Quote:
Originally posted by Fish Tank X
You also have to deal with magnetic roller heads (Diagonal at that) that *will* eventually wear out, track seeks, and everything else.
And Hi-MD should allow for about 2 hours of 16/48 lossless (My estimates run about 1HR53M) as well as optical/line in, which is all a serious recorder needs as most people doing recording are either going to use a front end (External A/D) or a preamp. Unless you're recording really loud, you're going to need more than a battery box to get decent results with line. (For minidisc anyways. I would expect much more of a PC-M1's internal preamp, so that same point isn't the same for DAT)
The PCM-1 is good. But you haven't told us how long it will record on a set of batteries. My guess is 5 hours, tops. (You and I both *know* how long it runs on a set of batteries. No need to drag it out to into the middle. Suffice to say.. )
And i'm 90% sure I can get a decent Hi-MD portable recorder, *And* deck with digital out cheaper than your PC-M1 costs new. (800$ last time I checked.) Ontop of that, I don't have to worry about the heads wearing out, dust, or uploading as if i'm recording through the crappy internal mic preamp (Damn you, sony) I can upload.
Sheez. If it isn't an origonal digital copy, it should be uploadable, regardless of where it's recorded. |
How long do these modern age MD recorders last? Two to three years tops, if your lucky. I think most MD users (like myself) are well aware that MD units are not built to last, especially a MD recorder...the head eventually dies out...and i bet much faster than a DAT portable that's well taken care of. I bought the M1 used on ebay for $375...works beautifully and is in great shape.
As for 16/48 recording with Hi-MD, i didn't read any comments from Sony about that...so let's leave the assumptions on the side for now. As for recording time...3 hrs+ is what the serious taper needs, not ~2 hrs. I don't tape festivals...those tapers that do have been converting to HD-based units and using laptops instead for longer taping times anyway. As for battery life, i haven't put the unit to that test yet, but i'm sure i will in due time.
As for taping via line in>battery box, i've been following this path with my DR7 and have been getting pretty solid results, so it works quite well IMHO. I taped one show with my M1>battery box and it sounded much cleaner and really liked the results.
So, regarding spending money on this new format, a good recorder will cost upwards of $400 then i will need a deck that has an optical out to convert to my soundcard (no one in their right mind would want to abuse a portable by using it's digi out, if it happened to have one). That will cost me quite a bit more than what i paid for my M1 and my Tascam DA20 ($150 used on ebay).
Granted DAT is being pushed aside by new technologies in the studio and i don't think MD or Hi-MD will be it. I will personally sit Hi-MD out until Sony releases larger sized media (if it happens) and prices drop. Once i get my Nomad i will be more than content with my recording devices since i will have 20 gigs to record my shows that upload via firewire or usb to my pc and clean up my shows on my pc.
Don't get me wrong, i kinda dig this new format, but i want to see larger sized media (if the format can support it)...then i'l be very interested in it. So, i got a question...do these units have built-in line in and line outs? Because i'm not seeing these features listed anywhere. Drop me a link if they have such info available for the first batch of units.
