Hi Clive, The D100 features two analog to digital converters. =
When SN100 mode is used BOTH converters are active recording the same signa=
l (and incoherent noise) and in theory this increases the signal to noise o=
f the recorder. I do not have any information on how Sony does this in pra=
ctice but assume the SN100 "mode" means an increase in signal to noise at t=
he expense of loosing the limiter function. (in theory it could be 3dB lowe=
r noise but without measuring that directly I won't speculate) Even with t=
he SN100 feature off and using the limiter the recorders preamp is still ve=
ry good / low noise compared to any other recorder. *1=0D
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*1 With the exception of the D50 which is now discontinued so Bony can bli=
nd us with marketing clap trap and then rob us in broad daylight with the D=
100 price all for the sake of SD card support and 1 dB lower EIN, since tha=
t wasn't really enough throwing in DSD to confuse the sheep was a good tric=
k, yet its much worse than Korg's implementation so no benefit at all in pr=
actice. Summary for the impatient: slightly improved EIN, SD Card support a=
nd internal mic's that are lower noise, and a missing divide button, the st=
rap is also on the wrong side compared to the D50. D100 shares the same bat=
tery sled as the D50, improves the gain control by allowing individual left=
and right channel gain control (which really needs optical out and FFT ana=
lysis to get them set to the same gain again) Its display is much better th=
an the D50s. The Optical line in and out are retained.=0D
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Back to reality, =0D
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When SN100 mode is active, the limiter is de-activated. If you try to enab=
le the limiter, it will warn its not enabled when SN100 mode is active. It =
will NOT turn on the limiter even if you select it to be on, e.g 150ms. (Da=
ft logic that) - so make sure you disable the SN100 if you plan on using th=
e limiter...=0D
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When the SN100 mode is deactivated (off) the limited can be turned on. - i=
f you turn on SN100 mode with the limiter active, the limiter gets turned o=
ff immediately and it switches to SN100 mode. =0D
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So to enable the limiter, turn OFF SN100 mode, then head to the limiter me=
nu and set the time required for the limiter e.g 150ms.=0D
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Gotchas...=0D
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The DSD mode has *NO limiter* this is far removed from what I'm used to wi=
th the Korg MR2 which has an excellent limiter (its almost unclip-able) whe=
n recording in DSD mode. Switching to DSD will show "LIM" in the display, b=
ut as soon as REC is pressed it will go out, thus no limiter when recording=
in DSD.=0D
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To answer your question, enabling SN100 will produce the lowest noise reco=
rdings at the expense of disabling the limiter - so set the gain level wise=
ly.=0D
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Other related issues e.g rec mode: =0D
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Using the D100s DSD mode only benefits the recording storage usage which i=
s lower than 192 Khz PCM. =0D
It has no practical benefit other than that I can see. The frequency respo=
nse is worse than using 192 Khz PCM and the limiter is disabled entirely. (=
in DSD mode the noise rises above 42 Khz, in PCM mode its flat to 96 Khz, b=
ut does change depending on recorded content which I found odd - some kind =
of noise shaping going on even in PCM mode depending on the low frequency c=
ontent)=0D
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I use Korgs Audiogate for DSD to PCM conversion since Sony does NOT supply=
any converter software for OS X / Mac users which is also ridiculous consi=
dering the price.=0D
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For the ultrasound recording the D100 will record to 96 Khz and the spectr=
um is "mostly" flat which is good news. =0D
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Hope this helps.=0D
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-Mike.=0D
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