Dropout / Track Marks With An Optical Recording

[clarkeda]

I'm recording 192kbps DAB radio output optically as PCM from a Sony Freeview box to an MZ-NH1 at 256kbps. Infrequently I'm seeing "dropouts" and an unexpected track mark. I'm wondering if this is the "2 seconds of no sound" mentioned in the manual (although it's hard to say with the recording, which was instrumental - Piano). What's the best way to combine the tracks ? If I try to delete the track mark on the recorder I get "NO EDIT", and Sonicstage 3.1 doesn't seem to offer any way to do this. I suppose I could convert to MP3 and then stitch them together, but that seems a bit longwinded. Any ideas MD gurus :-) ?

[jadeclaw]

Trackmarks are set, when:

a) the SCMS-Status changes,

the digital signal get lost

c) the sample rate changes. Despite the built in sample rate converter.

In all of these cases a non-deletable Trackmark is inserted.

It is non-deletable as the DRM-Status of the tracks might be different.

My advice: Improve the reception, that will reduce the probability of a dropout.

Second, if the program is shorter then 94 Minutes, record in PCM,

export to .wav, edit and combine in an external program (Audacity), then reimport.

By using PCM for recording, you have to compress only once. (On reimport)

[clarkeda]

Thanks for the advice. Unfortunately most of the recordings I make are longer than 94 minutes. I'm not sure it's a reception issue - with the freeview box you can see the "signal strength" from the engineering part of the OSD and this is always very good. I guess I'll just have to live with this and combine the MP3s at a later point. Thanks again for replying.