Adjusting recording levels

[Swordfish_101]

Hi

I wonder if someone can help me. I've been scratching my head endlessly trying to figure this one out.

I recently acquired a Sony MZ-NHF800 and I'm very pleased with all the functionality. However one major problem I am having is that when I download MP3s from my computer onto my mini disk using a USB cable the sound level is very low. So when I listen to the music I cannot get the music to be on loud even if I set to the maximum 30 setting.

I know that it is possible to manually adjust the recording level but this is only possible when recording analogue or digital using the optical cable. When I connect using the USB I cannot access the menu settings on the player since it gets set to PC -MD. I cannot see anywhere that I can adjust the recording level on Sonic software iether.

Does anybody have any idea how I can set a higher recording level when transferring via the USB cable?

Please help!

Thanks

[greenmachine]

Try peak level normalizing your mp3s with mp3gain (apply max no-clip gain for each file). You can't go higher than that without introducing clipping or using dynamic compression.

[greenmachine]

Other than that, try using more efficient ear-/headphones. Be careful with your hearing.

[Shozzer]

It is not possible to adjust the recording level for tracks downloaded to the HiMD unit via USB.

[Swordfish_101]

Thank you very much for the replys Shozzer, Greenmachine.

I'm looking at MP3Gain as a possible solution. However when I change the gain using the max no clipping the db level actually goes down on the tracks from the original. So not sure if this will help.

I don't actually like music too loud but the sound level is really low on the transfers. When I listen to the songs walking down the street sometimes even light traffic drowns out the song. Surely this can't be right. Has anybody else experienced this? Or is it that my player is faulty or is this just my perceoption?

[Shozzer]

You don't say where you are from but if you purchased your HiMD in the Eu it will be volume capped. Use the search facility to look for volume hack which might just help your problem.

[Swordfish_101]

You don't say where you are from but if you purchased your HiMD in the Eu it will be volume capped. Use the search facility to look for volume hack which might just help your problem.

Thanks for that Shozzer. You are right. I'm in the UK and for regulatory reasons Sony cap the max volume to a pretty low level.

It is possible to service setting of the player and change the country setting to US or another country where the cap is at a higher level. Only problem is that I just cannot get my player to go into the Service mode.

Apparently the instructions are:

To enter service mode:

"Set the "HOLD" switch on.

While holding down the GROUP key instead, enter the key sequence:

>>| >>| |<< |<< >>| |<< >>| |<< | | | |

i.e. FF FF REW REW FF REW FF REW PAUSE PAUSE

Release all keys.

If you have successfully entered service mode, the display will alternately display the firmware version in the left display and a screen with all LCD segments lit at about half second intervals. "

What you need to do is find the value for code 113 and change it from the European code (81) to the US code (21). You should have the remote attached as the larger screen makes this easier.

As I said I just despite me trying for hours I just cannot get my player to go into the Service mode. Does anybody have any ideas?

Edited March 3, 2006 by Swordfish_101

[The Low Volta]

well, I just retried with my NH900... the sequence does work...

just make yourself comfi so you can operate the buttons on the recorder easily as I dunno if the remote buttons work for entering service mode (with the nh900 I do his by using my left index finger to hold 'group' and the right index finger to perform the sequence...but i'm not familiar with the nh800's layout)

- make sure 'hold' is ON (on the recorder obviously)

- press 'group' and hold the button down

- perform the sequence by pressing the following buttons shortly (do not hold them): FF, FF, REW, REW, FF, REW, FF, REW, 'pause', 'pause' (the button pause and not just a small pause )

- release 'group'

this did it for me... the screen actually flashes 'firmware' and all icons available at once. Now you can perform the rest of the sequence so you adjust the setting

- VOL+ / FF / FF / FF / FF / FF (gets you to "113 xxxSXX (xxx values counting up...)" with XX being your current setting, probably A0)

- number of times either VOL+ or VOL- till you get "113 xxxS25(xxx values counting up...)"

- PAUSE (to save)

- STOP (number of times till you get back at the service menu start-screen)

- remove all power sources (to get out of service mode)

BUT...perhaps you should just invest a little in more efficient headphones (I use the $25 panasonic RP-JE50 in-ear phones and even with all eq bands turned down one notch, I never need to go above 20/30)