greenmachine

In the net it is essential to know the basics how to use a (de-)compression utility. Why not make yourself familiar with it by reading the manual? Not using winzip myself, but there's usually an "extract to" or something like that in the menu. Many files you download are compressed in one way or the other to save space/bandwidth and need to be decompressed before they can be used.

Sample #1 is most probably preamp overload, which you can avoid by using a battery box and record via line-in (no roll-off necessary, no need to cut off anything, line-in can't easily be overloaded, particularly not by small diaphragm microphones without preamp). The recording might also benefit from a more thought-out mic placement, sounds close to mono. Separating the mics to approx. distance of your ears will usually help. Not sure about sample #2, could be a different problem, maybe the levels were set too high. Try to get used to manually setting the recording levels, usually yields much better results, AGC destroys dynamics by compressing the material. Also if you have to record via mic-in, make sure the input sensitivity is set to low (in the options menu).

CDex rips and compresses on the fly. A current version of the LAME encoder is included, there are presets to choose from in the options. There is freedb support (automatic remote naming service). A great all-in-one package.

What about channel separation?

The brief description of DSEE sounds like it would work similar to the high frequency enhancement technology of mp3, called mp3pro, doesn't it? Is there a place to get more detailed information about it?

Yes, they're source follower modified and can handle well over 130 dB without significant distortion. I know because i have built them. Details for the mod on Linkwitz's site and in my DIY thread.

Last time i tried to combine a 3 hour hi-sp recording of ~150 tracks (a line-in live recording) in sonicstage it took several hours on a fairly fast PC, which annoyed me. Combining via the recorder might be fiddly, but saves hours of unnecessary computing. Might be a less reliable method though.

PCM (the highest quality setting will usually upload in approximately 2-3x realtime, the other compressed modes much faster. The latest model, the RH1 might be even a bit faster. Transfer is via USB, requiring to use a proprietary software called "SonicStage". Once it's uploaded and converted to a non-proprietary format (.wav), you can use any audio editor to convert to your destination format of choice.

Hi-SP will give you vastly improved quality without significantly sacrificing recording time. Hi-MD mode recordings are not backwards compatible though.

That is a beautiful recording, glad you're having success.

Yes, but you will also need an external charger to make use of their full potential, the internal charger will charge higher capacity ones only partially. If it's just a one-time affair, it's propably not worth the investment - use a disposable high capacity alkaline [like duracell, energizer or the like] instead.

The battery module should work with any standard pre-polarized condenser [electret] mic [like the sp-bmc-2] unless it is modified and requires reverse polarity [rare, very unlikely]. Adding an optical out is not quite an easy task since it would require a built-in analog t digital converter [ADC].

For recording longer periods, don't use the supplied 700 mAh battery, but a well conditioned higher capacity one (~2000 mAh+) instead. With a 2300 mAh NiMH rechargeable i once got approximately 8.5 hours in pcm mode [not continuously, disk change every 1.5 hours] 16 hours in hi-sp mode ["," every 8 hours] 17 hours in hi-lp mode [continuously] these are the maximum continuous recording times per 1GB disk regardless of battery power: pcm: a little over 1.5 hours hi-sp: almost 8 hours hi-lp: approx. 34 hours [limited by battery power] pcm is the highest quality but not so resouces friendly setting - CD quality. hi-sp is compressed [256 kbps], but still quite high quality hi-lp is highly compressed [64 kbps] with audible artifacts, but might be sufficient in your case if you need the recording time, otherwise use hi-sp.

mono = one channel stereo = two channels If both channels contain the same information, it is still considered mono. There is no mono mode when recording in Hi-MD mode. For headphone listening, mono is not recommended at all - it will appear as if the sound was trapped inside your head instead of around you, room information is lost. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monaural http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stereo

Hyper-compressed music is mainly "optimized" for the casual radio station listener, listening in the car and other noisy environments and for lo-fi systems, in other words, the average consumer. On higher end gear in quiet environments, it will sound mostly awful, particularly when listening for longer periods. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Loudness_war

The mics will perform slightly better in theory with a higher voltage [s/n, response, sensitivity], but the differences are subtle. Plug in power should be sufficient most of the time. When you record at low levels you will get additional digital noise after normalization, not just resolution loss. Some people claim non-polarized ones to be sound-quality-wise superior, but since i can't tell a difference, i've used polarized ones because of their size/shape.

remove the battery from the main unit when not in use for longer periods to avoid deep discharge and its effects

A useful flaw in my opinion - i wish lowest band had the same flaw, something like 30-60 instead of 100Hz. I did a few measurements with my NH700 a while ago and came to same conclusion: http://forums.minidisc.org/index.php?showtopic=13741

Make sure you use Sonicstage v3.2 or later [v4.0 linked in the software section of these forums], then right-click the track in the library window -> "save in wav format" and use an external application of your choice to convert to a format of your choice [like mp3]. Or use HiMD-Renderer [in the software/downloads section of these forums].

I don't see a reason why a coaxial connector can't be made in 1/8" size?

In my opinion, it's a long overdue feature, hopefully to be added to the majority of [portable] recorders soon.

Isn't there an alternative firmware for IFP's to enable real drag 'n drop? I remember something like that. Having used an IFP [different model no.] in the past, for quality recordings i'd prefer Hi-MD any day.

Currently i find myself going back to Rickie Lee Jones "Pop Pop" album quite often, i quite dig the laid-back, minimalistic jazzy style. A real gem - although at a first glance not too different from Norah's style, i enjoy this one quite a bit more. What about you? (by the way, this is not a "what are you listening to right now" or "what have you just bought" thread ) edit: added pic and link:

As far as i know all MD recorders except for 2nd generation Hi-MD [that includes NetMD, 1st generation Hi-MD and the RH1] had SP realtime recording capabilities [in full quality]. As mentioned earlier, software transfer of SP mode is fake and [slightly worse than] LP2 quality. ATRAC[1] type "R" or "S" is generally considered as an improvement [in sound quality] over previous versions [that includes ATRAC v4.5]. New models should be able to play/decode earlier Atrac1 version recordings as good or better than older devices.

Take a look at this and the other [stickied] threads in the phones section.