Recordings fail - static / digital noise

[chrisr]

Hello.

I've owned so far the Sony MDS-JB940, replaced it with a MDS-JB980 [returned to supplier with same fault], and now have a MDS-JE780 that also fails to record consstently. All three have suffered the same problem - intermittent recording failure. It's impossible to pin down what causes it.

Most recordings are unlistenable - a very distorted output plays back, from which it's almost possible to make out some garbled speech, but the reality is that the recordings are a complete failure. As virtually all of my recordings are for time-shifting BBC radio - especially R4 [speech] the option of having another go when it fails is not available. The only clue that the recording is failing is that the track counter starts to increment at some random time after the recording starts - anything from a few seconds to 10+ minutes after; the knock-on of this is that a disc soon has 255 tracks and is deemed full by the machine.

It's happened with all three decks now. The source can be DAB or FM; neither is better than the other. It's irrelevant whether the amp is on feeding sound to the speakers - about 4 feet away - and the nearby TV doesn't have any discernible effect - on or off, the MD recording is likely as not to fail. And then once in a while it all works perfectly, and I can listen to soomething pretty much as the BBC intended it to be heard. Annoying or what?

Anyone got any suggestions? I'm now close to junking my favourite recording media. Please help.

Thanks.

Chris R.

[Skradgee]

Welcome to the forums, chrisr. All I can think of is that maybe the signal going into the deck is too much. That could explain the distortion, but I don't know about all the track marks. Sorry that I can't be of more help.

[Richard]

* Moved to MD, NetMD / MDLP section

[chrisr]

Welcome to the forums, chrisr. All I can think of is that maybe the signal going into the deck is too much. That could explain the distortion, but I don't know about all the track marks. Sorry that I can't be of more help.

Nice thought, but it happens through analogue and optical source, and the level meters are barely touching the red. Plus which, when it works, it's perfect. Thanks though.

I suspect the track marks are added because the [distorted] signal hitting the disc is much lower, so the deck - all 3 of 'em - behaves as it should by inserting a track mark when it drops that low for long enough, which is probably all the time despite what the meters are showing.

Edited December 5, 2006 by chrisr

[A440]

This is pretty baffling. Does it happen regardless of the source? Can you record an album out of your stereo?

An intermittent problem like this also makes me think it's something mechanical--the cord, the output jack, the input jack--not making the proper connection. If it were some signal-processing problem you'd expect the same kind of trouble consistently.

[chrisr]

This is pretty baffling. Does it happen regardless of the source? Can you record an album out of your stereo?

An intermittent problem like this also makes me think it's something mechanical--the cord, the output jack, the input jack--not making the proper connection. If it were some signal-processing problem you'd expect the same kind of trouble consistently.

The static noise occurs from FM and DAB; FM is the higher quality source but for speech radio there's not much in it, hence I'll use either. Both fail as often as not though. This is why I think it's an external factor - maybe a wireless router - ours, a neighbour's; a cordless telephone, some other source of interference maybe.

I've [finally] had my call returned from Sony Support today, but tbh he wasn't much help other than suggesting that I route the cables differently out of the cabinet that the deck lives in, but since when did the presence of a mains lead affect an optical source?

I'll try recording from a non-radio source. Not much benefit though if I find that it's ok unless I use it for the reason I own it

I'll report back on the alt source trial.

[chrisr]

Well well. Current status is that it's now working, but for how long I wouldn't like to speculate.

It lives with the rest of the hi-fi in a wooden cabinet - a former wine rack actually - with slots cut in the wooden rear panel to facilitate access to the various phono / optical / mains connections on each component. The original cut-outs were made for a different amp, tuner and MD player so cables have been routed out through holes that were now not aligned with the various connectors. In the case of the MD the mains lead passed through the same hole as the signal leads. I've cut out a load of new slots and rerouted it all to keep them separate with no tight corners to fit into, and so far all recordings that it's been asked to do have been good. I still have no faith whatsoever in this continuing to be the case, but for now it's working. I hope it continues to do so; BBC R2 are doing a tribute later today to Alan Freeman, who died recently, and I need it to do an unattended timer record. Fingers crossed.

Edited December 10, 2006 by chrisr

[chrisr]

Botheration. On Friday night I put it on to record a radio prog just before we were due to go away for the weekend, and found that it had failed when I checked it as we were leaving. Same thing - digital noise / static, call it what you will. Bl**dy annoying though. So it's not the cable routing then.

I'll put a sample up tomorrow night if I get time, in case anyone can recognise it and advise.

[chrisr]

Here's a couple of samples - one is how it sounds when it works, the other is the digital noise. It it sounds familiar to anyone, please shout. I may as well dump it on ebay at this rate...

[attachmentid=2152]

[attachmentid=2153]

NOISE.mp3

R2.mp3