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Re: MD Technology review

Subject: Re: MD Technology review
From: Walter Knapp <>
Date: Wed, 03 Jul 2002 22:20:37 -0400
Wild Sanctuary wrote:

> >Since I now have a MKH 30 and a MKH 80, I can do M/S, and have been
> >trying to decide if I archive the real original from the two mics or the
> >encoded stereo. Any thoughts on this subject one way or the other?
> 
> As I understand it, no problem either way, Walt. If you don't process
> your signal (w/ EQ or reverb) you should be able to convert to
> stereo, and then, w/ a matrix revert to original M-S signal any time
> you wish. That's one of the beauties of M-S recording.

I guess I had not thought of it that way, but it is reversible. And,
like you I don't muck with the copy going to archive.

Since I save my original minidiscs, I'll always have a original copy,
but I don't like to depend on going back to those. 

I'm still working on coming up with a good M/S software for use on my
Macs. Too many things keep me jumping this time of year.

> >I only recently upped my HD space enough to hold much of my collection.
> >Mine is archived in two forms: Aiff files on optical disks, and audio CD
> >format on CD-R's. I keep working copies of current stuff on HD as well.
> 
> Probably a safe move. I also store my complete archive in two
> distinctly separate places for safe-keeping.

There are actually three sets of my audio CD copies, in three places.
It's a important point to have copies in more than one place. Anyone who
does not believe so only has to think FIRE!

> Sounds like a winner. And I'll be testing it for our purposes soon.

You are much better equipped for testing than I am, so it's going to be 
interesting.

> That certainly makes sense. But perhaps that, too, will be mitigated
> over time...if we live so long. BTW, I do recommend the Portadisc and
> other MD tech in my new book, Wild Soundscapes.

I'm hoping to be able to watch a few more changes before I go. Maybe
even participate.

Even beyond technical issues, it's a matter of practicality as far as MD
use. Most can't afford a lot for their equipment and MD is simply
available at a much cheaper buy in. I'd actually far rather see someone
put more in their mic and buy a MD than buy a more expensive DAT and go
cheap on the mic. The MD will do the job in a manner indistinguishable
from the DAT, while the cheap mic will not do as well as a better one
costing a bit more.

I will not recommend the older analog recording technology to a beginner
unless they already have a recorder or must be super cheap, and the new
stuff I consider experimental, so the choices are limited. And I
definitely want to encourage as many as I can to take up this
interesting hobby/profession. They should have equipment that will give
them good recordings from the start, otherwise they are less likely to
stay in it.

This all goes into what you are up to with your soundscape work. People
will appreciate preserving soundscapes a lot more if they are also
recording them. How many people even notice all the jets overhead until
they try to record? Or the people who don't maintain the wheel alignment
on their cars causing the tires to become noisy? Or lots else. Cameras
make people aware of visual blight, recorders make people aware of audio blight.

Walt



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