Kind of depressing to test where it goes astray
though when we'll have MD decks in the field
until there's a cost-effective replacement. Net
MD probably hasn't increased the chances of
getting better a-d converters. Those in my
MT-90's seem a snidge better than those in my
first computer audio card, vintage 92. Some
heartening developments though: I've been talking
with a rep from Sony about the discussed
HiMD/sonicstage software changes to enable .wav
file usb transfer and editing access. They said
they should be making an announcement in a few
days. Might show-up under sonystyle.com ->
portable audio-> registration/support. One might
have to have a registered Sony product/log on to
access the full info though. Best, Rob D.
=3D =3D =3D =3D
At 6:21 PM +0000 8/10/04, 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
>
>--- 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
>
>
>
>
>"Microphones are not ears,
>Loudspeakers are not birds,
>A listening room is not nature."
>Klas Strandberg
>Yahoo! Groups Links
>
>
>
>
--
Rob Danielson
Film Department
University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
>From Tue Mar 8 18:27:51 2005
Message: 1=20=20=20=20=20=20=20=20
Date: Tue, 10 Aug 2004 18:21:51 -0000
From: "Rich Peet" <>
Subject: Re: Consumer MD quality
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
--- 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.=20
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
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
|