Track Length and Uploading

[Peter Y]

I just got my MZ-RH1 and made my first test recording (on a regular MD disc in Hi-SP mode) at a jam session. It came out pretty good, but I had a problem when uploading the recording to my computer (using Hi-MD Music Transfer 2.0 on a Mac running OS X 10.4.5). I ended up with two tracks, one about 90 minutes long and one about 50. About 10 minutes into the first track I was told the data was unreadable (I don't remember the exact error message unfortunately) and it stopped. The file up to that point was readable, but that was all I could get. However, it did upload the second file just fine.

Having read horror stories in the forum about lost files and about files edited on the MD not being uploadable (at least in SS), I went back the the MZ-RH1 and played the track, and couldn't hear any problem around the time where it stopped uploading. So I put in a track mark before the problem and one after, and deleted the problem area. That didn't help, so I deleted a bit more and this time it worked to my relief. Since we were playing fiddle tunes that are 32 bars long, and there are three repetitions missing, I was able to combine and edit the files in Amadeus to the point where it's virtually impossible to tell that anything is missing.

Never having tried to upload files to my computer before (it not being possible with my old Aiwa FM-70), this leads me to wonder how frequent this problem might be, and if it might therefore be desirable to insert track marks either automatically or manually now and then to reduce the likelihood of losing substantial amounts of music if a track has problems. Is there any general advice/wisdom on this topic? I'm curious to hear any opinions before I leave for Fiddle and Dance Camp on Friday.

Thanks,

Peter

[A440]

I'm a PC user, so I'm unfamiliar with the Mac software. It may have bugs that are just being discovered.

However:

With SonicStage, simply inserting track marks while recording has never been a problem for me or most other users when uploading. SonicStage did formerly have very serious problems if a track mark was made and later removed within a track--hence the old warning against editing a track on the unit. But with 3.4 even that is no longer a problem.

I am reluctant, more from superstition than anything empirical, to upload giant tracks because if there's any glitch anywhere in the track, you could conceivably lose the whole thing. So while recording, I simply push the Track button between songs during applause (usually on my remote, but obviously you can do it on the unit too).

You have a few choices. If there are natural breaks in the music--I know those fiddle medleys get long, but probably not 90 minutes long--then just press the track button while recording. Or listen back and add some tracks during playback. Or if you don't want to be bothered and don't mind doing a little editing afterward, you could go into Time Mark under REC SET and pick an arbitrary length--5 minutes? 10 minutes?--and have marks automatically inserted.

[Peter Y]

I am reluctant, more from superstition than anything empirical, to upload giant tracks because if there's any glitch anywhere in the track, you could conceivably lose the whole thing. So while recording, I simply push the Track button between songs during applause (usually on my remote, but obviously you can do it on the unit too).

You have a few choices. If there are natural breaks in the music--I know those fiddle medleys get long, but probably not 90 minutes long--then just press the track button while recording. Or listen back and add some tracks during playback. Or if you don't want to be bothered and don't mind doing a little editing afterward, you could go into Time Mark under REC SET and pick an arbitrary length--5 minutes? 10 minutes?--and have marks automatically inserted.

I was under the impression that that was a wise thing to do, but I couldn't find any documentation anyplace on the forum that specifically stated that. Thanks for confirming what I thought. I guess if I use Groups and the time/date stamp it should still be easy to keep track of things.

What I did find was discussion of repeated material that comes about when track marks are entered, although I have the impression that might only occur when using the line-in input. Is that true?

Thanks,

Peter

[A440]

What I did find was discussion of repeated material that comes about when track marks are entered, although I have the impression that might only occur when using the line-in input. Is that true?

People have talked about this, but it has never happened to me.

Track marks themselves don't repeat material. I believe what has happened to some people is that combined tracks will include repeated material. But since it hasn't happened to me, I couldn't say.

When recording through Line-in, the unit automatically inserts a track mark if it detects 5 seconds of silence (or, actually, 5 seconds of signal below its threshold).

Some people have had trouble with recordings made at a low level that force them to recombine all those little tracks--hearing repeated material. I wouldn't worry about it if I were you. Since you're handy enough with editing software to slice out 32 bars precisely on the beat, you should be able to deal with this on the off chance that it does happen.

[Peter Y]

People have talked about this, but it has never happened to me.

Track marks themselves don't repeat material. I believe what has happened to some people is that combined tracks will include repeated material. But since it hasn't happened to me, I couldn't say.

That's good to hear.

When recording through Line-in, the unit automatically inserts a track mark if it detects 5 seconds of silence (or, actually, 5 seconds of signal below its threshold).

Some people have had trouble with recordings made at a low level that force them to recombine all those little tracks--hearing repeated material. I wouldn't worry about it if I were you. Since you're handy enough with editing software to slice out 32 bars precisely on the beat, you should be able to deal with this on the off chance that it does happen.

Well, I don't know about my skill level, since I haven't done it very much, but in this case it worked out with a bit of fussing around! Amadeus makes it pretty easy. I was just trying the program; don't even have a registered copy yet, and barely know how to use it. It may be that there are other Mac programs that are better for this sort of thing, but it certainly seems pretty good; I'll probably buy it after I get back.

I'm leaving in a couple hours - lots of recording adventures ahead! Thanks for your advice.

Peter

[A440]

Audacity has a Mac version, and it's free.

http://audacity.sourceforge.net/

Happy fiddling.