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Re: Homebrew Recorder

Subject: Re: Homebrew Recorder
From: "Avocet" madl74
Date: Thu May 31, 2012 6:23 pm ((PDT))
< I've sort of settled on the following spec. and was hoping the
> group could give it the once over and make any suggestions re- >
> omissions / alternatives etc.

Rob,

While you are at it, aim for something which is not curently available
and more than 2 channels.

My immediate comparison would be with an SQN mixer running into a
stereo recorder. I've used SQN mixers since they came out decades ago
and their spec is high. My first change would be to have four inputs
as I am using four at the moment with alternative stereo mic pairs.

> switchable front end gain 30/40/50/60dB

And line in 100mv and +12 balanced.

> 2 x analogue fader control. mute to +20dB(gangable for stereo)

Fader 1 ganged L/R with fader 2 pan. Configurable as M-S.
The other two inputs could have phase switching.

Alternatively make all level controls electronic/digital and
configurable to all of the above.

> separate MS decoders for input and headphones (width control on
> input)

And line out. Software control of in/out signals can make this fully
configurable.

> analogue peak limiter (gangable for stereo)

Make this digital. With 24 bit, a limiter is redundant as you can have
several bits of headroom. For those rooted in analogue recording,
provide a limiter but one which can be "undone" digitally. Avoid a
hole after a peak by making recovery fast which is possible digitally.

> pre-record buffer (5 sec. ?)

1 minute to 10 minutes. Think big.

> internal solid state drive 128 GB (FAT32)

Pluggable?

> 2 x XLR-3F audio in

4 as above.

Alternatively, make it stackable to a number of stereo pairs under a
single sync control. Top layer controls whole stack.

> -40 / +80 deg.C operating temp.

And water/rain resistant. Much more important than 80 C.

David

David Brinicombe
North Devon, UK
Cogito cogito ergo cogito sum - Ambrose Bierce







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