Klarinet Archive - Posting 000417.txt from 1999/08

From: Dan Sutherland <dsuther@-----.ca>
Subj: Re: [kl] MiniDisc (was Audition tapes)
Date: Sun, 15 Aug 1999 01:06:12 -0400

At 19:18 09/08/99 -0700, you wrote: Some very worthwhile, interesting things.

From a money perspective,
How frugally can one go? I believe that cassettes are criminally poor
but unfortunately they are what institutions have to listen to for
auditions and scholarship applications. Therefore, the best we can do, is
make a recording as well as we can, before transferring it to cassette.
I presume that recording to any digital recording machine with editing
functions is more practical than recording straight to cassette or, heaven
forbid, a few takes on cassette then edit to another cassette [which is
pretty well what I've been doing for several years now].
To specifics:
I have found a DCC900 Philips deck, asking price about $200. U.S. An
abandoned technology but worth the gamble?
There are 2 Mackie 12 channel mixers in the local classifieds for $375.
Should I snap this stuff up?

AKG 4033 mics have been reccommended to me as an available and quality
way to go. Is there something still less expensive that will do a credible
job. [The specs on my AKG D70s are pretty poor].

Finally, what about CD-RW. They seem to be digital to digital devices.
Would it be possible to do without the mixer and Dat or MD or DCC and use
the computer [loud fan and all instead].

Just brimming with ignorance,

Dan

>My computer's been down, so I haven't been able to reply, but since there
>seems to be a bit of contention, let me explain my views about MiniDisc...
>
>If you want the short description, here it is:
>
>If you have to choose between minidisc and cassette, get a minidisc. The
>fact that it is digital makes it better than a cassette (Cassettes are
>Satan's medium as far as I am concerned). However it is still a very
>low-end format.
>
>Now, the long...
>
>
>Minidisc is a format that has struggled to gain acceptance in the recording
>community. For awhile recordings were issued on Minidisc, but they cost the
>same as CDs and they didn't sound as good. That was the first nail in its
>coffin. There are similar problems with it as a recording medium. Many
>companies make full size (stereo component size) and professional minidisc
>players/recorders. The problem with them comes down to two main things:
>
>1. The Analog to Digital convertors. The converters in every minidisc that
>I have ever come across have been *really* bad. They have a harsh sound and
>they are noisy compared to even the cheapest DAT machines.
>
>2. Data compression. In order to fit the amount of data on that small
>disc, they need to compress it. While other formats use compression (DVD
>most notably), they use what is referred to as "lossless compression." This
>means that the compression doesn't change the sound. No such luck with
>MiniDisc.
>
>These 2 things are, in my view as a recording engineer, major problems.
>
>If you want to edit, you can do that on a minidisc much easier than with a
>cassette or a DAT. If you want to do it on any other medium, you really
>need to get a computer-based editing workstation and a good sound card
>(preferably with a digital I/O, and not a turtle beach or sound blaster).
>Digital Audio Labs, Digidesign, Lynx, Event, and several other companies
>make very good sound cards for about $500 new. Many of these can be found
>used for substantially less on various internet newsgroups (rec.audio.pro,
>rec.audio.marketplace, etc...).
>
>Good PC programs include Sound Forge, Wavelab, and SAW Pro (for multitrack).
>These programs start at about $300/each.
>
>Hope this helps at least a little bit...
>
>--Ben
>
>Benjamin Maas
>Freelance Clarinetist and Recording Engineer
>Los Angeles, CA
>benmaas@-----.com
>http://www.fifthcircle.com
>
>
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