new preamp needs some power too, but that is only a guess.

Built for the recorder you cannot reach

For a recorder that lives under wardrobe or inside a car, the protection features are the most practical part of the update. A PSRAM buffer holds audio on its way to the card and evens out differences in write speed, so according to Deity, the PR-2ii works with a wider range of microSD cards. If a recording stops unexpectedly or a file is corrupted, you switch the recorder back on and it writes the missing WAV file footer and recovers the file. Anyone who has lost a file because a battery lost contact in the middle of a take will understand why this matters.

The USB-C port now works as an audio interface and as a timecode output. Image credit: Deity

The housing is now IP54 rated against dust and splashes, with a new rubber gasket around the battery compartment. A 6H tempered-glass cover protects the screen, and the controls are buttons, which Deity says make the front stronger than on the previous model. The specified operating range is -20 to 60°C (-4 to 140°F) at 0 to 90% relative humidity, non-condensing.

Faster setup for small crews

Deity has added gain presets for popular lavaliers: the DPA 4060/4061, Sennheiser MKE 2, Countryman B3, and Shure TL47. They give you a practical starting level without a sound check. Input gain runs from -12 dB to +36 dB in both mic and line mode, the maximum input level is -0.5 dBu (0.73 Vrms), and the 3.5mm TRS input supplies 5V plug-in power for the microphone.

The preset gain menu with starting levels for common lavalier microphones. Image credit: Deity

The rest of the toolset covers what a run-and-gun shooter needs: 75 Hz and 150 Hz low-cut filters, a soft-knee limiter with a fixed -6 dBFS threshold (0.75 ms attack, 1000 ms release), onboard noise reduction, pre-record, and mark points to find important moments later in post. One-touch recording uses a dedicated record button. In 32-bit float mode, the gain setting is less critical, of course, but the presets still help in 24-bit stereo mode and for the headphone feed.

Timecode and remote control

The PR-2ii receives wireless timecode from Deity’s own ecosystem, which includes the TC-1 timecode box and TC-SL1 slate, the THEOS wireless system, the PR-4, and other PR-2ii units. Deity specifies the Bluetooth LE timecode range at 80 to 95 m (260 to 310 ft) and the drift at one frame every 48 hours. The 3.5mm output takes timecode in or out during recording, as LTC (3V) or ATC, and USB-C timecode output works with XTRA, DJI, and Insta360 cameras, according to Deity.

The 3.5mm input and the 3.5mm output for headphones, line out, and LTC or ATC timecode. Image credit: Deity

Control runs through the Sidus Audio app on iPhone, iPad, Android, and macOS. From the app, you can start and stop recording, check status, and change settings at up to 76 m (250 ft), the same control range Deity quoted for the PR-2. Over Bluetooth, the app also lets you listen to the recorder from more than 40 m (130 ft) away. For a solo shooter with the recorder hidden on talent, that means you can check the audio without walking over and reaching under a jacket.

Size, power, and what is in the box

The PR-2ii measures 60 x 58.5 x 18.5mm (2.36 x 2.30 x 0.73in) and weighs 55g (1.9oz) without batteries; the removable back clip adds about 3.5g. Power comes from two AA batteries (1.5V maximum each) or from 5V over USB-C. Deity gives the power consumption as up to 0.53 W on AA batteries and up to 0.71 W on USB-C power. Files are recorded as BWF WAV and are split at approximately 4GB, and the headphone output delivers 62.5 mW at 16 ohms.

The PR-2ii is designed to be worn on talent first. Image credit: Deity

Where does this fit in the market? 32-bit float pocket recorders are not new: the Tascam DR-10L Pro and Zoom’s F2 work in the same category, and many wireless transmitters now record internally as well. In my opinion, Deity’s advantage is less the recorder itself and more the system around it. If you already use a TC-1, a PR-4, or THEOS transmitters, the PR-2ii simply joins the same timecode network and the same app.

Price and availability

The Deity PR-2ii is available now at B&H for $259, bundled with the Avora lavalier microphone. At the time of writing, CVP lists only the original PR-2, and Deity directs European buyers to its local dealers, so a euro price is not available yet. More information is on the Deity website.

Do you still put a pocket recorder on talent as a backup for your wireless, or do you rely on the internal recording in your transmitters now? Would file recovery and IP54 sealing make you upgrade from the original PR-2? Let me know what you think in the comments below!