Re: MD: XLR connection for microphone
On Mon, 11 Dec 2000, Jaques, Yves (FIDI) wrote: Hi, > If I use a phantom-powered mono XLR mic, and attach a plug to convert it > from XLR to stereo mini-plug, > will it work? Probably don't. AFAIK the stereo connector for a MD minijack is unbalanced: L R and ground. The three wires of a XLR connectors are ground, signal+ and signal- for a balanced signal. There are two ways of achieving what you want: The pretty one: use a external box for suplying phantom power to the mic, and convert the signal from mic, balanced to line unbalanced. They usually supply roll-off filters and the like also... The ugly? one: you can always convert a balanced signal to unbalanced if you shorcircuit ground and signal-. Theoretically, if you solder signal+ to the tip and intermediate ring of a minijack, join signal- and ground and solder it to the ring, that will do the trick. What I don't see clear is what happen with phantom power, or if you will still be able to supply power to the mic. I'd bet yes, but don't believe me... I wouldn't try, specially w/ expensive equipment (MD), without reading a confirmation from someone here first... ;) regards, *---(*)---******--> Francisco J. Montilla - System & Network admin - Seville - Spain [EMAIL PROTECTED] - irc: pukka - Coordinador INSFLUG (insflug.org) DoQmail: qmail en castellano es.qmail.org - OpenSlink Project: slink.org - To stop getting this list send a message containing just the word "unsubscribe" to [EMAIL PROTECTED]
RE: MD: MDX-C670RDS manual?
On Thu, 10 Aug 2000, Victor Bouch wrote:
Hi,
> I was just wondering if anyone ever responded with a manual for you. I too
> would like a copy so if you did receive one, would you mind forwarding it to
> me.
Yes, a kind german soul sent me a scan, I'll send it to you as
soon as I come back home, and will fw it (I guess I did) to Eric to put it
on the web.
BTW, it's a way wonderful sounding head unit, I prefer it *a lot
more* than the new 2000 models (I have one MDX-C6500RX too).
> ->I've browsed and searched trhough this list archives
> -> before buying
> -> MD equipment; both this list and the minidisc.org are great!
> ->
> ->I have been offered a used MDX-C670RDS at a reasonable (very)
> -> price, but problem is there's no user manual. I know it will be
> -> relatively easy to operate it, but I'm a RTFM maniac, and
> -> also would like
> -> to know about wired remote compatibility, possible add-ons
> -> (CD-Chargers,
> -> et al).
greets,
*---(*)---**-->
Francisco J. Montilla System & Network admin
[EMAIL PROTECTED] irc: pukkaSevilleSpain
INSFLUG (LiNUX) Coordinator: www.insflug.org - ftp.insflug.org
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Re: MD: Copying records to Mini-disc
On Thu, 6 Jul 2000 [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:
Hi,
> Can anyone recommend a program to help remove scratches and pops from records
> before copying them to Mini-disc.
To my experience, you can obtain better results following a
different strategy than trying to remove pops and clicks on an automated
fashion..
I have digitized about 80+ records, and tried lots of procedures.
The one that render more satisfactory results to me was:
Equipment.-
Use a good capsule/stylus and record player. It doesn't have to be
a Rega or similar; a decent turntable with a decent capsule/stylus (eg.
Stanton MK series) so that you part from the best source signal possible.
Anyway, keep in mind the better the turntable/arm/capsule/stylus
is, the better sound you'll achieve.
Although there are very good digitizing soundcards nowadays, and
most important, with fairly decent S/N ratio, I found is usually better to
feed the signal from the turntable to the amp, (the amp's phono stage will
play a critic role for RIAA equalization and such) and from the amp to a
good *external* AD converter; from that go digitally to the computer
soundcard. PCs are horrible in terms of noise, both internally and
inducing it on external devices.
Going digital also allows you to place the turntable as far from the PC as
you can (I have a 15m coax cable from the digital out of the JA20ES I use
as AD converter) w/o signal strength/interference problems due to the
cable lenght.
Procedure.-
First of all, clean the record spraying an specific cleaner. And
the *key* fact: play it w/o recording. Disassemble the turntable head and
clean it gently with a toothbrush or alike, you'll find lots of dust on
the stylus. Repeat the same procedure. Repeat. Repeat it until *no* dust
is fetched on the stylus; that usually involves doing that 4 to 5 times.
If you're gonna digitize lots of records, having a second
turntable for the sole purpose of play-cleaning records will be useful.
It's quality insn't critic as long as it doesn't damage the records...
Now fire up your preferred recording software. Cool Edit is a
jewel, but is for windows :) I use bcast2000 for Linux; any decent
recording wav editing software will do; timed recording capability will be
a certainly useful feature, and non-destructive editing will make the
difference; be prepared to eat tons of disk space if you go the
non-destructive way, as you'll need it for the source file, the
normalized ones, and the final render...
Remember to adjust the analog level on the AD converter so that the signal
reachs about -4/-2dB; don't get obsessed trying to achieve the most 0dB
close level; we are on the digital domain and saturation isn't as
important as analog recording.
Once recorded, I have found that apart from locating the few cliks
and pops, easily eye-located, and removing them, the *best* is to *simply*
normalize each track individually to 0dB. If you see that a track doesn't
normalize as expected, is very possible that you missed a pop. leave a 2
sec silence between tracks, render the final fileand you're done to burn
it.
I don't know much about nowadays windows based recording software,
I use the excellent *nix, non-destructive, toc oriented xcdrdao program. I
put the track marks/pregaps there (I work with a huge single wav file),
enter the CD-Text relevant information and DAO burn the CD. I supposed
there are windows programs with that capabilities.
Conclusion.-
Believe me, I have tried lots of PC based off-line postprocessing:
noise gates, expanders. ocmpressors, click/pop removers... The best
procedure is not to use them, just assure to start with the best
source material posible, and simply normalize it.
Think of it: an automated click/pop remover usally scan certain
patterns. With a noise remover you usally feed it with a noise sample
and it analyzes it in order to remove the pattern it has computed.
The problem is that there aren't "illegal" sound patterns in music by
definition. The program can confuse click/pops with percussion sounds; the
noise remover usually kills "bright" high-frequency sounds.
The best is source material doesn't have clics/pops to start. The
less post processing you apply to it, the more natural and warmth sound
you'll achieve.
it may sound obvious, but this golden audio engineering rule isn't usually
followed.
Last, put the CD on the CD player, and record it digitally to the
MD letting it title tracks and such using the CD-Text information...
hope it helps,
*---(*)---**-->
Francisco J. Montilla System & Network admin
[EMAIL PROTECTED] irc: pukkaSevilleSpain
INSFLUG (LiNUX) Coordinator: www.
Re: MD: Co-ax v's Optical (must read).
On Thu, 29 Jun 2000, Timothy P. Stockman wrote: Hi, > I believe that the most common versions of Sony ATRAC, "4.5" and "R", > produce 20-bit and 24-bit (respectively) results. So passing a 16-bit input > through ATRAC encode/decode will produce a 20- or 24-bit output signal. > Sometime when I get a chance I can look at the behaviour of my MDS-PC2 and > MDS-JE520 (both ATRAC 4.5) on the 'scope. > > A related topic is whether the sample rate convertor is active and what > effect it has. My guess is that it might also increase the word length of a > 16-bit signal. The JA20ES has seperately settable input and output bit legth, so I'd swear it does sample converting... greets, *---(*)---******--> Francisco J. Montilla System & Network admin [EMAIL PROTECTED] irc: pukkaSevilleSpain INSFLUG (LiNUX) Coordinator: www.insflug.org - ftp.insflug.org - To stop getting this list send a message containing just the word "unsubscribe" to [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Re: MD: Digital CD-MD-Amp passthrough
On Tue, 27 Jun 2000, J. van de Griek wrote: Hi, > > I have a JA20ES w/ 2 outputs (TOSLink/Coax) and 3 inputs > > (2TOSLink/Coax) and I use it as a "digital patching matrix", and yes, you > > have to press the record button (try it w/o a MD :) so that it acts as a > > -AD DA- or AD-DA converter. I also have a Megachanger connected to the MD, > > so that I could switch (the amp remote can't) easily between CD or MD with > > the MD remote. > > The fact that you have to set the MD deck to Record for it to pass through > the signal makes me suspect that the signal goes through an ATRAC > encoding/decoding cycle. In other words, it's passing through the signal > that would come from the MD, not the original PCM signal from the CD (record > monitoring, not signal pass-through). Probably an improvement over bad DACs, > but not quite the best possible signal. I couldn't believe that. Being SONY, I must admit I considered that at first, but don't think so. I don't think the JA20ES has bad DACs, being a hi-medium end deck, what the h***... The fact of having to push the record button (then AD- -DA or AD-DA appears on the display) isn't specific from MDs I believe, DATs and other digital recording equipment works the same... Another issue is, do you think an MD ATRAC chip is capable of coding/decoding simultaneously? I don't think so. what do you guys think? greets, *---(*)---**--> Francisco J. Montilla System & Network admin [EMAIL PROTECTED] irc: pukkaSevilleSpain INSFLUG (LiNUX) Coordinator: www.insflug.org - ftp.insflug.org - To stop getting this list send a message containing just the word "unsubscribe" to [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Re: MD: Digital CD-MD-Amp passthrough
On Tue, 27 Jun 2000, Simon Gardner wrote: Hi, > >My problem is that my Sony CD megachanger has a pretty bad DAC and sounds > >a lot better when connected to my Amp via an optical cable. If I get an MD > >deck I want to connect the CD changer to it in the same way to get > >digital-quality MD copies, but the changer only has one optical/digital > >output. > > > >I guess I need to get an MD deck that has optical input and output and is > >able to act as a passthrough so the CD's optical output can reach the amp > >via the MD deck. > > >Does anyone know which MD decks, if any, support this? I have seen one or > >two which have optical output as well as input, but the typically sparse > >webpages don't say whether the output is only for the MD deck itself or > >whather it will relay the optical input to the output when the MD isn't in > >use. > > I'll have a look at my brother's Pioneer deck (afaik, it's got optical in > and out) and let you know. I suspect it'll act in the same way as a tape > deck, ie. only relaying when the deck is recording or on record pause. I have a JA20ES w/ 2 outputs (TOSLink/Coax) and 3 inputs (2TOSLink/Coax) and I use it as a "digital patching matrix", and yes, you have to press the record button (try it w/o a MD :) so that it acts as a -AD DA- or AD-DA converter. I also have a Megachanger connected to the MD, so that I could switch (the amp remote can't) easily between CD or MD with the MD remote. I noticed that almost all new sony models (when I bought the JA20ES it was the only deck with that I/O variety) have TOSLink/Coax output and 2TOSLink/Coax inputs now. That lets me use my deck also as a digitizer when recording old vinyl records, selecting the analog input from the amp tape out, and then feeding digitally my soundcard to the PC harddisk (the link, a coax cable is about 20 meters) and viceversa, to listen to the PC via my hifi; it's a matter of switching between inputs with the I/O selector (what a shame it isn't controlable w/ the remote). hope it helps, *---(*)---**--> Francisco J. Montilla System & Network admin [EMAIL PROTECTED] irc: pukkaSevilleSpain INSFLUG (LiNUX) Coordinator: www.insflug.org - ftp.insflug.org - To stop getting this list send a message containing just the word "unsubscribe" to [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Re: MD: Sharp 831 (UK) - headphone connection
On Fri, 16 Jun 2000, Felton, Robert wrote: Hi, > Can a headphone can be plugged directly in to the remote-control socket on > the recorder, or do you have to use the socket on the remote control? I'd bet yes, at least I do that w/ my 722... hope it helps, *---(*)---**--> Francisco J. Montilla System & Network admin [EMAIL PROTECTED] irc: pukkaSevilleSpain INSFLUG (LiNUX) Coordinator: www.insflug.org - ftp.insflug.org - To stop getting this list send a message containing just the word "unsubscribe" to [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Re: MD: PCMDLK
On Tue, 13 Jun 2000, Kenneth wrote: Hi, > Hi, I remember sometime ago we talked about a S-link connector kit for PC to > control a Sony CD player and MD recorder with the MD Editor software. Does > anyone here still remember where can I find a place online to purchase this? > What I want to do is to have a GUI program to make MD compiliations from my > 200 CD changer, and do simple editing and controls. If anyone know any > alternative to this, or other DIY solution, please let me know, since the > Sony kit is priced at $150 as I checked last time. Thanks for any input. See insflug.org/slink/ Hope it helps, *---(*)---**------> Francisco J. Montilla System & Network admin [EMAIL PROTECTED] irc: pukkaSevilleSpain INSFLUG (LiNUX) Coordinator: www.insflug.org - ftp.insflug.org - To stop getting this list send a message containing just the word "unsubscribe" to [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Re: MD: what to buy
On Mon, 12 Jun 2000, Borsos Laszlo wrote: Hi, > >> 3. I don't know if it is much better to have "line out" if I digitize the > >> material with my SoundBlaster Live. Does it make a big difference if I > only > >> use the "Phones" plug to connect to the computer? > > > > It depends. There's no actual portable with digital out, but why > >bother to transfer lectures digitally? If digital transfer is desirable, > >then you'd better get a second unit, a deck. Preferably Sony, in order to > >be able to control it via computer (see insflug.org/slink/) > What I wanted to know here was that some portables have two plugs to give > out the sound. One is the "line out", which I think is an unamplified > signal, and the other is phones, which must exists on all - this is > amplified signal. My question is how much a difference it makes to > digitalize (i.e. copy to the computer) the sound from the two different > kinds of signals. hmmm... As you say, Sharps (and I guess Aiwas) have a dual phones/line out plug. I haven't tested myself this in digitizing as I use a seperate deck, but I guess for lectures is more than enough in quality. Giving an equal power sound signal (which is VAC) what differs from loading it into phones or a line in is impedance; the higher impedance that line connections have adapts it for line usage. A tip for better results: look for a balanced ratio between input and output devices gain: I mean, don't set the portable volume to 30% and the line in of the computer to 170%. Better set the portable to 70-100% and the line in to 50%, the qid is look for the combination of the two where less amplification, and thus, distortion (specially on a PC which is a very electrically noisy environment) is involved. hope it helps, *---(*)---**--> Francisco J. Montilla System & Network admin [EMAIL PROTECTED] irc: pukkaSevilleSpain INSFLUG (LiNUX) Coordinator: www.insflug.org - ftp.insflug.org - To stop getting this list send a message containing just the word "unsubscribe" to [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Re: MD: what to buy
On Sat, 10 Jun 2000, Borsos Laszlo wrote:
Hi,
> I have just joined this forum, because I want to buy a portable minidisc
> recorder, and I want to decide which one is best for me. I saw sites on the
> internet, but there is too much information for me to deal with. If you can
> give me useful tips I will be grateful.
>
> Here are my considerations:
>
> 1. I would like to record lectures in mono, then transfer them to the
> computer, and make MP3 files. I would use a few disks again and again.
Q. 1 Is it date stamping a desirable feature?
> 2. Sometimes I need to record for two days continuously. It should work with
> normal rechargable batteries, so I can change them anytime. Still battery
> life is crucial.
Ok. Sony's are discarded then...
> 3. I don't know if it is much better to have "line out" if I digitize the
> material with my SoundBlaster Live. Does it make a big difference if I only
> use the "Phones" plug to connect to the computer?
It depends. There's no actual portable with digital out, but why
bother to transfer lectures digitally? If digital transfer is desirable,
then you'd better get a second unit, a deck. Preferably Sony, in order to
be able to control it via computer (see insflug.org/slink/)
> 4. I need something lower in price.
Ok. Again, Sony is discarded.
> So far I am thinking of Sharp MD-MT20. Please write me your opinions.
mmm... If your answer to Q1 is yes, then get an Aiwa
FM-65/70/75/80. If it's no, then better get a Sharp 722 than the MT-20.
There are lots of offers out there...
The aiwas have the (sometimes desirable, specially with lectures I
guess) date stamping function.
The Aiwas and the Sharps have, as desirable features for lecture
recording:
Level-adjustable Syncro start/stop
Long battery life (8-11 hours against the 5 that sonys have)
NO END SEARCH "function" :)
hope it helps,
*---(*)---**-->
Francisco J. Montilla System & Network admin
[EMAIL PROTECTED] irc: pukkaSevilleSpain
INSFLUG (LiNUX) Coordinator: www.insflug.org - ftp.insflug.org
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Re: MD: CAR Sony MDX-C6500R and -RV
On Fri, 9 Jun 2000, Luca wrote: Hi, > anyone knows the differences between the two models listed in the subject? > Apart from the different display I can't see any... what's the catch? There's no difference, apart from fact that the non-specific models (the blue and the red one) can't switch colors (amber<->green) hope it helps, *---(*)---**********--> Francisco J. Montilla System & Network admin [EMAIL PROTECTED] irc: pukkaSevilleSpain INSFLUG (LiNUX) Coordinator: www.insflug.org - ftp.insflug.org - To stop getting this list send a message containing just the word "unsubscribe" to [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Re: MD: Sony A-1 with VAIO laptop
Hi, On Mon, 5 Jun 2000, Kenneth wrote: > Hi, I am planning to buy a VAIO laptop soon, the XG18 with the XG docking > that have an A-1 connector. Can anyone have any idea where this is going to > allow me to title my Minidisc with the computer? Do I need some special > software to do this, such as the Sony Minidisc software? Any input is > appreciated. Thanks. See insflug.org/slink/ regards, *---(*)---******------> Francisco J. Montilla System & Network admin [EMAIL PROTECTED] irc: pukkaSevilleSpain INSFLUG (LiNUX) Coordinator: www.insflug.org - ftp.insflug.org - To stop getting this list send a message containing just the word "unsubscribe" to [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Re: MD: MD confusion
On Thu, 11 May 2000, Roger wrote: Hiya, > I didn't really get my questions answered--can anyone on this thing help > me? I want to use my computer burner to make CD's of my personal MD > mixes. I need to know if I can hook up a MD deck to my SB Live > soundcard (it has SPDIF in/out) digitally, is there such a cable to > purchase? A simple 75 Ohm video stereo minijack to 2xRCA will do. You could also buy two 75 Ohm RCA video cables and use a 2 RCA to stereo minijack adaptor, or even solder it from parts yourself. The tip of the stereo minijack is usually digital output, and the ring digital input. > will do I don't want to have to buy a whole deck if it's not possible That depends really on your soundcard capabilities (i.e. drivers). I guess it should... > doesn't have have digital out)--this takes forever and I don't think the > quality's retained) or too complicated. My next question, if it is indeed Although you go digital, is gonna last the same to transfer, mind you. You're right: quality isn't retained. Going digital has also a plus: you don't have to worry about levels: you put the digital in to 100% always. > possible, is whether or not there's software out there that can > automatically record my track marks (as I'm ripping the tracks from the > MD onto computer for burning) so that when I burn it to CD, I have the I dunno, maybe there's some plugin for winamp, that uses 2sec blanks to divide tracks to HD. You can also go with automation, check www.minidisc.org and www.insflug.org/slink if you're thinking on a Sony deck. > same tracks on the burned CD (don't care about titles)? Somebody please > help me, if you've ever burned CD's like this. I did, but under Linux. And I didn't care about track marks, they were live recordings, so I simply dumped them to HD, and later used xcdrdao to put some index marks and pregaps here and there. And CD/track titles also, if your recorder support CD-Text... hope it helps, -- Francisco J. Montilla <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> - To stop getting this list send a message containing just the word "unsubscribe" to [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Re: MD: The reason MD will NOT succeed with the masses
Hi, On Thu, 11 May 2000, Billy Hetherington wrote: [...] > So what does this mean?? It means that MD is goddamn cool, but unfortunately > unpractical; unless of course you are a journalist or musician or something > of the like. I guess you could say anything from MD, but unpractical. Let it be expensive, or not ubitiquous, but never unpractical. I use both CD-R and MD. I have a 50+1 CD caroussel at home, and planning to but a 300 one, because at home, is practical to have it plenty of CDs; which isn't as practical is to have most of them re-recorded with CD-Text in order to be manageable, and easily transferable to MDs, which is the best for listening when you're off, with a portable, or in the car. You're forgetting that to use CD-R you must: - Own a computer - have a CD-R drive - use a specifical program to duplicate CDs. It gets worse if you want to record from other sources, say old vinyl records or cassettes, or live recordings, as you must digitize it first, create the CD image and later burn it. - You cannot re-record them (forget CD-RW, not all players support them, and are a pain in the ass to record: low speeds, and transfer speed is for me the only good thing that CD-R have against MD) - You cannot title tracks, at least not with common recorders (only a few: Sony, some (latest) HPs that are rebadged Sony's, Teac and Plextor can write CD-Text, and very few players support it) - try to carry a bunch of CD-Rs. they're huge in comparison with MDs. So IMHO CD-R is really what's unpractical, and certainly, more expensive if you want to record CD-Rs. You can speculate with MD sound quality, or specific model prices, but certainly not with them being practical, because that's is better strength!! greets, -- Francisco J. Montilla <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>Seville Spain OpenSlink Project www.insflug.org/slink IRC nick: pukka sysadm - To stop getting this list send a message containing just the word "unsubscribe" to [EMAIL PROTECTED]
MD: New Sony MD car models
Hi!
Last week, at least here in Spain, Sony released its 2000 Sony
mobile catalogue, and there are some new MD models, dunno if they're
equivalent to others vailable on different countries under other
denomination. The ones that I describe here seem to be brand new however.
I would like to hear from anybody that knows anything about these
new models; I'm about to buy a new system for a new car. I have a second
hand ol' MDX-C6790RDS on my Fiat Punto and am very happy with it.
MDX-C6500R/RX/RV ($336)
This seems to be the medium level one. Is a XPlod series
MD-Radio 4x50W, capable of CD/MD-changer control with CD-Text support.
90dB s/n ratio.
It's main atractive, besides its lower price is its availability with blue
(RV) and red (RX) lighting, to suit console lighting from cars like the
blue of a VW golf or (my case) the red of a Seat Leon (VAG group). Its
4x50W seems to be enough to drive 4 17" 160W max. two-way speakers at
4Ohm.
Have the usual 2 preouts, Front/Rear I guess and D-Bass. Segment display.
Its look is on the new 2000 models wave, without the ugly lever on the
rotary knob, a look similar to the pioneers.
MDX-C8500R (about $440)
This have the usual green/amber lighting, 90dB s/n ratio, 4x45W and its
main differences with the 6500 are dot matrix display, (the new?) HX DSP
instead of D-Bass (I'd love to hear from anybody how does this performs
actually), DAB control capability and a subout pre-output.
MDX-C800REC (about $693)
Very much like the 8500, but w/ recording capability, and 92dB s/n ratio.
Have some features like a video, for programable recording, and a mic
input.
I know this is a pretty vague posting, just wanted to know if
someone have listened to that HX DSP, or have any opinions about them to
share. If there is interest, I can write a complete article, and include
scans from the catalogue.
greets,
--
Francisco J. Montilla <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>Seville Spain
OpenSlink Project www.insflug.org/slink IRC nick: pukka sysadm
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