Improved Sony Atrac3 options.

[xerxes]

I have a Sony NW-HD3 MP3 player and I was always a bit dissapointed with the fact that the best quality you could use was 256kbps. The good news is that Sony have increased the range of bit rates and formats to include Atrac3plus up to 352kbps, added the ability to play AAC (Apple) files and added a new lossless format: www.sony.net/Products/ATRAC3/tech/aal.html

The bad news is that you have to re-initialise the hard drive, wiping out it's contents in order to make the player compatible with the new PC software.

I bit the bullet, wiped the hard drive and copied over a couple of CDs in the lossless format and transfered them to the player as 352kbps Atrac3plus files. Initial results are good, the sound is better, in particular the top end seems a little cleaner and less "tizzy".

[rickcr42]

Better fit here in "computer audio"

352 kbps is damn good for a recorder you can toss in your pocket.I only wish there was more support in the U.S. for the format,a format that predates the iPod by a bunch yet has never had a serious ad campaign like the iPod to make owning one a "must".

where are the TV commercials ? The magazine ads ? The hype ?

How many non-geeky types ever even heard of MD ?

This lack of widespread recognition/popularity has held back the format big time compared to some others that being popular have new features added yearly

I also miss the optical digital inputs once common (I am very anti NET MD) and I hate the lack of ready access to off the shelf blanks but all things considered still a fun format for stealth or binaural recordings

[rickcr42]

to expand on the above about the most fun an audio hobbyist type human can have is to record natural events or live performances in binaural sound for playback over headphones.

The results can be startling in the realism and if you are an image whore (are trying to get a system that places instruments/voices where they would be in real life) then binaural is the best way for the amatuer recordist to get good results on the cheap though a great binaural system will run into the $K+ range.Best of all the entire "system" will fit in a shirt pocket and can be very low profile if you mount the mic capsules on a pair of sunglasses.

Tip-clip the cords down well and/or cover the cables in a cotton sheath if you want to keep mic cable noise to a minimum.that or NEVER move your head

some links to the $20 "marvel of modern electronic audio science"

members.aol.com/MicDIYers/main.htm

webpages.charter.net/tidmarsh/binmic/

art.simon.tripod.com/stealth.html

www.minidisc.org/homemade_mics.html

www.headwize.com/projects/noise_prj.htm

all the above are pretty much the same device being no more than a pair of mic capsules (+some heat shrink,some shielded,and a pair of clips for mounting plus a clothing clip for locking that bitch down) and a 9 VDC battery box-cost around $10 total !

toss in an MD recorder and some extra batteries and the whole deal will STILL fit in the palm of your hand or a shirt pocket.

stepping up in class a bit

www.acoustics.hut.fi/~pantse/projects/in97/

a LOT (Nueman dummy Head)

www.fullcompass.com/pdfs/catalog/pdfs_ss06/wired_mics3.pdf#search=%22binaural%20mic%20set%22



for recording concert type events this is a nice read

webpages.charter.net/tidmarsh/binmic/audrec.html

more general info

www.pugetsoundman.com/articles/stereo/binaural.htm

www.weldon-northants.fsnet.co.uk/binaural_1.htm

www.quietamerican.org/links_diy-mics.html

a highly recommended diversion from the daily grind that has the Triple Threat Rock Grotto/Rick monster/Angry young Man Seal of Approval