DAT-heads Digest #340, Volume #6 Mon, 3 Jun 02 09:50:01 EDT Contents: compressor/limiter for field recording? ("Winnie Olmer") nomenclature of schoeps mk5 ? ("Jeff Waldeck") European voltage converter 22/110 ("Bonnie & Cleve Svetlik") De-emphasis Freeware? ("Philip") FT: DOKKEN@Zeppelinhalle Kaufbeuren 05-31-02 (BlackCrowes@gmx.net) re: Sony 7-pin optical cables ("Bob Wiely") For Trade-Garbage shows (Marc Kim) Conditionof Merl Saunders (Jmratman@aol.com) Oktava Mics? ("Nick Graham") monitor stands ("Phunk1") ISO Sony TCD-D8 owners manual ("jimkun") Burner trouble... (Rawknya@aol.com) Re: Burner trouble... ("Matt C.") Re: Burner trouble... ("Matt C.") "Unpacking" tapes... (Kevin Brown) Re: "Unpacking" tapes... (Seth Breidbart) anyone tape at Coachella 2002? (Brian Gemborys) ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- From: "Winnie Olmer" Subject: compressor/limiter for field recording? Date: Sun, 2 Jun 2002 10:55:35 -0400 Very often I am recording in situations where the venue requires mics to be about head height as to not obstruct the view of the people behind. Or I am doing stealth recording with mics in my hat. It is difficult to impossible to find a happy balance between the volume of the crowds clapping and cheering to the volume of the music. If I optimize for the music, the clapping etc. between songs gets clipped or is significantly louder to be unpleasant to listen to during playback. I am forced to record at slightly lower levels than desired. Then I cant get enough volume during playback. And no.. normalizing is not the solution. The difference between the volume of the audience and that of the music is too great. Normalizing ends up causing the crowd cheering to sound like a wah-wah. When recording with my mics 10-14 feet in the air, this is not an issue of course. I have played with my WAVs in sound forge and cool edit pro, using various limiter/compressor settings with mixed results. Is there a DC powered compressor available? Am I correct in thinking that this would be a satisfactory way of getting an appropriate dynamic range in my records when the mics are close to the audience? Thanks! Winnie =========================== "Without love in the dream it will never come true"-Garcia/Hunter Winnie Olmer mailto:who@sover.net CD Trades: www.sover.net/~who/trades.htm =========================== ------------------------------ From: "Jeff Waldeck" Subject: nomenclature of schoeps mk5 ? Date: Sun, 2 Jun 2002 09:13:41 -0600 Hello, what is the "best-practice" way to signify in your source which setting your are using when your mics have selectable patterns (like the schoeps mk5 that can be omni or cardioid)? When using the ORTF bar it would be assumed to be cardioid, wouldn't it? So should it be mk5(o), mk5(c), mk5(ortf)? Or is there already a method established? regards, Jafe BWT- (90m DAT only) Jerry Joseph & the Jack Mormans 5-28-02 Boise, ID "the Nuerolux" schoeps mk5(ortf) > kc5 > cmc6 > DAP1 fob/dfc includes all but 1st 10 seconds of sound check ------------------------------ From: "Bonnie & Cleve Svetlik" Subject: European voltage converter 22/110 Date: Sun, 2 Jun 2002 12:02:49 -0400 Be careful - the cheap units use a SCR to switch on and off - OK for hair dryers and high current devices but dangerous for low current devices such as electric razors, portable electronic gear, etc. I purchased a converter with a real transformer from Radio Shack for my last trip (a number of years ago.) I believe it is limited to 50 watts (I think) They work fine. The best solution, however, is to get a power pack from your DAT supplier designed to be used with your deck. Usually the price is affordable and the comfort level is worth the expense. (If you blow up your deck it will cost a lot to repair it.) Also - power in Europe is 50 Hz as compared to 60 Hz in the States. I did not have a problem with this, although my electric razor ran slower. About the SCR devices - they make a lot of electrical noise while in use, and I would not recommend them for anything other than a hair dryer. Cleve Svetlik ------------------------------ From: "Philip" Subject: De-emphasis Freeware? Date: Sun, 2 Jun 2002 18:49:26 +0200 Hi, I have some recordings which were recorded in LP mode on my Pioneer DAT = player. When I get them on to the computer how do I undo the emphasis? = The software I have (Wavelab, free with the Sony burner I bought) = doesn't seem to support this. I'm looking for freeware or somesuch to do = this. Or is there an ever easier solution? Couldn't find anything in the archives about this....... Thanks, Philip ------------------------------ From: BlackCrowes@gmx.net Subject: FT: DOKKEN@Zeppelinhalle Kaufbeuren 05-31-02 Date: Sun, 2 Jun 2002 19:15:34 +0200 (MEST) Hi all, scored an absolute beauty last friday, one of my very best stealth jobs to date...If there's ever gonna be a competition here on DATheads, I'll throw that one in for the category "Hard Rock/Heavy Metal"...Great show in tremendous sound quality, a "Best of" show as far as the setlist is concerned with a fabulous Mike Brown on drums, Jeff Pilson on bass and their new guitarist John Norum (Ex-Europe)...Maybe a bit short since they arrived late from the gig in Budapest the night before, having trouble at the border... DOKKEN@Zeppelinhalle Kaufbeuren 05-31-2002 OKM II pro>SBM-1>PCM M1 80min A+ Looking for other great recent metal/hard rock/alternative rock shows... Best from Munich, Germany Karsten -- GMX - Die Kommunikationsplattform im Internet. http://www.gmx.net ------------------------------ From: "Bob Wiely" Subject: re: Sony 7-pin optical cables Reply-To: thatdamnguy@angelfire.com Date: Sun, 02 Jun 2002 11:03:57 -0700 I would have to totally disagree with this post. I have had my Sony optical cable for a number of years now, and it goes everywhere I do. Those of you who know me know I have been on the road with my (and many other peoples) gear pretty much nonstop for the past few years and I put it through a lot of use. I normally run optical out of my apogee into my personal deck, and then run another chain off the apogee for patchers and what not. I have also used this cable to come out of the roach and into a small d>a I have for use in hotel rooms as well as at home (in a pinch). Yes, you do have to be careful with this cable, it is a thin piece of optical wire after all ... you should not bend it or pinch it ... but it is a great cable and condenses quite nicely for someone who is on the road (Unlike the Audioquest cable). Plus, could you imagine how unstable the 7pin connections to the optical cable would be if you attempted to cram the same thickness cable used by audioquest into that small housing... (Picture a plotnick 7pin/spdif cable with even thicker gauge cables...) thats just looking for trouble IMHO. I know of a number of other people who have also utilized these cables on the road with no problems or concerns what so ever ... and if you are a die hard patcher I would definitely suggest grabbing one of these if you have a chance ... its nice running straight out of an apogee rather then plugging into a huge chain. I have also seen a few patch-bays in the past year, which also have optical outputs (mainly for MD) that you can also benefit from while using this or any other optical cable. The only issue I have run across using this cable is that if I come out of the Apogee into a DAT deck, then try to plug the optical output from the 7 pin into a MD input the MD gets no signal. If I unplug the connection between the DAT and MD and replace the MD with another DAT everything is fine... I have yet to figure out what is going on there ... but I hardly believe it is the cables fault. Aside from this minor concern I would have to say that Sony has made a great cable for location recording, which works very well and yet is also extremely compact. You do have to be good to your gear... but that should go without saying. Just my $.02 On Fri, 31 May 2002 10:50:30 "James G. Lykos" wrote: I don't want to rain on anybody's parade, but I would NOT recommend the use of Sony 7-pin optical cables in the field. I do realize that this is one of the very few options left for patching, but these cables are too flimsy for the money. I have owned two of them. One broke after five shows. I received another one and it broke before I even got a chance to use it! I just laid it flat in my padded Pelican and closed the lid and it broke. The cable is too thin and can be bent the wrong way too easily for reliable field use. Maybe if Sony produced an optical cable with the thickness of Audioquest optical cables (which I have used in the field and like very much) it would not be a problem. For home use or digital transfers to a computer soundcard at home though, the Sony 7-pin optical cables work fine. --- Time is Art, You are Love, Peace is Now. ~Bob Wiely Blue Spectral Hand Sound Tribe Sector 9 Archive http://www.soundtribe.org http://www.STS9.com http://www.live365.com/cgi-bin/directory.cgi?autostart=thatdamnguy My IRadio Station "Moon Sockets" "My father once told me that respect for the truth comes close to being the basis for all morality."Something cannot emerge from nothing," he said. This is profound thinking if you understand how unstable "the truth" can be." ~From "Conversations with Maud'Dib by the Princess Irulan Is your boss reading your email? ....Probably Keep your messages private by using Lycos Mail. Sign up today at http://mail.lycos.com ------------------------------ From: Marc Kim Subject: For Trade-Garbage shows Date: Sun, 2 Jun 2002 11:46:48 -0700 (PDT) hi; looking to trade some Garbage masters: 5-28-02 the joint, las vegas, nv 6-01-02 wiltern theatre, los angeles, ca source: audio technica 831b card > sony d100 i'm looking for other Garbage masters to swap. thanks, marc __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Yahoo! - Official partner of 2002 FIFA World Cup http://fifaworldcup.yahoo.com ------------------------------ From: Jmratman@aol.com Subject: Conditionof Merl Saunders Date: Sun, 02 Jun 2002 15:17:54 -0400 For any of you that didn't know, Merl Saunders, who played with Jerry Garcia in the mid 70's, had a severe stroke a few weeks ago. My friend, Michael Warren, who played bass in Merl's Rainforest Band, has given me some up dates that might interest you. From 5/20: "Merl is stable at the moment but in a coma. I'm trying to see him every 3 or 4 days. He will do well if he can hold on to something familiar. His daughter stays with him constantly. But I noticed when I started scatting some jazz riffs he'd squeeze my hand and start tapping out organ riffs. His left brain took a big hit so he is now, as we know it, paralyzed on his right side. I just hope this doesn't weaken his heart as strokes will do. He's fine right now." From 5/22: "BTW Vince (x- drummer of the RFB) and I hung out with him today. He was sitting up, very alert, frightened because he's not sure what happened to him. But he cried his eyes out when he knew it was me in the room. I cried too. I made sure that he knew that even you said hello and that we all are not going to let him give up. That's when he cried. I'll keep you informed if you want. The doctor confirmed my own knowledge. Nothing is guaranteed, he could die but if has the positive attitiude... and good people helping, he'll make it for as long as his body will let him." mow Any other updates that I receive I will pass along to the list. Think positive thoughts. Jim R. Cape Eliz., ME www.merlsaunders.com ------------------------------ From: "Nick Graham" Subject: Oktava Mics? Date: Sun, 2 Jun 2002 15:28:22 -0500 I'm looking to buy a good pair of mics without spending an absolute fortune, and was wondering what the general consensus was on these. I keep reading how similar they are to Neumann's, but at about a 4th of the price. I tend to believe the old adage "you get what you pay for", so I thought I'd ask the experts :-) The only other mics I've found in that price range are the AKG 1000's, and I've heard enough bad stuff about them I definitely want another option. Thanks in advance, Nick CDR List: http://www.phishhook.com/lists/Nick_Graham SHN List: http://db.etree.org/nickgraham ------------------------------ From: "Phunk1" Subject: monitor stands Date: Sun, 2 Jun 2002 16:44:53 -0400 This could be off topic, if its let me know. I'm searching for stands for my near-field monitors. I'm on a tight budget, but I need to get these things at ear levels. Does anybody have any good suggestions? thanks g ------------------------------ From: "jimkun" Subject: ISO Sony TCD-D8 owners manual Date: Sun, 2 Jun 2002 20:27:10 -0500 Hi, I'm just getting started in audio recording and I just purchased a Sony D8. It came with everything but the owners manual. If anyone out there has an owners manual I could get a copy of, I'd really appreciate it. I'll take anything I can get, I can download a copy from you or I'll pay for copying and shipping fees for you to send it snail mail. Thanks in advance, Jim K. ------------------------------ From: Rawknya@aol.com Subject: Burner trouble... Date: Sun, 2 Jun 2002 22:51:08 EDT ......I left out some info, Thanks Rama :-) Sorry for the non-taping question. But maybe someone can help... When I put in a blank CD into my burner drive it reads no disk, messages come up saying please insert a blank CD. I thought maybe it was the CD's itself. But, it looks as if the drive it self isn't working. Gateway Computer Windows Millennium Easy CD Creator v4.02c (a little embarrising) I don't know what kind of burner it is, gateway installed it when I purchased it. It always worked smoothly, until I reformatted my computer about a month ago, and the burner never worked after that. I'm guessing that might be the main cause. Any Suggestions? -Christian ------------------------------ From: "Matt C." Subject: Re: Burner trouble... Date: Sun, 2 Jun 2002 19:59:11 -0700 ===== Original Message ===== From: To: Sent: Sunday, June 02, 2002 7:51 PM Subject: Burner trouble... > > ......I left out some info, Thanks Rama :-) > > Sorry for the non-taping question. But maybe someone can help... > > When I put in a blank CD into my burner drive it reads no disk, messages come > > up saying please insert a blank CD. I thought maybe it was the CD's itself. > But, it looks as if the drive it self isn't working. > > Gateway Computer > > Windows Millennium > > Easy CD Creator v4.02c > > (a little embarrising) I don't know what kind of burner it is, gateway > installed it when I purchased it. > > It always worked smoothly, until I reformatted my computer about a month ago, > > and the burner never worked after that. I'm guessing that might be the main > cause. > > Any Suggestions? i don't know a whole lot about win me, but maybe you need to install the drivers again? or even worse, maybe those drivers aren't compatible with me. ------------------------------ From: "Matt C." Subject: Re: Burner trouble... Date: Sun, 2 Jun 2002 20:00:42 -0700 ===== Original Message ===== From: To: Sent: Sunday, June 02, 2002 7:51 PM Subject: Burner trouble... > > ......I left out some info, Thanks Rama :-) > > Sorry for the non-taping question. But maybe someone can help... > > When I put in a blank CD into my burner drive it reads no disk, messages come > > up saying please insert a blank CD. I thought maybe it was the CD's itself. > But, it looks as if the drive it self isn't working. > > Gateway Computer > > Windows Millennium > > Easy CD Creator v4.02c > > (a little embarrising) I don't know what kind of burner it is, gateway > installed it when I purchased it. ps-PLEASE ditch the easy creator software!!!!! ------------------------------ From: Kevin Brown Subject: "Unpacking" tapes... Date: Sun, 2 Jun 2002 23:51:43 -0700 (PDT) First time. I forgot to "unpack" (fast forward then rewind) and brand new blank. Should I be worried? If I can play it back, and the error level is "normal", am I OK? Thanks... __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Yahoo! - Official partner of 2002 FIFA World Cup http://fifaworldcup.yahoo.com ------------------------------ From: Seth Breidbart Subject: Re: "Unpacking" tapes... Date: Mon, 3 Jun 2002 08:00:40 -0400 (EDT) > First time. I forgot to "unpack" (fast forward then > rewind) and brand new blank. Should I be worried? No. > If I can play it back, and the error level is > "normal", am I OK? Yes. Seth ------------------------------ From: Brian Gemborys Subject: anyone tape at Coachella 2002? Date: Mon, 3 Jun 2002 05:05:06 -0700 (PDT) Hoping someone taped at Coachella in 2002 and caught Belle & Sebastian. If so please e-mail me. Thanks. brian_gemborys@yahoo.com __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Yahoo! - Official partner of 2002 FIFA World Cup http://fifaworldcup.yahoo.com ------------------------------ ** FOR YOUR REFERENCE ** To unsubscribe from this digest, please send email to dat-heads-unsubscribe@datheads.phish.net If your email address has changed, you may (optionally) send the message to dat-heads-unsubscribe-oldaddress=olddomain@datheads.phish.net and the old address will be removed. 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