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Realtime recording vs PC

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stargazer_tom1

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Does anyone else agree that hi-sp recordings sound better recorded in real time via optical from a digital source vs using sonic stage to rip the CD to hi-sp?

I'm tending to record all my loss less CD rips on my PC to my md via optical as i find i prefer the sound of real time recordings.

What do you guys think,

-Tom

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TBH it's not a route (CD->HiSP) I normally take. However a lot depends on the ripping. Do you use SonicStage to do it?

Sorry: (I reread) I'll rephrase. Do you mean not using the computer at all? I find that basically ANY digital sound is better recorded directly in real time whether at 256, 292, 132 or even 66 kbps. Once I've done that typically I will upload to PC and save in my library.

The key is the ripping. EAC is a perfect ripper. SonicStage is a perfect ripper, If and only If you rip to Atrac Advanced Lossless.

SS does a good job of putting stuff onto media, but the big problem is it has to start with something decent. Its own rips to PCM/WAV on the PC are basically useless, but you don't notice until you transcode to MD.

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I will outline the process I'm referring to:

I rip my CD's using DBpoweramp to WMA lossless or FLAC

Then queue up the songs on my PC and play them through optical digital out via my asus xonar dx connected to my rh1. I record in hi-sp

Is this a waste of time as i could just use sonic stage to convert my wma lossless tracks to hi-sp and transfer to my rh1 in a matter of minutes as opposed to recording all my songs in realtime?

What sounds better in your opinion recording form a good quality CD player via digital to md OR ripping your CDs with sonicstage to md (hi-sp in both instances)?

I read on the forums somewhere that ripping with the pc should result in the same quality as realtime recording as the algorithm is just being applied quicker using your computers CPU.

I don't agree i somehow prefer the sound of realtime recording lol

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Does anyone else agree that hi-sp recordings sound better recorded in real time via optical from a digital source vs using sonic stage to rip the CD to hi-sp?

I'm tending to record all my loss less CD rips on my PC to my md via optical as i find i prefer the sound of real time recordings.

What do you guys think,

-Tom

Many people on this board will say that real time recording sounds better. I have done tests on this from time-to-time and I really can't tell the difference. But they likely have better equipment and/or better ears, though I am fairly picky.

Having said that, I've been doing most of my MD recording in real-time SP using a deck in the last year - mostly because I have settled on using Net or Standard-MD units because they don't rely on $60 batteries.

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Agreed, I have a ton of ripped music, but once I got my 20ES I began recording SP in real-time. I have re-recorded about 1/5th of my collection, my favorites and listening via line out analog amp to my headphone amp sounds fantastic.

That being said, I can still enjoy HiSP trans-coded MP3s or HiSP ripped via SonicStage, it just does not have the same sound as a real-time recording.

At least that is the case for my 46 year old ears!

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why bother ripping if one is intending to record RealTime to an md unit? I personally just PLAY the music using either a low-level pc utility or a dedicated player (both) having optical out. Transfers are then as perfect as possible. Do you agree?

(still) mdmad :-)

So - you are playing through a dedicated optical out (on a PC? Or rare, expensive MD deck?) to a receiver, or equivalent?

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Im recording from my PC to my rh1 via optical through an asus xonar dx. All my music is in wma lossless.

I sometimes rip directly from CD using my kenwood hm-532 via optical to my hi md rh1.

Started ripping in SP now as opposed to hi-sp as i have acquired a md-deck (sp only) which sounds fantastic through my mordaunt short speakers and hi fi.

-Tom

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i have acquired a md-deck (sp only) which sounds fantastic through my mordaunt short speakers and hi fi.

It's possible the key to all this is your STR-DG820. I spent a lot of effort getting the various enhancements to Sony's decks culminating in Type-S playback for LP2/LP4; until I finally got a receiver with optical in (in my case an Onkyo). Now I started to realise that I didn't really need said enhancements so badly.

If you look at the service manual for your deck, it will become quickly clear that the digital output comes straight from the DSP chip to the optical transmitter or coax socket (if you have one). Great D->A on your deck is not important if you are using the D->A in a modern amp like the 820.

Am I right, you listen via the optical out of your MD deck? If not, you probably should :)

Stephen

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