clarkeda Posted June 2, 2004 Report Share Posted June 2, 2004 Newbie question. I'm completely new to minidisc, attracted in by the higher capacity on offer with Hi-MD and the ability to use it as a USB storage device. I intend to get the MZ-NH900 when it becomes available in the UK. My principle usage will be recording from the radio. I've got a Sony "freeview" box which receives DAB broadcasts. I want to record from a radio channel which is broadcast in MP2 at about 192kbps, via the SP/DIF optical out to the MZ-NH900. My question is -- does it make any sense to record in ATRAC3+ 256kbps, or is the broadcast quality only sufficient to make it worthwhile using ATRAC3+ 64 kpbs ? Thanks for any thoughts. <corrected typos> Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KJ_Palmer Posted June 2, 2004 Report Share Posted June 2, 2004 Hi. I'd say use HiSP = ATRAC3+ @256 kbps. Even with high bitrates, compression with 2 different codecs (MP2 and ATRAC) can result in more data being thrown away than the bitrates suggest. To my ears the quality of the DAB broadcasts are enough to warrant using high bitrates for recording. You could even use linear PCM (lossless), but I think that HiSP would be enough for a compromise. Currently, with standard MD I record DAB radio from BBC Radio 3 (mostly 192 kbps). I use SP mode (292 kbps) for the initial recording, keep this as a master, and make compilations of the masters at LP2 (132kbps). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
clarkeda Posted June 2, 2004 Author Report Share Posted June 2, 2004 Thanks Kevin. It's great to get feedback from someone in the same position. It's Radio 3 I'm interested in as well. As an aside, it's a pity that the BBC and the broadcast authorities in the UK couldn't have managed to let classical music be broadcast at 256kbps, as it is in some countries (Estonia for example !). It's good to get a subjective view of the audio quality, so I think I'll follow your advice and make the initial recordings at the higher bitrate. Thanks again. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KJ_Palmer Posted June 2, 2004 Report Share Posted June 2, 2004 clarkeda, I believe we may get the the full 256kbps bandwidth sometime fairly soon if the BBC gets their act together and install this duplex/multiplex thing. There have been the odd occasions when I've noticed some heavy compression artifacts on Radio 3, but generally it's been OK or even pretty good. I mostly tape from Through the Night or Morning on 3 with a deck/timer. Which shows do you like? DAB seems to have reached a saturation level in the UK as far as the number of (poor-quality) channels go. Hopefully their flagship will get the quality it deserves, though this may need some pressure from listeners... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
clarkeda Posted June 2, 2004 Author Report Share Posted June 2, 2004 Well I certainly hope so, it does seem a pity not to make the best use of the technology, especially when FM technology could result in very good quality transmissions at times. My tastes are pretty catholic really, I like most things on Radio3 with the possible exception of modern Jazz. The minidisc is primarily so I can record a lot of the upcoming Proms, since I always seem to be otherwise engaged at 7.30. I'm just hoping that the devices actually go on sale before 16th July :-) cheers, Dave. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KJ_Palmer Posted June 2, 2004 Report Share Posted June 2, 2004 Have you not considered a standard minidisc deck, Dave? As you won't be benefitting from Hi-MD's new functions over MD (which are really in the computer realm), and you will benefit from timer recording, this seems to make sense. I'll be keeping hold of my standard stuff even when the HiMD units come, as they'll still have the edge for radio recording. And be playable on the new equipment... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
clarkeda Posted June 2, 2004 Author Report Share Posted June 2, 2004 It's a good question of course. The thing that has always put me off minidisc in the past was (what I considered to be) the awkward nature of the time limits per disc. for recording classical music concerts. What's finally won me over is the additional capacity of the new disks. At ATRAC3+ 256kbps I'm reckoning on 3/4 concerts per disc or the capacity to record (say) 2 longish operas. With 64kbps I guess I'm looking at upwards of 15 concerts. Since I'm starting completely from scratch I don't plan on buying the older technology. The ability to make the odd backup of data from work/home will also come in useful, since I'll probably always have the device with me. I did think about the iRiver iHP-140, but there is something about the ability to keep on buying disks as required that appeals to me... call me old fashioned.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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