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Topic: SONY Minidisc Mz-RH1: Anyone familiar? |
Tony Prior
From:
Charlotte NC
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Posted 10 Feb 2007 2:15 pm |
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this thread was supposed to be for Jimbeax but it appears I have also become a recipient of information.....
I need another gadget like a hole in the head, thats as good a reason as any to pick up a Micro BR !
tp |
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Jim Cohen
From:
Philadelphia, PA
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Posted 10 Feb 2007 2:54 pm
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Kurt, that is cool, indeed. Can you upload tracks, play along and RECORD the combined result? Now THAT would be VERY cool. I'm guessing that's a bit beyond the ability of all of these devices, but maybe not?
Best regards to ya, Kurt,
Jimbeaux |
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Kurt Kowalski
From:
Kendall, NY USA
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Posted 10 Feb 2007 3:15 pm Micro BR
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Jim...
YES, it can. It is a 4track machine and is capable of 32 v-tracks (virtual). You would bring in the rhythm track on to 1 and 2 track then input your steel and mix " you" and the track down to track 3 and 4.
The thing is amazing.
Here is a link to some "quick" info for you and Tony.
http://img3.musiciansfriend.com/dbase/pdf/spec/241152.pdf
But, I suggest you going to the Roland site and downloading the manual for more complete info.
http://www.roland.com/manuals/en/index.cfm?SEARCHBY=PrNm&SPRNM=M-BR
I am still learning this thing. It has a bit of a learning curve, but, it is not a unit where you have to be a rocket scientist or anything like that. It is pretty straight forward. More to learn though.
If you guys need me to assist in any way. I am here.
Just get a hold of me.
Becuase, you guys are probably gonna find a feature in this unit that I havent found yet.... Then ya can help me out.
Oh yea, I use a 1gb sd card and it seems to have ALOT of recording time.
Later,
kk |
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Tony Prior
From:
Charlotte NC
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Posted 11 Feb 2007 5:54 am
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Jim, like Kurt says, YES..that is one of it's purposes in life .
I believe the Zoom H-4 does this as well and also has the two condensor mics for LIVE recording.
The Edirol units, R-1 that I have and the new R-09..have built in Stereo condensor mics for LIVE recording and you can upload tracks to the unit but you cannot record along with them. They are dedicted 2-track units.
The Micro BR and the Zoom H-4 are fine tools , and small too..don't put them down just anywhere , you may loose them..
good luck
tp
ps, thanks Kurt for setting me straight on the Micro BR |
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Jim Cohen
From:
Philadelphia, PA
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Posted 11 Feb 2007 6:48 am
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| Do the Zoom H4 and Micro BR record in 16 bit (noncompressed)? |
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Tony Prior
From:
Charlotte NC
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David L. Donald
From:
Koh Samui Island, Thailand
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Posted 12 Feb 2007 6:48 am
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I have a Sony Mini-disk.
my main complaint is it resets to auto level control
EVERY time you change a disk...
So it's again into the little menue window in a dark club
to reset to the mic levels you like.
I am looking at either the Edirol
or an Aiwa which got a good review a few years back,
and specifically leaves your settings alone for disk changing.
And I believe also when shut off, like when changing batteries.
I have a guy here who wants to play live with it,
replacing his old Sony
and I am thinking to sell mine to him.
It has been a major agravation for live recording.
I have a Sony Mini DAT D-8 I used for years, but a gear went bad,
and now Sony Bangkok says sorry charlie,
we can't get the parts...
Some body has them, but I can't find them so far.
_________________
DLD, Chili farmer. Plus bananas and papaya too.
Real happiness has no strings attached.
But pedal steels have many! |
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Jim Cohen
From:
Philadelphia, PA
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Posted 12 Feb 2007 7:02 am
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I think I'm narrowing it down to the Zoom H4 and the Micro BR. Can someone please confirm whether the auto-level setting is user-adjustable (on/off) as opposed to always 'on'?
Thanks,
J'beaux |
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David L. Donald
From:
Koh Samui Island, Thailand
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Posted 12 Feb 2007 8:37 am
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The Zoom looks like an interesting replacement for me.
I use that mic layout a lot myself.
I also like the XLR inputs a LOT.
44.1 16 bit will do.
The Roland looks good, but not quite right for me.
Also it is more MP3 oriented,
and little time data on the WAV file listing.
No drop into Protools easily.
_________________
DLD, Chili farmer. Plus bananas and papaya too.
Real happiness has no strings attached.
But pedal steels have many! |
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Joey Ace
From:
Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
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Posted 12 Feb 2007 9:24 am
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Kurt's Micro BR is a fantastic piece of technology.
It would be a bargain at twice the price.
I see it as something very different to the R-09.
The R-09 has a simplier interface, less features and internal mikes.
I find those features are what I want for live recordings.
I have a very good Sony Mike for my MD, but dislike the extra task of having to take it out and set it up every time I use it.
You decision depends on on what you need in a recorder. |
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Brad Sarno
From:
St. Louis, MO USA
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Posted 12 Feb 2007 4:47 pm
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David.
The newer Sonys don't default to auto-record-level. They default to your previous setting. I always use manual record levels. Every time I fire it up, it's right back in that mode for me. I hated that about the earlier Sony's because I never used auto levels and it wasn't any fun to go scrolling thru the menus to set it to manual. That's why I used the Sharp for a long time.
Brad |
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David L. Donald
From:
Koh Samui Island, Thailand
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Posted 12 Feb 2007 5:24 pm
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Brad, good to know thanks.
I think I will sell this one and get another unit.
There is a Zoom dealer in Bangkok,
seems a pretty capable unit and darned easy.
And I like the no moving parts bit.
I do have a Sony stereo mic, but no matter.
It's a bit weak in the bass any way.
_________________
DLD, Chili farmer. Plus bananas and papaya too.
Real happiness has no strings attached.
But pedal steels have many! |
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Jim Cohen
From:
Philadelphia, PA
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Posted 14 Feb 2007 8:02 pm
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OK, y'all, I took the plunge and just ordered a Zoom H4. Should arrive in a day or two. I'll let you know how I like it after I've had a chance to work with it a bit. Many thanks to all the contributors to this thread. Feel free to hang around here and continue the conversation.
Jimbeaux |
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Tony Prior
From:
Charlotte NC
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Posted 15 Feb 2007 2:49 am
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congrats Jimbeaux, I'm sure you made a great choice. I'm not sure what size SD card it comes with but if it's not 1 gig just go ahead and get a 1 gig card and don't look back. You will never have to be concerned about enough memory.
I record every gig with my Edirol R-1..not for overall DEMO quality but for self preservation. I use a Hi MP3 record mode. I listen back a day or two later and the amount I learn is amazing..I play too much, I don't paly enough, I play on pitch, I play off pitch, I play the song, I play Jibber Jabber..I know the song, I DON'T know the song.. I'm stepping on the Tele, he's stepping on me...these little recorders are amazing tools, I doubt I will ever be without one ever again.
Sometimes I transfer it all to the PC ( USB) and burn a CD and review the gigs while I drive around NC and SC on business. Sometimes I just delete it all because there is no hope. 
Let us know how you like the little gadget..
tp |
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Joey Ace
From:
Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
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Posted 15 Feb 2007 5:38 am Zooooommmmm..............
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I'm looking forward to your report.
What are the reasons for your selection? |
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Jim Cohen
From:
Philadelphia, PA
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Posted 15 Feb 2007 7:20 am
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| Eenie, meenie, miney, mo... |
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Jim Cohen
From:
Philadelphia, PA
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Posted 17 Feb 2007 9:32 pm
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My very preliminary reactions:
1. It's bigger than I thought it would be, but okay
2. I think the sound is going to be excellent, but haven't given it a very thorough try yet.
3. The screen is way too tiny, and the font is very, very tiny and also colored grey, against a grey background. What were they thinking?? Even my 17-year old son thinks the font is ridiculously small.
One question for y'all:
In wav mode, it can record at either 44.1kHz, 48kHz, or 96kHz, and in either 16 bit or 24 bit. I don't know too much about all that. Is 44.1/16 supposed to be the best, or what? |
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Tony Prior
From:
Charlotte NC
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Posted 18 Feb 2007 3:27 am
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Hi Jim, small is small these days, and very small as you have learned is smaller than small.
I guess I never stopped to realize that the displays are Big Screen TV's for Flea's. The Edirol R-1 that I have is a tad bigger and the screen is reasonable, the biggest issue I have with it is that the recording VU meter is a single meter for both left and right..it drives me nuts.
Ok, 16 bit wave vs 24 bits wave@ 44.1 HZ ( CD quality) .
Most , probably not all, but most PC CD burning progams may not recognize the 24 Bit wave format. So when you go to burn a CD from a 24 bit wave file it may not funtion. The 24 bit offers more actual recording information but I doubt anyone will ever actually hear it.
Although I do record with 16 bit waves, I mostly use the 192, 256 and 320 MP3 settings for all LIVE recordings. I use the 16 bit wave when I am transferring tracks recorded from my 16 track workstation. I no longer mix down and burn to a CD on the workstion, I mix and record to the Editol R-1 now. I would use the 24 bit wave mode but of the 3 CD Burn programs that I have neither recognizes the 24 bit format.
I think you made a good choice, the small display is really not the problem, WE are All of the small people in Japan think the size of the display is perfect ! |
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Jim Cohen
From:
Philadelphia, PA
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Posted 18 Feb 2007 5:11 pm
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| Thanks, Tony. That explains the 16 vs 24 bit thing. What about 44.1 vs 48 vs 96 kHz? I have the impression that 44.1 is the standard, but wouldn't 48 and 96 offer increasingly higher fidelity? |
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David L. Donald
From:
Koh Samui Island, Thailand
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Posted 19 Feb 2007 9:34 am
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Lets see
Ok My Sony Mini Disk is A MZ-N10
Most likely darned close to the one in the title.
I did record the 1st night of the music festival this weekend on mini disk, but a big rack mount unit.
2nd night onto computer directly.
44.1 16 bit is tandard cd
44.1 24 bit is the more common recording version,
it is then typically donw sampled by the engnieer at the end
to make sure it is done to his liking.
48hz 16 bit is pro video's rate. This matched closer to video sync rates in some engineers mind set.
95 hz 24 was double 48, and came in when DVD audio was used for audiophiles
and for quality oriented engineers, then down sampled to 16 bit for CD,
but often left at 96 for DVD audiophile putput.
It does sound real fine.
192 is double 96 and used for classical work mostly.
And almost always down sampled to 96 for DVD audiophiles.
Jim tell us more about the zoom as you find out things.
DD
_________________
DLD, Chili farmer. Plus bananas and papaya too.
Real happiness has no strings attached.
But pedal steels have many! |
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Jim Cohen
From:
Philadelphia, PA
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Posted 19 Feb 2007 9:49 am
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| Thanks, DD. Think I'll stick with 44.1/16 bit for now. |
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David L. Donald
From:
Koh Samui Island, Thailand
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Posted 19 Feb 2007 10:22 am
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That's fine,
but you might wanna try the best acoustic guitar you know of,
with your good fiddler as a duo, out doors,
at 96khz 24 bit,
just to see how good your box is.
_________________
DLD, Chili farmer. Plus bananas and papaya too.
Real happiness has no strings attached.
But pedal steels have many! |
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Larry Clark
From:
Herndon, VA.
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Posted 20 Feb 2007 5:38 am
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| Jim Cohen wrote: |
3. The screen is way too tiny, and the font is very, very tiny and also colored grey, against a grey background. What were they thinking?? Even my 17-year old son thinks the font is ridiculously small. |
Is there any way to change the screen contrast or view angle? That might make it a bit easier to read. |
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Jim Cohen
From:
Philadelphia, PA
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Posted 20 Feb 2007 5:55 am
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| There is a contrast function, which I have maxxed out. That helps a bit. I don't see a view-angle function. Frankly, I'm thinking about getting a little piece of adhesive magnifying plastic that I think they sell in drugstores for older folks with aging eyes (not that I am one of those, of course...) and stick it over the window. |
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Brad Sarno
From:
St. Louis, MO USA
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Posted 22 Feb 2007 8:58 am
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Jim, 24bit/44.1kHz is a good standard. If you ever intend to burn audio CD's from these recordings, you're better off keeping it at that rate from beginning to end. The higher rates may sound a hair better, but it's pretty subtle. Plus by the time you take a higher res recording and convert it back to 44.1kHz for a CD, you've actually made it worse by all the math and conversion than it would have been if you simply recorded at 44.1k.
Now the 16 bit 24 bit difference is quite significant. 24 bit is many orders of magnitude better than 16 bit. Even though your final CD may be 16bits, the recording and any manipulation, EQ, level changes, compression, mastering, etc. will be MUCH better off if it's 24bits until the very final stage when it gets dithered down to 16bits for a CD.
So, 24bits/44.1kHz is my recommendation for hi quality audio. But for many practical situations, you can get away with those lower-fi MP3 formats. Use your ears. Listen to things like steel overtones and cymbals to hone in on where the lower fidelity first starts to reveal itself. When you start to notice a "digital" quality or graininess or strange overtones, you've gone too low.
Brad |
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