DAT-heads Digest #758
Contents:
Networking Tech Question (TheSchoolNerd@aol.com)
RE: Digital cables (ccryder@ix.netcom.com)
re : Trade Dead Tix to Help Pregnant Wife!! (Scott Mogol)
FT: Grappa Boom 6/1/03 (KM184>MiniMe>M1) (magichatr9@juno.com)
Hot New Location Recorder (Klay Anderson)
FS:Audio Technica AT822 microphone (Charles)
Foo Fighters @ FleetBoston Pavilion 7/5 ("Bill Hoy")
From: TheSchoolNerd@aol.com
Subject: Networking Tech Question
Date: Mon, 2 Jun 2003 17:22:13 EDT
Since collectively the readers of this list are absurdly intelligent (I being
the exception) , I have a "Left of Center" question involving networking. If
you had the opportunity to wire up a new home, would you run Cat5E or Cat6
throughout? I'm avoiding WiFi for specific reasons- one being financial.
Those of you who have knowledge of this, knowledge of appropriately
splitting/ DAing modulated video signal, and inexpensive places to purchase parts
(jacks, RG-6 cable, connectors), would be held in the highest esteem if you
contacted me directly.
Sorry about the off-subject post. I've had problems staying focused since
childhood as my parents wouldn't let me sleep with a nightlight. They said to do
that my door would have to remain open- and the meat would defrost. ;)
D
From: ccryder@ix.netcom.com
Subject: RE: Digital cables
Date: Mon, 02 Jun 2003 20:16:27 -0400
From: Michael Hackett <at217@chebucto.ns.ca>
>>>
Nick Georges <nick@nickspicks.com> wrote:
> now, cables in the digital domain....I dont buy the theory that one is
> better than another. bits are bits, they are either "there" or "not
> there".
I was hoping someone with more technical background than I would step
up, but no one has. So here goes...
One thing I am convinced of is that the "bits are bits" theory is wrong.
This is clear from my own listening and a large amount of well-founded
literature. And it doesn't take much to convince oneself that this must
be the case. Consider:
Digital is an abstraction: a voltage level between this an this is a 1;
a voltage between this and this is a 0. A cable simply passes an
electrical (or optical) signal, and it's up to the receiver to interpret
it. Digital signals are designed to be more precise on the amplitude
axis, but the way the signal is chopped up makes it less accurate on the
timing axis. (Please correct me if any of this is wrong.)
Further, S/PDIF has no separate clock signal, making it even more
susceptible to imperfections introduced between (and including) the
sender and receiver. It seems well accepted that even minute timing
variations are picked up by our brains, although most of us would not be
able to pick out such variations without a good deal of experience.
As for the relevance to DAT-Heads, well, maybe there isn't much. Good
mics and good positioning, excellent mic pres and A/D converters, are
all still going to be far more important than your digital connection.
Almost any reasonable quality digital cable will do an adequate job for
most field recording, so don't sweat it. But let's not go on making
claims that are being repeatedly refuted by numerous respected audio
engineers and by the evidence there for anyone to test.
<<<
I cannot agree with this last paragraph. I've seen many a good rig killed
by a broken digital connection. Any recording is always subject to the
weakest link.
Further, all one would really have to do would be to perform a bit
transparency test using both expensive AudioMagic digi-cables and cheap
($10) 75ohm video-dubbing cable from the Rat Shack, set up between 2 known
bit-transparent devices like 2 well configured laptop recording solutions.
The test could be performed in various "noisy environments," like perhaps
wrapping the S/PDIF cable around such objects as operating CRT's/TV's,
cheap power inverters, AC power lines and the like. In fact, truth be
told, I have already done those exact tests myself (yes, including 3 wraps
around a cheap power inverter, and two wraps around a powered TV). And
the difference between a 6" Radio Shack 75ohm S/PDIF cable and a 1m
AudioMagic Presto II S/PDIF cable is.... well... there *is no* difference
at all. After 5 hours of testing, not a single bit was dropped, not a
single bit was added, and not a single bit changed from a 0 to a 1. Now,
if there's something anyone can hear beyond that, it's probably just the
sound of the slow leak in the sides of their wallet.
You can get as technical as you want when discussing digi-cables. You can
talk all about clocks, phase, TTL voltages, etc. You can get all fancy
with special dielectrics, exotic metals, pretty purple insulations,
locking connectors, etc. And I won't discount the value of decent stress
relief and a well soldered joint to the RCA connector. But the bottom
line is, if the signal received is exactly equal (bit for bit) to the
signal sent, then the fact is, if you're the owner of the expensive cable
used in the test, then you've fallen victim to the same marketing
non-sense that I once fell for myself after trusting my wallet to a
certain audio equipment retailer. The way I see it, any vendor that tries
to convince you otherwise is either totally misinformed (having never
actually empirically tested it themselves), or is knowingly lying to you
in order to make a buck.
Michael, I will say that I will remain interested in seeing this supposed
"well-founded literature" you mention that invalidates my tests.
But it obviously didn't take me much to convince myself that the added
value of $80 AudioMagic PrestoII S/PDIF cable is bunk. All I can say is
it's a good thing I didn't let myself get talked into spending more.
You don't always get what you pay for. Sometimes, you get nothing. Caveat
emptor.
-Dan
From: Scott Mogol <smogol21@comcast.net>
Subject: re : Trade Dead Tix to Help Pregnant Wife!!
Date: Mon, 02 Jun 2003 21:18:45 -0400
On Mon, 02 Jun 2003 13:54:31 -0400 "Michael B. Green" mgreen@pencom.com
wrote :
>The thing is, my wife is pregnant and as such, she originally did not
want to go to the shows when I mail ordered but, of course, now she
does. Because of her condition though, she can't be on the lawn dealing
with crowds and needs to be able to sit in an actual seat as the night
wears on...
I read this to my wife and her reaction was "since when is being
pregnant a "condition"?"
But seriously, good luck finding her the tix, and congrats on the
baby-to-be.
BTW....her "condition" should clear up in about 18 years, when the kid
goes off to college.
From: magichatr9@juno.com
Subject: FT: Grappa Boom 6/1/03 (KM184>MiniMe>M1)
Date: Tue, 3 Jun 2003 03:30:51 GMT
Hello,
Came home with a sweet tape on sunday of Grappa Boom (mike gordon, jamie masefield and doug perkins)and would like to trade for the 5/31/03 show from the night before in Northampton, MA. Preference goes to anyone who has this show, but if you dont and you'd like a quick trade, email your list/link.
Take it easy
--Ben
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From: Klay Anderson <klay@klay.com>
Subject: Hot New Location Recorder
Date: Tue, 03 Jun 2003 06:52:23 -0600
Woah! Here it is:
http://www.vinylium.ch/stuka/dubcut.html
Thanks!
--
Regards,
Klay Anderson, D.A.,Q.B.E.
Klay Anderson Audio, Inc.
http://www.klay.com
1.800.FOR.KLAY
From: Charles <cvm900@yahoo.com>
Subject: FS:Audio Technica AT822 microphone
Date: Tue, 3 Jun 2003 08:50:02 -0700 (PDT)
AT 822 single point stereo mic in excellent condition.
Comes with original box, paperwork and all accesories,
plus extra 10' XLR to XLR cable. Mic has been well
taken care of. Asking $175. Photo available on
request.
Charles
=====
"The Dude abides!"
From: "Bill Hoy" <Bill.Hoy@eaw.com>
Subject: Foo Fighters @ FleetBoston Pavilion 7/5
Date: Tue, 3 Jun 2003 12:20:18 -0400
Hello all -
I have a pair of Pavilion GA tix for the Foo Fighters/Pete Yorn/My =
Morning Jacket at the FleetBoston Pavilion in Boston, MA. These are for =
the section closest to the stage. They will be removing the chairs in =
Sec 1, 2, and 3 and making that section GA.=20
I bought the tickets during the presale and 2 days later we got news =
that we have to be at a bridal shower (ugh) that night. The show is =
just about sold out - only concourse side seating left. I'm hoping a =
taper can use these to get this great night of music. $44 a ticket with =
all surcharges. If you just need 1 and can tape, I'll sell you one.
Thanks,
Bill
bhoy@eaw.com
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