Hi Jeff- I've not studied the flow chart of MD
recording circuitry, but is seems like a digital
input would go through some process(es) in order
to get into ATRAC data rates. The affect this
process has on quality aside from or in relation
to ATRAC compression in MD is probably small. Is
the step eliminated with .wav recording in HiMD?
Interesting question. The main advantage of using
the digi input, of course, is the ability to
by-pass the analog mic pre and use a better
preamp/mics. Its a drag that Sony seems to have
defeated the digital input/.wav upload feature in
the HiMD recorders, but I wouldn't be surprised
if there's a work-around eventually. We can use
the analog outputs from our mic pres for now. Rob
D.
At 10:18 AM -0700 8/11/04, Jeff Klatt wrote:
>Does anyone know if optical input to MD undergoes
>resampling? I've always wondered this.... I suppose
>it wouldn't ncecssarily be specific to MD, but any
>portable recorder (?).
>
>Regards,
>Jeff
>
>
>--- Rich Peet <> wrote:
>
>> Thanks for the review.
>>
>> Now for another test of md I could try recording
>> both to hard drive
>> and to my md via optical input at the same time.
>> That will give a
>> recording using the same mics, mic pre, and a/d to
>> compare. only the
>> atrac translation part of the md would be the
>> difference, if I didn't
>> miss something. But then, maybe I really can't stop
>> a consumer md
>> from resampling an optical input internally, I guess
>> I don't know.
>>
>> Rich
>>=A0
>> --- In Rob
>> Danielson <>
>> wrote:
>> > Waiting for the 744T recorder to roll out, I've
>> recorded many hours
>> > this Summer using several consumer grade SHARP
>> MT-90 MD decks (and
>> > all my DATS resting in peace). I've experienced
>> 100% technical
>> > reliability, MD is an amazing, _little_ medium.
>> >
>> > I've noticed two qualities/differences comparing
>> them to recordings
>> > made with the Sony D7-D8/M-1 DAT recorders I've
>> used for years.=A0
>> All
>> > recordings were made with the same low noise mics
>> and MP-2 preamps
>> > and all transfers were made digitally.
>> >
>> > 1) The analog to digital processing circuits in
>> the Sharp MD's is
>> > understandably not as transparent. This results in
>> a "harmonic"
>> > structure in the sound that can be heard as a
>> subtle chord of
>> tones.
>> > It creates a more "musical" sounding recording
>> with broadband
>> > original material (like location "air") but it
>> also makes such
>> > sources sound more similar than they are. The a-d
>> quality in the
>> > MT-90 is better than I thought it would be, but
>> limited if one
>> hopes
>> > to do things like make subtle contrasts in post.
>> Using the optical
>> > digital input could get around the a-d lI assume.
>> >
>> > 2) Frequency nodes/artifacts. There are often some
>> very narrow
>> > frequencies that are not reproduced correctly or
>> as accurately as
>> > with non compressed 16bit. These narrow
>> bandwidths are either
>> > significantly attenuated or, instead of one tone,
>> there's a blend
>> of
>> > two tones fighting for the same location on the
>> frequency spectrum.
>> > I've heard this at times with 16 bit recordings--
>> but its much more
>> > pronounced with the MD recordings I've been
>> working with. The dip
>> in
>> > response or discordant tone seem to create false
>> tones that one has
>> a
>> > hard time balancing with EQ. I've encountered
>> enough of
>> these "spots"
>> > now that I'm confident that they are somehow
>> produced by the Sharp
>> MD
>> > recorders/MD media.
>> >
>> > I'm happy with the recordings and its likely that
>> one could not
>> hear
>> > these quality differences when making analog MD
>> transfers because
>> of
>> > the additional noise, distortion and a->d step. Of
>> course, consumer
>> > MD's use different a->d circuits than the
>> Portadisc recorders and
>> > this is important to remember.
>> >
>> > Is it likely these traits occur with other or all
>> consumer-grade MD
>> > recorders? I really couldn't say as my use of
> > other MD recorders is
>> > limited. Best, Rob D.
>> >
>> >
>> > --
>> > Rob Danielson
>> > Film Department
>> > University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee
>>
>>
>
>
>
>
>
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--
Rob Danielson
Film Department
University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee
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