Thanks for all the tips, Walt. I am new to all of this but I hope to a
lot of recording. Could you describe your field card? I just have a
cheat sheet of what I info I want to speak onto the end of each track.
Also, I am using the Portadisc's USB output. Twice now I have gotten
noise. Is this strange? I figured the cord was just rattling while I
typed or something. I replaced the cord and have not had any problems,
but now I am not doing anything while I transfer.
Cheers,
Mike
On Wednesday, August 27, 2003, at 01:53 PM, Walter Knapp wrote:
> Michael P. Moore wrote:
> > From: Michael P. Moore <>
> > Date: Wed Aug 27, 2003=A0 9:12:47=A0 AM America/New_York
> > To:
> > Subject: Re: [Nature Recordists] Need alternative to Bias Peak
> >
> > Thanks Walt,
> >
> > For some reason I never considered transferring the tracks one at a
> > time.=A0 It seemed like many of the subjects go across several tracks.=
=A0
> > But, I guess it is easy enough to splice them together.=A0 I was just
> > setting Peak to record and then walking away so I didn't giggle the
> > cables (I have gotten some noise if I continue to use the computer
> > while transferring the files).=A0 Why can't we mount the Portadisc on
> the
> > desktop?
>
> I use the time I'm transferring to preview the recording, decide what I
> want to do with it. I also use it to recheck my field card on the
> recording. It's important to go back and listen critically to what you
> record.
>
> The minidisc is in a format quite similar to a CD. The digital
> connection of the Portadisc is in a format for streaming audio. Neither
> of those are standard computer things. I don't find it any problem that
> my field recorder has to be handled the same way as Cassette or DAT in
> getting sounds into the computer.
>
> If you have several sequential tracks that are the same site and you
> want them one file, then record just those tracks into a single file.
> You are not required to stop at each track mark. I generally keep each
> track independent and combine in peak later if I wish.
>
> Recording unrelated site recordings into a single file sounds like
> asking for lots of headaches later. Track by track will result in each
> file being smaller, easier to handle.
>
> I take it you are using analog transfer from the Portadisc? If using
> digital I've never had any problems with the stream getting extra noise
> introduced. However, I don't do other things while transferring, I want
> to concentrate on listening to the recording.
>
> > I will try to do one at a time.=A0 Now, how to keep them all
> organized?=A0
> > Do you assign a number and then enter the corresponding data? Right
> now
> > I can just open a Peak file that corresponds (in my mind) to a
> certain
> > period of time or location.=A0 I can type in a species name and then
> peak
> > snaps right to it.=A0 My problem seems to be with this one minidisc.=A0=
I
> > have had no problems with others I have done this way.=A0 But I think I
> > will do what you have suggested, I don't want all of those IDs to
> > disappear again.
>
> When I start a blank disk in the Portadisc I name the disk using the
> portadisc's titling. The name starts with the year, followed by a
> sequence number for that year. I don't bother to name the tracks in the
> portadisc as they are automatically numbered. In the portadisc display
> the name would look like, say:=A0 2003-012=A0 for the 12th disk in 2003.
> Note this would allow me to record 999 disks in a year, in reality I've
> never got even near 100, but it's there if I ever do. Every time I
> record I fill out a field card that includes a block for the track
> number. My minidiscs are archived, and I don't edit them, except for
> occasionally erasing a track just after recording it because it was
> messed up somehow.
>
> When I transfer the track to a computer file I continue with a similar
> naming convention, but add the track number, thus:=A0 2003A012-005.aif
> would be the name for the 5th track of the 12th disk of 2003. The
> reason
> for the A in the number is I use a similar organizational system for my
> photographs, those would have a P there. Once I've transferred the
> tracks, I consider the computer file the "original" and would only go
> back to the minidisc archive if I lost all backups.
>
> My field card information get's entered into my Filemaker database. In
> fact the Filemaker form looks very much like the card. The data entry
> has pop up menus and spell checking lists to keep down entry errors.
> That is searchable for things like species and so on, any of the info
> entered can be searched. I also transfer my Filemaker database into my
> Palm Tungsten C to have it available back in the field. I could enter
> the data directly into the palm rather than a card, but I don't like to
> trust critical info only to a computer. The field cards, like the
> minidiscs get filed away.
>
> Note my index system is not tied to minidisc, if sometime in the future
> I move to a different recording format it's easily adaptable.
>
> > I am intrigued by these music programs (like itunes) that let people
> > keep all the data attached to the sound file.=A0 It seems like such a
> > slick system.=A0 A database that is built to accommodate sound files.=
=A0
> I
> > just can't find any program that lets you define the fields.
>
> The problem with such things where you keep attaching files is that in
> a
> few years you have this awful monster to deal with as you continue to
> accumulate files. It's much better to keep the files independent so you
> can move them around and archive them separately. And use a proper
> database program to maintain your data.
>
> Some swear by the use of metadata that's recorded into the files, but
> it's so poorly supported I don't want to get trapped having to do
> programming just to check some data. So, I don't use it.
>
> > Finally, where is this date stamp on the Portadisc?=A0 Where does it
> show
> > up?
>
> When playing a track in the portadisc, hit the display button. It goes
> through several displays, including showing you the time and date stamp
> for that track. Make sure your clock is set right in the Portadisc and
> check it once in a while. Because you are playing a audio stream and
> recording that when you transfer into the computer, the time and date
> do
> not transfer. Your file will have the time and date you did the
> transfer.
>
> > Sorry for so many questions.=A0 I am going back to PNG in a couple
> months
> > so I am anxious to get all the bugs out so when I come back I can
> > catalogue everything while it is still fresh in my mind.
>
> It's very important to get a cataloging system that can handle all your
> recording through the years. Having to go back a redo a catalog system
> you have outgrown is a huge pain. I made that error with my slides many
> years ago. Think it over carefully, think about cataloging thousands of
> minidisc recordings, or at least many more than a lifetime of recording
> can do. That will keep going with you. Most of the systems that get
> promoted are for dabblers that don't do much. Definitely don't try to
> do
> it in your memory.
>
> Walt
>
>
>
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