RE: MD: mini vs mp3 recorder
Larry wrote: I really don't see how the cost of memory could ever drop that low. I think in 5 years you might be looking at $20 instead of $100. One might just as easily guess that you wouldn't be able to GIVE the stuff away in that time frame. simon - To stop getting this list send a message containing just the word "unsubscribe" to [EMAIL PROTECTED]
RE: MD: Hi-Space MiniDiscs
Brett Tyre wrote: Are the Hi-Space 80min discs any good, because I can get 4 for 24.99 They work fine, and are a lovely blue colour, but still a hell of a price. www.transco.co.uk have them for about $Can 2 each! Their shipping charge is flat rate, so it's best to buy a big batch simon - To stop getting this list send a message containing just the word "unsubscribe" to [EMAIL PROTECTED]
MD: *THEY* should know better
Tuesday's news: (Kingsley Smith) Sony fights back the tide of budget priced discs with their JPY2800 ``Flagship'' Dual-layer MD2000 discs (machine translation to English). [http://www.minidisc.org/md2000/index.html] They are 'aving a larf (cockney accent). Talk about form over function. I want one. Individually serial numbered. Priceless. What more can I say ? simon - To stop getting this list send a message containing just the word "unsubscribe" to [EMAIL PROTECTED]
RE: MD: Classical Music - CD vs. MD
David W. Tamkin wrote: pre-mastered MDs have to be at least as good and possibly better, since their ATRAC algorithms can be fine-tuned and adapted to do the best job possible for the type of music being mastered This is a nice idea, but is there any evidence it can actually be done ? Do commercial recorders have a knob marked "classical/rock/country etc mode" ? Given that the compression is based on psychoaccoustic measurements, has anyone actually investigated how the type of program material would affect the optimum encoding ? simon - To stop getting this list send a message containing just the word "unsubscribe" to [EMAIL PROTECTED]
RE: MD: end search petition
Luke Rayner wrote: it) but the cover letter also mentioned that 'pushing RECORD should place the unit into REC-PAUSE mode'(to unify it with home decks admittedly) but this was not mentioned as part of the petition I never noticed this, and it DOES seem to exceed the remit of the petition. I can see the argument for making portables work just like the decks, but it can also be useful to be able to start recording with one operation. Best solution would be a non-volatile choice between these options. simon - To stop getting this list send a message containing just the word "unsubscribe" to [EMAIL PROTECTED]
RE: MD: Co-ax v's Optical (must read).
Rat wrote: ... but the true objective audiophile is a rare -- some say mythical -- creature. :) my point exactly. simon - To stop getting this list send a message containing just the word "unsubscribe" to [EMAIL PROTECTED]
RE: MD: Co-ax v's Optical (must read).
Guy Churchill wrote: The ONLY conclusion I can reach is that with my CD player and this recording equipment, optical and co-ax digital are exactly the same. Only the truly naive would believe a pile of dumb machinery over the acute auditory perception of an objective audiophile. simon - To stop getting this list send a message containing just the word "unsubscribe" to [EMAIL PROTECTED]
RE: MD: Great Minidisc player and recorder starting at $0.01 !
Kheops GlassArt wrote: I just start some player and recorder for 1 cent on ebay... and numerous other offers of minidisc stuff. I seem to remember that Kheops offered us the opportunity to join his (its?) own mailing list a month ago. At the time I thought this was a good idea, as we would be relieved from having to read any more of his messages, but no such luck. Am I the only one finding them a little tedious ? simon - To stop getting this list send a message containing just the word "unsubscribe" to [EMAIL PROTECTED]
RE: MD: Great Minidisc player and recorder starting at $0.01 !
Ralph wrote: I warned him when he just started that md-l is not an advertising list. I warned him too. He replied to me that he was not aiming to make a profit, just to help other MD enthusiasts. His recent posts bring that into question. I have however absolutely no problem with the good folks at CoreSound or the SoundProfesionals giving advis on mikes etc.. Agreed, one or two advertising puffs a month would be OK, twice a week isn't. simon - To stop getting this list send a message containing just the word "unsubscribe" to [EMAIL PROTECTED]
RE: MD: Sony R5-ST
Marc wrote: I never got a cleaner, how often do you find it necessary to do? From what I've read, the answer seems to be: NEVER. Just say no. simon - To stop getting this list send a message containing just the word "unsubscribe" to [EMAIL PROTECTED]
RE: MD: Inexpensive amps or receivers with digital in/out
-Original Message- Richard Lang wrote: The burning of the digital information onto the disc is a physical process, as is replaying it, and both need a secure isolated transport ... I dispute this assertion. The transport need only be sufficiently "isolated" that the head servo can keep the laser on track. and good power supply. Well, yes, you need some electricity. it's clear to me that different CD players are "tuned" differently, e.g. sony's seem to have a lot of clarity in ... so the differences must relate to build, transport and D/A converter. Forget the transport. All I can say is trust your ears and listen before you buy! By all means LISTEN to your ears, but they can be awful liars. simon - To stop getting this list send a message containing just the word "unsubscribe" to [EMAIL PROTECTED]
RE: MD: Where can I get the Joint Text cable?? (RK-TXT1)
Billy Hetherington wrote: I digitally record between an MZ-R90 and a D-EJ710 discman, and I would like to do CDTEXT copying, but cannot locate the appropriate cable As I understand the instructions, you have to press buttons to copy the title FOR EACH TRACK. Given that I have read here that many CD's have their CDTEXT copy protected (?), I don't think it's worth the hassle. simon - To stop getting this list send a message containing just the word "unsubscribe" to [EMAIL PROTECTED]
RE: MD: Compression on Sharp-831
Rat wrote (in reply to Dave Hooper): * "Dave Hooper" [EMAIL PROTECTED] on Wed, 03 May 2000 I find that my Sharp-831 does not offer particularly good compression. I can clearly HEAR the artifacts, especially if the music contains a quiet passage that contains a proportionately large amount of background hiss, and on cymbals, hihats, etc. First thing you should do is get a better set of headphones and see if that makes a difference. If you are hearing any hiss at all, that is probably the reason. Now we have a new subject to argue about, both Ralph and Rat have suggested that poor headphones can cause hiss. I don't think this is possible. I accept that any transducer can introduce its own harmonics and resonances, but HISS ? What is the mechanism ? In any case, Dave had written: I ask this because I've borrowed some MDs of the SAME music recorded on a Sony deck (not portable) and the difference is quite astonishing. Which implied (at least to me) that he had heard differences using the SAME portable headphones. simon - To stop getting this list send a message containing just the word "unsubscribe" to [EMAIL PROTECTED]
RE: MD: Li-ion Gumstick Battery for MZ-55?
I hesitate to mention this idea, but I have found a cheap source of spare batteries for my MZR90, which will probably fit other models and makes too. Bear in mind that most stages of the process I describe are hazardous. I was given a faulty Motorola NiMH cellphone battery. I broke it open and took out 5 cells, which have the same cross section as a Sony NH14WM (16.5*5mm), but are shorter: 46.5 mm instead of 65.5 mm. As is usual with this type of battery, one of the cell had gone short circuit, and the others still measured ~ 1.2V, so I decided to make the duff cell into an extender to make one of the others the right length. I sawed off the bottom 19mm of the duff cell, and drilled out the electroyte, which came out as a black powder. I then soldered this section onto the end of one of the other cells, using a 100W iron - this is quite tricky - the solder does not want to stick, and it was hard to get the alignment right. The new, extended cell has only about 1Ah capacity, against the 1.4Ah of the original, but is much neater than the screw on external AA cell holder, and can be carried in the little plastic box that the original cell came in. I also have a Mk II design, in which I solder two pieces of springy steel onto the sides of the "extender", so that it will clip on to any of the cellphone cells. These cells can then be charged in my normal AA recharger, as they are a similar length (actually 2mm shorter, and about 3mm wider). Experience seems to indicate that NiMH/NiCd cellphone batteries don't last very long, we have a pile of them at our office, so it should not be too hard to get one to strip. WARNINGS: 1) A dead battery pack can contain fully charged cells which can deliver heavy currents (I melted my living room carpet this way). 2) The contents of a cell may be toxic (especially NiCd), and if there is a residual charge, you may melt the tool. 3) It's not safe to solder to rechargables - they get HOT in the process. 4) When you file off excess solder, the filings contain lead, which is toxic. 5) Using a Frankenstein cell may invalidate your warranty. simon -Original Message- From: Simon Gardner [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]] Sent: Monday, May 01, 2000 6:14 PM To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: RE: MD: Li-ion Gumstick Battery for MZ-55? I lost my MZ-r55 MD battery and remote and I am clueless on what to do. Ive heard wonders about the Li-ion batteries. I was just wondering if they are available for the MZ-r55 and where can I get the gumstick batteries. Anyone know where I can get a cheap remote? pelase help thanx Minidisco sell the batteries (Sony NH14WM) for $23.95 + s/h http://www.minidisco.com/miniorderacc.html Superfi (www.superfi.co.uk) sell them as well, for about 10ukp + s/h. The remotes are trickier - either expect to pay a lot for a Sony-supplied one or try to get one secondhand (possibly from someone with a broken unit?). -- Simon - To stop getting this list send a message containing just the word "unsubscribe" to [EMAIL PROTECTED] - To stop getting this list send a message containing just the word "unsubscribe" to [EMAIL PROTECTED]
RE: MD: compression
Ivica Petrovic (writing about comparing a CD to the master tape) ... that we preferred a 16-bit\44.1 kHz CD being played on a Sony SACD player to the original 24-bit 96 kHz master tape on a Nagra D tape deck! When CD's were first introduced, they were slated as being too "clinical" to ears familiar to scratchy ol' vinyl. I think this is the same phenomenon revisited. Our ears "like" the right kind of distortion - go figure. simon - To stop getting this list send a message containing just the word "unsubscribe" to [EMAIL PROTECTED]
RE: MD: Mains cable as speaker cable
Nick, I've heard things about the quality of interconnects between amp and CD/MD/other stuff making a difference to sound quality, and simliar things about speaker wire, and 99.9% oxygen free copper wire or some crap. There must be some truth in it, if people are willing to pay hundreds and hundreds of $ for a few metres of speaker wire.. Sorry, but how much people are willing to spend on a thing is not a reliable guide to its utility or quality, it's more related to the quality of the sales pitch... Paying lots of money for interconnects is the closest you're going to get to "money for old rope". You'll get far more benefit spending the money on some new music. simon - To stop getting this list send a message containing just the word "unsubscribe" to [EMAIL PROTECTED]
RE: MD: Mains cable as speaker cable
Shawn wrote: As you may know from physics class, electronics travel along the outside diameter of each of the copper strands. As a result, finer copper strands means more strands fit into a given wire gauge diameter. That equals greater electron flow. The depth to which an AC current penetrates a conductor is inversely proportional to the frequency (called the skin effect). The skin depth at 20 KHz in copper is ~ 1mm, so it has a minute effect. Note that if the fine strands are close to each other, their magnetic fields will interact to some extent, which reduces any skin effect reducing advantage. remember seeing a magazine article quite some time ago where someone tested cheap 18-gauge mains cable against high-quality, oxygen free speaker cable. They used very expensive test equipment, and the result was that the difference was very miniscule and probably inaudible. I can't remember which magazine Douglas Self wrote an article about this in Electronics World a couple of years ago. He concluded that common multistranded 5A mains flex made an excellent speaker cable. simon - To stop getting this list send a message containing just the word "unsubscribe" to [EMAIL PROTECTED]
RE: MD: Mains cable as speaker cable
I wrote: Douglas Self wrote an article about this in Electronics World a couple of years ago. I have located the article in Electronics World Oct 1997. I can scan it if anyone emails me privately. simon - To stop getting this list send a message containing just the word "unsubscribe" to [EMAIL PROTECTED]
RE: MD: Fw: Mains cable as speaker cable
Peter Brown wrote: Anyone have opinions on cables between audio components (RCA),. There seems to be a huge market for 'premium' cables between audio components, with prices running to very high levels. Not being knowledgeable in this area I'd be interested in people's opinions. Speaker cables will have far more audible effects than interconnects. Differences in speaker cables may JUST be audible. simon - To stop getting this list send a message containing just the word "unsubscribe" to [EMAIL PROTECTED]
RE: MD: Circuit City Responds
Jason wrote: I thought someone could try ripping an audio track from CD to their hard drive, then record the same track to MD digitally and then, back to their hard drive digitally. Then take the track ripped from the MD, invert it, and then mix it directly over the top of the track ripped straight from CD? It might be interesting to hear what it is that is being lost? Or would that just not work proppa? I hope someone on the list does this. My guess is that the differences would sound AWFUL on their own, but normally be drowned out by the music. simon - To stop getting this list send a message containing just the word "unsubscribe" to [EMAIL PROTECTED]
RE: MD: The truth about Hi Space and Memorex...
sherryl [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: All I can do is report on the statements of others on the list. H S has not gotten many favorable reviews. Given that MD is a digital format, one would not expect any difference in performance between disc brands, except faults to to the physical construction. As a result of this, you're not going to see many favourable reviews, because an MD can never be better than standard (unless you have "Golden"* ears). So, you'll see unfavourable reviews when people get a problem, whereas "working OK" is not news. simon *Golden - ie more money than sense - To stop getting this list send a message containing just the word "unsubscribe" to [EMAIL PROTECTED]
RE: MD: The truth about Hi Space and Memorex...
John S. McLachlan wrote: For those who like the flip cases. I don't like them at all. Me neither. They look better, and probably keep out the dirt (does this matter?), but it's harder to get the disc, and when dropped, the hinge breaks. simon - To stop getting this list send a message containing just the word "unsubscribe" to [EMAIL PROTECTED]
RE: MD: Whats Up With Circuit City?
las [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]] Sure you can get Memorex or Hi Space for under $2.00. But that's possibly more then they are worth. why are you slagging off HiSpace ? I've got hundreds of 'em, and they work just fine. I have to admit that I've never heard any defense of Memorex, and plenty of criticism, but I've never seen one to try for myself. simon - To stop getting this list send a message containing just the word "unsubscribe" to [EMAIL PROTECTED]
RE: MD: coax v. toslink
Ralphie explained jitter: So lets play them back. But with some jitter introduced of -0.1 +0.1 +0.1 -0.1. Thus, This is a useful exposition, but in practice, what you may get is: 1 @ -0.0001 -1 @ 1.0001 1 @ 2.1 -1 @ 2.9 the question is, does this make any difference ? These jitters are measured in picoseconds. There are 22 675 737 picoseconds between samples at 44.1 kHz. I think you agree that this series of bits represents another waveform. In the digital domain, it is easy to measure the jitter with suitable equipment. Is there ANYTHING (other than a golden ear) that can measure a difference in the analog output from the D/A as a result of this jitter, even if it isn't reclocked ? simon - To stop getting this list send a message containing just the word "unsubscribe" to [EMAIL PROTECTED]
RE: MD: md-l-digest V2 #587
Steven Debski wrote: I choose to believe my ears - if one sounds better to you - then use it If one sounds better, marvel at the suggestibility of the human sensorium. Bits are not just bits, For those of you who believe bits are not just bits, try this: wrap your computer's hard disc in three layers of aluminium foil to "exclude harmful electromagnetic radiation* ", and check out how much more smoothly your programs run, with significantly less errors, and brighter colours too. simon * sorry, I think that should have been "reduce read head jitter", or was it - To stop getting this list send a message containing just the word "unsubscribe" to [EMAIL PROTECTED]
RE: MD: MZR90 batt life
Matt L wrote: Just curious. Do people actually get 12hours from their Ni-MH battery in the MZ-R90? I haven't timed or anthing but I don't think it's anywhere close to 12. if i had to guess, I'd say closer to 8. That corresponds with my impression. It would be a major pain to actually measure it, you'd have to set an alarm to restart playing every time the disc finished. simon - To stop getting this list send a message containing just the word "unsubscribe" to [EMAIL PROTECTED]
RE: MD: MZR90 batt life
Jim Coon wrote: (about measuring battery life) Or listen to it while you are doing the test. when the music stops, restart it My next projected free 12 hours will be in May 2020. How about you ? Or you could put it on continious play if it has that feature... Didn't think of this, but you still need to keep checking if it's run out yet. Or you could put a disk in and replace it when you got a chance if the unit shuts down after each disc, then add up the times on each disc you played. This is the way to do it, but still not high on my list of fun things to do, and conflicts with my normal usage, which is to listen while I'm walking to/from work. simon - To stop getting this list send a message containing just the word "unsubscribe" to [EMAIL PROTECTED]
RE: MD: MD's in planes
Ralph Smeets wrote: Using your CD/MD player/recorder while the cabin crew told you not too, is exactly the same. You increase the risk. If it only kills you, it's fine for me, but chances are that I'm in the same plane. This begs the question, why can't the plane's kit ignore a trivial amount of interference ? Surely a primary development criterion should be high immunity ? Otherwise your terrorist can smuggle on a harmless MD with timer to bring a plane down. If a little MD can cause a problem, what the hell happens when you get a lighting strike, or some other BIG interference ? simon - To stop getting this list send a message containing just the word "unsubscribe" to [EMAIL PROTECTED]
RE: MD: Screws on Sharp 702
J. Coon wrote: Maybe you need to put Locktite on them or some fingernail polish. What colour would you recommend ? I seem to have run out ... simon - To stop getting this list send a message containing just the word "unsubscribe" to [EMAIL PROTECTED]
RE: MD: headphones impedance vs battery life / yet another MS722 review
Francisco Jose Montilla wrote: I meant (sorry, english isn't my native language) that what excite the headphone transducers is a variable (AC) electrical signal. I don't have the mathematical demonstration handy, but if you go in a little deeper, you'll notice that with higher loads (i.e. impedances) peak voltage rises. Those equations assume a constant (i.e. DC) voltage. The voltage across the load will increase in proportion to the impedance if it is fed by a current source. Most amplifiers act as (effectively) VOLTAGE sources, in which case the current in the load falls as the impedance rises. My doubt is, if a 200 Ohm headphones with higher sensitivity than a 32 Ohm headphones snip which will drain more battery. I'd bet the 200 Ohm, but am not sure... I'd try to reproduce the equation development to prove the voltage raise. Good luck ! I'll be glad to see Herr Ohms' outdated law exposed for the fraud that it is :-) simon - To stop getting this list send a message containing just the word "unsubscribe" to [EMAIL PROTECTED]
MD: listener fatigue
Dear All, I have a problem with recordings. If I like something, I tend to listen to it a lot, until I reach a point where I really don't enjoy it any more. In this way I have made many classic albums unlistenable. Nowadays, I tend to ration myself to a maximum of 3 or four plays per recording per year, and find myself in the paradoxical position that the more I like something, the less I dare to play to it. A couple of times, people have mentioned making compilations of their favourite tracks. For me this would be a nightmare. Does anyone else have this problem, or a strategy to avoid it ? simon - To stop getting this list send a message containing just the word "unsubscribe" to [EMAIL PROTECTED]
RE: MD: ATRAC Type-WB
wb wrote: but I have an ATRAC encoder/decoder running on my PentiumII-450Mhz (with good old Win95b). Excellent news! I knew it was only a matter of time before someone posted this. I think wb is to be congratulated for persuing this problem to a solution. I'd be interested to learn how he proposes to get the resulting ATRAC data onto a disc. simon - To stop getting this list send a message containing just the word "unsubscribe" to [EMAIL PROTECTED]
MD: anti-scratch
Hi list, I've had my MZR90 for 2 months now. Maybe I'm a bit careless, but I've already scratched the plastic over the LCD, so I'd recommend that when you buy a portable, you stick a piece of clear tape over the LCD(s). When this gets tatty, you can peel it off and replace it, leaving the plastic underneath undamaged. BTW, the tape I put on yesterday has made the scratches disappear! I'd point out that you need to be careful, or you get ugly bubbles under the tape. simon - To stop getting this list send a message containing just the word "unsubscribe" to [EMAIL PROTECTED]
RE: MD: Portable MD-recorder with Digital Output????
PrinceGaz wrote: A few days ago I thought up a possible reason modern MD kit does not support an optical digi-out. The latest units operate on 1.5V yeah? An LED does, or at least did need a forward voltage of about 2V to pass any current so they would need a voltage-multiplier circuit, a not particulary efficient thing to up the voltage Sorry, Gaz, I don't buy this. As far as I have seen, most portables still use at least 3V batteries, and I expect they use ~3V logic parts, but I wouldn't be suprised if they used a boost regulator to smooth out the voltage droop as the battery discharges. When they have an external single cell pack, this will be voltage multiplied. I think many portables DO have LEDs, certainly, my MZR90 has one to indicate recording. Incidentally, when I was looking inside an MZR30 the other day, I noticed the mic/optical input jack socket was clearly labelled "Sharp". simon - To stop getting this list send a message containing just the word "unsubscribe" to [EMAIL PROTECTED]
RE: MD: Great deals on MD media!
Matt Rooke advertised: MD80 as low as 0.85 pence each + VAT ( 1.00 inc VAT) MD74 as low as 0.75 pence each + VAT ( 0.88 inc VAT) he omitted to mention the 5.45 + VAT = 6.40 UKP minimum postage charge, and this price is for 50 off. It's still quite a good deal, certainly compared to the prices I've seen elsewhere in the world. simon - To stop getting this list send a message containing just the word "unsubscribe" to [EMAIL PROTECTED]
RE: MD: Portable MD-recorder with Digital Output????
While I'd really like to agree with Rat for a change, * "Magic" [EMAIL PROTECTED] on Fri, 10 Mar 2000 | As I understand it, portables don't have optical output because it would encourage piracy. I figure the real reason is that consumers simply do not want to pay for a feature they never use. I'm not convinced the manufacturers spend a lot of time consulting consumers about what they'd like. It's more like they could save a little money and no one would notice. Bearing in mind that the optical out could be inline with the headphone socket, just like the optical in/mic, I think the cost difference might be quite small (to us), but significant to them when they are making a shed-load. simon - To stop getting this list send a message containing just the word "unsubscribe" to [EMAIL PROTECTED]
RE: MD: Sony's new Internet Audio Recording Interface
Ralph Smeets wrote: On the PC, it's not only the ATRAC algorithm that's running, but also writing a packet of data received by the soundcard to memory, and writing this data back to disc. I just did an experiment. On my 350 Mhz Pentium II, I can write data to my old hard disk at 2.5 MB/sec, using 5% CPU time, so writing an ATRAC data stream (say 40KB/sec) would use ~ .1% of available CPU. I then ran Windows Sound Recorder (hint: probably not mega efficient) at 44.1kHz 16 bit stereo, requiring less than 1% CPU time. An 11.9 mS time frame gives me ~ 512 samples per channel, which is 256 * 9 FFT butterflies* per frame. Guessing 40 instructions per butterfly gives 256*9*40 operation per frame per channel, or 256*9*40*84 ops per channel per second, which is 15 Mips. You have to add bit allocation and so forth, so double this to get ~ 30 Mips. My CPU can do 350 Mips. simon * where a "butterfly" is a' = a * sin(w) + b * cos(w); b' = a * cos(w) + b * sin(w); and the sines and coses are obtained from a lookup table - To stop getting this list send a message containing just the word "unsubscribe" to [EMAIL PROTECTED]
RE: MD: DJ minidiscs
Dan Frakes wrote: (about auto-reply-to-MDL) For the other 1 out of ten messages, it only takes a second to look at the "To" field before you press "send." Yeah, right. That ranks under easy things I will NEVER remember to do. This is a non-trivial problem. The point is, in your head, there is no doubt about who the answer is directed to, either list or individual. When you read the original message, it was shown as coming from some individual. You dash off some witty and incisive reply, and hit the SEND button - THEN you remember about the destination address, duh! TOO LATE. I suppose the email program might be able to deduce the intended recipient from the "voice" used in the text ( "you" or "fred bunkum" ), but probably not in any reliable way. simon - To stop getting this list send a message containing just the word "unsubscribe" to [EMAIL PROTECTED]
RE: MD: No more
Bill (via Rick) wrote: (about stereo magazines) and the writers think they have to amuse and entertain you. Amuse, entertain and INFORM, please. simon - To stop getting this list send a message containing just the word "unsubscribe" to [EMAIL PROTECTED]
RE: MD: Sony's new Internet Audio Recording Interface
Rat rit: You make the assumption that the ATRAC ASIC in your R55 is doing math the same way your PIII does math, which is not the case. For its one task, the R55 is more powerful than your PIII. Rick was not assuming, he was asserting, that the ASIC contains a DSP core to execute the ATRAC algorithm. And I further assert (and I know because I have done it) that an FFT is performed on a DSP in a similar (but not identical) way to how it would be done on a Pentiuk. DSPs have special custom instructions to multiply and add in one operation, parallel instructions, zero overhead branching and RAM running at the CPU clock, which make them faster than general purpose CPUs at the same clock rate, but all these together don't amount to more than 5 times faster. My totally unsubstantiated guess is the R55's clock will be ~45 MHz (based on reading a number off a chip on an MZR35's circuit board). simon - To stop getting this list send a message containing just the word "unsubscribe" to [EMAIL PROTECTED]
RE: MD: Sony's new Internet Audio Recording Interface
Ralph Smeets wrote: I thinks the PC has a performance problem due to the 'enormous' overhead of the OS and the fact that most encoders are programmed in C. Most of the overhead of an OS is associated with input/output through multiple layers of device drivers/protocol stacks. If you have a computationally intensive algorithm, i/o is relatively unimportant and I would estimate the OS overhead as less than 1%. I've been using this NT machine for 3.5 hours now, and the task manager shows the system idle task has run for 3h33m CPU time. The total for ALL the other processes is about 3 minutes. Code written in C can easily be tens of times slower than hand written assembler, but is far more portable, and much easier to write. if the ATRAC DSP has an OS, it will probably be very very very small! For a dedicated processor, there is usually no need for an OS. simon - To stop getting this list send a message containing just the word "unsubscribe" to [EMAIL PROTECTED]
RE: MD: Sony's new Internet Audio Recording Interface
Ralph Smeets wrote: has run for 3h33m CPU time. The total for ALL the other processes is about 3 minutes. Hmm, what are you doing on that machine? As little as possible ? Reading/writing endless MD emails ? to. Add to that that most 'deamons' (little programs that are loaded into memory during the start-up of Windows) need more memory than the Linux equivalent. OS overhead is a real problem in this case. I agree that OS's can have a considerable MEMORY overhead, and if you don't have enough, this can then affect the speed if you get into swapping, but an ATRAC algorithm would have a small working set (demand for memory), so I wouldn't expect the OS to make a big impact. I'm not intending to digress into a Linux/Windoze comparison. Yes, you need to buy enough memory to satisfy the demands of your OS to run the programs you want. Ralph - are we still on-topic? Barely; I suppose we're spinning around the feasability of executing ATRAC on a PC. Rat had suggested that a PC is 600 times too slow. I don't think that is the case. simon - To stop getting this list send a message containing just the word "unsubscribe" to [EMAIL PROTECTED]
RE: MD: Prices On Websites and Legal Factors Implied
Keith Wilson wrote: If a price on a website is incorrect, how legally binding is it? In the UK, a price label in a shop window is termed "an offer to treat" (cheat?), and there is no legal requirement to actually sell at that price. I imagine on a web site you have even less chance of enforcing the price :-( stinks, don't it ? simon - To stop getting this list send a message containing just the word "unsubscribe" to [EMAIL PROTECTED]
RE: MD: HDTV Network Programming NOW IN YOUR AREA
A "CaliforniaRod" wrote, a whole lot of dull stuff about HDTV, presumably not the same CaliforniaRod who wrote: No one here cares about anything other than the topic at hand in regards to this list. simon - To stop getting this list send a message containing just the word "unsubscribe" to [EMAIL PROTECTED]
RE: MD: Sony's new Internet Audio Recording Interface
The Stainless Steel Rat wrote: because FFTs are much more complex than simple things like addition and multiplication. I suppose FFT's ARE fairly complex, although they are implemented as a load of additions and multiplications. I would estimate the ASIC in any MD player or recoder is effectively 300 to 600 times more powerful for its one task than any modern desktop PC out there. This looks like an unsubstantiated guess, and MY (unsubstantiated) guess is that he is overestimating by 1000 to 1 times. Without detailed knowledge of the algorithms involved, this is fairly idle speculation. simon - To stop getting this list send a message containing just the word "unsubscribe" to [EMAIL PROTECTED]
RE: MD: My Diamond Rio Experience
Matt White wrote: Okay, then here's the technical reason: CDs are sampled at an insufficient rate to ensure proper reproduction. CDs are sampled at 44.1kHz, which gives a maximum frequency of 20kHz. The original argument was about what constitutes "analog warmth". I don't think vinyl cutting machines have any response above 20 kHz, so any content above this frequency will be distortion. Significant portions of the populace can actually audibly detect frequencies up to 25kHz. It is unknown what subconcious effect the missing frequencies might have on those who do not detect those frequencies explicitly. I'd be interested to know how big "Significant" is, and point out that unknown effects might just as easily feel worse rather than better. simon - To stop getting this list send a message containing just the word "unsubscribe" to [EMAIL PROTECTED]
RE: MD: Surround sound
PrinceGaz wrote: We have two ears, a left and a right ear, so what advantage can be gained by using more than left and right speakers / headphones? I think we can all accept that 2 transducers (ears) are enough to perceive a 3 dimensional sound field, but I'm fairly sure that 2 speakers will only ever reproduce a 2D field, with all the apparent sources on a line joining the centres of the speakers, combined with a field of anti-sources coming from everywhere else EXCEPT on the line, caused by reversed phase signals. You can test this yourself by playing a mono signal into your stereo, and turning the balance knob, which will move the apparent source along the line from one speaker to the other, and never anywhere else. Next, reverse the connections of one speaker (turn off first or accept the consequences when you short the wires), and try it again. I hasten to point out I haven't tried this myself yet, but I understand the sound's location becomes very difficult to determine, so I call this an anti-source. It seems plausible to expect that adding another speaker would allow you to create apparent sources anywhere within the triangle with its vertices at the speakers. Another speaker would then allow the source to be within a tetrahedron etc. I know I'm gonna get humiliated by asking this but I can't hold off Surely you're used to it by now ? simon - To stop getting this list send a message containing just the word "unsubscribe" to [EMAIL PROTECTED]
RE: MD: My Diamond Rio Experience
Edward Nigma (love that name) wrote, re analog warmth: It is not distorted. This seems to be a matter of belief. I don't believe it, but then I'm an Electronic Engineer, and therefore hopelessly blinkered. Cd's can be gritty and harsh unless you have good equiment. and many cd's are poorly recorded. An NO amount of "good" equipment can correct a bad recording, though I suppose if your equipment distorts enough, it might mask the problem... simon - To stop getting this list send a message containing just the word "unsubscribe" to [EMAIL PROTECTED]
MD: Aiwa MM-FX500
MDL wrote: A friend spots Aiwa's photo and Japanese announcement of their MM-FX500, the world's first portable MP3 encoder/player. With 32MB of memory, it records music (analog input) at 128kbps/44.1khz or voice memo (builtin mono mic input) at 8kbps/16khz. Battery life on AA x 1, rec: 5h, play: 10h. Dim: 65 x 90 x 18.5mm, 80g. I have to say I'm seriously underwhelmed here. 32 MB = 33 minutes @ 128k. This thing is nearly as big as my MZR90, and has a shorter battery life, despite having no moving parts. OTOH, glad to see encoding built in, so it can be used stand-alone for recording music (just like an MD). simon - To stop getting this list send a message containing just the word "unsubscribe" to [EMAIL PROTECTED]
RE: MD: ATRAC Compression
Matt Wall wrote: there would be a loss of quality, however in that "perfect" world where = it was all digital and no attenuation or any other interference at all, = going from your recorder/player to your other identical md = recorder/player since the ATRAC systems should be identical and should = attempt to compress the audio the same in all the same places the = recording's should not have a generational loss. In the digital domain, it IS possible to make a perfect copy, but this is not the issue. When the original audio PCM data is ATRAC'd, 80% of the data is discarded, so the decompressed audio PCM coming out can be quite different to what went in, but will sound quite similar. If this data is then ATRAC'd again, the hardware does not *know* that it is dealing with an already processed data stream, and tries to reproduce the data as if it were an original full-spectrum signal, and this is the reason for the generational loss. It could be possible to design an algorithm which always reconsituted a compressed data set the same way, preventing generational loss, but my guess is that it would sound worse than ATRAC, and most of us would prefer to have better sounding first generation copies at the expense of worse multi-generations. simon - To stop getting this list send a message containing just the word "unsubscribe" to [EMAIL PROTECTED]
RE: MD: Question Re: Optical Cables
James Jarvie wrote: My question: Would it hurt anything to leave the optical cable connected permanently between the CD deck and the MD deck? It would be a real pain to have to connect them up every time I wanted to record I'm not sure what you are expecting to hurt, but I have my CD optical output permanently hooked up to my MDJE520, and it works fine, and if I want to route the CD output directly into my portable, I can put the 520 on record with no disc in, and its optical output just copies its input. I have the portable's optical lead permanently plugged into the 520's output. simon - To stop getting this list send a message containing just the word "unsubscribe" to [EMAIL PROTECTED]
RE: MD: MD-Data2 as a Zip killer
Simon Mackay wrote about MD2-Data: What Sony needs to do is promote the new MD-Data2 650Mb disc as a "B drive" is to market it as a "Zip killer". I'm a little concerned that we should be discussing "killing" Iomega to help promote MD. I have no shares in Sony or Iomega, so my only interest in promoting general MD usage are: 1) it's cool 2) wider usage should bring down the price of blanks MD equipment. I have no desire to inflict collateral damage in essentially unconnected markets. I'm not sure we will derive ANY benefit from the success of MD2, except perhaps an inceased awareness of MD, and it might actually hurt us by making our current investment in MD obsolete sooner. simon - To stop getting this list send a message containing just the word "unsubscribe" to [EMAIL PROTECTED]
RE: MD: MD-Data2 as a Zip killer
Francisco Jose Montilla wrote: Well, I guess it's pretty easy to make a zip/jaz/clik killer in terms of media price and reliability by simply using MD. It will not only be far superior to any Iomega device, but even MO devices (here having equal reliability), since media will be a lot cheaper... Bear in mind: (a) MD-data blanks still cost around 4x audio blanks (b) MD-data was (is?) slow, MD-audio can probably manage ~ 2MBit/s, to compete you need at LEAST 8MBit/s. (c) There is a resistance to multiple media standards. No one wants to end up with their data on an obsolete medium (8"floppy,5"floppy,A.N.Other tape c.). Given that there is already a mini-DVD format (I think), who's going to swallow ANOTHER similar sized incompatible format ? CD has been a hit, and I don't think it will go away any time soon. DVD looks like son-of-CD, but is still in it's querulous infancy viz: DVD-RW, DVD+RW etc. But DVD discs are too big to be portable. I'd like to see a 3" (pocket-sized) rewritable format, and something that can read old MD's would be great (like DVD drives reading CDs). But I think we may be left behind because MD never had enough penetration to be noticed. simon - To stop getting this list send a message containing just the word "unsubscribe" to [EMAIL PROTECTED]
RE: MD: Sony MD commercial
Timothy P. Stockman wrote: Maybe they could figure out a clever way of embedding deck control into the user bits of the TOSlink. That would certainly make it a *lot* simpler to set up... I say leave the S/PDIF alone and use a BLUE or IR LED for the control channel, down the same fibre. Of course this will only work if existing TOSLINK receivers are narrow band (only sensitive to red). Does anyone know ? simon - To stop getting this list send a message containing just the word "unsubscribe" to [EMAIL PROTECTED]
RE: MD: first impressions of MZR90
=== = NB: Over 50% of this message is QUOTED, please = = be more selective when quoting text = === Jim wrote: Simon Barnes wrote: Jim wrote: Not a chance, unless you just want to go to a topless pup. Hold on there, I did specify persons, not animals. I meant Pub, but to each his own. I knew that. s. (I've even watched some Brit sitcoms on PBS And these are supposed to have any resemblence to real life ? I think not. Now you tell me. Just as my understanding of American culture is based on Seinfeld and Friends. simon - To stop getting this list send a message containing just the word "unsubscribe" to [EMAIL PROTECTED]
RE: MD: first impressions of MZR90
=== = NB: Over 50% of this message is QUOTED, please = = be more selective when quoting text = === Gaz wrote: quoting me: following our discussions last summer, I was disappointed to find that now I have a portable minidisc, persons of the gender(s) to which I am attracted obstinately refuse to throw themselves at me. Since you say gender(s) Simon, I have found that minidiscs along with most geeky hi-tech stuff tends to be a male orientated thing. I have a few lady friends who are gadget freaks but it is generally male. I think your male friends to whom you are attracted are more likely to share your gadget/minidisc love. Unfortunately, that set is empty. I was being PC rather than bisexual. simon - To stop getting this list send a message containing just the word "unsubscribe" to [EMAIL PROTECTED]
RE: MD: labels
Martin Schiff wrote: Read my lips. BIFOCALS. I can read and write the edge labels easily, but not without my glasses [grin]. I suppose I may have to succumb eventually, but I use contacts, and I understand bifocal contacts are WAY expensive. Also, I spend a lot of time on my mountain bike offroad, and I'm concerned that my peripheral vision of the track would suffer. Take two sets of lenses ? The whole point of contacts is fit and forget. simon - To stop getting this list send a message containing just the word "unsubscribe" to [EMAIL PROTECTED]
RE: MD: first impressions of MZR90
Jim I wrote a lot of silly stuff, to which Joanne replied: Clipping the remote in full view should help attrac the girls too. Makes them a little curious, and sometimes the shape can really turn them on, if you know what I mean. Yeah right, you must have a really strange idea of what us girls think. Actually, this is all in the realms of fantasy. simon - To stop getting this list send a message containing just the word "unsubscribe" to [EMAIL PROTECTED]
MD: first impressions of MZR90
Dear All, following our discussions last summer, I was disappointed to find that now I have a portable minidisc, persons of the gender(s) to which I am attracted obstinately refuse to throw themselves at me. Perhaps I should hold the MD in full view and kinda sashay down the street to make my new coolness more evident. I'm very pleased with my new MZR90, but I have to say that its user interface leaves a LOT to be desired. Right out of the box, I plugged it in the charger and discovered that there is no indication of how long the charging process has to run. The little battery icon cycles all its segments in a thoroughly pointless way, but you can't tell if there are 3 hours or 3 minutes to go. It would have been easy to use the level bargraph to show progress, assuming the charging software KNOWS where it is up to. The "jog" lever. I've used the jog wheel on an MZR30, and found it an excellent input device, easy to operate with one thumb, giving good mechanical feedback as it clicks once for each step, and requiring only a gentle push to enter. The jog lever is a BIG step back. There is no click as the options/characters spin on the display, and the you need a firm push to enter, in fact, it's possible to think you've pressed enter without it registering. They have not taken the opportunity to make the speed of scrolling proportional to the up/down movement of the lever, so you easily (usually) overshoot. By default, the LCD panel on the unit displays the track number. If you want the track name, you have to do: enter,jog,enter,jog,enter. When you press STOP, it goes back to track number. It's easier to get the track name on the remote, but I can't actually focus my ageing eyes on this when it's clipped to my shirt :-( The track mark button is hidden round the side for no apparent reason. Incidentally, the track mark is great, working on record or playback, much better than the awkward procedure on my MDJE 520 deck, but it gives an annoying loss of music for a second when pressed. End Search - well, it hasn't got me yet - interestingly, it is only mentioned twice in the manual, and only once in the context of recording, and there is no explicit warning that you will overwrite an existing recording if you DON'T press it. Almost as if they wish it would go away by itself Joint text (crazy name) - this means taking the track names from a CD with CD Text automatically titling the tracks, except: 1) You need a special CD player 2) You need a special lead 3) and this beggars belief, you have to manually confirm that you want to title EACH TRACK !!! as if you might have connected up all that fancy hardware, but not want to use it with some tracks ? The pause button on the remote actually replaces the music with an irritating beeping sound, which is very handy if you are trying to listen to someone talking to you. In general, I find myself repeatedly referring to the manual to find out how to do things. I can't help feeling that it could have been made much more obvious. Mr. Picky - To stop getting this list send a message containing just the word "unsubscribe" to [EMAIL PROTECTED]
RE: MD: first impressions of MZR90
Prof Jim wrote: Don't forget to smile a lot and talk freely to people. If I could do that, I wouldn't need the MD. I think I was hoping to miss out the argy-bargy and cut to the chase. i.e. don't get so lost it the music that you are oblivious to the girls flaunting themselves at you and bareing certain parts of their anatomy(which is probably what is happening now) Pardon me, we ARE British you know! Clipping the remote in full view should help attrac the girls too. Makes them a little curious, and sometimes the shape can really turn them on, if you know what I mean. If they are turned on by a winkle that size they must be as desperate as I am. You can also ask them to help you read the remote for you. Yeah, the sympathy angle. I forgot to mention, it takes 8 seconds from when you press PLAY until the music starts. I know this is a corollary of the long battery life, but it's deeply unimpressive. I'd have been tempted to include 10 second's worth of flash memory to store the next bit of music to play, so there would only be a delay when you skipped tracks. Actually, you'd maybe need a bit more, as the flash could wear out after 100,000 cycles. simon - To stop getting this list send a message containing just the word "unsubscribe" to [EMAIL PROTECTED]
RE: MD: Digital out ...
=== = NB: Over 50% of this message is QUOTED, please = = be more selective when quoting text = === Albert Tanone wrote: Is it possible to take the R30 apart and get a digital out? I assume that at the simplest level, we're talking about taking it apart and connect a digital out connection on the "out path" before the signal hits the DAC? The digital data in the player is likely to be in parallel ( ~24 bit ) format, or a simple serial bit stream, rather than the highly encoded SPD/IF format, which contains all sorts of data irrelevant to the DAC. simon - To stop getting this list send a message containing just the word "unsubscribe" to [EMAIL PROTECTED]
MD: labels
I'M curious: (read my emails and you know it) do many people actually use the labels (other than the narrow, edge ones) ? I can't write (or read) that small. simon - To stop getting this list send a message containing just the word "unsubscribe" to [EMAIL PROTECTED]
RE: MD: Optical Cables
Andy, thanks, you're most kind simon - To stop getting this list send a message containing just the word "unsubscribe" to [EMAIL PROTECTED]
RE: MD: Optical Cables
Andy, unfortunately, CPC claim this is not a valid part number. Did you make a typo? I find their online catalogue rather poor for searching :- simon Order Code: AV0220 Price (1-9): £3.75 Price (10+): £3.46 - To stop getting this list send a message containing just the word "unsubscribe" to [EMAIL PROTECTED]
RE: MD: MD's Future
James Jarvie wrote: Now we all seem to agree on two additional points (other than wanting the format to survive and prosper), those being: 1) Sony is an arrogant and short-sighted company and 2) Sony's marketing leaves much to be desired. I demur on (1). I don't know if Sony is arrogant. I suspect it just suffers from the ills of any big company, massive inertia difficulty in understanding the viewpoint of the end-user. Probably someone high up in the company dreamed up the idea of "End Search". Would they sell more units if they changed it ? NO. Would someone loose face if they did ? YES. I wonder what it must be like for a person working at Sony to see the company getting slagged off for relatively minor (if irritating) "features", and for not listening, when, in fact, they may be doing their best to make our views known, but being drowned out by other, more fiscally significant voices. I say to Sony - well done for a useful format and some excellent products - just don't rest on your laurels. On (2) I have to agree, they don't seem to have a clue. The little marketing I have seen has been deeply puzzling ... simon - To stop getting this list send a message containing just the word "unsubscribe" to [EMAIL PROTECTED]
RE: MD: Using a Timer with Sony MDSJE530
=== = NB: Over 50% of this message is QUOTED, please = = be more selective when quoting text = === Brent Harding wrote: ... but if I got an md recording device, that's something I'd want, but the trouble is when you have two programs on two different stations. If it's talk shows and the like, is there index signals that md recorders could detect to cut out some of the commercials and the like, and to signal the end of the program, so it'd know to switch stations to get ready for the next one, and allow changing of disks automatically? This reminds me of the bit in Star Trek movie X where they go back to save the whales, and Scotty picks up a computer mouse and starts trying to talk to it. Yes, that's how it SHOULD work, but don't hold your breath ... simon - To stop getting this list send a message containing just the word "unsubscribe" to [EMAIL PROTECTED]
RE: MD: MD Wins (was Re: Will MD Survive?).
Ralph wrote: There is only one thing that wories me... Mobile phones and the upcomming new standard will allow us to listen to MP3 music using our phone. It will allow us to connect to a site and listen to it! At mobile phone rates ? Listen to music while your brain fries ? Mmm Mmm, I want it NOW ! simon - To stop getting this list send a message containing just the word "unsubscribe" to [EMAIL PROTECTED]
RE: MD: Wavelets
Andrew wrote: For instance, a 32 bit signal at 96kHz is more than neccesary to fully represent an analog audio signal with no loss. So, if we sample 1s of that audio, we use up 4 bytes * 1 channel * 96000 Hz = 384000 bytes/sec. Now, if through wavelet analysis, it's found that the signal can be represented by the following sinusoids superposed: 3 sin (.5t - .2) -2 sin (1.3t + .4) 4 sin (-2.5t - .83) For that one second of audio, those sinusoids accurately represent the sampled data. Now, sending the data that represents those sinusoids is as easy as sending a 32 bit IEEE floating point number for each of the 3 parameters per sinusoid, so --- for simple sinusoids, that relatively simple signal can be represented by only 9 paramters * 4 bytes = 36 bytes for an accurate representation of 384,000 bytes worth of sample. Nyquist's law effectively restricts sampled audio to 1/2 the sample rate, giving a certain minimum amount of information neccesary for transfer to transmit that signal from one point to the other. This sort of compression breaks the bounds of Nyquist's law in transferring, though it still limits the actual sampling of the audio. Am I misinterpreting the technique of wavelet compression, such that the model and calculations which I've provided here are inaccurate, baseless, or just plain BS? If so, how does wavelet compression actually achieve what it does? I should preface my remarks with the disclaimer that I am just a humble (no, sorry, arrogant) programmer, and no mathematician, so this is seat-of-the-pants. 1) Nyquist provides the criterium for sampling to PERFECTLY reconstruct the sampled signal within a specified bandwidth. It doesn't say anything about what you can do with the samples once you've got them. 2) Your description of analysing a signal into various sinewave components is entirely plausible, but looks to me more like FFT analysis, not wavelet. 3) The wavelet transform acts like a pair of high and low pass filters. You take a set of N samples, and apply the transform, which involves a lot of multiplies and adds of adjacent sample values, and you end up with N/2 low pass samples and N/2 high pass samples. The transform is then applied repeatedly to the low pass sample output of the last stage, giving smaller and smaller sample sets until you reach some point that depends on the lowest frequency you are interested in (I guess). The first high-pass block contains data about the highest frequencies in the sample data, the next one somewhat lower frequencies, and so on down to the final low pass block, which describes the lowest frequencies. I have no idea how or why this actually works, I just bang the rocks together, and out come the numbers. At this point we have a different representation of the sample data, partitioned into frequency bands, but no compression has taken place. You can recombine the blocks with the reverse transform and reconstruct the original samples almost perfectly (limited by the accuracy of your floating-point arithmetic hardware). The compression relies on the fact that our logarithmic response senses are not too fussy about absolute levels, particularly at higher frequencies. (Note: My experience is with video compression, but I suspect audio will be similar). So, if you take the wavelet sample data for some frequency band, and divide each number by (say) 128, each original 16 bit sample now occupies only 11 bits. Moreover, you tend to find a lot of zeroes, or small numbers, which can be represented by a small number of bits using a huffman coding scheme. The process of dividing each sample value by some number is called quantisation, and is generally applied more heavily to the higher frequencies, where the senses have a lower resolution. The compressed data is huffman decoded, and then the sample values for each frequency block are multiplied by the divisors used at compression to give something like the original wavelet transform output, but with a loss of resolution of the amplitudes of the frequency components. The reverse wavelet transform is then applied to reconstitute a signal which is hopefully not too dissimilar (perceptually) to the original. ... do you have any good references for the algorithms and mathematics behind it all? I quickly get lost in the mathematics, and have gleaned most of my knowledge from the data sheets for the Analog Devices ADV601 Video Codec. http://www.analog.com/publications/magazines/Dialogue/30-2/wavelet.html This reference (Figure 5) shows how the high (spatial) frequencies tend to be mostly zero. I apologise if this is a bit dense. Perhaps we should take the subject off the list ? simon - To stop getting this list send a message containing just the word "unsubscribe" to [EMAIL PROTECTED]
RE: MD: quality of optical cables
Magic wrote: Is there really much difference between optical and co-ax digital connections in home audio use? Coax is a lot cheaper... other than that... no. It ain't necessarily so. I can put a case for optical connections being (potentially) both cheaper and more reliable. The fibre itself is some kind of acrylic, with probably a PVC sleeve. It can be bought for pence a metre in bulk, and since it contains no copper is probably cheaper and easier to make than a coax. There is no soldering required, the fibre just pushes into the connector, and it can be cut with wirecutters, no need for optical polishing. The connectors are simple plastic mouldings, with no particular requirement for accurate alignment, and since it suffices to stuff the bare fibre into the hole, and hold it in place with a piece of gum, provided you can keep fluff out of the connector, the connection should be more reliable than a pair of (allegedly) corrosion-prone metal/metal contacts. The fact that optical connections currently attact a price premium is an artifact of their newness. simon - To stop getting this list send a message containing just the word "unsubscribe" to [EMAIL PROTECTED]
RE: MD: ATRAC-R and Laser Colors
Andrew wrote: (hence, "wavelet"), and can reproduce the signal almost *exactly* by compositing the wavelets at playback. This breaks the bounds of Nyquist's rule, which states that you must sample at double the highest frequency you wish to represent... because you're no longer sampling. I suspect this is nonsense. (sorry Andrew) You do have to sample the data to get it into the digital domain, before you can process it. (Unless you are going to do an ANALOG wavelet analysis - please supply diagrams) There are a few major drawbacks to wavelet compression... mainly the computational workhorsing needed, as well as the fact that the compression is unpredictable -- different waveforms will compress to different degrees, solely based on their structural composition. Also, it's not 100% real- time. You have to look at the signal over time to be able to give a wavelet representation. I work with wavelet video compression, and that IS quasi real-time, ie you have to operate on a whole video field at a time, so there is an effective one field delay. I haven't got round to trying wavelets on audio yet, but you would have to select some sample window size ( I think 20mS might be appropriate ), so there will be a short delay. The computational demands are probably similar to ATRAC. I suspect that wavelets will not be as good as ATRAC for any particular data rate, as they seem to me less amenable to psychoacoustic coding. simon - To stop getting this list send a message containing just the word "unsubscribe" to [EMAIL PROTECTED]
RE: MD: ATRAC-R and Laser Colors
Magic wrote: If I take a sound file which is 44.1kHz in 16bit, the same as CD, and ZIP it with WinZIP, it occupies less space. If I did this with all the music from one of my CDs, I could probably copy those ZIP files onto another CD and fit two CDs worth of music onto it (although a normal CD player couldn't play it). I now have twice as much information stored on the same capacity disc. I tried this on a partial CD image of 503 Mb, and it zipped to 481 Mb. Music data is pseudo random (as far as WinZip is concerned) so it does not accept much lossless compression. And, in reply to: Compression, yes runlength encoding and huffman codes can be used to reduce the size of a the file. But they do not alter the bit rate. In order to read your Zipped files you must first decompress them, then decode them, then play them. (I'm not sure what this means) Wrong. ZIP files do not necessarily have to be decompresed before you can access their contents, it is possible to access the contents directly if you store the decoding table in RAM and use this as a reference for the data you read from the file. Wrong (sorry). While it's correct to say that you don't have to decompress the ZIP into a file, you do have to reverse the compression algorithm to extract the data. simon - To stop getting this list send a message containing just the word "unsubscribe" to [EMAIL PROTECTED]
RE: MD: optical cords!
Gary wrote: ... And if anyone tells you any different (i.e. an "Audiophile" magazine) you can be assured that they are lying to you in an attempt to become some sort of strange shaman or wizard of the audio world who can hear what you cannot, I suspect a lot of them are lying to themselves as well. People like to have an input. The "hard" viewpoint (to which I aspire) says digital is digital, the wires don't matter, the brand doesn't matter, we're constrained by the laws of physics - basically, it's a doctrine of despair. The audiophile is involved. Everything matters. You can make a real difference by balancing everything on spikes and using £100 per metre cables, colouring in the edges of your CD's. There's no end to the tips and tricks. Enjoy. simon - To stop getting this list send a message containing just the word "unsubscribe" to [EMAIL PROTECTED]
RE: MD: Titling with a PC using Linux
Jonathan Irwin wrote: Does anybody know how I send the codes and what the delays should be? I can write bytes to the parallel port already, and I can do high resolution timing down to about 100 us if necessary. The IR signal requires you to switch on and off a ~ 40 kHz pulse train, which requires resolution of less than 12.5 microseconds. I've done this on a microcontroller, so feel free to email me privately for details. As for Linux, I haven't a clue. You could also take a look at http://www.armory.com/~spcecdt/remote/IRremote.html http://www.armory.com/~spcecdt/remote/IRremote.html (requires extra hardware). simon - To stop getting this list send a message containing just the word "unsubscribe" to [EMAIL PROTECTED]
RE: MD: Strange interference... now online :)
Steve Reiss wrote: I was there with my Sharp MS200 and a 2 clip mics on a "yard" (antiquated measuring unit) stick to get stereo separation. As I understand it, stereo separation is normally obtained by using two directional microphones right next to each other. I don't think moving the mics apart produces the same effect. Perhaps someone who knows what they are talking about could explain this ? simon - To stop getting this list send a message containing just the word "unsubscribe" to [EMAIL PROTECTED]
RE: MD: Name Full!!!
I'm suprised no one has taken CaliforniaRod to task for suggesting that his recording library would require a laptop with at least 4GB of memory. At 1800 bytes per minidisc, he would need ~2.3 million MD's to store that much title info, which would occupy a 9 metre (30 foot) cube without cases. Also Dan Frakes wrote: Calculators? I'll take a single HP over ten Casio's any day ;-) And that's how many you'd get for the price of an HP. (reverse Polish notation) simon - To stop getting this list send a message containing just the word "unsubscribe" to [EMAIL PROTECTED]
RE: MD: Generational Loss
Rick wrote: The paper makes good reading because it goes into considerable depth about the nature of generational loss. I was actually quite suprised when I discovered there WAS generational loss. My work with wavelet compression had led me to believe that the transform would have a degree of symmetry, so that re-applying it to its own output would yield the same result again. I still think this would be possible, but I expect the constraints of symmetry would make the result sound noticeably worse than ATRAC, so ATRAC is a better compromise for most users. simon - To stop getting this list send a message containing just the word "unsubscribe" to [EMAIL PROTECTED]
RE: MD: Why Sharp ATRAC sucks (a review)
Jake Hamby wrote: The problem with comparing different encoders right now is that we don't yet have access to any substitute for human listening tests (there's an ITU-R standard for measurement and Opticom has a program called Opera which is supposed to measure it, but it's not intended for consumer use ... I think you're missing the point here, Jake. Music is a subjective experience, and also involves ears, little wiggly bones and other squishy stuff. How can you expect to measure "perceived audio quality" with a thing that has no perception ? I don't care if some machine says it's perfect or rubbish. In any case, try not to get caught up in listening to the "sound of the sound" to the point where you forget the music. simon PS. Thanks for your 2 long posts, they made interesting reading - To stop getting this list send a message containing just the word "unsubscribe" to [EMAIL PROTECTED]
RE: MD: lifetime warranty can be good
Magic wrote: Lifetime guarantees are not worth the paper they are printed on. Shawn R. Lin wrote: From auto parts to computer and audio products, I've NEVER had a problem getting an item replaced under a lifetime guarantee no matter how old J.Coon wrote: I have returned broken Craftsman tools to Sears and they were replaced with no questions asked. etc Perhaps this is an American/English thing. Most English people will put up with rubbish to avoid embarrassment. On the other hand, I always complain (good-naturedly I hope), and usually get what I want. One time I took back an item to the wrong shop (in error) and still got a full refund, despite the fact that the shop did not even sell the product ! simon - To stop getting this list send a message containing just the word "unsubscribe" to [EMAIL PROTECTED]
MD: 80 minute discs
I went into Richer Sounds (UK) on Saturday to buy some 80 minute discs (I haven't seen them for sale anywhere locally yet). The salesman told me: "We don't sell 'em - too unreliable". When I pressed him for details, he told me the new discs "take the tracks right to the edge, and most MD machines can't cope", so they stopped selling them to prevent further returns. As I understand it, the 80 minute discs have a narrower track spacing, and the problem he described would only happen if you cloned an 80 minute TOC onto a normal 74 minute disc. I suppose some machines might get confused by a different track spacing. Can anyone enlighten me ? simon - To stop getting this list send a message containing just the word "unsubscribe" to [EMAIL PROTECTED]
RE: MD: email privacy
Rick Pali wrote: The idea comes from the simple fact that there are two types of mail. List/newsgroups and email. If I wanted to send you something that wasn't confidential, I'd just respond to your list post. If I send you something via email, yours will be the only name in the 'To' field for good reason. If you want to forward an email to someone else or post it publicly, it's common courtesy to ask permission first. There are reasons other than privacy for sending direct emails. For instance, on this list, people are often told to keep an off-topic thread (like this one :-( ) to themselves. I thought that if something in one of these emails turned out to be of more general interest, there could be no objection to broadcasting it. If someone emailed me about their bizarre sexual activities (I wish), or extensive cocaine smuggling operations, I would realise that they expected privacy, and to me it seems that the default should be "not private unless obvious from context". simon - To stop getting this list send a message containing just the word "unsubscribe" to [EMAIL PROTECTED]
RE: MD: REC while disc change
Rick wrote: Well, the feature in question is not quite "continuous record during disc change", it's more "recording start before TOC read". In other words, you can't record anything while you're taking the old disc out, but you can start recording just about as soon as you put the new disc in and close the lid (don't forget to hit END SEARCH when using previously recorded discs!). It buffers audio in RAM while it's reading the TOC, and dumps it all to disc as soon as the disc is ready to be recorded on. Hmmm, thanks Rick, pity they didn't go the whole 9 yards. I'm sure 40 seconds is long enough to write the TOC, eject, reload, read TOC ..., well perhaps not ! Isn't digital technology wonderful ? I'm sure I could do it with cassettes in 2 seconds. simon - To stop getting this list send a message containing just the word "unsubscribe" to [EMAIL PROTECTED]
RE: MD: email privacy
Dan Frakes wrote: The accepted netiquette is that private email is private, mailing list email is public. You don't post contents of a privately sent email to a mailing list without permission. Does everyone agree ? Where did this idea come from ? Was I wrong about hard copy mail too ? Did I wake up on the wrong planet ? puzzled simon - To stop getting this list send a message containing just the word "unsubscribe" to [EMAIL PROTECTED]
RE: MD: portable MD units comparison table
Takeshi Sasaki wrote: I made a couple of comparison tables of latest portable recorders and players here. http://members.xoom.com/md_data/ Useful comparison. I was particularly interested in "Continuous REC while Disc Change". I was not aware of any recorders taking the obvious step of using the anti-shock memory to buffer during disk change. This table indicates that the Sony MZR-55 90 do it. I can't find any other reference to this feature. Can you help, Takeshi ? simon - To stop getting this list send a message containing just the word "unsubscribe" to [EMAIL PROTECTED]
RE: MD: Pure marketing hype from Sony
Magic wrote: isn't the point that this type of distortion would effect the overall sound at these frequencies? It doesn't really make much difference if the end result is a triangle, square, sine, inverse sine, or wobbly sine with a pimple on top - the point is that it has changed the original wave form. The waveform may be different, but the differences are caused by component frequencies which are out of range for most ears, and if you cannot detect those frequencies, you will not be aware of the difference. simon - To stop getting this list send a message containing just the word "unsubscribe" to [EMAIL PROTECTED]
RE: MD: OT: Linux
Dear Linux fanciers, until Linus Torvalds releases an MD of kickin' vibes, or a Linux version which fits onto an MD, can we drop this thread ? simon (zz) - To stop getting this list send a message containing just the word "unsubscribe" to [EMAIL PROTECTED]
RE: MD: CD (and MD) error correction
Rick quoted: ... The error correction chip typically can correct two bad symbols per block in the first stage, and two bad symbols per block in the second stage. "Some chips can correct four bad symbols in the second stage." Thanks for the informative post, but I'm dubious about this bit. The error correction algorithm is a simple mathematical process, which I would expect to have a fixed correction range for a given coding scheme. I suppose it is just possible that there is a shortcut, requiring fewer calculations (ie cheaper chip), with less correction ability. simon - To stop getting this list send a message containing just the word "unsubscribe" to [EMAIL PROTECTED]
RE: MD: MD --- Cassette
Barry Stern wrote: I'm wondering what the best way to get a recorded minidisc transferred to a regular old cassette would be... Will I be stuck with a mono recording?? You don't say if your MD is a deck or a portable. deck: connect MD to amplifier, set amplifier to "MD", connect cassette deck (spits) to amplifier, press PLAY on MD, press RECORD on cassette deck. You get stereo if you connect enough wires. portie: use a stereo mini-jack to whatever cassette deck uses for input lead to connect portie to cassette. I can't seem to locate anything that would let me do this digitally (I'm SURE I'm wrong about that). I'm struggling not to make fun of you over this bit. Suffice it to say, cassettes are analog. They CAN store digital data by coding the data into a stream of audio tones, but I don't think this is what you want. simon - To stop getting this list send a message containing just the word "unsubscribe" to [EMAIL PROTECTED]
RE: MD: TOSLink protective caps on sockets
Simon Mackay wrote: ... optical inputs or outputs is often fitted with removeable plastic caps on these Toslink connectors. snip which can easily get lost. Alternatives: blu-tak or sticky tape They also present a choking hazard with toddlers if you are in a situation ... As a loving parent of two surviving former toddlers, I have to say that the choking hazards are said infants, who will attempt to place any object that will fit, into their mouths. It's your job to stop 'em doing it (you hope). If your MD deck is in reach, expect to find unusual objects posted into the disk slot. I think it's valid to argue that toys and other stuff designed for little people should not have small bits that come off and choke the little darlings, but I don't think this extends to domestic electronics. Should I always keep the plugs on the TOSLink connectors whenever I am not using the connectors or can I not have the plugs on them? The plugs keep out dust, which might later end up in the signal path. The dust MIGHT stop the optical link working, in which case you would need to clean it out with a Q-tip. simon - To stop getting this list send a message containing just the word "unsubscribe" to [EMAIL PROTECTED]
RE: MD: Pure marketing hype from Sony
Magic wrote (in reply to me) simon 1) Wot IS a "high frequency dynamic" ? Think of the opposite - low frequency dynamics. You know those really low sub-bass sounds you can't actually hear as much as you feel them. The same can happen with high-frequency sound, in that they are too high for your ears to hear, but they can still effect other senses. Yes, I have felt low fequencies in my diaphragm, but what organ could I use to detect these HIGH frequencies ? Also, you still didn't say what the DYNAMIC part is. I can hear frequencies, but I'm not sure I know what a dynamic is. I suspect it is a rate of change of frequency or amplitude. There's also the effect that sampling at a low frequency rate such as 44kHz can have on a signal. A sine wave at 22kHz sampled at 44kHz becomes a triangle wave, and that does sound vastly different. A 1kHz triangle wave DOES sound different to a 1kHz sine wave, but if I try it at 10kHz, I can't hear a difference (because the triangularising harmonics are above 20 kHz and inaudible), and at 22kHz I can't hear a damn thing of either. simon - To stop getting this list send a message containing just the word "unsubscribe" to [EMAIL PROTECTED]
RE: MD: Pure marketing hype from Sony
Christopher Spalding wrote: But what the accuracy of the data comes down to is that whilst the error correction my cause the errors on the discs, etc to be unnoticable, it is still ony the machine's best guess as to what should be there, so it isn't exactly what the original should sound like. There is no guesswork involved. The data is recorded with a degree of redundancy (extra data), which allows for faults in the disk medium. Provided the error rate does not break some threshold, the original data can be recovered perfectly despite media errors. simon - To stop getting this list send a message containing just the word "unsubscribe" to [EMAIL PROTECTED]
RE: MD: Pure marketing hype from Sony
Christopher Spalding wrote: Rupert Neve (if you have to ask who that is, don't bother responding to this email), ... Red rag to a bull, mate! Who is this guy, and why should we care what he says ? aside from swearing that the best analogue will always sound better, feel better an generally be better than any analogue, says that he feels digital will be of an acceptable quality when it is 24bit 192kHz (kinda leaves MDs for dead, huh?). He can swear all he likes ( I know I do ), but I like real experimental evidence. This is because of high frequency dynamics, which affect the sound colour. 1) Wot IS a "high frequency dynamic" ? 2) I'm somewhat colour blind anyway (especially in my ears) simon - To stop getting this list send a message containing just the word "unsubscribe" to [EMAIL PROTECTED]
RE: MD: Q. MDs and data storage
=== = NB: Over 50% of this message is QUOTED, please = = be more selective when quoting text = === peter barlow wrote: ... Can I use MDs for storing PC data, like on a zip disk? Is there an 'in-bay' drive I can buy? Are the MDs themselves interchangable (music/data). No, No No! It's a disaster area, forget it. Ok, now for the question that really sucks. Anyone seen 'The Matrix' ? I swear Neo hands his 'friend' a minidisc with computer data on it. Just a film stunt, or is there more to it ? Go to the top of the MDSpotters class you sad, sad boy. This has been exhaustively discussed a while ago. simon - To stop getting this list send a message containing just the word "unsubscribe" to [EMAIL PROTECTED]
RE: MD: Pure marketing hype from Sony
Jim Coon wrote: Bunk which bit(s) ? simon - To stop getting this list send a message containing just the word "unsubscribe" to [EMAIL PROTECTED]
RE: MD: Pure marketing hype from Sony
Christopher Spalding wrote: It actually takes a metal class tape to store digital data on, and even on these you will notice that DAT occasionally will have glitches and it You can store digital data on any medium you like, for instance, knots in a string (you might need a lot of string). Now, obviously more durable media such as CDs and MDs don't experience errors that much ... I'm not sure this is true. Given the high degree of error recovery possible, how could you tell ? I believe CD pressing can be quite crude, but it does not matter. ... thus the higher quality the media the more likely it is that the reproduction will match the orriginal. This does not follow. "Better" quality media MAY experience less errors (or may be entirely marketing hype), but as long as the errors are corrected, it makes no difference. If you took a bunch of cheap minidiscs and continued using them until you had a few glitches, and then repeated the experiment using higher quality discs, you would probably find that it would take longer for the higher quality discs to produce glitches. This needs to be established by statistically significant experiment. Is it the case that continued reuse of ANY type of MD causes it to give errors ? simon - To stop getting this list send a message containing just the word "unsubscribe" to [EMAIL PROTECTED]
RE: MD: Sony MDX-C8900 car md player
Oscar Fowler wrote: ...which I bought a few months back with the same problem. I hate to throw them all away, but they all seem to have intermitent problems. Ain't you hearda consumer rights? Take them back to the shop and ask for replacements. simon - To stop getting this list send a message containing just the word "unsubscribe" to [EMAIL PROTECTED]
RE: MD: Are MD decks preamplified?
Luca, you can expect the same sort of level from an MD deck as a CD deck, ie ~ 1Volt, which should drive your amp without problems. As to why your R55 was distorted (rather than just too low) is a bit of a mystery, and makes me wonder if it was not connected properly (and you were just listening to capacitive pickup). simon - To stop getting this list send a message containing just the word "unsubscribe" to [EMAIL PROTECTED]
RE: MD: R90 and end search
John Chrapowicki wrote: Note to Shawn: If you want to continue the discussion, I suggest we do it via private mail to avoid us getting kicked off the board ;-) I don't believe you would be kicked off for droning on and on so long as you stay on topic, so ignore the hecklers and let us all listen ! simon - To stop getting this list send a message containing just the word "unsubscribe" to [EMAIL PROTECTED]
RE: MD: MD on UK's 'Taggart' show
John Chrapowicki wrote: On last night's 'Taggart', they had a better advert snip Roll on more shows with MD friendly script writers This is very sad indeed, John. Ironically, said MD (an AMF5) ends up being thrown into the Clyde ! ...sadly gone downhill since the actor who played the gritty character [died] Somehow, "Jardine" does not have the same ring. Especially as the new Chief Inspector appears to be 24 years old. So, you try to move the eternal ES debate off the list, and then dredge up the marginal "I saw an MD in ..." canard instead ? simon - To stop getting this list send a message containing just the word "unsubscribe" to [EMAIL PROTECTED]
RE: MD: HELP R50 youz. ...d@mn!
Simon Gardner wrote: As for not getting any help - well, if you actually bothered spellchecking and writing in sentences then people might understand your posts, This sounds a bit snobby to me, I found PP's eccentric style entertaining. all right m8's ? (uggh) a different simon - To stop getting this list send a message containing just the word "unsubscribe" to [EMAIL PROTECTED]
RE: MD: R90 and end search
I like it too and I'm not weird. (Andy) And you would know ? simon (certainly weird, but hates End Search) - To stop getting this list send a message containing just the word "unsubscribe" to [EMAIL PROTECTED]
