What we need... a recordable source

On other thing, I'm sure many would love a reel-to-reel - although I couldn't see the Naim marketing guys being enamoured with the idea.

Andrew

Andrew Randle
Currently in the "Linn Binn"

I'm not keen on the idea. For the following reasons:

1) HDDs are unreliable. I have had two break down on me, effectively losing the data (which I had backed up on CD-ROM anyway )
2) You can only store about 50-60 high quality recordings on a 50GB HDD.
3) They're so unromantic. Kind of an anonymous box grinding away in the corner.

I'd prefer removable media that is fairly inert.

Andrew

Andrew Randle
Currently in the "Linn Binn"

You want romantic...

Simon

I would like to have a naim CDR with internal HDD for recording >2 hours, with possibilities for cut/edit (like MD or even better), very good ADCs (for recording Vinyl etc.) and high quality Mic-inputs.

It should come without any copyprotection and an interface to connect the computer to it: maybe PS2 or USB for an external keyboard and/or a SCSI-port for both connecting more HDDs to the CDR or to read the internal HDD from any computer with SCSI...

This would be a very nice copy-station for me! - Did I forget anything?

Jun

I'd wait until all of this can be held in solid state memory - I assume that will solve the jitter problem.

David

...I don't want my HiFi or PC to be connected to Record-Companys! I want to *have* the recordings at home...

- Jun

Vuk,

Yes I mean a source that is able to record. I do have a PC, although a very long interconnect would be needed for the task. Also a PC is a very noisey environment and not the best device for the job. Sound cards at best seem to be very round earth.

Andrew

Andrew Randle
Currently in the "Linn Binn"

If your Hifi VHS really sounds better than a CDX then there is something deeply wrong somewhere in your system.

Paul

Have to agree with Vuk here, except in a slightly more constructive way.

If you want to record analogue to digital buy a decent sound card for your PC. How do you think most producers get quality samples fom old recordings?? Put it through a sound mixing/mastering program and viola a new CD of your favourite artists. Doesn't sound quite as good as the original?? That's a matter of opinion. If you think not, then listen to the original source. If you are recording from the radio, it's the same process. Record to the hard disk of your PC (if it crashes, then you should have bought a Mac) and then put it through your sound authoring program. easy really.

Could naim produce a product that does this? probably? Could they make any money from it? Absolutely not. Why not? Cos most of their kit is overpriced anyway.

...but as we move toward more portable systems, (music anywhere we want it), and toward a single medium to carry it all (minidisc, CD, MP3 player, whatever), the sound quality drops. It's not out of an intent to do so, but out of necessity to enable the other aspects of the solution. If quality is the priority, portability will inherently suffer until someone is able to put enormous storage capacity and elegant signal processing into something about the size of a jewel case or smaller. The reverse is also true. So pick which matters most, and don't look back.

I think a system with RAID controllers (basically protection against data loss due to hard drive failures) with massive storage capacity (500GB+) is very enticing to me. The ability to directly download high-quality recordings (rather than transcribe from LP or dump from CD) is also interesting. If you've ever tried the TiVo television recorder, applying that concept/logic to radio & music seems exciting too, given the explosion of small and independent music labels.

I was just talking with a friend and fellow vinyl collector/enthusiast, pondering how buying, owning, and playing back recorded music will change over the next 20 yrs, and what it will be like to have large libraries of old-format material. Will they be romanticized like cylinders, or the butt of jokes like the 8-track?

M

I voted CD, as I figure there is a slightly greater chance of that ever happening!!!

However I would prefer a Minidisc, as I use MD in my car. IMO it is suited ideally as the sound quality is less of an issue than in the home, plus compared to CD's (and especially CDR's) you can throw an MD in the glove compartment and not worry about it being scratched.

Plus the benefits of MD with the track moving, deleting etc being very simple makes them also very simple for editing.

Scott