DAT-Heads Digest #132

Contents:

Re: Fostex D5 & The DAT Store ("Charles M. Quinn") 3/29 Frisell & MMW in San Fran - any tapers? (jeff ishaq) Re: anyone have a/c adaptor for d-3 #124 (GuySonic) Re: Slap Slap Delay Delay (John B Sibley) Re: D-Cell Battery Pack for the D8 #124 (GuySonic) Re: DAT-Heads Digest #124 (DiGiFLO) re: Should I Lie? (munkey@earthlink.net) d7 for sale ("Richard L. Israel") Panasonic SV255 (NYLifer) re:Marc Nutter & FOB Taping (Greg Tom Lance) Re: Dolby C vs Dolby B and S (Philip Childress) Taper's Sections (Jeffrey Silberman- SurroundWorks(tm)) WTB: Pre Amp... ("Steve Bartz")
From: "Charles M. Quinn" <cmquinn@primenet.com> Subject: Re: Fostex D5 & The DAT Store Date: Tue, 17 Mar 1998 19:42:51 >From: Jesse Lackey <jesse@lightlink.com> >Subject: Fostex D5 & The DAT Store >Date: Mon, 16 Mar 1998 20:06:05 -0500 > >> I recently bought a Fostex D-5, and was playing only about my 11th tape in >> the deck,when the deck ate the tape. The drive would not open to release >> my tape, and sent it back to the Dat store where I bought the deck for >> replacement, under 30 days. I was told, rather forcefully, that the >> problem was I was using the wrong tapes, data grade instead of audio grade. > >I bought a D5 from the DAT Store about a year ago, it has been very >reliable. Almost all the tapes I use are DDS. It looks like the DAT Store, >which ordinarily gets good marks on DAT-HEADS, is being ridiculous. Nowhere >in the manual does it say to only use Audio grade tapes. There is no way >that the use of properly manufactured DDS tapes could cause it to fail to >unload. Your problem is that the D5 you have is defective. The DAT Store >stating that the problem is using DDS tapes indicates they are either >stunningly clueless technically (considering the business they are in) or are >unwilling to take responsibility for the equipment they sell. Or is that they are willing to sell audio grade dats at $7 to $12 apiece depending on Brads mood and the size of his commission? Charles
From: jeff ishaq <jeffq@always.got.net> Subject: 3/29 Frisell & MMW in San Fran - any tapers? Date: Tue, 17 Mar 1998 19:49:36 -0800 (PST) Hey folks. I finally got around to picking up my tix for the MMW / Bill Frisell show in San Francisco on the 29th of this month. If anyone here is going to tape that show, I would be willing to admin a tree. It's been a while since I've done any treeing (recall old "Gotta Have It!" Phish trees of years back), but this is definately going to be a hot topic, so I think it's totally worth treeing. It is apparently one of a handful of appearances Frisell Trio is making in the country, and I know all too well that MMW hasn't come to this coast in a while, nor will they any time soon after this show. Tix are pricey, but don't miss this one, bay area folks! Seating chart: http://www.bestseats.com/seating/masonic-concert1.html Ticket price and location info: http://www.ticketweb.com/user/sfbay/venues/misc/masonic Party on, -jeff
From: GuySonic <GuySonic@aol.com> Subject: Re: anyone have a/c adaptor for d-3 #124 Date: Tue, 17 Mar 1998 23:08:59 EST In a message dated 98-03-17 12:54:30 EST, you write: << ------------------------------ From: Greg Bossong <gboss@voicenet.com> Subject: anyone have a/c adaptor for d-3 Reply-To: gboss@voicenet.com Date: Mon, 16 Mar 1998 17:13:37 -0500 subject says it. Anyone have a working one? Mine makes clicks on the analog output. I've narrowed it down to the adaptor. (BTW anyone know what sony would charge for a new one? >> AC adapter powering an older D3 DAT is a lot easier than it seems. All this deck needs is anywhere from 6-9 volts DC at 600 to 750 milliamps; this can be an unregulated 6 -7.5 volt with as much as 1 amp available. The important detail is to wire the proper power plug polarity with the inside pin being the positive. The D3 will turn off if the voltage drops to 5.4 volt and might be stressed with voltages above 9.5 volts. Radio Shack or other retailers would have some adapter available in this range for $15.00 to $20.00. The power plug could be the one on the existing Sony Adapter or a close fitting equivalent......... although read below for caution with non-Sony power plugs. CAUTION: Dat decks will shut down if the power is even briefly interrupted for a few milli-seconds as is typical with using non-exact Sony design power plugs. I have stock on the original Sony power plug but right/angle molded to 3-4' length of 20 gauge Zip (4 times lower loss than the usual 24 ga. at half the physical size!) for $10.00 ........ USA prepaid shipping included. This $10 plug assembly will not become intermittant and shut off the deck like typical designs available from Radio Shack and Mouser and should be considered necessary when remote powering the deck off AC or Batteries during live recording. Best Regards in Sound & Music Recording, Leonard Lombardo ======================================== Sonic Studios(tm)..."Making Audio History With DSM(tm) Microphones" TEL: 541-459-8839 /\ FAX: 541-459-8842 /\ USA Free: 1-888-875-4976 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Informative WEB SITE: HTTP://WWW.SONICSTUDIOS.COM ======================================== "A bit of knowledge coupled to a great deal of wisdom serves us best"
From: John B Sibley <RiffRaff+@cmu.edu> Subject: Re: Slap Slap Delay Delay Date: Tue, 17 Mar 1998 23:10:06 -0500 (EST) Excerpts from internet.dat-heads: 17-Mar-98 Slap Slap Delay Delay by Ray Peck@no-spam-rpeck.c > >It is tough to correct this with any fidelity, as delaying times can get > >quite high, based on abut a millisecond per foot. Cheap delays sound > >like shit. They have no frequency response and are typically quite > >noisy. > > I'd like to take issue with Klay here, but just a bit. Cheap reverbs > sound like shit (their algorithms are poor), but what's needed here is a <snip> > I'd give a listen to the relatively cheap Alesis units for this > application, to see if they're good enough. They're terrible. As you've noted, cheap reverbs also sound like shit. -J -- [ John B. Sibley ] "Who the hell wants to hear ] [ RiffRaff@CMU.EDU ] actors talk?" ] [ Sound Design/Engineering ] -H. M. Warner ] [ Meyer SIM II Operator ] (Warner Bros), 1927 ] [ http://www.contrib.andrew.cmu.edu/usr/jsei/home.html ]
From: GuySonic <GuySonic@aol.com> Subject: Re: D-Cell Battery Pack for the D8 #124 Date: Tue, 17 Mar 1998 23:09:02 EST In a message dated 98-03-17 12:54:30 EST, you write: << ------------------------------ From: Paul Cho <pc132@columbia.edu> Subject: D-Cell Battery Pack for the D8 Date: Mon, 16 Mar 1998 21:34:19 -0500 (EST) Hey everybody, so I figuired that I'd go ahead and try to make one of those D-Cell battery packs to power my Sony D8 rather than having to constantly get new AA's. Well, I ran into a problem...it seems that Radio Shack doesn't carry the yellow tipped DC barrel plug. I know that a few web pages have said the Radio Shack does in fact carry the plug, but when I went into RS today and asked for the part (# 270-1575). They didn't even have that product intheir computers. They did however have something that may do the job, but I'm not sure, so I'm posting to the list. They had a coax-style DC Power Plug 4.0 x 1.7mm size with solder terminal (# 274-1532), which could handle the correct voltage (4.3?). It looked like the AC adapter plug in that it had the yellow tip, but i didn't want to buy it becuase I wasn't sure. So will this plug do the job, or do I have to special order the part from Sony, becuase it seems that there is no part no. 270-1575 at RS. Thanks in advance! Paul >> There's at least several DIY D7/8 external power pack designs around, but a word of caution about going for the 4 alkaline flashlight cell pack using the external power plug connected scheme. The D7/8 decks cannot utilize more than 25% of the available power from these alkaline packs... as a result, 4 D cells run the deck for a maximum of 16 hours while IF THIS SAME PACK was INTERNALLY CONNECTED TO THE BATTERY CONNECTIONS via a dummy battery holder, it would run for over 45 hours with the same 4 D cells !!! The problem with alkaline is that the voltage is continually dropping as power is supplied and the external D7/8 power jack has some in-series voltage loss components while the internal battery connection does not have power voltage losses. For D7/8 decks........ Use only 6 Volt RECHARGEABLE batteries of NiCad, NiMH, or Lead/Acid with the external power plug connection as these battery types keep up their voltage as they supply power. The Sonic Studios Web Site has illustrated examples of External DAT Powering Systems for many different models of portable DAT deck. Several years ago, after many months of query and after large minimum orders, Sonic Studios has stock on the EXACT original equipment power plug for the D7/8 & SBM-1.... TCD-D100..... PCM-M1 (all the same size) BUT, improved with lower loss power cable and a molded right/angle plug design at $15. YES, Do It Yourself, learning and saving at the same time, but don't be unwisely cheap or unsafe on important components..... for example .....if you don't use the exact power plug design intended for the DAT Deck power jack, a single milli-second duration intermittant from an ill-fitting power-plug connector will shut down the deck to the ruin of a recording (this has happened to me and just about everyone trying the alternative power plugs .... Radio Shack and Mouser types for example); using the correct designed power plug eliminates this likely event from occuring. EXACT Power plug/cord assemblies for TCD-D3, DTR-80P, DAR-100 are also stocked at only $10 each. DIY's and others wanting a secure and safe plug assembly need look no further than contacting Sonic Studios for quality DAT power connection systems. For Safety: 7 Amp resetting thermal fuses are also available for $3 and wise to include in-series on any DIY rechargeable battery system Best Regards in Sound & Music Recording, Leonard Lombardo ======================================== Sonic Studios(tm)..."Making Audio History With DSM(tm) Microphones" TEL: 541-459-8839 /\ FAX: 541-459-8842 /\ USA Free: 1-888-875-4976 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Informative WEB SITE: HTTP://WWW.SONICSTUDIOS.COM ======================================== "A bit of knowledge coupled to a great deal of wisdom serves us best"
From: DiGiFLO <rdkim@mailbox.syr.edu> Subject: Re: DAT-Heads Digest #124 Date: Tue, 17 Mar 1998 23:46:52 -0500 (EST) Can someone please tell me where exactley is the DAT STORE???? CAn someone give me the web page address for it? thanks!
From: munkey@earthlink.net Subject: re: Should I Lie? Reply-To: munkey@earthlink.net Date: Tue, 17 Mar 1998 21:24:00 -0800 >From: Mazur <robertm@sherwoodforestfarms.com> >Subject: Should I Lie?..Cleaning... >Date: Tue, 17 Mar 1998 14:47:40 -0800 >I am at the end of my factory warranty as of September '98 >with my DTC-60ES. I have not had any trouble with the >machine, nor has it ever been cleaned other than with a dry >tape maybe about two times (this machine is 2.5 years old). >Do you guys suggest I make up a story to get a free cleaning >out of Sony before the warranty is out, or should 'not fix >what isn't broken'. If you think I *should* bring it in, >what's a good typical problem I could say it has? When I bought my ES-series CD player a million years ago I understood that I could bring in the unit for cleaning/maintenance/adjustment any time I wanted during the 3 year ES warrenty period. However, I seriously would *NOT* take a fully functing, never- gave-you-a problem-type deck to Sony. See if you can get a real repair shop to do the work (ie Oades). -k
From: "Richard L. Israel <Richard.Israel@us.coopers.com> Subject: d7 for sale Date: Tue, 17 Mar 1998 22:57:02 -0500 subj says it all. used for about a year & been "refurbished" by sony $350 COD Rich Israel richard.israel@us.coopers.com
From: NYLifer <NYLifer@aol.com> Subject: Panasonic SV255 Date: Wed, 18 Mar 1998 02:01:53 EST A buddy who is a non-subscriber (horrors) recently showed me this deck he has but has problems with. He says that most of the tapes I send him won't play in it, but everything he records on it plays fine. My first thought is: Can this deck play DATs recorded at 48K or can it possibly ony play 44? Otherwise, I imagine we've got to consider an alignment problem. The only analog ins are XLR. The deck has a digital mini-plug (3.5mm) that is (I think) one way only (output?). Is there an adapter/connector that connects the the mini-plug interface (3.5mm) to a Sony 7-pin. A search of the archives revealed not much about this deck except that the Oades apparently have some undescribed modifications for it. Oades (and anybody else), what can you tell me about this deck and any modifications available or recommended for this deck? Thanks in advance, Peace, Robert nylifer@aol.com
From: Greg Tom Lance <ccryder@ksu.edu> Subject: re:Marc Nutter & FOB Taping Date: Wed, 18 Mar 1998 02:04:12 -0600 (CST) I couldn't read Marc's post without replying in agreement. Concerning the FOB vs TS taping. Dead 7.6.95 Not only my last show!, but by far the BEST recording I made of the dead. My analog MASTERS patched from Marc's split 4006's came out far greater than I expected. Eyes>Unbroken Chain!!!!!! THANK YOU MARC:) Phish 8.9.97 Again I patched out (DAT) and was truly psyched at the difference between Marc's schoeps rig and the FOB from that night. These TS tapes captured the FULL sound I heard at the show (ie Mikes Bass). I'm glad I left the NAKS in the car! Phish 11.14.96 Hey at least YOU tried and it was kinda fun listening to the FOB vs. the TS tapes in the hotel that night:) Talk about a snow storm!!!!! But again Marc's point is valid in all three cases. I patched out for all three shows and was able to compare later with others and was glad I did patch. This is a very gratious THANK YOU to Marc. Ah.....Let the good tapes roll Greg ccryder@ksu.edu Ps Who is BTW going to tape Zero 3 nights this weekend going from a borrowed D-100>Naks.....but we all have to start somewhere..don't we?
From: Philip Childress <philip@plee.com> Subject: Re: Dolby C vs Dolby B and S Date: Wed, 18 Mar 1998 02:09:44 -0800 >In a message by RWShepherd <RWShepherd@aol.com> >Re: Dolby C vs Dolby B and S > >While Dolby C cassettes can sound stupendous when played back on the machine >on which they were made, many people, myself included, avoid it due to it's >frequent deck to deck (even with well made and well maintained machines) >incompatibility problems. Hello DatHeads: I've been lurking on this listserv for a while because I am interested in portable recording of live music. I want to record musicians in my area that I admire, and that currently have no other way of being documented and preserved. I will be purchasing recording equipment as I accumulate the cash in an account for that purpose. I personally like music that people play live and will be editing this music and burning CD disks for my pleasure, and for others that are interested. I have been polishing my skills for this by capturing live music programs on Austin City Limits and West 54th Street, and stringing the good parts together until I get 74 minutes of material, then put it on a CD disk. Because of the problem of money accumulating for me at a very slow rate, I have been considering delaying the purchase of the DAT recorder and purchasing a Sony D6 with Dolby C to be used for location recording of live performances. I do not have a quality cassette recorder, so this will not be a purchase that will be compromised when I purchase the DAT recorder later. My consideration is this. I can soon enough be able to spend $900 for the equipment I need. I am aware of the importantance of microphones and preamp/attenuation (front-end stuff). If I get the DAT, then that will leave maybe $200 for the front-end stuff. I have a bad feeling about this turning out as well as I would like. If I get the Sony D6, that leaves $450-$500 to spend on microphone equipment. I am assuming these mikes would be DAT ready when I upgrade the recorder. The whole discussion here about the Sony D3 and D6 with Dolby B and C has led me to consider the possibility of analog tape for my particular application of putting the recorded material on CD. Rob indicates in the quotes above that Dolby C program material recorded and played-back through the same machine would deliver a useful dynamic range for my purpose. This should be the case when I recorded from the D6 to the A/D on the computer sound card (rated 90 db, perhaps it is). This arrangement promises to be a plausible alternative to the sexy $1300 DAT rig that I would be pleased to have, and it would be fun to make it perform up to it’s promise. Plus I can get going soon instead of next year. I don’t have the experience to give me confidence that I have not misjudged something obvious. I would appreciate comments on my facts and reasoning on this subject. If there is something wrong please tell me. I get real depressed when I do something $900 stupid. Thank you. /Philip
From: Jeffrey Silberman- SurroundWorks(tm) <ambisonx@well.com> Subject: Taper's Sections Date: Wed, 18 Mar 1998 01:59:28 -0800 (PST) I second Craig Hillwig's qualifications of my observations regarding the desirability of FOB recording. There are many reasons to aoid FOB taping, better sound quality in the TS is not one of them which is not to say as has been pointed out that one cannot make a fine recording in the TS especially outdoors or in a very small venue. Let's not forget that the TS as instituted by the Dead in 1984 was intended to get tapers BEHIND the soundboard so Healy would not have to see a literal forest of mic stands. Regardless of the effect on the quality of the tapers' recordings. Those bands that maintain Taper's sections, do they crack down on FOB taping even when the FOB taper is taping stealthily? BGP did so with a passion which led me to believe that they were concerned with preventing very high quality recordings being made.
From: "Steve Bartz" <guido9@hotmail.com> Subject: WTB: Pre Amp... Date: Wed, 18 Mar 1998 02:21:37 PST Hey Guys, I am looking to buy a pre-amp in the next couple of weeks. If anyone out there is looking to sell please let me know. I am currently running Sennheiser 441's and like the Beyer MV 100 with its dynamic switch, but will consider any other. Like I said I am ready to buy so if you have a pre to sell please let me know. Thanks------------------Guido ______________________________________________________ Get Your Private, Free Email at http://www.hotmail.com
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