Auto Gain Control (AGC) vs normal recording

[Sony_Fan]

What exactly does the recording feature AGC do in minidisc recorders? Does it adjust the recording volume continuously or does it just record at the same volume of the source? Leaving the recording level at 23 in normal mode seems to just record at the same volume of the source.

[Sony_Fan]

No one knows?

[KJ_Palmer]

I believe it's continuous adjustment, the few times I've used AGC you can clearly hear the level being bumped up and down depending on the sound level. OK, for voice recording perhaps, but not recommended for music.

[jim.hoggarth]

Here's a good place to start: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Automatic_gain_control

[Sony_Fan]

Thanks for the info guys, but honestly, I've used AGC when doing CD->MD optical recordings and I don't notice any recording volume adjustment. It seems to record at the same volume of the souce CD. I've only seen AGC on MiniDisc recorders, so I thought it was something that only pertains to MiniDisc. Why do you say that AGC is not recommended for music recordings?

[Azureal]

I recall seeing automatic gain control on many cassette recorders in years past as well.

[Arr-Nine-Hundred]

Thanks for the info guys, but honestly, I've used AGC when doing CD->MD optical recordings and I don't notice any recording volume adjustment. It seems to record at the same volume of the souce CD. I've only seen AGC on MiniDisc recorders, so I thought it was something that only pertains to MiniDisc. Why do you say that AGC is not recommended for music recordings?

I'm assuming AGC = recording level control.

IIRC you don't need to worry about recording levels and all that jazz when doing optical digital recordings. This is the case on MD portables anyway, I assume decks are the same.

The only time I fiddled with recording levels is when recording via analogue and that was just to ensure the recorded sound was not too loud to be "clipped" and not too soft. As you mention "23" I'm assuming that is not a portable recorder as they only have LCD segments to show input level.

[Jimma]

The AGC will have no effect on a recording made optically, only on analogue recordings as far as I'm aware.

I have found the AGC to be very useful when recording DJ sets in clubs and at raves when I'm using a line out from the mixer. DJs (including myself I'm sure) do have a terrible habit of changing the mixer levels, usually in an upwards direction, as the night goes on and the AGC generally does a great job of keeping tabs on these level changes and adjusting accordingly.

It means I always get a recording with good levels and no distortion.

You do very occasionally notice the gain adjusting but generally speaking it works very well and gives excellent results no matter how much people fiddle with the mixer.